Sports

By Ali Elias A decision by United States immigration authorities to deny entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has triggered international controversy, ending what would have been a historic milestone for Somalia and reigniting concerns about the intersection of politics, immigration policy and global sport. Artan, widely regarded as one of Africa's finest football officials and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men's Referee of the Year for 2025, was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. Instead, he has been removed from the tournament's list of match officials after being turned back upon arrival at Miami International Airport. FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan would not be able to participate in the tournament, which is...

Photo courtesy: MWN By Ali Elias A visibly aggrieved football enthusiast and lawyer questioned how CAF concluded that the Senegalese team walked off the pitch, noting that Sadio Mané and two other players remained on the field, urging their teammates to return The Confederation of African Football Appeal Board has awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco following a controversial ruling that overturned the outcome of the final against Senegal. In a decision that has sparked widespread debate across the footballing community, the Appeal Board ruled that Senegal forfeited the final match after its players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision during the game played in Rabat on January 18. CAF determined that the action cons...

The Nigeria international was expected to join 'Real Madrid, PSG or some Premier League team', but he's once again stuck in limbo Victor Osimhen's time in Turkey couldn't have gone much better from a sporting perspective. The Nigerian scored 37 times in 41 appearances across all competitions as Galatasaray won a domestic double. Usually, Europe's top clubs would be queuing up sign such a prolific No.9, particularly as there are so few proven goal-scorers on the market right now - and yet, at the time of writing, only Al-Hilal have expressed concrete interest in acquiring the Napoli-owned attacker, with the Saudi Arabian outfit willing to make him one of the highest-paid players on the planet. So, what on earth is going on with Osimhen? Why is a world-class forward who dr...

By Ali Elias Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has revealed he deliberately substituted star striker Victor Osimhen early during their emphatic 4-1 win over Sivasspor—despite the Nigerian being on a hot streak in front of goal. Osimhen netted a brace in the match, taking his season tally to a personal best of 32 goals. However, fans and pundits alike believe he was on course for a hat-trick—or more—until Buruk decided to pull him off the pitch. “I prevented him from raising his career record a little bit,” Buruk said in a post-match interview. “I took him out of the game early, considering his next match. There was also the risk of injury and card.” The coach admitted with a chuckle that the move was partly protective, partly tactical. “He could have easily scored three goals toda...

Photo courtesy: Score Nigeria By Els William Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie delivered a parting gift to Paris FC by leading them to a historic Coupe de France Féminine victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on May 3, 2025. In a tense final that ended 0–0 after regulation time, Nnadozie's exceptional performance in the penalty shootout secured a 5–4 win for Paris FC, marking their first major trophy under the club's current identity. The 23-year-old Nigerian international saved two crucial penalties during the shootout, denying PSG's Korbin Albert and Jade Le Guilly, and ensuring Paris FC's triumph. This victory not only dethroned the defending champions but also underscored Nnadozie's reputation as a penalty-saving specialist. Nnadozie's heroics in the final capped ...

By Ali Elias  In the rich tapestry of Nigerian football, few figures are woven as deeply or as proudly as Christian Chukwu. When the news of his death broke on a quiet Saturday morning, it shook the nation to its core. A hero, a leader, a patriot—Chukwu was not merely a man of football; he was football itself, in a country that breathes the game.  A Brief Profile Name: Christian Chukwu Okoro  Born: January 4, 1951 – Died: April 13, 2024 (aged 74)  Hometown: Enugu, Nigeria  Position: Defender  Clubs: Enugu Rangers International FC  Roles:  - Captain, Green Eagles (1974–1980)  - Head Coach, Super Eagles (2002–2005)  - Coach, Harambee Stars of Kenya  - Administrator, Mentor, Patriot  A Captain B...

By Ali Elias Adrian Mutu’s time at Chelsea was brief but packed with both promise and controversy. Arriving from Parma, he showcased flashes of brilliance but quickly fell out of favor, particularly following a rift with manager Jose Mourinho. However, his career took a dramatic nosedive when he tested positive for cocaine, leading to an eight-month ban from football and a disgraceful exit from the Premier League. Reflecting on his downfall, Mutu admits that his choices were catastrophic. In an interview with The Telegraph, he confessed, "Taking cocaine during my time at Chelsea was the worst decision I could have made in my career. I was alone and sad, but neither depression nor anything else justified my actions. Zero tolerance – that was Chelsea’s policy regarding drugs. And I thi...

By Ali Elias The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially introduced Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium conference room in Abuja.  Chelle, a 47-year-old Franco-Malian, was presented alongside his backroom staff, which includes first assistant Hadi Taboubi, fitness trainer Thomas Gornourec, and goalkeeper trainer Jean Daniel Padovani.  A Familiar Team  Chelle’s assistants bring a wealth of experience and an established working relationship, having collaborated with him previously at Algerian club MC Oran.  Hadi Taboubi, a French-Tunisian, will serve as Chelle’s first assistant, continuing a partnership that dates back to their time coaching the Mali na...

Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash By Ali Elias CNN — Amnesty International has called on FIFA to delay awarding Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup until the nation enacts major human rights reforms. On Monday, Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) released a report citing serious human rights concerns linked to Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup. The report also urged FIFA to establish a "credible human rights strategy" for the 2030 tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. FIFA, the global governing body for soccer, is expected to announce the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups next month. So far, Saudi Arabia is the sole candidate for the 2034 tournament. Courtesy: CNN/Getty Images FIFA’s bidding guidelin...