Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria Retains 39th Spot In FIFA World Rankings. Nigeria’s Super Eagles have maintained their position as the 39th-ranked team in the world, according to the latest FIFA rankings. The team also holds 6th place in Africa, following their performances in recent AFCON qualifiers. Despite securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin and a draw with Rwanda, Nigeria remains within the top 40 globally. The Super Eagles continue to lead Group D of the AFCON qualifiers with four points, as they prepare for their next match against Libya. Elsewhere in Africa, rivals Ghana sit in 70th place, while South…

Florian Wirtz Shines As Bayer Leverkusen Dominate Feyenoord In Champions League Victory. Florian Wirtz made an unforgettable Champions League debut, scoring twice as Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a commanding victory against Feyenoord. The German side, currently Bundesliga champions, took control early on and never looked back, securing a 4-0 win in Rotterdam. Leverkusen took the lead just five minutes into the match when Wirtz expertly curled a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards, setting the tone for a dominant display. Xabi Alonso’s attacking wing-backs played a key role in the second goal, with Jeremie Frimpong’s pinpoint…

Atletico Madrid Snatch Late Winner Against RB Leipzig In Champions League Opener. Atletico Madrid secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig in their Champions League opener, thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Jose Maria Gimenez. The Spanish side fought back after conceding an early goal to claim all three points in a thrilling encounter. RB Leipzig took an early lead in the fourth minute, with Benjamin Sesko heading the German visitors in front. However, Atletico Madrid responded through Antoine Griezmann, who levelled the match with a volleyed effort after 28 minutes, marking his 37th goal in the competition.…

George Ilenikhena Shines As Monaco Upset 10-Man Barcelona In Champions League Opener. Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena made a stunning impact on his Champions League debut, scoring the decisive goal as Monaco secured a 2-1 victory over 10-man Barcelona. The 18-year-old substitute sealed the upset in the 71st minute, latching onto a long ball from Vanderson and firing a powerful shot past Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen. Barcelona were reduced to 10 men just 10 minutes into the match when Eric Garcia received a straight red card for fouling Takumi Minamino, following a poor pass out from the back by…

National Youth Games 2024 Concludes With Delta, Lagos, And Edo Finishing 1st, 2nd, And 3rd. The 2024 National Youth Games, hosted in Asaba, Delta State, concluded on Thursday, 19th September 2024, with Team Delta emerging as the overall champions, followed by Lagos in second place, and Edo in third. Team Delta topped the medal table for the third consecutive time, amassing a total of 111 medals, including 46 gold, 31 silver, and 34 bronze. Their consistent dominance in the competition further cemented their status as the leading team in the youth games. Lagos State followed closely in second…

Olatunji Shines In Sparta Prague’s Victory Over Salzburg. Victor Olatunji delivered an outstanding performance as Sparta Prague secured a 3-0 victory against Austrian side RB Salzburg in their UEFA Champions League encounter on Wednesday. The Nigerian forward was instrumental in the win, contributing both a goal and an assist. Olatunji set up Sparta Prague’s first goal before netting their second just three minutes before half-time, giving his team a commanding lead going into the break. His impactful display was crucial in securing all three points for the Czech side. At 25 years old, Olatunji has also made history…

Arsenal Legend Wright Admits Concern Over Lookman Ahead of Clash. Arsenal legend Ian Wright has expressed concern over the threat posed by Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman ahead of their UEFA Champions League encounter on Thursday. Wright, known for his honest assessments, acknowledged the danger Lookman could bring to the Gunners’ defence. Since joining Atalanta in 2022, the Super Eagles forward has been in excellent form, consistently delivering strong performances in Serie A as well as leading Atalanta to Europa League Triumph last season. The Nigerian winger likewise helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the final of AFCON 2023, where…

Abia Warriors Coach Imama Challenges Players To Improve Performance. Abia Warriors head coach, Imama Amakpakabo, has called on his players to raise their game as the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season progresses. Despite a slow start, with just one point from their opening two fixtures, Amakpakabo remains confident that his team can turn things around. The Umuahia-based club have struggled to find their rhythm early on, but the coach is determined to motivate his squad to fight for every remaining point in the season. With a total of 108 points still up for grabs, Amakpakabo is urging his…

Plateau United Coach Mangut Sets Ambitious Target for 2024/25 Season. Plateau United’s technical adviser, Mbwas Mangut, has reaffirmed the team’s determination to secure a continental ticket for the 2024/25 season. After narrowly missing out on qualification last season, Mangut is confident that his side can make amends and reach their goal this time around. The Peace Boys finished fifth in the 2023/24 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign, falling short of a spot in continental competitions. Reflecting on the previous season, Mangut emphasised the importance of learning from their mistakes and using the experience to fuel their ambitions for…

Champions League: New League Format Matches Continue Across Europe. The new league phase of the UEFA Champions League continued across Europe, with some exciting fixtures producing notable results. Celtic delivered a commanding performance with a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava. The Scottish side looked dominant throughout the match, securing a much-needed win in front of their home crowd. Sparta Prague also impressed with a 3-0 win against Salzburg, showcasing their resilience and ambition in this new format. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund proved too strong for Club Brugge, winning 3-0 to maintain their momentum in the competition. Elsewhere, Paris…

Amuneke Endorses Osimhen’s Loan Move To Galatasaray. Former Nigerian international, Emmanuel Amuneke, has expressed his support for Victor Osimhen’s recent loan move to Galatasaray. The Super Eagles forward completed a season-long loan transfer to the Turkish Super Lig champions just two weeks ago, a move that has generated significant attention in the football world. Osimhen, 25, had been on the verge of securing a move to Premier League giants Chelsea on transfer deadline day, but the deal ultimately failed to materialise. Despite this, his switch to Galatasaray has been widely viewed as a positive step, offering him the opportunity…

Arsenal Face Major Setback As Odegaard Is Ruled Out With Significant Ankle Injury. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the club will be without captain Martin Odegaard for an extended period due to a significant ankle injury. Following recent scans, it was revealed that the Norwegian midfielder has suffered damage to one of the ligaments in his ankle, leaving the team without one of their most influential players. Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League encounter against Atalanta, Arteta expressed the gravity of the situation: “He’s our captain. He’s been one of the biggest and best…