Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Exciting Quarter-Final Matches Await in CAF Champions League & CAF Confederation Cup The CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, Africa’s premier club competitions, are set to resume this weekend with blockbuster Quarter-Final fixtures lined up for both tournaments in the 2023/24 season. The knockout stage kicks off today, Friday, 29 March, with highly anticipated matches in the Champions League. Two Tanzanian giants, Simba AC and Young Africans FC, will host reigning champions Al Ahly SC and Mamelodi Sundowns FC respectively. The action continues in Lubumbashi as Angola’s Petro de Luanda takes on former champions TP Mazembe. …

The news has been confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri, the Nigerian-born player and the Premier League’s youngest-ever participant, has put pen to paper, finalizing his first professional contract with Arsenal. Nwaneri made history at just 15 years and 181 days old when he made his Premier League debut against Brentford in September 2022, breaking the record previously held by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott. Despite not featuring in the first team after that match, Nwaneri continued to impress at the youth level and made his second senior appearance in February’s 6-0 victory against West Ham United. Having attracted interest from other…

The FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma, aimed at becoming the globally recognized qualification for technical leaders in football, will commence its second edition on April 1, 2024, in Germany Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, is among the twenty-five participants representing member associations, confederations, and FIFA. They will gather at the German Football Association’s national training center for the initial phase of this unique level 6 qualification. Steven Martens, FIFA’s Director of Global Football Development, expressed the organization’s commitment to continuous investment in educating technical leaders. He emphasized the diploma’s potential to enhance football management both on…

Former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool defender Larry Lloyd has passed away at the age of 75. Lloyd played a pivotal role in Brian Clough’s legendary Nottingham Forest team, helping them secure the First Division title in 1977-78 and achieve back-to-back European Cup triumphs. He also contributed to Liverpool’s success, winning the First Division in 1972-73 and the UEFA Cup during the same season. Nottingham Forest expressed their deep sadness at Lloyd’s passing, describing him as an essential part of the ‘Miracle Men’ who achieved European glory in 1979 and 1980. Lloyd made 218 appearances for Forest during his…

Sandro Tonali has been charged for the second time for alleged betting Breach. Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali (23) has been charged with a second betting breach by the Football Association (FA). The FA has brought forward 50 counts of misconduct related to Tonali’s violation of the association’s betting rules. These breaches stem from Tonali placing 50 bets on football matches over a two-month period from August 2023 to October 2023. Tonali, who joined Newcastle in the summer transfer window of 2023, was previously implicated in an Italian case involving football betting in October and is currently serving a…

NRFF President Commends Oberevwori’s Dedication to Sports, Urges Continued Support for National Youth Games as Tournament Approaches President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are,has praised the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, for his unwavering dedication to sports development in the state. Dr. Ademola Are highlighted the governor’s consistent commitment to youth and sports development in Delta State through various community-oriented programs aimed at enhancing the well-being of the populace. Delta State recently secured the hosting rights for the National Youth Games for the next five years, following Kwara State’s tenure.…

Kenneth Omeruo Shifts Focus to World Cup Qualifiers for Super Eagles Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has turned his attention to the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign, highlighting the importance of the upcoming matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in June. Omeruo’s statement underscores the team’s determination and focus as they prepare for crucial fixtures in their quest to qualify for the World Cup, which is bid to hold in North America. The 2026 World Cup edition will be jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. “June is only a few weeks away. We are focused on the matches…

Bayelsa State Football Association Constitutes General Assembly; Suspends NANPF and PFAN Bayelsa State Chapters. Bayelsa State Football Association has constituted a general assembly to look into issues affecting football and other related matters. The State football regulatory body arrived at a decision to form the general assembly at the end of an extraordinary congress held at the Silina hall in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. In a communiqué signed by the drafting committee chairman Tulagha Ebimieowei, Diseye Nwankwe Secretary and Perela Aboro, stated that the State FA had earlier received a complaint from Dr. Timi Ozaka a…

Endrick’s touching letter to his 4-year-old younger brother… The breakthrough Brazilian forward who recently scored two goals in Brazil’s international Friendlies against England and Spain, wrote an emotional letter to his four year old younger brother. Endrick wrote: “In our family, we weren’t born into wealth. We were born into football.” “I don’t know when you will be reading this letter, but right now you are 4 years old, and our lives are changing very fast.” “In the next few months, I am going to Spain to play for Real Madrid — yes, the team that I always pick on…

Southgate says the Door is Open for Ben White in England Squad and he’s always welcome  England manager Gareth Southgate has indicated that the door is still open for Arsenal defender Ben White to join the national team squad. Southgate’s comments come after he respected Arsenal’s communication regarding White but expressed his eagerness to include him in the squad. “It’s really for Ben White now… the door is open for us,” Southgate said, acknowledging Arsenal’s involvement in the situation. “I respected the situation as Arsenal have contacted us. I felt I should back away from it a little…

Lionel Messi has stated that age will not be a determining factor in his retirement plans, emphasizing that his performance and enjoyment of the game will dictate when he hangs up his boots. In an interview with the Big Time podcast, Messi expressed his self-critical nature, noting that he will retire when he feels he is no longer contributing positively to his team. “I know that the moment I feel that I am no longer performing, that I am no longer enjoying it or helping my teammates (I will retire),” Messi said. “I am very self-critical. I know when I…

Cross River Receives Table Tennis Equipment Donated by NTTF Zonal Representative Cross River has received table tennis equipment worth millions of naira donated to the state Table Tennis Association by the south south zonal representative on the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Mr Ama-ebi Ebikpolade. The Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu who received the items at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Monday 25 March 2024, expressed gratitude to the NTTF board member for the kind gesture. According to Hon. Atsu, “This move shows that you are a good man. You are somebody that likes…