Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Sports Minister Urges States To Present Young Talents At 2024 National Youth Games. The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has called on state contingents to bring forward their most promising young athletes for the National Youth Games, which are set to commence in Asaba. The Minister stressed that the future of Nigerian sports hinges on the talent pool identified and nurtured through youth championships like these. The Games Village for the Asaba 2024 National Youth Games was officially opened on Monday, 9th September, ahead of the opening ceremony, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 11th September.…

Kevin De Bruyne Urges Belgium To Improve After Defeat To France. Kevin De Bruyne has called for Belgium to “be better in every way” following their 2-0 defeat to France in the Nations League on Monday. The Manchester City midfielder, visibly frustrated by his team’s performance, admitted to a heated exchange with his team-mates at half-time. Despite a strong start to the competition with a 3-1 win over Israel, where De Bruyne scored twice, Belgium were outclassed by France. Goals from Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele sealed a comfortable victory for the French side, leaving Belgium searching for answers.…

Koeman Criticises Bergwijn’s Saudi Move, But Depay Still In National Team Plans. Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has voiced his disapproval of Steven Bergwijn’s recent move to the Saudi Pro League, stating that the winger will no longer be considered for selection in the national team. However, Koeman has taken a different stance on Memphis Depay, whose move to Brazil will not close the door on his international career. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Koeman expressed concerns over Bergwijn’s decision to join the growing number of players making the switch to Saudi Arabia. “I disapproved of Steven Bergwijn’s move…

AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Key Results Across the Continent Govima Sports Report. The latest round of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers saw various thrilling encounters unfold across the African continent on Monday, 9th September. With top teams fighting for their spot in the prestigious tournament, several key matches provided drama and excitement. Senegal Edges Past Burundi Senegal, led by a strong defensive performance, secured a 1-0 victory over Burundi. The result highlights Senegal’s resilience as they continue to push towards qualification. Despite Burundi’s determination, they were unable to break through the Senegalese defence, leaving them disappointed on…

France Bounce Back With 2-0 Victory Over Belgium In Nations League. France secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Belgium in their Nations League Group A2 clash, getting their campaign back on track after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Italy on Friday. With star forward Kylian Mbappé rested on the bench after playing the full match against Italy, Didier Deschamps made significant changes to his starting line-up, completely revamping the forward line. Despite Belgium’s bright start, France found their breakthrough just before the half-hour mark when Randal Kolo Muani capitalised on a loose ball to score his sixth international goal.…

Craig Bellamy Secures First Victory As Wales Head Coach In Dramatic Nations League Clash. Craig Bellamy earned his first win as Wales head coach in a thrilling Nations League encounter against Montenegro, played under torrential rain in Niksic. Despite the atrocious conditions, Wales came out on top with a 2-1 victory in a breathless contest. Wales made a blistering start, with Kieffer Moore opening the scoring just 37 seconds into the match with an instinctive finish. Two minutes later, Harry Wilson doubled the lead, netting a sensational 25-yard strike to put the visitors in command. As the rain…

Ødegaard Injury Casts Shadow Over Norway’s Late Victory Against Austria. Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard limped off during Norway’s Nations League match against Austria, despite his team securing a 2-1 win courtesy of Erling Haaland’s late goal. Ødegaard, a key figure for both club and country, suffered an ankle injury after a foul by Christoph Baumgartner midway through the second half. The injury puts Ødegaard’s participation in Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur in doubt. With Arsenal already missing Declan Rice due to suspension, Ødegaard’s potential absence could be a significant blow for Mikel Arteta’s side. Norway manager…

Ifeoma Onumonu Joins Montpellier HSC As Club’s First Nigerian Player. Super Falcons striker Ifeoma Onumonu has made history by becoming the first Nigerian player to join Montpellier HSC’s women’s team. The 30-year-old forward has signed with the French club after departing from Utah Royals in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Montpellier, who finished 6th in the Arkema Première Ligue last season, are looking to bolster their attacking options with Onumonu’s vast international experience and goal-scoring ability. The Nigerian striker has been part of the Super Falcons set up since 2021 and her move to France is expected…

Eguavoen Confident Ahead Of Rwanda Clash, Says Eagles Respect All But Fear None. Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed confidence in his team as they prepare to face Rwanda in a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday. Fresh off a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo, Eguavoen, who is in his fourth stint as coach of the Super Eagles, emphasised that while they respect all teams, they are not intimidated by any. “We play to win all the time because Nigerians expect their team to win all the time. We have…

Lagos State Football League Prepares For Super 5 Tournament. The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) has successfully concluded the divisional playoffs for the 2023/2024 State Football League, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Super 5 tournament. The event will determine the state’s representatives for the NLO 2 zonal qualifiers. In a statement released by the Chief Executive Officer of the State Football League, Wale Joseph, it was confirmed that the divisional winners will compete in the Super 5 in a round-robin league format. The top two teams from this tournament will earn the right to represent Lagos State…

Jannik Sinner Triumphs At US Open Amidst Challenging Period. Jannik Sinner expressed immense joy after winning the US Open, describing the victory as particularly meaningful following a “very difficult” period due to controversy surrounding his positive tests for a banned substance earlier this year. The world number one secured his second Grand Slam title of the year, defeating American Taylor Fritz in Sunday’s final in dominant fashion. Just days before the tournament began, it was revealed that Sinner had been cleared of any wrongdoing after testing positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol, a muscle-building steroid, in…

Nigeria Ready For Rwanda Showdown As Eguavoen Eyes Victory In AFCON Qualifier. Nigeria’s head coach, Austin Eguavoen, has expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Rwanda. Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s fixture at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Eguavoen emphasised the team’s strong mentality and focus as they aim to secure all three points. “We are on a momentum right now, and the mood in camp is excellent,” Eguavoen stated. “Everyone is eager to win in Rwanda and solidify our position at the top of the qualifying table. We’ve…