Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Lionel Messi to Miss Argentina’s World Cup Qualifiers Due to Injury. Argentina will be without their captain Lionel Messi for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia due to an ankle injury. The 37-year-old Inter Miami forward has been a key figure for the national team but will have to sit out these crucial matches as he recovers. In Messi’s absence, Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni has called up Paulo Dybala, who will look to fill the void left by the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. Meanwhile, Ángel Di María, another experienced campaigner, is also missing from…

Bruno Labbadia Appointed as 37th Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially announced the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Football Team. Labbadia, who succeeds Finidi George, becomes the 37th individual to take on this prestigious role. Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time, as the Super Eagles look to rejuvenate their campaign in the ongoing AFCON 2025 Qualifiers. Finidi George, who had only been in charge for about a month, resigned in June following disappointing results in the qualifiers.…

John Obi Mikel Responds to Nicolas Jackson’s Challenge. Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has responded to Nicolas Jackson’s recent comments with a measured and sportsmanlike tone. Following Chelsea’s 6-2 triumph over Wolves, Jackson, who scored the opening goal, had fired back at Mikel’s earlier criticism with a sharp retort on social media, suggesting that Mikel should “shut up” if he continued scoring goals. In a recent episode of the Obi One Podcast Mikel addressed Jackson’s challenge with a calm and encouraging message. He stated, “If he plays well, I will praise him! If there is something to be…

Gernot Rohr Expresses Concerns Ahead of AFCON 2025 Qualifiers Against Nigeria. In the lead-up to the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, Gernot Rohr, the head coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic, has voiced concerns regarding the state of his squad. With the match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria fast approaching, Rohr highlighted the challenges his team faces, particularly due to several players’ inactivity at the club level. “Some of my players are not that active at club level, either because they are out of contract or looking for new teams,” Rohr revealed. He acknowledged that while Nigeria…

Kaye Iyowuna Furo, Son of Former Super Eagles Defender Furo Iyenemi, Signs Professional Contract with Club Brugge. Kaye Iyowuna Furo, the 17-year-old son of former Super Eagles defender Furo Iyenemi, has taken a significant step in his footballing career by signing his first professional contract with Belgian side, Club Brugge as revealed by Nigerian Sports Journalist Oma Akatugba. The promising centre-forward, born to a Belgian mother, has shown immense potential, attracting attention from top European clubs. Before committing to Club Brugge, Kaye was pursued by several high-profile clubs, including Juventus and AC Milan. However, his father, Furo Iyenemi, a seasoned…

Sven-Göran Eriksson, Former England Manager, Dies at 76. Sven-Göran Eriksson, the distinguished former manager of England’s national football team, has passed away at the age of 76. Eriksson, who made history as the first non-British manager of the England team, led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals in three major tournaments during his tenure from 2001 to 2006. In January of this year, Eriksson revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given “at best” a year to live. On Monday, his family announced his passing, stating, “Sven-Göran Eriksson has passed away. After a long illness, SGE…

Kwara United Unveil 17 New Players For Upcoming 2024/2024 Football Season. Kwara United FC has officially introduced 17 new players to their squad ahead of the upcoming league season, bolstering their ranks with talent from across the Nigerian football scene. Among the new signings are standout players from Rangers International FC and Plateau United, both of whom are expected to bring significant experience and skill to the team. The unveiling was led by the club’s General Manager, Bashir Badawiy, who underscored the thorough recruitment process undertaken to ensure the team’s competitiveness. He expressed confidence in the new additions, assuring…

Nicolas Jackson Fires Back at John Obi Mikel’s Criticism. Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has responded strongly to criticism from former Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel following Chelsea’s 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mikel had previously questioned Jackson’s performance after Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City, raising concerns about his consistency and impact on the pitch. Jackson, who played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s emphatic win over Wolves by scoring the opening goal, did not take the comments lightly. The Senegalese forward took to Instagram to voice his displeasure, directly addressing Mikel. In a fiery post, Jackson told the former Nigerian…

James Rodríguez Set to Join Rayo Vallecano This Summer. James Rodríguez is on the verge of completing a move to Spanish La Liga side Rayo Vallecano during the current summer transfer window. This development was confirmed by renowned football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano. The Colombian international, known for his stints with top European clubs such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, recently parted ways with Brazilian club São Paulo after both parties agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent. Rodríguez, who has been in search of a new club, is now poised to continue his career in…

Heartland Mourns the Tragic Loss of Head Coach Christian Obi. Heartland FC has been plunged into mourning following the tragic death of their head coach, Christian Obi. The Nigeria National League (NNL) side confirmed that Obi lost his life in a ghastly road accident on Friday, as reported by Govima Sport. The unfortunate incident occurred as the Naze Millionaires were en route to Abakaliki to participate in the TICO/SELECT Ifeanyi Ekwueme pre-season tournament. The accident has cast a shadow over the club’s preparations for the upcoming season, with the entire Heartland community grieving the sudden loss of their respected…

Endrick Scores On Real Madrid Debut in Hard-Fought Victory Against Real Valladolid. Real Madrid secured their first La Liga win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid, as 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy Endrick marked his debut with a goal in the final moments of the match. The reigning champions, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca in their season opener, initially struggled to break down a resolute Valladolid defence at the Santiago Bernabéu. Despite the anticipation surrounding Kylian Mbappé’s home debut, the French forward found himself frustrated throughout the match as Valladolid sat deep, effectively…

Liverpool Secure Victory Over Brentford in Arne Slot’s Premier League Home Debut. Arne Slot celebrated his first Premier League home game in charge of Liverpool with a victory, as the Reds maintained their winning start to the season by defeating Brentford at Anfield. Luis Díaz marked his 100th appearance for Liverpool in style, netting a clinical 13th-minute goal to give his side an early lead. The goal was the result of a swift counter-attack initiated by Ibrahima Konaté, whose clearance from a Brentford corner found Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward quickly set Diogo Jota on his way, and Díaz…