Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Esther Okoronkwo of UDG Tenerife in Spain breathes new life into Nigeria’s Paris 2024 Olympics aspirations, as she scored the lone goal for Super Falcons, which secured a 1-0 victory against arch-rivals Cameroon. After a thrilling goalless draw in Douala, Nigeria’s Super Falcons sealed the deal with Okoronkwo’s decisive strike. The team’s hopes for Olympic participation are revitalized, having last featured in 2008. In contrast, Cameroon’s dreams of Olympic glory were dashed with their loss to Nigeria, ending their campaign for Paris 2024. Meanwhile, Banyana Banyana’s 3-0 win over Tanzania sets the stage for a potential showdown…

Everton’s Premier League penalty reduced to six points after a successful appeal. (Govima Sport Reports) After appealing the Premier League’s decision to impose a 10-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, Everton has seen their penalty reduced to six points. The Toffees lodged the appeal in November following the initial deduction for breaching PSR regulations in the three-year period leading up to 2021/22. With the penalty reduction, Everton’s points tally now stands at 25, elevating them from 17th to 15th place and placing them five points clear of the relegation zone. In response to the Appeal Board’s decision, an…

In a thrilling encounter, Rivers United showcased their resilience in the CAF Confederation Cup, securing a crucial 3-2 victory over Academica Lobito in Angola with a flurry of goals within three minutes. The Nigerian side faced an early setback when they conceded a penalty in the 37th minute, expertly converted by Leonardo Isola. However, their response was swift as Edem Ekerette restored parity just three minutes later. Rivers United seized the momentum and earned a penalty of their own in the 44th minute, with Alex Oyowah confidently converting to give his team a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.…

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, attributes Nigeria’s impressive performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), held in Côte d’Ivoire, to the concerted efforts and determination of all stakeholders in Nigerian football. Senator Enoh acknowledges the significant strides made but emphasizes the need for continuous efforts to elevate Nigerian football both on the continent and globally. He stresses the importance of nurturing local football, particularly by enhancing the Nigerian league, and highlights increased funding as essential for overall sports development. Reflecting on the AFCON success, Senator Enoh credits various factors, including the leadership’s…

NPFL: PERMANENT SECRETARY, DANLADI, DECORATES FIFA REFEREE IN LAFIA. The Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, on Sunday, decorated the centre referee for the Lobi Stars Versus Heartland FC Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 21 game decided at the Lafia City Stadium. Danladi performed the decoration function by badging Centre Referee, Egba Patrick John from Cross River State who recently got promoted to a FIFA status before the kick-off of the Lobi-Heartland game. First Assistant Referee for the game, Muhammad Yakubu from Bauchi State got his badge renewed and was decorated by…

 19-year-old Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro marked his professional debut for Inter Milan on Sunday in a Serie A clash against Leece. The young talent, formerly of Remo Stars, has garnered global attention for his exceptional skills and rapid growth in the game. Akinsanmiro, a standout performer for Inter’s U19 squad this season, seized the opportunity to showcase his abilities on the big stage of Italian football. His journey from Remo Stars to Inter’s first team within just over a year underscores his extraordinary talent and unwavering commitment to the game. Though early in his career, Akinsanmiro has already…

Victor Osimhen continued his scoring streak with a goal for Napoli in their 1-1 draw against Cagliari, mirroring his recent performance against Barcelona. Osimhen’s header off Giacomo Raspadori’s delivery seemed to secure Francesco Calzona a debut win in his first league game as Napoli’s coach. However, Zito Luvumbo’s stoppage-time equalizer dashed their hopes. Despite Osimhen’s efforts, Napoli remains in ninth place, trailing Roma, who occupy the Europa Conference League position, and Bologna, who are in fourth. Following the match, Calzona expressed disappointment at their inability to capitalize on late opportunities, attributing the team’s struggles to mental attributes rather…

Reports indicate that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has handed a three-year suspension to Para-powerlifting athlete Latifat Tijani for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), following the IPC Anti-Doping Code. Tijani was found to have provided an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the presence of testosterone and/or its precursors in an out-of-competition urine sample collected on 6 August. As the reigning Olympic champion and Rio 2016 silver medallist in the -45kg category, Tijani’s case was rigorously analyzed using Gas Chromatography/Combustion/Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS), which confirmed the presence of testosterone and/or its metabolites of exogenous origin. Exogenous testosterone…

Enugu Rangers secured an important away victory on Saturday, defeating Doma United 1-0 at the Pantami Township Stadium. Collins Ugwueze scored the lone goal of the match in the 30th minute, extending Rangers’ winning streak to three consecutive games. NPFL review: Far away in Kano, Sunshine Stars of Akure were walloped 5:1 by Kano Pillars, who delivered a dominant performance, at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday. Ibrahim Mustapha scored twice, with Rabiu Ali, Auwalu Ali, and Mustapha Umar adding to the tally. The impressive victory propels Kano Pillars to the 3rd position on the league table, maintaining an…

Yakubu Aiyegbeni the former Super Eagles striker is an ambassador of the NPFL U17 Youth League. Yakubu Aiyegbeni is currently in Benin City, alongside other top football icons in Nigeria to flag off the NPFL Cup Competition in Benin. Also present on the opening day of the league finals are other ambassadors: Patrick Paschal, Austin Eguavoen and Seyi Olofinjana. Likewise the Chairman of the U17 Youth League Organising Committee, Pastor Emeka Inyama was also present at the ceremony held in Benin to commence the much anticipated Youth League Cup. The games continue on Monday at the Samuel…

Virgil van Dijk’s header deep into extra time gave an under-strength Liverpool a remarkable Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley. Van Dijk had seen a header contentiously ruled out for offside on the hour but there was no reprieve for Chelsea when he glanced home another from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner in the 118th minute. Liverpool’s 10th triumph in the competition was achieved without a host of injured star names, including forward trio Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, also losing Ryan Gravenberch when he was taken off on a stretcher after Moises Caicedo’s first-half challenge.…

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is mourning the loss of his father. Vincent Enyeama has lost his dad, according to the information we gathered. The sad news of Papa Enyeama’s passing has left the football community in mourning especially in Nigeria. Vincent Enyeama, known for his outstanding performances between the goalposts for Nigeria’s national team, is undoubtedly facing a difficult time as he bids farewell to his beloved father. Our thoughts and prayers are with Vincent Enyeama and his family during this time of grief. May his father’s soul rest in peace.