Sports

World Cup Qualifiers: Boost For Super Eagles As FIFA Deducts 3 Points From South Africa FIFA has finally sanctioned the Bafana Bafana of South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in one of their qualifying matches. The world football governing body announced the decision in a statement on Monday. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed that South Africa fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their World Cup qualification Group C match against Lesotho, played on 21 March 2025. The panel ruled that Bafana Bafana breached “article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World…

Sports Journalist, Lucky Itodo Tells Nigerian Governors To Emulate Orji Kalu's Investment in Enyimba Sports journalist Lucky Itodo has called on Nigerian governors to emulate former Abia State governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, whose remarkable investment in football transformed Enyimba International Football Club into one of Africa’s most successful sides. In a commentary, Itodo recalled that before 1999, Enyimba was like most Nigerian league clubs, struggling with poor funding and no continental relevance. The narrative changed when Kalu assumed office and made sports development, particularly football, a priority. According to him, Kalu revolutionised the club by investing in players’ welfare,…

BREAKING: Liverpool Striker Diogo Jota Is Dead Liverpool star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash, according to local reports in Spain. The 28-year-old Portuguese forward died in a crash near Zamora, in northwestern Spain, according to the Spanish news agency EFE. The agency reports his brother, Andre, was also killed in the crash early on Thursday morning in a traffic accident on the Rias Bajas Highway (A-52) near Palacios de Sanabria. Jota signed for Liverpool in September 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of more than £40million. Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he…

Aston Villa have completed the loan signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old has joined on a deal until the end of the season, which includes an option to buy. United sources said the terms mean a minimum of 75% of Rashford's wages will be covered. Villa are not paying a loan fee. Writing on Instagram Rashford said: "I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen. "I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision - I really admire the way that…

"To the youth of Africa I say: Never give up. Turn pain to power." Ademola Lookman's journey to being voted the men's African footballer of the year has been full of ups and downs, yet the Nigeria international knows his recent success provides inspiration. After failing to impose himself following a big-money move to the Premier League as a teenager, the forward had several loan spells before his rebirth in Italy since joining Atalanta in August 2022. "Four years ago my career felt down but now I'm here as the best player in Africa," Lookman, 27, said on stage when…

BREAKING: Ademola Lookman named 2024 CAF men’s player of the year Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, has been crowned 2024 CAF men’s ‘Player of the Year.’ He was announced the winner of the gong at the gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday. The 27-year-old was Nigeria's key creative force at the Nations Cup, inspiring the Super Eagles' attacking unit alongside Victor Osimhen, and showcasing his inventiveness as the Super Eagles reached an unexpected final. Troost-Ekong was named Player of the Tournament, but it was Lookman's double against Cameroon in the Last 16, and winner against Angola in the quarter…

Super Eagles AFCON 2013 winner Brown Ideye has sealed a deal to join nine-time Nigerian premier football league champions, Enyimba, until the end of the current season for an undisclosed fee. Enyimba’s Sporting Director and former Super Eagles forward Ifeanyi Ekwueme said Ideye will feature for the People’s Elephant, Channels Television reported. “We have been discussing with him for several weeks and he agreed to play for us. We are very happy to have a legend in our club” Enyimba said “Ideye will be with us until the end of this season and we believe he will strengthen our team’s…

The Cheetahs of Benin captain Steve Mounie has criticised the poor treatment he and his teammates faced during their trip to Libya for the final game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Benin secured qualification following the team’s 0-0 draw against the Mediterranean Knights in Tripoli, finishing second with goal difference ahead of Rwanda in Group B. Following the game, Libyan fans disrupted celebrations of the Gernot Rohr-led Benin team’s AFCON qualification by hurling objects at the players at Tripoli National Stadium. Also, some Libyan security personnel allegedly attacked the team’s bus as they left the stadium, leaving…

  Aba, Abia State – The NANS JCC Inter-Campus Unity Cup kicked off with excitement on Tuesday at Abia State Polytechnic Field in Aba, where businessman, politician and philanthropist, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, Founder of the Don Lulu Foundation, led the opening ceremony with a ceremonial kickoff. Organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Council of Abia State, the event aims to unite students from different campuses through sports and community-building. Mayor Igbokwe’s team, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, celebrated a victory in the opening match, securing a win by one goal against their opponent. His presence…

Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach. The 39-year-old Portuguese, who will move to Old Trafford from Lisbon club Sporting on 11 November, has signed a contract until June 2027. Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took charge on an interim basis after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday, will stay on for the club's next three fixtures. Amorim, is the sixth permanent manager United have appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson's 26-year reign ended with his retirement in 2013. In a statement, the club said that "Ruben is one of the most exciting and…