Sports

The board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has sanctioned Enyimba FC with forfeiture of three points and goals for refusing to conclude the match against Enugu Rangers on Sunday. The NPFL matchday 35 fixture was abandoned in added time after Rangers were awarded a controversial penalty at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu. After 90 minutes, with the game tied goalless, the home team got the spot-kick seven minutes into added time following a foul that prevented its attacker from pouncing on a loose ball in the box. The decision prompted protests from Enyimba players who confronted the…

Championship side Plymouth Argyle have appointed former England captain Wayne Rooney as their new head coach. The 38-year-old succeeds Ian Foster, who was sacked on 1 April after a poor run of results. It is Rooney's first role since he was sacked by Birmingham City on 2 January after a disappointing reign of less than three months in which he lost nine of 15 games. Blues, who were in the Championship play-off places when Rooney took over, were relegated to League One earlier this month. The Pilgrims job is a fourth head coach role for Rooney - who was England's…

The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles. George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month. His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the…

Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who plays for Turkish club, Fenerbahçe, was seen knocking a violent pitch invader to the ground during a chaotic on-pitch brawl on Sunday night. Tension escalated at the end of Fenerbahce’s 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig. Former Manchester United player, Fred, netted two goals in the first half, as Fenerbahce secured the victory with a late 87th-minute goal from Michy Batshuayi. Fenerbahce players gathered in the middle of the pitch to celebrate their victory when suddenly, a single Trabzonspor fan made his way onto the pitch to taunt them. A security…

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR says the old Rangers players are living legend who deserves nothing short of celebration for making the Nigerian nation proud in their playing days Governor Soludo made the assertion when some of the players paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia. The Governor who was delighted to receive the ex-players described Rangers Football club as part of the Nigerian identity, the pride of the people who galvanized and lifted the spirit of the people of the Eastern region after the civil war. The Governor relived the days when football…

Nigerian-born British boxer Anthony Joshua showed class once more early Saturday as he recored a brutal second-round knockout victory over his Cameroonian challenger Francis Ngannou. The highly anticipated heavyweight clash took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and AJ, a Joshua is popularly called, was simply ruthless as he floored his opponent. Ngannou, the former UFC champion, entered the bout with the aura of his impressive debut against Tyson Fury, but Joshua proved too powerful, solidifying his title aspirations. Joshua displayed phenomenal power and precision, dismantling Ngannou in a mere two rounds. Ngannou, who shocked the world by flooring Fury in…

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has made two changes to his starting line-up for tonight’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final clash with Cote d’Ivoire. Left-wing back, Zaidu Sanusi is back in the line-up after missing the Super Eagles semi-final win with South Africa due to injury. Samuel Chukwueze is also preferred to Moses Simon. Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali will start in goal for the seventh time in the competition. Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey will all feature in defence. The duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi will take charge of the midfield. Ademola…

Patrice Motsepe, the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu will be present at the stadium on Sunday to watch the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) between Nigeria and the host nation, Côte d’Ivoire. Mr Motsepe confirmed the development at a press conference held by the CAF supremo in Abidjan on Friday while responding to a question from a journalist asking when Africa can host the FIFA World Cup again. “Nigeria must put in a bid,” Mr Motsepe said. “The Nigerian president (Bola Tinubu) is coming to watch the…

Former Governor of Abia State and Pillar of Sports in Africa, Dr. Orji Kalu has applauded Nigeria's national team, Super Eagles for their victory against South Africa's national team : Bafana Bafana in the ongoing African Nation's cup. Describing the victory of Nigeria's team as a positive development, Kalu commended the Super Eagles team for making Nigeria proud. In a statement, the former Governor urged the Super Eagles players to remain committed and determined in their efforts to win the African Nation's cup. He said, " the Super Eagles team performed excellently well in their outing against Bafana Bafana of…