Tag: Football

Eberechi Eze’s Sublime Goal Helps Crystal Palace End Six-Game Winless Streak
News, Nigeria, Sports

Eberechi Eze’s Sublime Goal Helps Crystal Palace End Six-Game Winless Streak

Eberechi Eze was on the score sheet as Crystal Palace got the better of Sheffield United at the Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Nigerian descent Eze made a run with the ball from his own half and skipped past three Sheffield United’s defenders before firing into the bottom corner to score Crystal Palace’s second goal against he struggling Blades. Crystal Palace went into the match without a win in six games, but their determination to change tide paid off after the finished with a two-goal win. Ghanaian star, Jeff Schlupp put the Eagles ahead after just four minutes as his shot was deflected into the back of the net for the opener. Their lead was then doubled by Eze with a fantastic solo goal on the stroke of half time which put the game to bed. The goal was Eze’s second in t...
Osimhen Fined By Napoli For Breaching COVID-19 Rules
Covid-19, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Osimhen Fined By Napoli For Breaching COVID-19 Rules

Super Eagles and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been fined two weeks’ wages by Napoli for flouting the club’s COVID-19 regulations. Napoli announced on Friday that Osimhen had contracted coronavirus. A video of the Nigerian posted on Instagram by @equipoarrow where he was seen partying without a face mask and not observing social distancing has reportedly angered his club coach, Gennaro Gattuso. In the video, Osimhen was also seen spraying the musician N500 notes. “Victor Osimhen will be fined for not respecting the club’s regulations,” a tweet from SCC Napoli reads. “The birthday videos showing people without face masks and not social distancing has angered the club and Gattuso.” Osimhen, who joined Napoli in the summer for a record fee from Lille, has scored twice in...
Falcons Forward, Rasheedat Ajibade Elated to Join Atletico Madrid
News, Nigeria, Sports

Falcons Forward, Rasheedat Ajibade Elated to Join Atletico Madrid

Super Falcons forward, Rasheedat Ajibade has joined Spanish Primera club, Atletico Madrid Femenino. She signed a two-year contract with the club after seeing out her contract with Norwegian Toppserien side, Avaldsnes. Ajibade, 21, moved to the Norwegian club from NWFL side, FC Robo Queens in 2018 and was an important member of the club. The forward who is an African women’s champion winner witnessed her most productive campaign with Avaldsnes in 2020, banging seven league goals and was named in the team of the season. She took to her official Twitter handle on Friday to express her joy for signing for the club. She wrote, “It is a great privilege and joy for me to be joining Atletico Madrid Feminino.” ” It is an opportunity I will never take for granted, and I am ready to...
NFF Approves Over N5B For 2021 Budget
Nigeria, Sports

NFF Approves Over N5B For 2021 Budget

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee has approved a budget of the sum of 5.6 billion Naira for the year 2021 in an executive meeting held at Conference Hotel, Abeokuta. Also, the  Executive committee, on Monday, 28th  December 2020 also approved the mooted date of Saturday, 16th January 2021 for the commencement of the Season 2020-2021 of the Nigeria National League, and Wednesday, 10th February 2021 for the commencement of the new season for the Nigeria Nationwide League One. The football apex body also agreed on the participation of the Female National Team, Super Falcons to participate in a tournament in Turkey and two-match tour of Morocco in February 2021 as a way of getting the team busy in a period of long inactivity occasioned by the postponement of the 12t...
COVID-19: NFF Mandates NPFL clubs to Test Players Before Matches
Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Safety, Sports

COVID-19: NFF Mandates NPFL clubs to Test Players Before Matches

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed the Nigeria Professional Football clubs to carry out COVID-19 tests on all their players ad backroom staff before every match. This was disclosed in a letter dated December 26, 2020, sent to the chairmen of the League Management Company, Nigeria National League, Nationwide League One and Nigeria Women’s Football League. The directive also involved clubs in the NNL, NLO and NWFL. The NFF also directed league bodies to conduct the tests on match officials before matches to ensure matches are played under a safe environment as the country battles the second phase of the virus. The letter read, “Sequel to the decision of the various Leagues to start the season (NWFL already on), this is to remind you of the need to ensure that play...
Osimhen Recovers From Shoulder Injury, Returns To Italy For Xmas
Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Osimhen Recovers From Shoulder Injury, Returns To Italy For Xmas

Napoli and Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has reportedly recovered from the shoulder injury which has sidelined him for weeks now and is back in Italy for Christmas, according to reports. The 21-year-old has been sidelined since dislocating his shoulder while on international duty with Nigeria last month. His last match for Gennaro Gatusso’s side was on November 8, when he scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 away win against Bologna. Osimhen has missed 10 games across all competitions for Napoli following the setback. According to Italian news hub La Repulica, the former Wolfsburg striker will return to action when football resumes in January. Osimhen travelled to Belgium last week to receive theraphy from a specialist. The striker has scored twice in eight...
Super Eagles 2021 Fixtures Set To Return To Lagos
News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Super Eagles 2021 Fixtures Set To Return To Lagos

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has assured that the National Stadium pitch in Surulere, Lagos could be ready to host Super Eagles and other international matches by May 2021. The Minister made this assertion during an inspection tour of the Surulere National Stadium, Lagos which is undergoing rehabilitation. His words: “It’s high time we had a familiar ground for our national teams. The Moshood Abiola National stadium Abuja and the Surulere National Stadium, Lagos will be ready to host matches next year and it will be a major plus to our teams when they have a familiar ground. “This arrangement is under the adopt initiative which is a public-private model that we developed. We were able to pitch that to the private sector. We discussed with a philanthrop...
New NPFL Season to Start Before End of 2020 – Sports Minister
Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Sports

New NPFL Season to Start Before End of 2020 – Sports Minister

Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Minister of Youths and Sports Development, has said that the new NPFL reason will start before the end of 2020. The Minister disclosed this to journalists in Lagos during his inspection tour of the Surulere national stadium in Lagos State. Dare said the development followed consultations with the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick and other relevant government agencies. He said that club owners have been informed of the new safety protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. He added that similar protocols enforced prior to the commencement of the female league would apply to the NPFL league. Dare said, “If you want your club to play, you must follow the football rules, I’m sorry that’s why that league hasn’t started, I ...
Eagles Yet to Have First Choice Goalie – Rohr
News, Nigeria, Sports

Eagles Yet to Have First Choice Goalie – Rohr

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has said Maduka Okoye must work twice as hard if he wishes to maintain his position as the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team. Okoye has featured for the Super Eagles in their last four matches, but his performance against Sierra Leone last month was questioned by the fans after he conceded four goals. The goalkeeper has been in sublime form in recent weeks for his club side, Sparta Rotterdam. Okoye who once played for Fortuna Düsseldorf rose through the ranks as back up goalie to book a place as a regular first choice for Sparta Rotterdam, keeping four clean sheets in the process; the most by any goalkeeper in the team this season. Rohr while commenting on the recent form of the goalkeeper warned Okoye not to rest on his oars as the r...
Flying Eagles Kicked Out of WAFU Cup
News, Nigeria, Sports

Flying Eagles Kicked Out of WAFU Cup

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have crashed out of the 2020 WAFU B Zonal championship taking place in Poto Novo, Benin Republic. The Nigerian side finished their first two games with just a point, needing Cote D’Ivoire to beat Ghana with a 2-0 margin on Saturday to qualify for the semifinals, but the Ivorian side managed to win by a single goal. Ladan Bosso’s side Flying Eagles were sent packing from the championship, leaving the Young Elephants and Black Satellites to qualify from the group. Their failure to progress in the competition would make the side miss out on the 2021 U-20 AFCON which serves as qualifications for the FIFA U20 World Cup.