Tag: Sports

Everton Outcast, Iwobi Mulls Transfer Options
English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Sports

Everton Outcast, Iwobi Mulls Transfer Options

Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi is considering a move away from Goodison Park after being overlooked for Everton’s first two fixtures of the season. Iwobi, 24 arrived at Everton last summer from Arsenal following a £34 million deal but has failed to tie down a place in the team this season. Last season, the forward scored just once in 25 Premier League games under former manager, Marcus Silva. The sacking of Silva led to the recruitment of veteran coach, Carlo Ancelotti who has been backed in the transfer market, a move which has seen Everton acquiring the services of Niels Nkounkou from Marseille as well as Allan, and James Rodriguez from Spanish giants, Real Madrid. Reports by the Telegraph claims Iwobi is among a group of nine senior players the English Premiership League outf...
Sports Minister Lauds Kwara Governor for Naming Stadium After Veteran Footballer, Yekini
News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Sports Minister Lauds Kwara Governor for Naming Stadium After Veteran Footballer, Yekini

The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare has lauded the kind gesture of the Kwara State governor who renamed the state’s Sports Complex Stadium after Super Eagles player, late Rashidi Yekini. This was disclosed as the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the Minister in his office in Abuja on Thursday to deliberate prospects of youth and sports development. Dare appreciated the governor for taking a bold step in immortalizing the former African footballer of the year who died on May 4, 2012. Rashidi who hails from Kwara passed on at the age of 48. Governor AbdulRazaq announced at the meeting that progress has been made in immortalizing football icon, Rashidi Yekini by naming the Kwara State Sports Complex Stadium Ilorin after him. The sports minister encouraged the governor t...
CAF Postpones Continental Club Competitions Due to COVID-19 Upsurge
Africa, Covid-19, News, Sports

CAF Postpones Continental Club Competitions Due to COVID-19 Upsurge

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed all the remaining matches in Africa’s two continental club competitions for a second time due to COVID-19 concerns. The postponement was informed by a surge in COVID-19 cases in Morocco which caused cancellation of fixtures in the North African country during the first two weeks of September, Punch reports. Two Moroccan clubs are still in the semi-final stage of the CAF Champions league and Confederations Cup and were scheduled to host the last two rounds of the Confederations Cup. Ahmad Ahmad, CAF chairman during a press conference said the decision was reached after consultations with the various parties. CAF disclosed in August that the two-leg Champions League semi-finals which will see Egyptian club faceoff against Egyp...
Nigerian Born Tomori on the Brink of Making Everton Switch
English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Sports

Nigerian Born Tomori on the Brink of Making Everton Switch

Chelsea’s defender, Fikayo Tomori is on the verge of signing a season-long loan with Everton. Talks have advanced between both clubs as Everton continue their busy transfer market which has seen them bolstering their squad ahead of the new season. The Toffees are believed to have hijacked the deal from French side Rennes, who were close to sealing the deal for the 21-year old defender. Everton’s interest seems to have been ignited by failure to sign Gabriel Magalhaes who opted to join London side, Arsenal. Despite a sterling start for Chelsea in his debut season, Tomori lost his place in the starting lineup after the recovery of Antonio Rudiger from injury. Chelsea coach, Frank Lampard failed to utilise Tomori for any of the club’s games after the COVID-19 enforced break. The s...
AFCON Trophy Missing from Egyptian Football Association Headquarters in Cairo
AFCON, Africa, Corruption, Crime, Egypt, News, Sports

AFCON Trophy Missing from Egyptian Football Association Headquarters in Cairo

News emerging from Egypt has it that the trophy the country's national team won thrice in a row was discovered missing from the country's football federation headquarters. According to reports, the discovery was made as preparations were being made to create a museum where all the trophies and awards won by the Egyptian football teams will be kept and displayed. Ahmed Shobir, a former Egyptian Football Association, Vice President, is quoted as saying: "Officials of the committee which meets every five years and currently manages the Football Association were surprised that the trophy was not available, in light of their desire to create a museum at the federation headquarters, which would feature the trophy and the national team’s kits. "However, (they) were surprised to find that...
NFF, Nike to Unveil National Team New Jerseys October
Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Sports

NFF, Nike to Unveil National Team New Jerseys October

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is set to unveil new kits for Nigerian National Teams designed by kit-sponsors Nike in October. The NFF’s Communication Department disclosed in a statement on Tuesday. Finishing touches were put to the designs with observations and comments taken, and Nike officials fully briefed on the minute details of the preferences of the NFF chieftains during a virtual meeting of NFF officials and Nike executives. NFF team which met with Nike officials include Pinnick, vice presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko; General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi; board members Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Felix Anyansi-Agwu; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Head of Marketing, Alizor Chuks and Special Assistant to Pinnick, Nasiru Jibril. The new jerseys we...
Egbo led KF Tirana’s Champions League Dreams Dashed by Red Star Belgrade Defeat
News, Nigeria, Sports

Egbo led KF Tirana’s Champions League Dreams Dashed by Red Star Belgrade Defeat

KF Tirana’s hopes of playing in the UEFA Champions League group stage suffered a blow after their defeat by Red Star Belgrade in the qualifying stage. Their Nigerian gaffer, Ndubuisi Egbo had hoped to be the first African coach to manage a game in the Champions League finals. They lost 1-0 to Serbian opposition, Red Star Belgrade in the second round of qualifiers for the elite competition. Though FK Tirana had started the game on the stronger foot but they could not convert their chances against the better experienced side who recovered from a slow start to clinch the win. The tie was decided by Tomane’s 62nd minute strike for Red Star Belgrade which put to bed FK Tirana’s fantastic run of games. Earlier in the qualifiers, Egbo’s side beat Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi 2-0 in...
Mikel on the Verge of Joining Championship Side Stoke City
News, Nigeria, Sports

Mikel on the Verge of Joining Championship Side Stoke City

Nigerian international Midfielder, John Mikel Obi is on the verge of joining English Championship side Stoke City. Mikel who previously played for Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Trabzonspor is set to undergo medicals ahead of the deal, Bleacher published. In April, Mikel terminated his contract with Turkish side Trabzonspor on mutual consent, making him a free agent. There were speculations of Swansea City being interested in the signature of the former Chelsea holding midfielder, but Spoke City now seems to be leading the race for his services. Italian side Benevento and Brazilian heavyweight Botafogo showed interest in the 33-year-old but Mikel is believed to have rejected the deals because he prefers to stay close to his family in England. Mikel will be linking up with fellow N...
Leon Balogun Set to Miss Rangers Match Through Injury
News, Nigeria, Sports

Leon Balogun Set to Miss Rangers Match Through Injury

Rangers of Scotland coach, Steven Gerrard has said Nigerian defender Leon Balogun will not be available for selection in their weekend fixture against Livingston on Sunday through injury. Balogun was replaced after 46 minutes in their 3-0 league win over St. Johnstone, keeping his third clean-sheet for the Scottish Premier League side. Head coach Gerrard, while providing update on the extent of the injury suffered by the former Brighton & Hove Albion center-back  at a pre-match press conference on Friday said, “Leon Balogun won’t be available for the weekend, he has a small quad problem and we are waiting on results from a scan.” However, fellow compatriot, Joe Aribo is expected to line up for the weekend encounter. The midfielder kicked off his goal scoring chart for the seas...
FG Lifts Restriction on Sports, See List
Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Safety, Sports

FG Lifts Restriction on Sports, See List

The Federal government of Nigeria has granted permission for the resumption of non-contact sports in Nigeria. This was made known by Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, during its daily press briefing in Abuja. Aliyu said low risk sporting activities could resume as government continues to ease the coronavirus induced lockdown measures. These sports include athletics, lawn tennis, table tennis, golf, cricket, cycling, among others. However, contact sports like football, boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, rugby, swimming and basketball remain banned until further notice. He said, “For recreational parks/communal sports, restrictions are removed on outdoor communal non-contact sports and the use of recreational parks for supervised physi...