Tag: General Sports

Atalanta President Antonio Percassi has disclosed that Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal have expressed interest in signing Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman.

Lookman has been a hot topic in recent transfer discussions, thanks to his stellar performances for Atalanta. The Nigerian international played a crucial role in La Dea’s journey to the UEFA Europa League final last season, notably scoring a remarkable hat-trick in their triumph over Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite heavy Premier League speculation about a potential move away from Bergamo last summer, no deal materialized.

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However, interest in the 27-year-old forward has not waned, and Atalanta face a challenging situation as his contract is set to expire at the end of next season.

The club has yet to secure Lookman on a new deal, raising concerns about the possibility of losing him on a free transfer if an extension is not agreed upon. Although a January departure appears unlikely, speculation is expected to intensify ahead of the summer transfer window.

Speaking on the matter, Percassi affirmed Atalanta’s desire to retain Lookman but acknowledged that the club may have no choice but to sell if he does not commit to a contract extension.

“We will do everything at the end of the season to keep Lookman, but he must stay with full commitment. After all, we have previously replaced key players like Zapata, Papu Gomez, and Muriel,” Percassi stated, as reported by Nico Schira.

With Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United closely monitoring the situation, Atalanta could face significant offers for their prized forward. While Lookman is currently valued at €55 million on Transfermarkt, the Italian club might demand up to €80 million to sanction his departure.

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The Nigerian forward who has previously played in the premier league for Everton, Fulham and Leicester city has registered 14 goals, 7 assist in 27 games across the Serie A, UEFA Champions league and Coppa Italia for the Bergamo based team.

Source: The Athletic NG

Olympiacos have secured the signing of Nigerian defender Bruno Onyemaechi from Boavista for €2.5 million ( about ₦4,090,724,819.72) subject to medical tests and the completion of paperwork.

The reigning Europa Conference League champions overcame late competition from European heavyweights Benfica and Fenerbahce to land the 25-year-old.

Onyemaechi, who has earned 11 caps for Nigeria, arrived in Athens on Thursday to undergo medical examinations and finalize a three-and-a-half-year contract with Olympiacos, according to Greek media outlet Parapolitika.

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His move ends a successful stint in Portugal, where he made 77 appearances for Boavista, scoring five goals and registering four assists since joining in 2020.

Despite reports of a late push from Benfica and Fenerbahce, Olympiacos successfully agreed on terms with Boavista, which sought to retain a percentage of any future transfer profits.

Onyemaechi’s stock rose following an impressive 2023-24 season with Boavista, where he featured in every league match, contributing three goals and one assist.

Known for his pace, physicality, and versatility, the left-sided defender is expected to bolster Olympiacos’ defensive options as they target success both domestically and in Europe.

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The player was also a key member of the Nigerian squad that reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

For Boavista, the transfer provides much-needed financial relief amid FIFA-imposed restrictions, but it leaves a gap in their defense as they prepare for an upcoming match against Braga.

This move strengthens Olympiacos’ defensive ranks as they continue to challenge in both the Greek league and the Europa League.

The official announcement of the deal is expected within the next 24 hours.

Source: The Athletic NG

Kano Pillars secured a vital 2-0 victory over Enyimba International in a rescheduled NPFL fixture on Thursday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, with striker Abba Adam netting a brace.

The win propels Pillars into seventh place on the league table with 29 points from 19 matches, while Enyimba drops to eighth, having earned 28 points from 18 games.

Enyimba’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, made one change to his starting lineup from their previous game in Cairo.

Goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena was replaced by Zali Abdullahi, who made his second league start. Jephta was unavailable, with Nnaji taking his place on the bench.

For Kano Pillars, key players like Ahmed Musa led the attack, and Shehu Abdullahi anchored the defense.

The match, held at the iconic Sani Abacha Stadium, saw both teams eager to gain the upper hand.

Pillars almost scored early, with Zulkifilu Muhammad heading just wide from a Rabiu Ali corner in the 5th minute.

The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Abba Adam collected a pass from Ibrahim Inuwa, evading his marker and calmly slotting the ball into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Despite Enyimba’s attempts to find an equalizer, Pillars held firm, taking their advantage into halftime.

The second half saw Pillars make a substitution, with Auwalu Ali Malam replaced by Mustapha Umar. Enyimba pushed for a response, but their efforts were thwarted by Pillars’ disciplined defense.

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In the 72nd minute, Abba Adam doubled his tally, scoring his fourth goal of the season with a clinical finish that left Enyimba scrambling.

The goal effectively sealed the victory for the hosts.

Pillars made additional changes, with Aminu Adam Sani replacing Zulkifilu Muhammad in the 75th minute. Enyimba responded by introducing Nwaodu and Moses in place of Paschal and Atule in the 86th minute.

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However, the substitutions had little impact on the match.

This victory marks a significant achievement for Kano Pillars, as it extends the winless streak of Enyimba, a team they last lost to at home 3,187 days ago on May 4, 2016, in a 2-1 defeat.

Source: The Athletic NG

The draw for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place on Monday evening at the prestigious Mohamed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco.

The draw event, scheduled for January 29, 2025, will determine the groupings for the tournament, which runs from December 21 to January 18 – making it the first AFCON to span across two calendar years.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who have won the tournament three times, will be represented at the AFCON draw by Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle, Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, and Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee

The Super Eagles have been placed in Pot 1 alongside other football powerhouses such as Egypt (seven-time champions), Cote d’Ivoire (three-time champions and current holders), Algeria (two-time winners), hosts Morocco (1976 champions), and 2021 champions Senegal.

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This promises to be a highly competitive tournament, with the Super Eagles looking to add to their record 16 medals from 20 previous AFCON appearances.

This year’s AFCON also marks the first time Morocco will host the tournament since 1988. Despite pulling out as hosts for the 2015 edition due to Ebola concerns.

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Morocco has since hosted major events like the 2018 African Nations Championship (which they won) and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, cementing their status as a key player in African football.

As the AFCON draw unfolds on Monday, all eyes will be on which teams the Super Eagles will face in the group stages.

Source: The Athletic NG

Rangers International F.C of Enugu has reinforced its squad ahead of the second half of the 2024/2025 NPFL season with the return of strikers Amobi Ezeaku, Michael Uchebo and several new signings.

Amobi Ezeaku, who also serves as the club’s General Manager, played a key role in Rangers’ title-winning campaign last season, contributing to the team’s success despite making just three appearances.

His return adds vital depth to the attacking line as Rangers look to maintain their title challenge in the second half of the season.

Joining Ezeaku in bolstering the squad is former Super Eagles striker Michael Uchebo, who returns to Rangers for a third stint at the club.

Uchebo capped 5 times for the Super Eagles is returning to professional football after 5 years out.

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Uchebo, a 34-year-old seasoned forward, first played for the Flying Antelopes in the 2008/2009 season before moving to Europe.

He rejoined in the 2018/2019 season after a decade playing in Europe, including stints in the Netherlands with VV Venlo, Belgium with Cercle Brugge, and Portugal with Boavista.

Uchebo’s return to the NPFL follows the trend of former internationals joining Nigerian clubs, with players such as Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars), Brown Ideye (Enyimba), and Shehu Abdullahi (Kano Pillars) also making moves to domestic teams.

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Other notable new signings include Patrick Egeonu, Ikechukwu Mgbemena and Ejike Uzoechi.

These additions further solidify Rangers’ squad, ensuring more competition for starting positions and improving depth in key areas.

As the second stanza of the NPFL season kicks off, Rangers will host Niger Tornadoes on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

The Flying Antelopes have an impressive record against Niger Tornadoes, having won ten of their last twenty-four encounters, while the Minna-based side has only managed three victories, with eleven matches ending in draws.

Rangers will be confident going into the match, having recorded three wins, two draws, and one loss in their last six matches (W, D, W, D, L, W).

In contrast, Niger Tornadoes have struggled recently, with two wins and four losses in their last six matches (L, L, W, L, W, L).

Rangers will be looking to capitalize on this and start the second half of the season with a strong performance.

Source: The Athletic NG

World record holder Tobi Amusan will take center stage at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Meet in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

This marks Amusan’s first race since the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it’s shaping up to be a fierce competition, with other top athletes also ready to make their season debut.

Amusan is expected to race against the home girl and one of Jamaica’s finest athletes, Jackson, marking the first time they will be competing in the same event.

The 27-year-old, who made a coaching switch in September 2024, is now under the tutelage of Usain Bolt’s coach Glen Mills in Jamaica and will be looking forward to making a bright start to the season after fizzling out of the last campaign.

However, the meet is not World Athletics certified, hence will not count for qualification purposes for the 2025 World Championships which will be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.

Also listed to run the women’s 60m at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Meet are former world junior champion Anthonique Strachan, and Jonielle Smith.

Other stars expected to compete are Zharnel Hughes, Tyquendo Tracy, and Brendon Rodney.

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In a twist no one saw coming, Amusan will race against Jamaican star Grace Jackson in the 60m event for the very first time.

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For Nigeria, Amusan has competed in three Olympics and is also a four-time African Games champion, five-time African champion, three-time Diamond League winner (2021, 2022, 2023), and two-time Commonwealth Games champion (2018 and 2022).

She was recently inducted into the University of Texas El Paso’s, Hall of Fame

Source: The Athletic NG

Former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha has shockingly confessed that his time as chairman of the Delta State Football Association (DSFA) was a complete failure.

Okocha, 51, had a sensational career playing for Bolton, PSG, Hull city, Fenerbahçe and Frankfurt but his time as a football administrator was one that he will never forget.

Okocha, who hung up his boots in 2008, took on the Delta FA leadership role in 2015 replacing former NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

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Okocha admitted during an interview with Sports Zone on Lagos Talks FM that he “achieved nothing” in the Delta FA Chairman position.

“I failed woefully as Delta FA chairman. I didn’t complete my tenure and walked away,” Okocha revealed. “What I encountered there was not what I expected. The environment wasn’t conducive for me to work, and the people I worked with had differing views. The best decision for me was to leave, which I did. I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t accomplish anything as the chairman.”

Okocha also spoke candidly about the widespread corruption in Nigeria, which he believes made it impossible for him to succeed.

“The structure simply wouldn’t allow someone like me to thrive. Corruption in the country is just too much. When you’re surrounded by people with selfish motives, it won’t work.”

Okocha’s tenure ended in 2020 when he was succeeded by Kenneth Nwaomucha as the substantive chairman of Delta FA.

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The former Nigerian international capped 73 times has since left football administration to concentrate on punditry and football business.

Source: The Athletic NG

Nigeria international Cyril Dessers set a record on Thursday as Manchester United edged out Rangers 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League.

Cyriel dessers, 30, stunning 88th-minute goal made him the first-ever Rangers player to score against Manchester United in their last five encounters.

With his equalizer seemingly salvaging a point for Rangers, Dessers was on the verge of writing a new chapter in their European campaign.

But disaster struck in stoppage time when Bruno Fernandes volleyed home from a Lisandro Martinez cross to seal the win for Manchester United.

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Rangers had been trailing since Jack Butland’s comical own goal in the second half, but Dessers’ goal gave them hope.

However, the loss leaves them in a dire situation, now 13th in the standings.

They’ll need a win over Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise next week and other results to go their way to have any hope of advancing to the last 16.

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For Manchester United, victory puts them in a strong position to progress, with a win over Romanian side FCSB securing their spot.

Source: The Athletic NG

Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has spoken out after Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Thursday, praising his teammates despite the heartbreaking loss in the UEFA Europa League.

The Gers traveled to Old Trafford for their penultimate group-stage match, with both teams needing a win to keep their hopes of automatic qualification to the round of 16 alive.

Manchester United were the favorites, but their recent form had left the door open for Rangers.

After a goalless first half, Manchester United took the lead with a Jack Butland own goal in the second half.

Rangers responded in the 88th minute through Dessers, seemingly securing a point. However, Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time goal sealed a dramatic 2-1 win for the Red Devils.

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Reflecting on the match, Dessers expressed his frustration but praised his team’s performance:

“It’s tough to take, especially after such a rollercoaster of emotions. We thought we’d secured a point from Old Trafford, but then to lose it like that is painful.”  

Dessers went on to highlight the contributions of his teammates:

“I’m proud of the performance. We came here with a few injuries and had more during the match.

The young players who came in did an unbelievable job—they showed great work ethic, courage, and the ability to play forward. For many of them, it was only their second or third game at this level, and that’s a huge credit to them.”  

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Dessers, who scored in his second consecutive game, will now look to build on his form as Rangers prepare for their next Europa League clash against Royale Union SG next week.

Source: The Athletic NG

Kano Pillars secured a vital 2-0 victory over Enyimba International in a rescheduled NPFL fixture on Thursday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, with striker Abba Adam netting a brace.

The win propels Pillars into seventh place on the league table with 29 points from 19 matches, while Enyimba drops to eighth, having earned 28 points from 18 games.

Enyimba’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, made one change to his starting lineup from their previous game in Cairo.

Goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena was replaced by Zali Abdullahi, who made his second league start. Jephta was unavailable, with Nnaji taking his place on the bench.

For Kano Pillars, key players like Ahmed Musa led the attack, and Shehu Abdullahi anchored the defense.

The match, held at the iconic Sani Abacha Stadium, saw both teams eager to gain the upper hand.

Pillars almost scored early, with Zulkifilu Muhammad heading just wide from a Rabiu Ali corner in the 5th minute.

The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Abba Adam collected a pass from Ibrahim Inuwa, evading his marker and calmly slotting the ball into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Despite Enyimba’s attempts to find an equalizer, Pillars held firm, taking their advantage into halftime.

The second half saw Pillars make a substitution, with Auwalu Ali Malam replaced by Mustapha Umar. Enyimba pushed for a response, but their efforts were thwarted by Pillars’ disciplined defense.

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In the 72nd minute, Abba Adam doubled his tally, scoring his fourth goal of the season with a clinical finish that left Enyimba scrambling.

The goal effectively sealed the victory for the hosts.

Pillars made additional changes, with Aminu Adam Sani replacing Zulkifilu Muhammad in the 75th minute. Enyimba responded by introducing Nwaodu and Moses in place of Paschal and Atule in the 86th minute.

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However, the substitutions had little impact on the match.

This victory marks a significant achievement for Kano Pillars, as it ended a long wait for a home win against Enyimba, a team they last lost to at home 3,187 days ago on May 4, 2016, in a 2-1 defeat.

Source: The Athletic NG