Category: Sports

Remo Stars head coach, Sulaiman Folarin, says they are determined to get their confidence back in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

The Sky Blue Stars have struggled to replicate the form that helped them win the NPFL title last season.

Remo Stars have managed only one win from their last three league games.

They currently occupy ninth position on the NPFL table with 22 points.

Folarin said that the position is not befitting for a defending champion.

“This period what matters to us is to get our confidence back as the defending champion, that position isn’t where we belong,” Folarin told Remo Stars media.

“We want to continue to win games so our confidence can be restored, so that we can go back to where we belong on the league table.”

NPFL: Remo Stars must keep winning momentum – Folarin

Marseille legend, Mamadou Niang has identified defender Calvin Bassey as the Super Eagles player that should replace William Troost-Ekong at the heart of Nigeria’s defence.

Recall that Troost-Ekong recently shocked football fans when he announced his retirement from international football last week.

The former Watford defender ended a decade-long Super Eagles career after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“With what I see at Fulham, the impact he has in Premier League matches, he is a talented, tough defender who has very good distribution with his left foot, and athletic quality which is above average,” Niang said via Canal+.

“He is a player I think is a leader of the Nigeria defence, who can replace Troost-Ekong, who took this Nigerian team to the AFCON final.

“Calvin Bassey is more than capable of succeeding him in that position.”

AFCON 2025: ‘He’s capable’ – Niang names Super Eagles player that should replace Troost-Ekong

Sevilla head coach Matias Almeyda remains firmly behind Akor Adams despite the forward’s poor form in front of goal, DAILY POST reports.

The Nigeria international has failed to register a goal in his last eight league appearances for the Rojiblancos.

Akor also has a poor record of being constantly caught offside in LaLiga this season.

The striker has been caught offside 22 times, more than anyone in Europe’s top five  leagues.

The 25-year-old was forced to turn off the comments section on his X account this week after facing cyberbullying from Sevilla fans.

Almeyda is however optimistic the former Montpellier player will hit top form soon.

“He is a footballer who works a lot and needs confidence. I prefer that he is trying to right his wrongs rather than standing still,” the Argentine was quoted by Orgullobiri.

Akor has registered two goals one assist in 12 league appearances for Sevilla this season.

LaLiga: Sevilla coach Almeyda backs Akor to end goal drought

Uganda head coach Paul Put has blasted FIFA for shifting player release date for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, DAILY POST reports.

Clubs were mandated to release players two weeks before the start of previous AFCON tournaments.

FIFA, reportedly due to pressure from European clubs, shifted the release period to just one week before the start of the upcoming competition.

The decision has disrupted the plan of majority of the qualified countries.

Put took aim at the world soccer governing body for the decision.

“We received a message from FIFA that we can only have the players abroad on the 16th or 17th. I had hoped to get them from the 8th. Now we will be with half the team until then,” Put told Uganda Football Federation official website.

“It becomes very difficult to make good preparation but we will deal with it. It is unfortunate but it is like this.”

The Cranes are currently preparing for the AFCON 2025 finals in Casablanca, Morocco.

AFCON 2025: Uganda coach slams FIFA over player release decision

HT Spor commentator, Mustafa Denizli  has criticized Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen following his display in the team’s UEFA Champions League 1-0 defeat to Monaco on Tuesday.

Recall that Osimhen failed to score as Galatasaray lost against Monaco in France.

Denizli insisted that Osimhen was very ineffective against the French Ligue 1 side.

“The primary reason for losing this match was that Monaco won the deflected second balls,” Denizli said (via Habersarikirmizi).

“As the English say, ‘The team that wins the match must win the second balls.’ Galatasaray exerted an unusually strong effort in the first half.

“I don’t know if anyone saw Osimhen in this match. He played one of his most passive games since joining Galatasaray.

“If Osimhen had been able to keep up with Barış Alper Yılmaz and Leroy Sane in terms of tempo, running, and exertion in the first half, the result could have been different. But he was very ineffective.”

UCL: ‘He was very ineffective’ – Mustafa Denizli criticizes Osimhen

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has claimed Real Madrid would have sacked him within six months last season.

According to him, Madrid is the “hardest” club to manage in the whole world.

Guardiola was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of their Champions League clash against Los Blancos.

The Spaniard was answering questions about Xabi Alonso, who future is now uncertain at the Bernabeu, following a poor run of form.

Managing Real Madrid is the hardest job in football,” Guardiola said.

“If I performed the way I did last season as Real Madrid’s manager, I would’ve been sacked in six months.”

UCL: Real Madrid would have sacked me in six months – Guardiola

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has confirmed that three players will not be available to play against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Arteta revealed this on Tuesday during his pre-match press conference.

Max Dowman has suffered an ankle injury, while William Saliba is still not available.

Declan Rice is ill and Leandro Trossard who came on as a sub against Aston Villa last weekend, is injured the same area again.

Arteta said: “With Max [Dowman], unfortunately he picked an injury last weekend and he had to come off. So we did some scans and he’s going to be out for a while, for weeks.

“And then we have the situation of Gabi [Jesus], which we’re expecting to be training with us by the end of December. But Gabi’s been pushing. Every single day, and he kept telling everybody, ‘I’m going to be earlier, earlier, earlier,’ and he’s done it.

“So thanks to his work and all the work that the medical staff have done with him throughout these months, we had the possibility to make a swap there. We’ve done it. Once you see obviously Max and his situation, and once you see obviously the joy and how happy Gabi is to be back in this competition with us.

“So Declan [Rice]was ill, so he was quite sick after the game already. And he hasn’t traveled with us. William [Saliba] is still not available. And Leo [Trossard], again, he picked another knock in an area where he had the previous issue. And I don’t expect that it’s going to be long. But unfortunately, he cannot be with us.”

UCL: Arteta confirms triple injury blow ahead of Club Brugge vs Arsenal clash

The Oyo State government has announced free entry for the Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, matchday three fixture between Pacesetter Queens and Rivers Angels.

The announcement was made through the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Tuesday.

The move aims to encourage massive support, promote women’s football, and create a vibrant home atmosphere for Pacesetter Queens.

Pacesetter Queens will face Rivers Angels at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The Arewa Oyo will be making their first-ever appearance in front of their home fans in the NWFL.

Pacesetter Queens are making their maiden appearance in the NWFL.

They suffered defeats in their two opening fixtures against Adamawa Queens and Ibom Angels, respectively.

NWFL: Oyo government throw gate open for Pacesetter Queens vs Rivers Angels

Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi has included captain Mbwana Samatta and experienced striker Simon Msuva in his 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.

Samatta earns a place in the squad after rediscovering his form with Ligue 1 outfit Le Havre.

Iraq-based forward Msuva has been a standout performer for the Taifa Stars in recent years.

The squad is dominated by players from the Tanzanian Premier League.

Tanzania, who will be making their fourth AFCON appearance in Morocco, have never made it out of the group stage.

The Taifa Stars are drawn in a difficult group alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and regional rivals Uganda.

Gamondi’s side will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their first game in Fez on Tuesday, 23 December.

AFCON 2025: Tanzania unveil squad for Super Eagles, others

Akwa United head coach, Paul Offor, says they will make up for their home draw against Godswill Akpabio FC when they confront Sporting Lagos.

The Promise Keepers settled for a 0-0 against Godswill Akpabio FC in their last home game in Uyo last weekend.

Akwa United will square up with Sporting Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Lagos on Wednesday.

Offor said they will give their best in the game.

“We have to put this game behind us and focus on Wednesday’s match against Sporting Lagos,” Offor told Akwa United’s media.

“We hope to go there, give our best, and recover the points we dropped at home.”

DAILY POST reports that Offor will be facing his former club for the first time since his disengagement by the Lagos-based side.

NNL: Offor targets Akwa United’s win over Sporting Lagos