Category: Sports

Taiwo Awoniyi is set to return to Bundesliga outfit Mainz O5 for the second half of the season, DAILY POST reports.

Awoniyi has struggled for regular playing time at the Premier League club this season.

The arrival of striker Lorenzo Lucca has further pushed him down the pecking order at the City Ground.

According to SportsBoom, a loan move to Mainz is now being discussed.

The Bundesliga club have opened talks with the Tricky Trees to resign Awoniyi.

The 28-year-old spent the 2019/20 season with Mainz, scoring once in 12 league appearances.

Transfer: Awoniyi set to Bundesliga on loan 

The teams with the most cards, offsides and clean sheets during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, tournament in Morocco have been confirmed.

DAILY POST reports that the 2025 AFCON was recently concluded in Morocco last weekend.

Senegal emerged champions following a 1-0 win against Morocco in the AFCON final, thanks to Pape Gueye’s second-half goal.

However, in a post on CAF’s website, the country with the most cards are champions, Senegal.

The Teranga Lions had 17 yellow cards and 1 red card during the tournament in Morocco.

The country with the most offsides is Egypt.

The Pharaohs, who were defeated in the third-place playoff, recorded 15 offsides.

Similarly, the countries with the most clean sheets are Senegal and Morocco. Both teams have 5 clean sheets each.

AFCON 2025: Teams with most cards, offsides, clean sheets confirmed

Former Liverpool player, Didi Hamann has urged winger, Mohamed Salah to consider leaving the club for the Saudi Pro League this summer transfer window.

Hamann expressed concern that Salah has become a source of distraction for manager, Arne Slot and the team at Anfield.

“He had the chance to go to Saudi Arabia last season and he did not. I am not sure he wants to go there,” Hamann told BetGoat (via GOAL) as reported by Sportskeeda.

“If you ask me today, the best solution would be to part ways. It would probably benefit him and the team.

“He came out with statements I didn’t really understand, it lingers around the camp and every time he does not play, the Arne Slot gets asked why, and it becomes a distraction.

“There have been poor performances without Salah as well, so it is unfair to put the blame all on him.”

EPL: Leave Liverpool, you’ve become distraction for Slot – Hamann urges Salah

Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has dismissed Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola’s claims that the Gunners are the best team in the world.

In a pre-match press conference before Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Wolves, Guardiola expressed his belief that Arsenal is the best team in the world.

However, when questioned about Guardiola’s remarks,  Arteta downplayed the compliment, asserting that his team cannot yet be considered the best due to their lack of major trophies.

“I don’t know,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League tie with Manchester United on Sunday when asked about Guardiola’s claims.

“I think we’re the team that wants to be constantly better, that were doing a lot of things right, but we’re far from perfect.

“To be related to that [best team in the world], you’ve to win a lot of things [trophies] and we’ve not.”

EPL: We haven’t won many trophies – Arteta dismisses Guardiola’s claim about Arsenal

Birmingham City’s manager, Chris Davies, has praised Bright Osayi-Samuel, who plays as a fullback for the Super Eagles.

He hailed the player for his performance during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Osayi-Samuel was very important as Nigeria won the bronze medal by beating Egypt 4-2 in the third-place match on penalties.

The former Fenerbahçe player played well on defense and also helped attack, making the Super Eagles one of the most aggressive teams in the tournament.

During his pre-match press conference, Davies praised Osayi-Samuel’s performances for Nigeria,  saying he performed well even though the Super Eagles sadly missed out on  the Afcon title.

Davies told reporters, “He’s back, which is good news, and I congratulated him on his performances and Nigeria for making it to the tournament.

“Although they didn’t win the competition, they made the country proud, and Bright really enjoyed being part of that, so we’re happy to have him back.”

Osayi-Samuel was taken out of the third-place match against Egypt after he hurt his hamstring in the second half.

This made people wonder if he would be prepared for the game at St. Andrew’s Stadium.

The Blues manager shared an update on his fitness, saying the Nigerian player has been checked by the club’s doctors and is ready to play against Stoke City.

“He is available. There was a little issue, but we’ve had him checked out and he’s trained today, so he’s okay,” Davies added.

Osayi-Samuel, 28, has been part of the club’s last nine games and is eager to keep up his good performance against Stoke City on Saturday.

AFCON: ‘You made Nigeria proud’ – Birmingham manager hails Osayi-Samuel

The Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, has announced a temporary suspension of the ongoing 2025-26 league season.

The decision was reached following a petition to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, by one of the clubs affected by the ongoing U-20 national team camping.

The club has seen more than five of its players called up, thereby compromising its ability to compete fairly.

The NWFL is expected to resume on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.

The NWFL stated this in a memo signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi and sent to all the participating clubs on Thursday.

According to the memo, only a one-week mid-season break will be observed, clubs have also been provided with updated fixtures reflecting the revised timeline and are expected to comply accordingly.

Bayelsa Queens and FC Robo Queens are top of the NWFL Group A and B respectively.

NWFL postpones 2025-26 season

Nigerian striker, Salim Fago Lawal is closing in on a transfer to Azerbaijani giants Qarabağ FK, DAILY POST reports.

Lawal’s Croatian club, NK Istra 1961 will earn €2m as transfer fee, according to multiple reports.

The move is expected to be finalised in the next couple of days.

The 23-year-old joined NK Istra from Mavlon Academy less than two years ago.

Lawal has registered five goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions for NK Istra this season.

The forward was part of the Super Eagles’ squad to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, making one appearance at the competition.

He also once represented Nigeria at the U-20 level.

Transfer: Super Eagles new boy set to join Qarabag from NK Istra 

The four countries with the best defense during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, tournament in Morocco have been confirmed.

Recall that the 2025 AFCON was recently concluded in Morocco last Sunday.

Senegal was crowned champions after beating the Atlas Lions 1-0 in the AFCON final, thanks to Pape Gueye’s only goal of the encounter.

However, in a post on CAF’s website, the countries with the best defense are Morocco, Comoros, DR Congo and Senegal.

The four teams conceded only two goals each during the tournament.

Morocco and Senegal reached the AFCON final, while DR Congo was eliminated from the tournament in the Round of 16 at the hands of Algeria.

Comoros, meanwhile, could not make it out from the group stage as they crashed out after recording only two points from three matches in Group A.

AFCON 2025: Four countries with the best defense confirmed

Ludogorets midfielder, Petar Stanić is the current leading top scorer in the UEFA Europa League following the conclusion of this week’s matches.

Stanić has six goals to his name so far in the competition.

He failed to extend his tally during his side’s 1-0 defeat to Rangers on Thursday.

Stanić is ahead of the likes of Dion Beljo, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, and Hamza Igamane on the goal chart.

Here are the top scorers in the Europa League so far:

6 goals – Petar Stanić (Ludogorets), 4 goals –  Dion Beljo (GNK Dinamo), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Fenerbahçe), Hamza Igamane (Lille), Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest), Karol Świderski (Panathinaikos), Talisca (Fenerbahçe), Corentin Tolisso (Lyon) and Barnabás Varga (Ferencváros) and Anass Zaroury (Panathinaikos).

Europa League top scorers after this week’s matches

Raphael Onyedika is eager to leave Belgian Pro League outfit, Club Brugge before the end of the current transfer window, DAILY POST reports.

Turkish Super Lig champions, Galatasaray have keen interest in the defensive midfielder, and have reportedly agreed personal terms with his representatives.

A million euros a year salary is also on the table for Onyedika.

Club Brugge have, however, rejected Galatasaray’s bid  for the Nigeria international.

They are desperate to keep the 24-year-old until the end of the season, according to Voetbalkrant.

Onyedika, who has one year and a half left on his contract, joined Brugge from Danish outfit, FC Midtylland in 2022.

Onyedika pushing to leave Club Brugge