Category: Sports

Rivers United technical adviser, Finidi George, has acknowledged the quality of Zambian side Power Dynamos ahead of their CAF Champions League matchday three fixture.

The Pride of Rivers will do battle with Power Dynamos at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola on Saturday.

Finidi said he is looking forward to an interesting game against the Kitwe side.

“A team that is in the group stage of the CAF Champions League it shows they are a good side,” Finidi told the club’s media.

“We expect an interesting encounter against them on Saturday.”

Rivers United will trade tackles with Power Dynamos in the reverse fixture in Uyo a week later.

CAFCL: Rivers United battle ready for Dynamos clash – Finidi

Wolverhampton Wanderers have established contacts with FC Basel for winger Philip Otele, DAILY POST reports.

Otele is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

Basel are demanding £7m to sell the Nigerian, according to the BBC.

Wolves have, however, explored a loan‑with‑option structure that would include a loan fee.

Scottish Premiership giants Celtic and, Serie A club Lazio are also reportedly interested in the player.

Otele linked up with Basel from UAE’s Al Wahda last year.

He has scored 17 goals and registered seven assists in 51 appearances for the reigning Swiss Super League champions since his arrival at the club.

Transfer: Wolves explore loan move for Nigerian winger 

Sumaila Marwa Keshi has been sacked by Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, side Delta Queens.

Keshi’s dismissal was confirmed in a statement released by the Delta State Sports Commission on Wednesday.

According to reports, Keshi was sacked over allegations of bullying and unprofessional conduct.

The state Sports Commission said the coach’s behaviour was harmful to the progress of the team.

Keshi’s dismissal takes immediate effect.

Delta Queens suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Abia Angels on Wednesday in Asaba.

They have recorded three wins one draw and three defeats in the NWFL this season.

NWFL: Delta Queens sack head coach Keshi

Super Eagles striker, Akor Adams superb strike against the Desert Foxes of Algeria has been named among the the top five goals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Akor scored Nigeria’s second goal in the thrilling 2-0 quarter-final victory over Vladimir Petković’s side.

The Sevilla hitman was teed up by Victor Osimhen, and he dribbled past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, before firing the ball into the net.

It was the forward’s second goal of the tournament.

Akor was one of the top performers for the Super Eagles in the competition.

Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi, Cameroon striker Christian Kofane, Adil Boulbinan of Algeria, and Senegal’s Pape Gueye are the other players, who have their goals listed in the top five.

AFCON 2025: Adams’ goal named among CAF’s top five

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen has named the two Nigerian players he spoke with to join the Turkish Super Lig champions amid the ongoing January transfer window.

Osimhen wants his Super Eagles teammates Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika to consider making the move to Galatasaray this year amid the ongoing January transfer window.

“I spoke with [Raphael Onyedika] and [Ademola] Lookman. I explained Galatasaray and Turkey to them in detail, how wonderful a club Galatasaray is, how beautiful a country Turkey is,” Osimhen said as quoted by Habersarikirmizi.

“It would be very good for our club, for the players, and for our fans if they came.

“I’m trying to convince both of them. I’d love for them to come to one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Onyedika currently plays his club football for Club Brugge, while Lookman plays for Atalanta.

Transfer: Osimhen names two Nigerian players he spoke with to join Galatasaray

Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, has apologized to the team’s fans after they lost 3-1 to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Haaland endured a difficult return to Norway, missing several chances to score.

Bodo/Glimt led 2-0 at halftime, thanks to two goals from Kasper Hogh.

They added a third goal through Jens Petter Hauge before the hour mark, when Ryan Cherki pulled one back with a deflected shot.

City now sits in seventh place in the league phase and could miss out on the top eight.

Haaland told TNT Sports: “I don’t have the answers.

“I take full responsibility for not scoring the goals I should have.

“I’m sorry to everyone, every Man City supporter and every fan who came to the game today. In the end, it was embarrassing.”

UCL: Embarrassing – Haaland apologizes after Man City’s defeat to Bodo/Glimt

Flying Eagles striker, Precious Benjamin has joined Austrian club Altach on loan until the end of the season, DAILY POST reports.

Benjamin, who is currently under contract with Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim is Altach’s first winter signing.

The 19-year-old joined Hoffenheim just over a year ago.

The forward initially trained with Hoffenheim’s U-19 team before graduating to the first team.

Benjamin has been a regular member of the first team squad this season.

The teenager is expected to gain more playing experience at Altach.

Transfer: Flying Eagles striker moves to Austrian club Altach on loan

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gasau, has rubbished a report online, claiming he had a heated argument with Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Moroccan Football Federation, FRMF.

A report which emerged online claimed that Gasau had a tense altercation with Lekjaa during a recent CAF Executive Committee meeting in Morocco.

But Gusau has now clarified that he has a positive rapport with Lekjaa, describing the report as false.

He said in a statement on the NFF’s website on Tuesday, “I don’t know where the report is coming from.

“Personally, I’ve always had a good relationship with Lekjaa.

“There was no shouting or any insults thrown. Whoever came up with that report engaged in mongering of total falsehood,” he said.

AFCON: NFF boss Gusau clears air on alleged clash with Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa

Hull City defender, Semi Ajayi is set to be sidelined for the next two months with a hamstring injury, DAILY POST reports.

Ajayi sustained the injury in added time of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations third-placed encounter against Egypt last Saturday.

The centre-back was replaced by Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem.

Scan results have since confirmed damage to his hamstring.

Ajayi’s injury is a major blow to the Tigers, who have lost several of their key players to injuries in recent weeks.

The 32-year-old joined Hull City on a free transfer last summer after severing ties with West Bromwich Albion.

Championship: Hull City suffer Ajayi injury blow 

The first two teams were eliminated from this season’s Champions League on Tuesday night.

They are Villarreal and Kairat Almaty, who currently occupy the 35th and 36th positions in the league phase.

Both teams have crashed out following their defeats to Club Brugge and Ajax respectively.

Villareal lost 2-1 to Ajax, while Kairat were thrashed 4-1 by Club Brugge.

The two teams have just one point each after seven matches.

According to the new format, 24 of the 36 clubs participating will progress into the knockout phase.

However, the top eight go straight into the Round of 16.

Champions League: Two teams eliminated from competition