Category: Sports

Nigeria defender Ryan Alebiosu has stepped up his recovery from injury, DAILY POST reports.

Alebiosu sustained a leg injury in the Super Eagles’ last group game against the Cranes of Uganda.

It was his maiden appearance for the three-time African champions.

The 24-year-old was involved in a light session with the team on Saturday.

The Blackburn Rovers player is now in a race to be fit for Nigeria’s Round of 16 fixture against the Mambas of Mozambique.

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle will be hoping Alebiosu recover in time for the next stage of the competition in case his side scale through to the quarter-finals.

AFCON 2025: Alebiosu steps up recovery from injury

Egypt midfielder, Emam Ashour has singled out four teams for praise ahead of his side’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Round of clash with the Benin Republic on Monday.

The teams are Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

According to Ashour, the aforementioned teams have top players and coaches.

Speaking to CAFOnline, the Al Ahly star stated that it is natural for Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to always reach the AFCON Round of 16 stage.

“Teams are performing at a high level, and there are no longer any weak sides. The group-stage results clearly show that,” Ashour said.

“Football in Africa is developing for the better, and it is only natural for big teams like Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to reach the Round of 16, as they have top coaches and top players.”

AFCON: They’ve top players – Egypt midfielder, Ashour singles out four teams

Manchester City became the latest team that failed to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this season.

Pep Guardiola’s men were held to a goalless draw on New Year’s Day.

The implications of that result became more obvious on Saturday, after Arsenal battled to a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth.

Powered by the drive and quality of the fit-again Declan Rice, the Gunners took maximum points from the Vitality Stadium and are now seven points clear of City.

So City know that only a win against Chelsea will do.

The Blues arrive at the Etihad without a permanent manager, after the club parted ways with Enzo Maresca earlier this week.

Chelsea’s U-21 coach, Calum McFarlane, will lead the team out against the former champions.

Although McFarlane is likely to be in place for just one game, his plan will be to get a decent result against City and keep Chelsea in the running for a top-four finish.

It will indeed be a tricky one for Guardiola, who was preparing to face his former assistant.

However, whatever the Spaniard comes up against on Sunday, he must find answers to, or Arsenal will start getting out of sight.

EPL: Man City vs Chelsea – A tricky game for Guardiola

Victor Ikechukwu has left Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side El-Kanemi Warriors.

Ikechukwu’s contract was terminated by the Maiduguri club.

The striker joined El-Kanemi Warriors at the start of the 2025-26 NPFL season.

Ikechukwu managed only six appearances for the coach Suleiman Dogo’s side in the first round of the season.

The decision to leave Maiduguri marks a new chapter in his career, allowing him the opportunity to explore new prospects and challenges in the football landscape.

Ikechukwu previously played for Kun Khalifat FC.

NPFL: Ikechukwu leaves El-Kanemi Warriors after six months

Liverpool midfielder, Alexis MacAllister, has ruled out his team from this season’s Premier League title race.

Arne Slot’s men began their title defence in impression fashion recording five straight wins at the start of campaign.

With Arsenal beating Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday, the Reds travel to Fulham on Sunday sitting 15 points off the top.

“There are not many chances of Liverpool retaining the title. I hate to say it, but it is quite clear,” MacAllister told Sky Sports.

“Arsenal is in a really good moment, Manchester City is quite close, but we are not close in terms of performances, or results, so I do not see us becoming champions again.”

EPL: MacAllister names two teams to win title, rules out Liverpool

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have emerged as the most potent attacking team in the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, tournament in Morocco.

This was disclosed by CAF’s official website ahead of the AFCON Round of 16 starting on Saturday.

The Super Eagles finished Group C with maximum nine points, recording 8 goals, the highest tally in the tournament, from 21 shots and 10 on target.

Eric Chelle’s men also registered the highest average possession rate at 66 per cent.

Those figures illustrate a team that combined volume with efficiency, dominating territory and converting pressure into goals.

DAILY POST reports that Nigeria’s attack comprises of the likes of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Paul Onuachu, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and Chidera Ejuke.

Nigeria’s next game in the AFCON is against the Mambas of Mozambique in the Round of 16 clash on Monday.

AFCON: Nigeria’s Super Eagles emerge as most potent attacking team

Liverpool have agreed on a deal to sign 17-year-old Austrian centre-back, Ifeanyi Ndukwe for the summer of 2026.

According to Fabrizio Romano, there has been an agreement in place between both parties, valid from July.

Ndukwe will be joining the Premier League giants from the Austria Wien Academy after the club accepted the Reds’ proposal.

The defender, who also said yes to the Liverpool project, is seen as a huge talent.

Ndukwe was born in Vienna, Austria, in March 2008 to a Nigerian father and a German mother.

This means the footballer is eligible to play for the national teams of Nigeria, Austria and Germany.

Transfer: Liverpool secure signing of Ifeanyi Ndukwe

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has appointed Cameroonian officials for the Super Eagles Round of 16 fixture against the Mambas of Mozambique, DAILY POST reports.

Abdou Abdel Mefir will be the centre referee for the highly anticipated encounter.

Mefir will be assisted by Elvis Noupoue and Carine Atezambong.

Monday’s encounter  is slated for the Complexe Sportif de Fès. It will kick-off at 8pm Nigerian time.

It will be second meeting between Nigeria and Mozambique at the AFCON finals.

The Super Eagles defeated the Mambas 3-0 in their only meeting at the 2010  edition hosted by Angola.

AFCON 2025: CAF names Cameroonian officials for Super Eagles vs Mozambique 

Sunshine Stars head coach, Olarewaju Ale, has expressed confidence that his team will kick-start the second stanza of the Nigeria National League, NNL, season with a win.

The Owena Waves will trade tackles with Beyond Limits FA in their opening game of the second round at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Saturday.

Ale assured that the players are determined to better their performance from the first stanza.

“The fans should expect nothing more than victory because we have prepared very well,” Ale told Sunshine Stars media.

“The players have shown enough zeal and we are ready to fight for the maximum points starting with our game against Beyond Limits FA.”

Sunshine Stars occupy fifth position on the NNL Conference A table with 7 points, while Beyond Limits are third with 11 points.

NNL: Sunshine Stars target winning start in second stanza 

Sunderland manager, Regis Le Bris, has highlighted the difference between Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

He thinks Arsenal are better at scoring goals after the 0-0 draw between Manchester City and Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Thursday night.

Before then, Arsenal had beaten Aston Villa 4-1 at home on Tuesday, with the pressure once again on City to stay close with Mikel Arteta’s team at the top of the Premier League.

Sunderland’s strong defense and Manchester City’s inability to score in the second half have allowed the Black Cats to keep their unbeaten home record this season at 10 games.

This result also puts City four points behind the Premier League leaders, Arsenal.

Guardiola’s team will play against Chelsea, who fired Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will be seven points ahead at the top of the table if they win their match against Bournemouth on Saturday.

When asked what he thought about facing City and Arsenal this season, Le Bris said, “They are really good. It will come down to being consistent, as it always does. They are a bit different, but I think they are competitive for the title.”

When asked about the differences between City and Arsenal, Le Bris replied, “I think probably in a few words, I would say Arsenal are a bit more clinical, a bit more direct with their ability to score, even if it’s not pass, pass, pass.

“Here, you can really sense Pep Guardiola’s identity. Even though Mikel Arteta is also Spanish, I think Guardiola is really good at how he sets up the game.”

Guardiola also called Sunderland, who are currently in seventh place in the Premier League, a ‘tough team’ after City’s draw.

EPL title: Sunderland boss, Le Bris pinpoints difference between Man City, Arsenal