Nigeria international midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has emerged as a potential transfer target for English Premier League side Nottingham Forest, with reports indicating that the club has made an enquiry for the Lazio midfielder.
The 2001-born player, currently on international duty with Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, continues to attract growing interest despite his absence from club football during the tournament.
Lazio are understood to be in the process of reshaping their squad following recent departures, including Valentín Castellanos to West Ham United and Matteo Guendouzi to Fenerbahce. Dele-Bashiru is reportedly among the players who could follow as the Biancocelesti look to rebalance their team.
The Serie A club is believed to value the Nigerian midfielder at around €15 million plus performance-related bonuses, a figure that would enable Lazio to reinvest quickly as head coach Maurizio Sarri fine-tunes his squad.
Initial contacts between the parties have already taken place, although Nottingham Forest are yet to formalise their interest with an official bid. Financial Fair Play considerations may influence the structure of any potential deal.
As a result, Forest could explore alternatives such as a loan move with an option or obligation to buy, rather than committing to an outright purchase. For now, Dele-Bashiru’s future remains open, with his AFCON performances likely to further enhance his profile.
There is every reason for Morocco’s Atlas Lions to enter into panic mode as they countenance confrontation with the very efficient Nigeria machine in the last-four of the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals
Three-time champions Nigeria have done enough to convince those who have seen them play here that they are not in the North African Kingdom for a picnic. They have shown class, character and charisma, and more than half of their 16 goals in the five matches they have played at the championship have ‘team’ written all over them.
From four-goal-and-two-assists Victor Osimhen (35 goals in 51 matches – only two short of the Nigeria international goals-record), to three-goal-and-five-assists Ademola Lookman, to two-goal-and-one-assist Akor Adams, to two-goal Raphael Onyedika, to two-assists Samuel Chukwueze, to line-breaking passmaster Alex Iwobi (36 in the knockout phase so far), and a diligent rearguard, the Super Eagles have shown cold brutality and quiet authority in 450 minutes of exhilarating football.
Nigeria’s game has been awe-inspiring. The defence has been very well-knitted, with Calvin Bassey and Bruno Onyemaechi even joining attacks, and against Algeria, wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel was imperious as he defended with as much confidence as he did going forward. Centreback Semi Ajayi scored Nigeria’s first goal of the tournament, against Tanzania.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi will miss Wednesday’s clash as a result of suspension, but Raphael Onyedika and Frank Onyeka have the steel and granite to keep things tight in the middle as Iwobi breaks the line with visionary passes.
From all indications, Wednesday’s game inside the 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium will turn out to be the sternest test that the Atlas Lions have faced since their semi-final accomplishment at the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, and comes against a team that has every reason to win this year’s AFCON, including failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Both teams possess the fury and fire to make it a memorable night for world football’s devotees. Morocco have Brahim Diaz, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, as well as three-goal Ayoub El Kaabi, captain Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Ismael Saibari and Azzedine Ounahi.
Nigeria have scored 158 goals in their 109 matches in AFCON history, and have lost only four of their last 23 matches in the competition, including last term’s Final against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
However, the Super Eagles have not faced North African opposition consecutively in the knockout stages of the AFCON since defeating Morocco, and subsequently Algeria, to claim their first title on home soil 46 years ago.The Atlas Lions got the better of the Eagles on their way to lifting their only AFCON title in Ethiopia 50 years ago. Backhanded compliments have been exchanged in the same competition this millennium with Nigeria winning 2-0 in Lagos in 2000 and Morocco winning 1-0 in Tunisia in 2004.
Morocco vs: Nigeria: MEMORABLE ENCOUNTERS
Morocco Vs Nigeria (Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games Qualifier: Dakar):
After both teams were stalemated in two legs of the qualifying series (Nigeria won 3-0 in Lagos and Morocco won 4-1 in Casablanca), world football-governing body, FIFA, ruled that there had to be a one-leg playoff to determine the winner. It was the period before the away-goal-counts-double principle.
Asuquo Ekpe, with a brace, and ‘wonderboy’ Paul Hamilton accounted for the defeat of Morocco in Lagos. Hamilton scored Nigeria’s only goal in the return leg in Casablanca. However, the Atlas Lions edged the tie in Dakar and took the ticket.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (1976 Africa Cup of Nations: Addis Ababa):
A young, talented, driven and agile Nigeria team had stunned Cup holders Zaire (now DR Congo) 4-2 in their first match at the continental finals in Ethiopia. However, they fell 1-3 to the Atlas Lions in their third game, after a 1-0 win over Sudan.
The wins over Zaire and Sudan qualified the Eagles for the final round of a tournament that remains the only one till date to have been played on league basis. In that final round, they came up against Morocco again. Baba Otu Mohammed scored just before the hour but Ahmed Faras and Redouane El Guezzar won it for Morocco with late goals. Morocco emerged champions while the Eagles, who defeated Egypt 3-2 in their final game, took bronze.
Nigeria Vs Morocco (1976 Olympics Qualifying Match: Lagos):
Only three weeks after the disappointment of Addis Ababa, the opportunity presented itself for the Eagles to exact their revenge on the Atlas Lions. In a Montreal Olympics qualifying match at the National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria swept to a commanding 3-1 win thanks to goals by Thompson Usiyen (a brace) and Kelechi ‘Caterpillar’ Emeteole.
Nigeria lost the return by a lone goal, and qualified for Montreal. However, the Government of Nigeria led an African boycott of the Games as a result of host nation Canada’s dalliance with New Zealand, which had sporting ties with apartheid South Africa.
Nigeria Vs Morocco (1980 AFCON semi final: Lagos):
The Green Eagles were flying high in the first AFCON to be hosted by Nigeria, and the Atlas Lions could not stop them, as Felix Owolabi lashed in the only goal early in the semi final encounter at the National Stadium, Lagos to set the stage for a Nigeria, Algeria Final, which the Eagles won to claim their first AFCON title.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (1984 AFCON qualifying match: Rabat):
After a scoreless draw in Benin City, Nigeria and Morocco again ended it 0-0 in the return in Rabat, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Nigeria won 4-3 on penalties and qualified for Cote d’Ivoire 1984.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (1984 Olympics Qualifying Match: Casablanca):
Both teams had again ended the first leg in Lagos 0-0, and the same result was returned in Casablanca in the race to the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Morocco won 4-3 and qualified to the next round.
Nigeria Vs Morocco (2000 Africa Cup of Nations: Lagos):
Goals by Finidi George and Julius Aghahowa gave Nigeria victory and qualification to the quarter-finals of the AFCON finals they co-hosted with Ghana, setting up a clash with the Teranga Lions of Senegal.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (2014 African Nations Championship: Cape Town):
Morocco took the game by the scruff from the first blast of the whistle and sped to a 3-0 lead after 45 minutes at the Cape Town Stadium.
However, Nigeria, coached by Stephen Keshi (of blessed memory) returned from recess a different proposition, and drew level before winning in extra time to qualify for the semi finals.
After years of administrative crises, court battles, and fractured leadership, Nigerian basketball may finally be stepping into a new era of stability and purpose.
Retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu, President of FIBA Africa Zone 3 and one of Nigeria’s most influential basketball administrators, believes the long night is ending for the sport.
Speaking after a landmark stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Ahmedu declared that peace is returning—not through force or sentiment, but through structure, dialogue, and respect for the law.
The proposed NBBF Elective Congress, targeted for on or before March 31, remains the focal point of the reset.
“We want to follow the law and do things in an orderly manner,” he said. “The constitution is for us—we can adjust—but we must not violate it.”
He also called for calm across the basketball community, stressing that the rebuild must prioritise legitimacy and inclusiveness over haste.
Highlighting the importance of credibility, Ahmedu singled out former NBA player and national team captain Olumide Oyedeji as a key asset in the rebuilding process, describing his experience and integrity as invaluable.
With stakeholder unity, institutional backing from the NSC and NOC, a clear election timeline, and experienced basketball minds back at the table, Nigerian basketball now has a roadmap toward restoration.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, will not feature in the first round of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup African qualifiers after receiving a bye, according to the draw released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The draw for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 African Qualifiers was conducted on Saturday in Rabat, officially signalling the start of the qualifying campaign across the continent.
The exercise was conducted by draw assistant Jacqueline Shipanga, Technical Director of the Namibia Football Federation, CAF Elite Instructor and former coach of the Namibia Women’s National Team.
A total of 31 African teams will contest the qualifiers, which will be played over three knockout rounds using a home-and-away format. At the conclusion of the third round, four teams will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals in Morocco.
First-round matches are scheduled for April 10–12, with return legs on April 17–19, 2026. Fixtures include Niger vs. Guinea, Burkina Faso vs. Benin, Sierra Leone vs. Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia vs. Senegal, Algeria vs. Cameroon, and Togo vs. Ghana.
Nigeria will join the competition in the second round, where the Flamingos will face the winner of the tie between Niger and Guinea. The second-round matches are slated for May 22–24 and May 29–31, 2026.
Should the Flamingos progress beyond the second round, they could face Burkina Faso, Benin, Sierra Leone or Côte d’Ivoire in the third and final qualifying round, scheduled for July 3–5 and July 10–12, 2026, as they bid to return to the global stage.
Wikki Tourists Football Club has announced a mutual separation from four players as preparations intensify for the second half of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The players released are forward Lewis Dadong, left-back Philip David Johnson, centre-back Edward Lawrence Agbor, and midfielder Uche Onwuasonaya.
According to the club, the decision forms part of a broader plan to refresh the squad and strengthen the team ahead of the crucial second phase of the season.
The management believes the move will create room for new additions as the Bauchi-based side pushes forward with renewed focus and ambition.
Wikki Tourists expressed appreciation to the departing players for their commitment and professionalism during their time at the club, wishing them success in their future careers.
With the slogan “New chapter, same ambition,” the club reaffirmed its determination to improve performances and achieve its season objectives.
Kano Pillars have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of experienced winger Bernard Ovoke, who has joined the club until the end of the current season.
The agreement also includes an option to extend the contract by a further year, underlining the club’s confidence in the winger’s ability to make an immediate and lasting impact.
Known for his pace, trickery and direct approach on the wings, Ovoke is expected to add creativity and width to the team’s play as the season intensifies.
Club officials believe his arrival will bring fresh energy to the flanks and provide additional attacking threats as the team pushes for its objectives.
Ovoke has been warmly welcomed into the fold and is already looking forward to donning the famous Sai Masu Gida colours and thrilling supporters.
Inter Lagos FC and Akwa United have emerged as halfway champions of the Nigeria National League Southern Conferences A and B respectively, following decisive results at the end of the first stanza yesterday.
At the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, Inter Lagos edged Awka-based Edel FC 2–1, sealing top spot in Southern Conference A with 16 points. The victory saw them finish ahead of top guns Heartland FC and Crown FC. Despite having a game in hand against Smart City, Heartland cannot rise above third place even with a win.
Edel FC ended the first stanza in seventh position with nine points, though their final standing could still be affected by the outcome of the Smart City versus Heartland fixture on Thursday.
Elsewhere in the conference, Sunshine Stars recorded a slim 1–0 win over Crown FC in Akure, climbing to fifth place with 10 points, while Crown dropped to third with 13 points.
In Owerri, Heartland FC were held to a goalless draw by Beyond Limits, a result that all but confirmed Beyond Limits’ projected second-place finish on 15 points, beyond the reach of the Naze Millionaires who are currently fourth with 11 points.
Gateway FC’s struggles continued as they were held to a 1–1 draw by Smart City in Abeokuta. With just one win from eight matches, Gateway sit ninth on six points, while Smart City occupy eighth with eight points ahead of their midweek showdown with Heartland in Lagos.
In Southern Conference B, Akwa United stamped their authority with an impressive 2–0 away victory over Rovers FC in Calabar, finishing the first stanza top with 19 points from nine matches. Rovers FC concluded the round in eighth place with 10 points.
In Lagos, Sporting Lagos were forced to a 1–1 draw by Solution FC, ending the stanza second with 17 points. The result denied the Noisy Lagosians a chance to finish level on points with Akwa United. Solution FC settled for sixth spot with 13 points.
Meanwhile, Stormers FC dazzled in Abeokuta, claiming a 4–2 win over Abakaliki FC to finish fifth with 14 points, while Abakaliki FC held on to third place with 15 points. In Ileogbo, Osun United’s inconsistent campaign continued as they played out a 2–2 draw with Godswill Akpabio United FC.
The final fixture of Southern Conference B takes place today in Lagos, where First Bank FC will be targeting their first win of the season against fourth-placed Ekiti United to round off the first stanza.
The NNL has proceeded on a break with the season set to reconvene on January 31st and the league body has also announced the opening of the transfer window which will end at the end of the current month.
Algeria’s hopes of solving a goalkeeping crisis with a big name flopped at the Africa Cup of Nations and they will need to look for alternatives before the World Cup kicks off later this year.
Luca Zidane, the son of World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, was plucked from the obscurity of Spanish second tier to help Algeria with a dearth of goalkeeping talent but it was a gamble that backfired on Saturday.
Zidane’s goalkeeping was anything but convincing as Algeria went out 2-0 to Nigeria in their quarter-final in Marrakech.
A bizarre jump rather than a dive to try and stop Victor Osimhen’s back-post header gifted Nigeria the lead early in the second half and poor distribution from Zidane allowed the opponents to steal possession and score again 10 minutes later.
There had been much attention when Zidane was invited to play for Algeria, the country where his famous father’s parents hail from, and he was also in a stark spotlight once the Cup of Nations in Morocco kicked off.
While Luca Zidane made two appearances at Real Madrid when his father coached there, he failed to properly break through and has spent six of the last seven seasons in the second tier of Spanish football.
Algeria’s first choice over the past five years has been Anthony Mandrea, who played in Ligue 1 with Angers. However, when his latest club Caen were relegated to the French third division last season, Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said he would not consider selecting a player from as low a league level.
The 27-year-old Zidane, who like his three brothers won caps for France at junior level, switched his international eligibility in September to be a backup for Alexis Guendouz, who had moved up to be Algeria’s first choice.
Guendouz, however, was injured on the eve of the tournament, thrusting Zidane into the side.
He played in two of the three group games without conceding and kept another clean sheet behind a solid defence in the last-16 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But in the firing line against a rampant Nigeria, Zidane was found wanting, fortunate to see the ball cleared off the line in the first half when he ventured off his line for a free kick but misjudged the flight of the ball, and then was caught floundering several times in the second half as Nigeria turned the screws and went on to win comfortably.
Zidane, whose parents were in Morocco to watch him, will be hoping he stays in contention for Algeria’s World Cup campaign where they are drawn in Group J against Argentina, Jordan and Austria.
But his performances will leave Petkovic contemplating other options for the tournament in North America.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka warmed up for a tilt at a third Australian open title in four years in ominous fashion by winning her second successive Brisbane International crown.
Sabalenka scored a dominant 6-4, 6-3 win over Marta Kostyuk in just 78 minutes.
“Every day you go out there and prove your level, and I think this week I did it really well,” said Sabalenka after a tournament in which she powered to the title without dropping a set.
Looking ahead to the Australian Open, which begins next Sunday, Sabalenka said: “The only thing I know is that I’ll be there, I’ll be fighting.”
Salablenka lost in the Melbourne Park final last year to Madison Keys, having been Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024.
“I’ll do my best to go as far as possible,” said Sabalenka. “And do a little bit better than last year. That’s my focus.”
Kostyuk, the world number 26, had enjoyed a spectacular week, beating three top 10 players on the way to the final.
But she had no answer to the power of Sabalenka and the Ukrainian’s serve, so reliable in the early rounds, also went off the boil.
Sabalenka was rarely troubled on her own delivery and faced only three break points.
The 27-year-old Belarusian said she had tried to introduce new elements to her game so she wasn’t relying just on power, and that had paid off this week.
“I finally found the touch game,” she said.
“I figured something and I kind of changed my game style – now I’m not only the aggressive player, I can play at the net, I can be in defence, I can use my slice, I have a good touch.
“I’m super happy to see that things are clicking together.”
There has been animosity between the two players in the past.
Like many Ukraine players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians because of the war in her homeland.
There was no handshake at the end of the Brisbane final and in her speech at the trophy presentation, Kostyuk brought up the situation in Ukraine.
“I play every day with a pain in my heart and there are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now,” she said.
“It’s minus 20 degrees outside and it’s very painful to live this reality every day.”
Sabalenka said she wasn’t concerned by Kostyuk’s attitude towards her.
“It’s their position, what can I do?” she asked.
“When I go out there, I think about my tennis and the things I have to do to get the win.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula there. I have nothing to prove. I go there and I just compete as an athlete.”
Kostyuk told reporters she was determined to keep what is happening in Ukraine in the public eye.
“I think it’s important for me to use my platform in the right way, and my platform is Ukraine, because I represent Ukraine,” she said.
“So I think it’s really important to talk about that.”
Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a meek 2-1 home defeat to Brighton as Gabriel Martinelli’s hat-trick fired Arsenal to a 4-1 win at Portsmouth to reach round four.
United interim boss Darren Fletcher could only watch on in horror as the Red Devils’ last chance of silverware this season and likely his chances of landing the job until the end of the season went up in smoke at Old Trafford.
Fletcher’s men were left to rue not making more of a positive start before Brajan Gruda fired the visitors in front on 12 minutes from Danny Welbeck’s cross.
The roles were reversed midway through the second half as Welbeck lashed into the top corner against his former club.
There were persistent chants targeting United co-owners the Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe as the discontent at Old Trafford grew.
And any hope those in charge of the club had for a bounce following the removal of Ruben Amorim has proved very short-lived.
United will play only 40 games this season after exiting both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle – their lowest number since 1915.
“I think you could see the players are fragile but they’ve got to respond,” said Fletcher. “This team is still good enough to achieve success this season but they have to dig deep.”
Benjamin Sesko’s late header set up a grandstand finish, but a red card for teenager Shea Lacey in stoppage time for dissent rounded off United’s miserable afternoon.
Meanwhile, Martinelli shrugged off the backlash to his clash with stricken Liverpool defender Conor Bradley as Arsenal reached the fourth round for the first time in three years.
Championship side Portsmouth were dreaming of an upset against the Premier League leaders when they went in front after just three minutes through Colby Bishop.
Mikel Arteta had made 10 changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Liverpool on Thursday.
Martinelli drew stinging criticism for trying to push Bradley off the pitch in the closing stages after the Northern Irishman hit the ground with a serious knee injury.
Liverpool has confirmed that the right-back will need surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
The Brazilian apologised to Bradley after the game and did not seem affected by the furore at Fratton Park.
“That’s personality, come in and talk on the pitch,” said Arteta.
“To play for a big club you need a big personality because it can be that (being at the centre of a controversial incident), it can be an action that you miss, it can be something that costs you a game, and three days later there is a game, so you need to lift yourself up and make it count.”
Arsenal could rely on their threat from set-pieces to turn the tie around.
The Pompey lead lasted only five minutes as Andre Dozzell turned into his own net under pressure from Christian Norgaard.
Martinelli then flicked in the first of his three goals before Noni Madueke missed the chance to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot when the England international fired wide.
Gabriel Jesus teed up Martinelli to kill the tie off early in the second period before he completed his hat-trick from another Arsenal corner.
West Ham eased the mounting pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo as new signing Taty Castellanos scored his first goal for the club to beat QPR 2-1 after extra-time.
Castellanos has been signed to dig them out of trouble at the bottom of the Premier League and the £26 million ($35 million) arrival from Lazio bulleted home a header from Crysencio Summerville’s cross to secure a much-needed win.
Leeds needed a second-half fightback to beat Derby County 3-1 and book their place in the fourth round.
League One Mansfield held off Sheffield United to book their place in round four with a 4-3 win at Bramall Lane.
Norwich, Hull and West Brom also progressed to the last 32.
