Right from the warm-up and before a ball was kicked in anger, Osimhen was in the thick of the protest by Galatasaray players when a Fenerbache player strayed into their own part of the pitch.
Osimhen was one of five players booked in this duel. He was cautioned in the 71st minute for unsportsmanlike conduct.
He was replaced a minute to full time by Galatasaray captain Mauro Icardi.
Galatasaray remain a point ahead of Fenerbache after 14 rounds of matches.
Prudential Sports Limited has honoured outstanding sports administrators and emerging athletes in Gombe State, reaffirming its commitment to sports development and talent empowerment in Nigeria.
The awards ceremony, which held at the event hall of Matrix International Academy, Gombe, brought together top sports stakeholders, administrators, coaches and young talents from across the state.
Among those honoured were Mercy Iliya Namarwa of the Gombe State Chess Association, who emerged Overall Best Athlete of the Year,Abdulrahman Mahmoud Baba of Doma United, named Young Athlete of the Season, Chindo Abubakar of Gombe Bulls Basketball Club, awarded Most Improved Player, and Atiku Baitu of FC Yarmalight, recognised as Player with the Most Appearances.
Other awardees included Bawa Buhari as Referee of the Year, Williams Attah of Daily Independent as Sports Journalist of the Year, All Stars FC Gombe, winners of Senator Haruna Garba’s Fair Play Award, and Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, CEO of Mailantarki Academy, who received Alhaji Baba Manu’s Sports Administrator of the Year Award.
Beyond the awards, Prudential Sports Limited announced major interventions aimed at supporting sports welfare in the state. Over 1,000 retired athletes and their dependents were enrolled into the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Scheme (GoHealth) at a cost of N10 million. Additionally, 100 active athletes were enlisted into a contributory pension scheme in partnership with Premium Pension Limited.
The company also donated sports equipment including footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, handballs, chessboards, scrambled boards and football nets to 15 public and private schools, and presented similar kits alongside customised jerseys to Gombe State University.
According to the CEO of Prudential Sports and pioneer Chairman of the Gombe Sports Commission, Mallam Farouk Yarma, the organisation spent over N65 million to host the awards and acquire sports equipment distributed across the state.
In a highlight of the evening, former governor of Gombe State and president of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, presented the Overall Best Athlete Award to young chess prodigy Mercy Iliya.
He further pledged to sponsor her trip to Zimbabwe to join Nigeria’s national chess team for an upcoming continental championship.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of Gombe State University, Professor Sani Ahmed Yauta, praised Prudential Sports for its consistent support and assured that the donated sports kits would be put to effective use in enhancing sports activities on campus.
The ceremony was attended by several high-profile guests, including the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, represented by his Special Assistant on General Duties, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Muazu,Emir of Gombe, Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, represented by Madakin Gombe, Alhaji Umar Abubakar, former Director-General of the NSC, Dr. Al-Hassan Saleh Yakmut, Chairman of ALGON Gombe State, Hon. Sani Ahmad Haruna, and Nigerian Olympian, Mary Onyali.
Others present were veteran sports journalist Godwin Enakhena, Toyin Ibitoye, former BBC Hausa head Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi Tanko, and former Enyimba FC Sporting Director, Jude Anyadufu.
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged Nigerians to let go of the pain of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup and channel their energy towards supporting the national team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will kick off her AFCON campaign on December e 23rd , and Adepoju believes the country must rally together to ensure a strong continental outing.
Speaking on the team’s failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup, Adepoju described the situation as heart-breaking but insisted that dwelling on it would serve no purpose.
“It is a very, very sad one. Nobody would have ever thought Nigeria would fail to qualify twice. Very sad, but anyway, we must move forward,” he said. “We don’t have to keep holding on to something that has already gone. We need to learn from it and focus on the future.”
Adepoju expressed confidence that the players have taken valuable lessons from the costly qualifying campaign and will return more determined as the AFCON tournament approaches.
“The players would have learnt from the World Cup exit. I believe that when they come back, they will go out there firing at the AFCON,” he said.
He, however, warned that the competition will be tough, with several African nations also aiming for the title. But despite the challenge, he is optimistic that Nigeria can produce a better performance than in recent outings.
“It’s not going to be easy because other countries also want to win the AFCON. But I believe that if they put everything into it, Nigeria can at least achieve something significant,” he noted. “In the last AFCON, we got to the final and lost. This time, it should be different so that Nigerians will be happy.”
Adepoju stressed that preparation must be “top-notch” and called for total commitment across all levels as the Super Eagles begin their hunt for continental glory later this month.
Former England youth international Chuba Akpom has reaffirmed his commitment to represent Nigeria at senior level, revealing that discussions with Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle are already underway.
The forward, who has Nigerian parents, has long been eligible to play for the Super Eagles and has now secured his Nigerian passport, signalling a major step toward a long-anticipated switch. Despite standout spells with Middlesbrough—where he won the Championship Golden Boot—and a promising stint with Ajax, Akpom has never been capped at senior level by England or Nigeria.
Speaking on his international future, the 29-year-old confirmed that his representatives have been in active communication with Nigeria’s new technical crew.
“My agent has been in contact with the manager. They’ve always liked me. If I was to get called up, it would be an honour of course,” Akpom said.
With Nigeria seeking additional attacking depth ahead of major qualifiers and AFCON preparations, Akpom’s versatility—as a central striker or attacking midfielder—offers Chelle an attractive option.
Olopade confirmed that the NSC concluded its final sessions on the policy framework last week at the annual National Council on Sports in Calabar, with key stakeholders unanimously endorsing tougher punitive measures for offenders. He stressed that the era of manipulating ages to gain competitive advantage is nearing its end.
Speaking on the new directive, Olopade said any athlete, official or stakeholder found guilty of altering or fabricating age records “will be in serious trouble.”
According to him, the Commission’s recent policy review signalled a turning point.
“The last session agreed that we have a scourge that has brought shame to our sports,” he said. “And when the debate started, everybody agreed that there must be a draconian approach in the punishment for those stakeholders who encourage their own to lie about their age or to fabricate birth certificates.”
Olopade explained that the policy is designed not only to sanction individual offenders, but also to hold accountable those who aid or abet age fraud in any form.
“We cannot continue to allow this culture of dishonesty,” he said. “If you falsify your age and you are caught, or you are found out, you will face the full weight of the law. This is the only way to restore credibility, especially in youth competitions.”
He added that the NSC will work closely with relevant agencies, including law enforcement and civil registration authorities, to ensure strict implementation.
Olopade emphasised that the Commission is committed to building a transparent and merit-based sports system:
“Nigerian sports must move forward. And to move forward, we must clean up the system. Anyone who manipulates records will answer for it.”
The new policy is expected to be gazetted in the coming weeks, setting the stage for full enforcement across all federations and competitions.
Former CAF Champions League winner and ex-Super Falcons coach Kadiri Ikhana has delivered a blunt assessment of the state of Nigerian football, describing the ongoing decline as “a bad period caused by years of neglect and lack of organisation.”
Speaking in a radio programme after Rivers United’s disappointing CAF Champions League performance, Ikhana said he was “not surprised” by the result and insisted that the problem extends far beyond a single club.
“We have been talking about our football for quite some time now. It is not about Rivers United alone,” Ikhana said.
“It happened to Remo Stars, Kwara United and Abia Warriors, and could happen to any team in Nigeria. We are not ready to reorganise ourselves.”
The veteran coach added that Nigerian clubs “do not prepare adequately for CAF competitions,” noting that failure has now become a recurring trend.
Ikhana’s comments echo sentiments shared by football analysts across Africa.
SuperSport pundits recently criticised Nigerian clubs for “poor preseason planning” and “inconsistent technical structures,” while CAF technical reports over the past three seasons have highlighted tactical disorganisation and weak physical conditioning as recurring weaknesses for NPFL clubs.
Former Julius Berger midfielder Hilary Adiki also weighed in, saying the outcome of the match was “expected” based on historical patterns.
“Whenever Nigerian teams face North or Southern African clubs, we struggle,” Adiki said.
“Our league is far behind theirs, so we usually play second fiddle. At least it wasn’t a scandalous score line like Remo Stars suffered against Sundowns.”
Analysts from The Athletic Africa and BBC Africa Sport have likewise argued that Nigerian football’s structural issues — inadequate investment, inconsistent league calendars, stadium problems, and lack of youth development — continue to widen the gap between NPFL clubs and their North African counterparts.
Ikhana concluded with a call for urgent reform :“We need to recall experienced coaches and rebuild properly if we want the good days to return.”
The final stage of the 2025 Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) National Volleyball Premier League has officially kicked off, with organizers reaffirming their commitment to athlete welfare and the growth of volleyball in Nigeria.
Representing the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Sports Secretary of Customs, Samuel Onikeku, expressed satisfaction with the league’s progress since its inception last year. He noted that 70% of last season’s budget was dedicated directly to players, with even stronger welfare provisions implemented in 2025.
Among the improvements is an increase in team subsidies from ₦300,000 to ₦500,000.
The prize structure also reflects the league’s ambition: ₦5 million for the champions, ₦3 million for runners-up, and ₦2 million for third place. Individual award winners will receive ₦100,000 each.
Onikeku applauded the Nigerian Volleyball Federation for starting the league early enough to aid international preparations and assured that sponsorship challenges would not come from the CGC’s side.
Declared open on behalf of the Comptroller-General, the final phase promises intense competition as teams battle for supremacy and major rewards.
Telecom SC delivered one of the upsets of the Egyptian Second Division A season, edging league leaders Abu Qir Semad 1–0—with Nigerian forward Nwanna Okechukwu at the heart of the victory.
Although he didn’t score, Okechukwu dominated proceedings with his physical presence, hold-up play, and relentless pressure on defenders. His tireless performance earned glowing praise from the coaching staff and club management, especially after Telecom SC went down to 10 men.
Head coach Aliyu Zubair applauded his team’s discipline and organization in protecting their narrow lead despite the numerical disadvantage.
Back in Nigeria, former coach Nathaniel Olagunju of FC Bethel Sporting said he was not surprised by the forward’s growing influence.
“Okechukwu is doing very well in Egypt. He has scored two goals in five matches and is highly regarded for his work rate and contribution to their promotion push,” he noted.
The victory lifts Telecom SC to fifth place with 23 points from 14 matches, keeping them firmly in contention for promotion.
For Okechukwu, it was another statement display—showing he can be a match-winner even without finding the net.
The grand patron of Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, has commended the revival of table tennis in the state under the leadership of Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow.
Apostle Aggrey, the founder of Royal House of Grace International Church, gave the commendation at the opening ceremony of the South South Veterans Table Tennis championship at the Fortress in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
He noted that he was excited to see the entire South-South and Nigeria converge on Yenagoa for the South-South Veterans Table Tennis championship and the 1stGovernor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Tournament, describing the championship as special.
The former Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association chairman asserted that he was marvelled by the gigantic edifice constructed by Ama-ebi Stow for table tennis, maintaining that the structure has given Bayelsa a new direction in table tennis.
Apostle Aggrey urged the stakeholders within the Niger Delta to invest in the development of table tennis in order to replace aged athletes, stating that the game between Samuel Boboye and his counterpart was indicative of an avalanche of talents in the country.
He explained that Ama-ebi Stow’s passion for sports, particularly table tennis, has complimented the efforts of the governor, Senator Douye Diri whose undiminished love for sports has continued to give Bayelsa global recognition.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Ama-ebi Stow in an interview, said all the Niger Delta states are represented in the championship that the idea of the championship was to get the best team in the region.
Ama-ebi Stow who doubles as the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Sports (Table Tennis) , noted that apart from prize money and trophy, that the essence of the tournament was to showcase that Bayelsa remains the number one state in the country having dominated the last National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to him, the South-South Veterans Table Tennis Championship and the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis competition has provided an opportunity to market the governor’s developmental programmes to the world, even as the state prepares to host the nation in 2028.
The South-South zonal Representative on the board of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, opined that the championship has boosted small businesses within Yenagoa metropolis.
He expressed gratitude to the governor, Senator Douye Diri, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali for giving utmost priority to the development of sports.
Also, Morrison Asimole of the Port Harcourt Club 1928, commended the organizers of the tournament for the laudable initiative, stressing that the championship would build more frenzy amongst its members.
While the South South Veterans Table Tennis championship came to an end on Sunday, December 30th while the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Championship climaxed yesterday, December 1st, at the Fortress.
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) cup holders, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire , will finalise their preparations for the defence of their title with a 10-day training camp in Spain ahead of the 2025 tournament in Morocco, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has confirmed.
The Elephants announced their extensive preparations for Africa’s flagship sports competition as they look to defend their crown at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.
The reigning champions will hold a pre-tournament training camp in Marbella, Spain, where the final phase of their build-up will take place, this was announced by Ivorian FA Federation (FIF) president Yacine Idriss Diallo.
The Elephants, who lifted the trophy on home soil in February 2024, will assemble in Marbella from 10–20 December and are expected to play two friendly matches during the camp, President Diallo said following Saturday’s FIF general assembly in Abidjan.
Opponents have not yet been officially announced, although one of the fixtures could be against DR Congo.
The camp is designed to fine-tune the squad before they travel to Morocco for the competition, which begins on 21 December.
Coach Emerse Faé will name his squad on 9 December before the team regroups the following day.
Côte d’Ivoire endured a mixed November international window, losing 1–0 to Saudi Arabia under former Elephants coach Hervé Renard before responding with a 2-0 victory over Oman.
With the holders set to feature in what many have labelled the “Group of Death”, the camp is seen as crucial to restoring confidence before the tournament begins on 21 December.
Côte d’Ivoire open their Group F campaign against Mozambique on 24 December, face five-time champions Cameroon on 28 December, and conclude the group phase against Gabon on 31 December.
The Elephants met Gabon during qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, drawing 0-0 away and winning 1-0 at home.
FIF president Yacine Idriss Diallo also provided an update on organisational matters surrounding the campaign. He clarified that the technical staff’s proposed preparation programme had been approved by the Ministry of Sports.
The team will depart Marbella for Marrakech on 20 December, arriving in Morocco one day before the continental showpiece kicks off.
