Federer won 20 Grand Slams, the first male player to reach the benchmark, and clinched 103 career titles before retiring in 2022. He held the world number one ranking for a record 237 weeks straight between 2004 and 2008.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game’s great champions… to be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling,” Federer said in a statement shared by the ITHF.
The Swiss held the top spot in the ATP rankings for 310 weeks during his career, and had long rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the two others in the “big three” of men’s tennis at the time.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me… I look forward to visiting Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community,” the 44-year-old added.
Sporting Lagos Football Club has made a groundbreaking move, securing a landmark partnership with renowned Premier League strategist Luke Dowling. This collaboration is set to redefine talent development and global pathways within Nigerian football.
Dowling brings with him a wealth of experience and a track record of decisive leadership in high-pressure roles, including key tenures as Sporting Director for top English clubs like West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, and Watford, along with strategic consulting for Leeds United. His proven ability to navigate the complex landscape of international football will be instrumental in elevating Sporting Lagos to new heights.
This strategic alliance is more than just a partnership; it’s a statement of intent. It signals Sporting Lagos’s commitment to building a world-class football ecosystem and connecting raw Nigerian talent with structured pathways to the global stage.
In this interview with THE NATION’S MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN, Dowling explains why he was drawn to the ambitious Nigerian side, his plans to make Sporting Lagos the country’s go-to destination for top young players, and how the club is laying the foundation for its athletes to compete at the highest international levels.
You must be a highly sought-after football executive, judging by your resume, working with strings of clubs in the EPL. What’s the attraction for you to consider working with Sporting Lagos, who are currently not in the elite Nigerian Premier League?
It comes down to the ambition of the project. Shola Akinlade, the owner, reached out and laid out his vision, and frankly, it was compelling. He’s not just looking to run a football club; he wants to change the landscape of how a club operates in Nigeria. When you meet someone with that level of drive and a clear plan to reach those heights, it’s easy to get on board. I’m able to bring my experience here while maintaining my network and other professional commitments in Europe, so it works perfectly.
This is probably your first big assignment working with a club in Nigeria and Africa in general. What’s your impression about Sporting Lagos, especially based on your interactions with the owners of the club?
For me, it’s the attention to detail. I’ve been here a week and I’m seeing things done properly standards you’d expect at a high level in Europe. There’s a genuine commitment to professionalizing the environment, not just on the pitch but behind the scenes. That kind of long-term planning is rare.
Given your experiences over the years, how prepared are you for this ‘challenging’ job especially given the peculiar Nigerian football system?
I am very ready to take on this challenge. It is my first time working on the continent, yes. But the fundamentals of football, spotting elite talent, setting professional standards, and building a winning culture, are universal. The context is different, of course, which is why I’m not doing this alone; I’m leaning heavily on the team here in Nigeria who understand the local nuances. I’m adapting quickly, but the goal remains the same: elite performance.
How would you explain your vision and mission to the ordinary fans of Sporting Lagos ?
The mission is to make Sporting Lagos the go-to club in terms of talent in Nigeria.
Looking at the present position of Sporting Lagos, what are your immediate as well as short and long term targets for the club?
Short term, we want Sporting to be the destination for the best talent in Nigeria. If you’re a top young player, this is where you should want to be. Long term, it’s about that global pathway. We’re building relationships to ensure Sporting Lagos is a trusted partner for European clubs, establishing a credible pipeline for our players to transition to the elite level.
Are you coming with a retinue of assistants in your drive to turnaround Sporting Lagos?
No, the quality of the team here is very high, and I’ll be working with them all through my period of stay.
What is your general impression about Nigerian football and footballers based on your long attachments with clubs in the EPL?
It’s the hunger. There is a resilience in Nigerian players that is very special. I worked with Odion Ighalo, for example, and his determination to succeed was incredible. I think because many players here have faced harsher conditions on their way up, they have a mental toughness that some lads in the UK, who come through very comfortable academy systems, simply don’t have. That grit allows them to thrive in any situation.
Moroccan forward Ghizlane Chebbak has been named the 2025 CAF Women’s Player of the Year, securing one of African football’s most prestigious honours after a standout season.
The 35-year-old received the award on Wednesday, November 19, during the CAF Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco.
Chebbak topped a strong shortlist that included Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and fellow Moroccan Sanna Mssoudy. Her exceptional performances throughout the year—especially at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)—solidified her position as Africa’s best.
At WAFCON, Chebbak won the Golden Boot with five goals and earned a spot in the Team of the Tournament. Her consistency and leadership also earned her a place in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11, further highlighting her global impact.
Ajibade, who finished as runner-up, also had a remarkable year. She captained Nigeria to their record 10th WAFCON title, won the tournament’s Best Player award, made the Team of the Year, and completed a high-profile transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Achraf Hakimi has been named the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year, capping off a phenomenal season for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team.
The right-back beat out fellow finalists Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to claim the continent’s most prestigious individual football honor.
Hakimi’s award follows a standout 2024–25 campaign in which he played a decisive role in PSG’s domestic dominance and historic UEFA Champions League triumph.
His consistency, versatility, and attacking influence from the right flank have placed him at the top of world football in his position.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been crowned Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, securing the award for an extraordinary third consecutive time.
At the 2025 CAF Awards, the Nigerian international who was crucial to the Super Falcons 10th WAFCON title continues to cement her place among the world’s elite with another standout year between the posts.
On the men’s side, Morocco’s and Al Hilal’s Yassine Bounou has been named Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, adding another major honor to his distinguished career.
Both winners reaffirm dominance on the global stage, delivering consistent excellence for club and country.
Winner of Player of the season in the Major League Soccer (MLS), Osaze Urhoghide, has opened up on why he wanted to play for the Super Eagles.
The FC Dallas MLS defender said he was saddened that Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 world cup.
He said he felt Nigerians disappointment at the country’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Urhoghide noted that footballers who gave their best should be given a chance to lead the Super Eagles to victory in the Nations Cup.
He said, “Winning the Defender of the Season award is a great honor, but it’s not just about individual accolades.
“It’s about the team, and I’m proud to have been part of a successful season with FC Dallas. I’m looking forward to bringing that success next season or at the international level if invited.
When asked about his plans for the off-season, Urhoghide revealed that he intended to help Nigerians and engaged in charity work.
“I want to give back to the community and inspire young Nigerian kids to pursue their dreams. Football is a powerful tool for social change, and I want to be part of it.”
Urhoghide’s impressive performances have earned him the Player of the Year award and recognition as the best defender for his club in the league.
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Ajibade, Nnadozie, Madugu, Super Falcons to shine’
Paris Saint Germain inspirational Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi is widely regarded as the favourite to be crowned the new African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards Gala tonight despite stiff competition from Egypt’s Liverpool striker, Mohammed Salah and Nigeria’s Galatasaray forward, Victor Osimhen.
The trio made the final shortlist of three and the identity of the successor to Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman would not be known until later today before the crème de la crème of African football at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat. The ceremony will begin at 19h00 local time and 7:00pm Nigerian time.
Last year, local fans were left in frustration after Ademola walked away with the title as he succeeded his compatriot and Super Eagle’s team mate, Osimhen. But Hakimi is being considered by many as a strong favourite to win the award this year, having finished as runner-up in the previous two editions.
Incidentally, former Nigerian captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has long hinted that Hakimi was a top contender for the 2025 honours following his pivotal role in PSG successful season, where the team won the French Ligue 1, the French Cup and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title in 2025. He believes Hakimi’s strong performances and significant trophy haul make him a deserving candidate for top individual awards.
“What else, Hakimi has already done well to be the next African Footballer of the Year,” Oliseh, 1994 AFCON Winner and 1996 Olympics soccer gold medallist, told NationSport in a file interview. “Did you see the opening goal he scored in the final of the Champions League (against Inter Milan?
“We shouldn’t forget that Hakimi is a right back and it was him that did the tap in to score (against Inter) and after, you’ll find him defending again?
“C’mon, Hakimi has collected his thing,” Oliseh added with an air of finality.
Elsewhere, Nigerian stars are certainly expected to be on the honours roll tonight in the women’s category with Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie favourites for the Women’s Best Player and women’s Best Goalkeeper awards respectively.
No guessing for the likely winner of the Women’s Team of the Year award for the Super Falcons following their 10th WAFCON title with Coach Justin Madugu expected to be crowned the Women’s Best Coach of the Year.
This year’s would be co-presented by two towering music and entertainment giants, five –time Grammy Awards winner, Beninese Angélique Kidjo and Moroccan comedian, actor and showman, Oualass.
Turkish giants Galatasaray have reportedly submitted a substantial offer for Ademola Lookman, who remains unsettled at Atalanta after the summer transfer saga that did not go his way.
According to Calciomercato, Galatasaray have submitted a concrete and substantial offer for the Super Eagles forward.
The report stated that Galatasaray consider the former Leipzig player a top priority.
The offer is described as significant and could impact the upcoming winter transfer window. If Atalanta accepted the offer, the transfer could be one of the most notable of the window.
Lookman is highly valued and he is under contract until the summer of 2027, and is paid 2,310,000 euros per year in Italy.
Atalanta will sell Lookman for a suitable offer, with the condition that any transfer must be a permanent deal or a loan that includes a mandatory purchase option.
According to Giordano Signorelli, Tuttosport’s Atalanta correspondent, the price for the player is approximately €50-55 million including bonuses, a figure that has not changed from a few months ago.
Lookman wants to change clubs because he has not fully adapted in Bergamo, but Atalanta is setting the conditions for a transfer.
The subject of Lookman and Galatasaray was discussed at the end of August. Giordano Signorelli reported that at that time, the player gave his approval for the transfer if the two clubs could reach an agreement, but an agreement was not reached.
The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has expressed deep disappointment over the Super Eagles’ loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Africa World Cup playoff final on Sunday night.
Nigeria fell 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regulation time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco — a result that ended the country’s hopes of securing a World Cup ticket.
Reacting to the defeat, Mohammed said the loss was painful for both the team and the nation, noting that Nigeria’s passion for football makes the outcome even more difficult to accept.
“That Sunday‘s loss by the Super Eagles hurts deeply, and as Chairman of the FCT Football Association, I share in the national disappointment. A football-loving nation like ours feels this frustration,” he said.
He commended the players for putting up a fight despite the circumstances, stressing that setbacks are part of the sport but the response afterward is what truly matters.
According to him, the defeat should serve as a wake-up call for Nigerian football administrators, stakeholders, and institutions to strengthen the country’s football system from the grassroots up.
“This result must be a catalyst for change. We must move beyond relying on moments of brilliance and build a sustainable football system with strong technical foundations and a long-term strategy,” he noted.
Mohammed urged Nigerians to channel their frustrations constructively rather than resort to harsh criticisms, adding that the national team needs unity and support to rebuild.
He also reaffirmed the FCT FA’s commitment to contributing to what he described as “Nigeria’s football renaissance.”
“Our story is far bigger than one result, and our identity as a football powerhouse remains intact,” he added.
The Super Eagles now shift focus to future international engagements as conversations around structural reforms in Nigerian football continue to gather momentum.
