The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • LBHF gets sponsorship boost ahead  of this month’s boxing  tourney

    LBHF gets sponsorship boost ahead  of this month’s boxing  tourney

    The longest-running boxing tournament in Nigeria, the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF), has received a major sponsorship boost from Mainstay Bulletproof Limited.

    The November edition of the tournament is scheduled for November 29  with Mainstay Bulletproof—a vehicle armouring  company operating in Lagos, Abuja, and Asaba—coming on board as the new sponsor.

    Speaking on the development, Director of LBHF, David Mohammed, expressed his excitement and optimism about the partnership, noting that it marks a new chapter for the tournament.

    Read Also: TNFF  underlines  global economic power of football

    “We are delighted to have secured the sponsorship of Mainstay Bulletproof and believe this is a crucial step towards attracting more private sector funding. LBHF will continue to fly the flag for amateur boxing in this region, and with partners like Mainstay Bulletproof and others, the future is indeed very bright,” Mohammed said.

    On his part,  Ibrahim Balogun, Head of Sponsorship at Mainstay Bulletproof, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration.

    “We are thrilled to be announced as sponsors of the LBHF Monthly Boxing Show. With a track record of over 15 years, the consistency and legacy of this event speak for themselves. We are particularly excited about the new IBILE Format set to debut in January 2026, and we look forward to a fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership with the LBHF,” Balogun stated.

    The next LBHF Monthly Boxing Show will hold on November 29, 2025, at the Agege Stadium.

  • Joshua to decide on 2025 bout soon

    Joshua to decide on 2025 bout soon

    A decision on whether former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will fight in 2025 will be made later this week, promoter Eddie Hearn said.

    Joshua has been out of action for almost 14 months since he suffered a dramatic fifth-round stoppage loss to fellow British heavyweight Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

    Defeat checked the 36-year-old’s progress under trainer Ben Davison and another shot at the world title, but Hearn said a tune-up bout could take place before this year is out.

     “We will make a decision this week in terms of if he will fight this year,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “We have to decide by this weekend basically.

     “It doesn’t really matter where it is. You won’t know about it until maybe even fight week. Honestly. That’s the whole purpose of it.”

    Hearn added: “I think it would be so good for him but bizarre at the same time, because there’s no money in the fight. We’re not going to start using him to sell tickets. Literally he will just pop up on a show.

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    “He’s really up for it. I think it would be so good for him. I’d love him to go in there and just smash someone up.”

    Joshua’s defeat by Dubois ended a run of four straight wins after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, who ended his reign as world champion in 2021.

    Usyk also twice beat another British heavyweight Tyson Fury, the former WBC champion.

    Fury retired after that second loss, seemingly scuppering the prospect of a lucrative all-British bout against Joshua.

    But recent reports have suggested Fury could resume his career next year, reviving hopes of a contest with Joshua.

  • Laporta casts doubts on Messi’s return at Barcelona

    Laporta casts doubts on Messi’s return at Barcelona

    Barcelona president Joan Laporta has downplayed the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the club, calling it unrealistic, following the Argentine’s surprise visit to the revamped Camp Nou, where he spent 21 years of his glittering career.

    Messi, who joined Barca’s youth academy as a 13-year-old and became their all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, left the Catalan side in 2021 when they could not make it financially viable to keep him.

    The 38-year-old World Cup winner, who now plays for Inter Miami, visited the iconic stadium on Sunday and expressed his desire to return there one day.

    “I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do,” the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner had said.

    Read Also: Ballon d’Or: NFF congratulates Nnadozie, Madugu

    “Out of respect to Messi, all the club staff and the club members, it’s not right for me to speculate on something that would not be realistic, and it’s not the moment to do it,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio on Wednesday.

    During Messi’s storied Barca career, he won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups.

    Messi, who moved to Paris St Germain on a free transfer after his Barca exit, extended his contract with Inter Miami in October and has previously hinted that the Major League Soccer club would likely be his last.

    Laporta said that Barca would like to give Messi a tribute at Camp Nou once the renovations — set to expand the stadium’s capacity to 105,000 — are completed.

    “He’s playing for Inter Miami. He knows he’s loved and appreciated for who he is and that he’ll always be welcome,” Laporta said.

    “It’s only fair that he should have the best tribute in the world. It would be wonderful to have his tribute here, in front of 105,000 fans.”

  • Ex-Middlesbrough boss to train Arokodare at Wolves

    Ex-Middlesbrough boss to train Arokodare at Wolves

    Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare  will henceforth  be under the tutelage of a new coach in England after  Wolverhampton Wanderers announced  the signing of  Rob Edwards on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

    Edwards, who previously guided Luton Town to the Premier League in his first season, had taken charge of Middlesbrough on a three-year contract in June but appeared to have had his head turned following interest from his former club Wolves.

    Wolves were seeking a new manager after the Premier League’s bottom side sacked Vitor Pereira following a winless start to the season after 10 games and they turned to Edwards, who was also a former youth team coach at the club.

    “We need to refresh the whole club with a new coach’s philosophy, bringing his own identity and ideas, and we can build on that. We are at a new chapter for the club and Rob will be a key piece of that,” club Chairman Jeff Shi said. “I know Rob very well and I have seen his growth in different jobs. He’s a very good person, he knows the club very well, he knows the city, the fans and he is very talented.

    “When he was a youth coach here, he showed his tactical awareness, but after he took first-team jobs he started to grow his own identity, character and leadership.”

    Middlesbrough were reluctant to let Edwards leave but after initially rejecting an approach from Wolves, they were forced to agree terms with the Premier League side when the 42-year-old made clear his desire to take the job.

    The timing proved particularly painful for Middlesbrough, who were sitting third in the Championship standings when Edwards was stood down ahead of last weekend’s game.

    Read Also: NFF, Jalla bicker over planned workshop on  amendment of statues at Ibadan AGM

    Edwards managed only 15 games for the club before his departure, winning seven and drawing five.

    Middlesbrough gave Edwards permission to speak to Wolves on Saturday and four days later, he put pen to paper to confirm his return to the Premier League and Molineux Stadium, where he spent four seasons as a player and made 111 appearances.

    Wolves director Matt Jackson said Edwards and his staff have proven before how they can successfully “shift the culture” and inspire confidence in players.

    “The energy that he brings off the field, we have to get it on to the pitch. We have to be realistic about where we are, and we definitely need to be held accountable,” Jackson said.

    “We now need to get that belief into the players quickly and think Rob will be great culturally for the whole football club.”

    Edwards now has the task of turning around the club’s fortunes and maintaining their top-flight status.

    Interim head coach Jamie Collins oversaw a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday, leaving Wolves as the only team across England’s top four tiers yet to win a league match this season.

    Edwards’s first match in charge is a home game against Crystal Palace after the international break, on November 22.

  • LA28:  women’s 100m  to hold ‘with bang’ on  opening day

    LA28:  women’s 100m  to hold ‘with bang’ on  opening day

    The women’s 100 metres final will headline the first day of competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, organizers said , part of a reshaped schedule that moves athletics into week one and gives swimmers the rare chance to attend the Opening Ceremony.

    LA28 officials said the switch stems from venue logistics at SoFi Stadium, which will host parts of the Opening Ceremony and swimming. Athletics will be held at LA Memorial Coliseum and run first to allow time to convert SoFi for aquatics in week two.

    “We want to open with a bang,” said Shana Ferguson, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, who called the women’s 100m “one of the most-watched races of the Games.”

    Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic champion in swimming, added that placing swimming in the second week could let more swimmers join the Opening Ceremony, which many typically skip with competition starting the next morning.

    “There’s a component of the Olympic experience we want athletes to have at our Games,” said Evans, who serves as LA28’s chief athlete officer.

    Read Also: Abandoned FIFA Project: Monimichelle faults NFF on funding as equipment  rot away in Ugborodo  

    Ferguson said the schedule was built over months with the International Olympic Committee and international federations, factoring in athlete welfare, television windows and local conditions such as heat, tides and sun angles for outdoor events.

    “Weather considerations were made not only for athletes but also fans,” she said, adding that the welfare of horses competing in equestrian events was also taken into account.

    Day one will also award the first LA28 medals in the women’s triathlon and feature the most women’s finals ever in a single day, organizers said.

    A “Super Saturday” on Day 15 is slated to include 26 medal sessions across 23 sports. LA28 expects women to comprise more than half of athlete quotas and highlighted new sports including flag football and squash, and the return of cricket, lacrosse and baseball/softball.

    Ferguson said LA28 plans to sell about 14 million tickets across 51 Olympic sports at 49 venues, with public sales set to begin in April 2026 following registration in January.

    Pricing is fixed and will not use dynamic pricing, she said, adding that organizers will outline measures to address secondary-market concerns closer to the on-sale date.

    Organizers said 77% of sessions will be staged in existing venues, with 23% in temporary sites such as the Sepulveda Basin and Long Beach, with more than 90% of temporary materials to be reused or repurposed.

    Softball will be held at Oklahoma City’s existing facilities, a move Evans said offers “world-class”

  • CANAL+, SuperSport unveil unique broadcasting plans for 2025 AFCON

    CANAL+, SuperSport unveil unique broadcasting plans for 2025 AFCON

    When the 35th edition of the tournament kicks off in Morocco on 21 December 2025, CANAL+ will become the first global broadcaster to bring viewers the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™, the massive African football showpiece, in French, English, Portuguese and local indigenous languages.

    The group made the announcement on 06 November 2025, confirming that SuperSport has concluded a broadcast rights deal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the right to broadcast the tournament.

    CANAL+ Africa CEO, David Mignot, said: “Our newly formed merger with the MultiChoice Group has already unlocked opportunities and benefits for our customers. And this year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is a great demonstration of the power and potential of this common ambition: bringing together our expertise to offer unprecedented coverage. Our subscribers will be part of the most spectacular celebration of African football.”

    CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, said: “This is an exciting day for CAF and for African football. When the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Morocco in December, Africans everywhere — on the continent and across the diaspora — will be watching with pride. Millions will follow the games on television, celebrating the best that African football has to offer.

    Rendani Ramovha, Director of Sport Content English and Portuguese-speaking Africa for MultiChoice (a CANAL+ company), said: “We are especially proud to be able to bring the story of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™, live to all our viewers. SuperSport has been the preferred choice for millions of passionate fans across the continent, and this tournament won’t be different, as we will have a dedicated SuperSport AFCON channel.

    READ ALSO; FG pays N18bn insurance to boost troops’ welfare

    “As part of the CANAL+ Group, we can take that viewing experience to another level, which means people can expect more compelling viewing, brought to them in a language of their choice. It is truly poised to be a celebration of African glory.”
    Viewers will be able to view SuperSport’s coverage of Morocco 25 on DStv and GOtv.

    In Nigeria and surrounding regions, fans can enjoy the matches in English or Pidgin, while fans in other countries can experience it in different local languages on SuperSport.

    The coverage of the tournament will include stellar line-ups of star analysts, commentators, presenters and African football legends, who will bring their unique takes on the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™.

    Hundreds of millions of viewers can see their favourite African heroes in action, including the likes of Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mané (Senegal), Ronwen Williams (South Africa), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco).

  • BREAKING: Super Eagles resume training after boycott over unpaid bonuses

    BREAKING: Super Eagles resume training after boycott over unpaid bonuses

    The Super Eagles have returned to training in Morocco after boycotting Tuesday’s session ahead of their 2026 World Cup Qualifiers playoff against Gabon due to unpaid bonuses.

    Reports from the team’s camp indicated that the dispute has been resolved following discussions between the players and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    READ ALSO; FG pays N18bn insurance to boost troops’ welfare

    The squad is now set to resume full preparations for Thursday’s crucial clash with the Panthers.

    Details shortly…

  • Janine Anthony joins Samoura, Coventry, Akamanzi on Africa’s top 50 women in sports list

    Janine Anthony joins Samoura, Coventry, Akamanzi on Africa’s top 50 women in sports list

    Nigerian sports media executive, entrepreneur, and digital strategist, Janine Anthony, has been formally recognised by the Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) as one of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports honorees for the year 2025.

    The prestigious list, announced on November 8 in Nairobi, Kenya, celebrates exceptional women whose leadership and innovation are driving the transformation of Africa’s sports ecosystem.

    Anthony joined a cohort of continental and global heavyweights, including former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, and NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi.

    Anthony was specifically honoured in the Business and Marketing category, noting her significant influence at the critical intersection of technology, commerce, and media, extending beyond her award-winning on-screen career.

    As the Sports and Gaming Partnerships Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, Anthony led the strategy to establish Sports and Gaming as official, standalone content verticals. This business development effort was instrumental in growing the local sports creator economy, providing monetisation frameworks, and scaling African sports content to a global digital audience.

    READ ALSO; FG pays N18bn insurance to boost troops’ welfare

    Furthermore, her work within the global iGaming industry at PawaTech (owners of betPawa and Mchezo) included deploying the successful Locker Room Bonus (LRB).

    This initiative, now available in Nigeria’s Nationwide League (NNL), is an example of social innovation, utilising mobile money and fintech solutions to ensure instant and equal cash rewards for both male and female players after a match win.

    Her trajectory began with historic broadcast roles at the BBC (including being the first African woman to lead football commentary at AFCON 2019), followed by work with Sky Sports, the Premier League, and her role as a Matchday Reporter for DAZN at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the US, alongside fellow Nigerian football legend, John Obi Mikel.

    She is also the Founder of LadiesMarch, a dedicated Pan-African digital network for women’s football that recently marked its 10th anniversary in June.

    “These extraordinary women represent the heartbeat of African sports. Their courage, vision, and excellence inspire not just the next generation of women in sport, but an entire continent striving for transformation,” said Leslie Koroma Sr., Founder & CEO of the Africa Sports Ventures Group. The 2026 Edition of the awards is scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, alongside the Youth Olympic Games.

    Anthony is one of six Nigerians honoured, which include: Nkechi Obi, CEO, Sport Nigeria Ltd; Yetunde Olopade, CEO & MD, Nilayo Sports Management Ltd; Amb. Mary Onyali, a celebrated Olympian who successfully transitioned to promoting athlete development and sports marketing; Aisha Shuaibu, President, SWA Sports & Advisory Board Member, NAFA; and Tega Onojaife, Founder, Ladies in Sports International, Sports Producer & Presenter.

  • Ex-Chelsea player Oscar in hospital with heart issue

    Ex-Chelsea player Oscar in hospital with heart issue

    Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar is stable in hospital after falling ill with a heart issue.

    The 34-year-old became unwell while undergoing physical testing before the new season at Sao Paulo’s training centre on Tuesday.

    He returned to Brazilian side Sao Paulo, where he started his career, in December 2024.

    The club said: “Oscar presented an incident with cardiological changes, being promptly attended to by the club’s professionals and the medical team from Einstein Hospital Israelita, who were present at the site.

    “The player was then taken to the hospital, where he is currently in stable condition and remains under observation for further tests to clarify the diagnosis.”

    Brazilian publication Globo reported, external that Oscar was using an exercise bike when he collapsed and was unconscious for two minutes.

    It added that Oscar is now considering retirement. He returned to Sao Paulo, who are managed by ex-Chelsea and Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, on a three-year deal running until 2027 after spending eight years playing in China.

  • Top 10 richest footballers in 2025

    Top 10 richest footballers in 2025

    In a sport where a single goal can eclipse a striker’s salary, 2025’s earnings landscape is a masterclass in longevity meets lightning-in-a-bottle talent.

     Forbes’ latest rankings reveal a seismic shift: Cristiano Ronaldo, at 40, clings to the summit with a jaw-dropping $275 million haul—$225M from his Al-Nassr contract alone, plus $50M in endorsements that could fund a small nation’s space program.

    Meanwhile, 18-year-old Barcelona wunderkind Lamine Yamal crashes the top 10 at No. 10 with $43M, proving that in football’s financial game, youth is the ultimate cheat code.

    1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal) – $275 Million

    The GOAT of greenbacks strikes again. Ronaldo’s Saudi exile isn’t exile at all—it’s a $225M salary bonanza laced with bonuses for every jaw-dropping free kick. Off the pitch? $50M from Nike’s lifetime pact, Herbalife hustles, and his CR7 empire (hotels, gyms, fragrances). At 40, he’s football’s first billionaire, out-earning entire squads while plotting a 2026 World Cup swan song. Lesson: Age is just a number when your Instagram flexes to 700M followers.

    2. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina) – $130 Million

    Messi’s MLS magic minted $65M in salary—Inter Miami’s pink jerseys now a global billboard—plus $65M in endorsements that scream “eight Ballons d’Or.” From Adidas to Apple TV deals, plus his namesake energy drink, Leo’s post-Barça glow-up has him mentoring Yamal while banking like a World Cup final. 

    Fun fact: His $60M Apple pact for MLS broadcasts alone outpaces most clubs’ transfer budgets. The dwarf who dances with giants.

    3. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France) – $95 Million

    The $70M Madrid signing bonus was just foreplay; Mbappé’s $70M on-field (salary + incentives) meets $25M off-field (Nike, Hublot, his own SKKY brand). At 26, he’s shattering La Liga records faster than he sprints, but his real flex? Turning PSG heartbreak into Real royalty. With France’s 2026 ambitions, expect this to balloon—proving speed kills, but cash accelerates.

    4. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway) – $80 Million

    Haaland’s goal tally (50+ last season) mirrors his $55M City salary, bumped by a 10-year extension inked early 2025. $25M endorsements (Nike, Dolce & Gabbana) make the Viking a walking ad for efficiency—eat, score, sleep, repeat. No wonder Pep calls him a “machine”; at 25, he’s the Premier League’s cash cyborg, eyeing treble repeats and treble zeros in his bank app.

    5. Neymar (Santos, Brazil) – $75 Million

    Injury-plagued but wallet-unscathed, Neymar’s $70M Saudi salary dwarfs his $5M endorsements (Red Bull, Puma). The PSG escape to Al-Hilal was pure payday poetry—$100M signing bonus spread over years. At 33, he’s less samba, more sheikh, but his flair still funds beachside villas. Redemption arc? Or retirement fund? Either way, it’s lush.

    6. Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad, France) – $70 Million

    Benzema’s post-Real glow-up: $68M from Ittihad’s coffers, $2M from sparse endorsements. The Ballon d’Or winner traded Bernabéu glory for Saudi stability, scoring steadily while stacking nine figures. At 37, it’s less about headlines, more about hedges—proving quiet kings cash the loudest checks.

    7. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Brazil) – $60 Million

    Vini’s $40M Madrid wage + $20M Nike/Gatorade glow (post-racism resilience) catapults him to global icon status. At 25, his dribble-dazzle and Champions League heroics make him the face of Brazil’s next dynasty. Forbes ranks him 46th overall athlete—humble pie for a kid who outruns defenders and doubters alike.

    8. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt) – $55 Million

    Salah’s $35M Liverpool loyalty bonus (new deal through 2027) + $20M Adidas/ Pepsi deals keep the Pharaoh phat. At 33, his 200+ Anfield goals fund Egyptian pride projects, but off-pitch? He’s Liverpool’s heartbeat, turning Merseyside into a mint. No Saudi sirens yet—loyalty pays, literally.

    9. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland) – $50 Million

    Lewy’s $40M Barça base + $10M Huawei/ Gillette gigs make him Europe’s top earner sans Saudi. At 37, his 30-goal seasons defy physics, funding a post-career coaching empire. From Bayern to Barça, he’s the ageless assassin—proving strikers age like fine wine, or in his case, vintage vaults.

    10. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain) – $43 Million

    The audacious 18-year-old phenom: $33M salary after his 2031 extension, $10M budding Adidas/ Barça kits. Euro 2024 hero, No. 10 heir to Messi—he’s the future, crashing the party with La Masia magic. Cutoff king at $43M, Yamal signals soccer’s youthquake: Prodigies now pay prodigious prices.

    These 10 aren’t just players; they’re portfolios on cleats, blending Saudi oil money with European prestige and American allure. Total off-field earnings? $250M—Nike and Adidas alone could buy a league. But as Yamal’s entry hints, the guard is changing: Veterans like Ronaldo hoard, while teens like him harvest. Football’s golden era? Or gilded cage? One thing’s clear—scoring pays, but branding wins the league.