The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • EPL: Awoniyi’s Forest lose 3-0 to Chelsea

    EPL: Awoniyi’s Forest lose 3-0 to Chelsea

    Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s Nottingham Forest lost to Chelsea at the City Ground in the English Premier League.

    Awoniyi made his first start since a serious abdominal injury left him in a coma last season.

    Forest started the game well but failed to capitalise with striker Awoniyi, missing an early chance and Morgan Gibbs-White also missed two first-half chances.

    Chelsea struggled with a makeshift midfield, missing the injured Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, while Moises Caicedo started on the bench.

    Read Also: Forest axe injured Ola Aina from Premier League squad, Awoniyi in

    However, three half-time changes by manager Enzo Maresca, including the introduction of star midfielder Caicedo, helped turn the game.

    Defender Josh Acheampong and winger Pedro Neto scored just after half-time, before captain Reece James sealed victory in a 3-0 win for Chelsea.

    Ange Postecoglou was later sacked by Nottingham Forest 19 minutes after the loss with the 60-year old leaves the club after only 39 days and eight winless games.

  • JUST IN: Forest sack Postecoglou after 39 days in charge

    JUST IN: Forest sack Postecoglou after 39 days in charge

    Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest following the side’s 3-0 defeat by Chelsea at the City Ground.

    The Australian’s dismissal – 39 days after his appointment on 9 September – means Postecoglou’s stint at Forest is the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.

    The former Tottenham boss failed to win any of his eight matches in charge of Forest, with two draws and six defeats across all competitions.

    Forest collected just one point from Postecoglou’s five Premier League matches in charge, leaving the side one point above the relegation zone in 17th.

    Read Also: EPL: Chelsea win puts Forest’s Postecoglou out of managerial duty

    “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.

    “The club will make no further comment at this time.”

    BBC

  • EPL: Chelsea win puts Forest’s Postecoglou out of managerial duty

    EPL: Chelsea win puts Forest’s Postecoglou out of managerial duty

    Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after three second-half goals secured Chelsea’s Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, extending Forest’s winless run to eight games.

    Defender Josh Acheampong and winger Pedro Neto scored just after half-time, prompting chants of “you don’t know what you are doing” from the home supporters after Postecoglou reacted by immediately bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, before captain Reece James sealed victory in a 3-0 win for Chelsea.

    Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis left the directors’ box after 66 minutes, with Postecoglou’s future understood to be under scrutiny.

    Postecoglou will bemoan Forest’s failure to capitalise on a dominant first half, when striker Taiwo Awoniyi, on his first start since a serious abdominal injury left him in a coma last season, missed an early chance. Morgan Gibbs-White also missed two first-half chances.

    Chelsea struggled with a makeshift midfield, missing the injured Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, while Moises Caicedo started on the bench.

    However, three half-time changes by manager Enzo Maresca, including the introduction of star midfielder Caicedo, helped turn the game.

    Read Also:  BREAKING: Chelsea stun Liverpool with late winner

    Acheampong, 19, was unmarked when he headed home Neto’s cross from close range four minutes after the interval. Neto curled a free-kick past Forest’s wall and goalkeeper Matz Sels three minutes later.

    James volleyed in a third a poor Sels clearance and Chelsea defender Malo Gusto was sent off for a second yellow card in a hectic last few moments of the match.

    Postecoglou was seen shaking his head minutes earlier after defender Neco Williams volleyed over when unmarked. Substitute striker Igor Jesus then hit the post and bar as poor finishing cost Forest.

    The result also cost Postecoglou his job with six defeats with two draws in his first eight matches since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo in September.

    BBC

  • Ndidi named Besiktas Vice-Captain

    Ndidi named Besiktas Vice-Captain

    Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi has been appointed vice-captain of Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.

    The club confirmed the decision in an official statement on its website on Monday.

    “With the decision of our President Serdal Adalı and our Board of Directors, a change has been made regarding the captaincy of our Football A Team,” the statement reads.

    “Our Board of Directors and technical team have agreed that players in more influential positions on the field should serve as captains. Consequently, Orkun Kökçü has been appointed first captain, while Wilfred Ndidi will serve as second captain.

    “We thank Necip Uysal and Mert Günok for their efforts during their captaincy and wish our new captains success.”

    Ndidi, 28, joined Besiktas from English club Leicester City in the summer and has since made six league appearances for the Istanbul giants.

  • Eben-Spiff crowned champion of AFM Golf Invitational

    Eben-Spiff crowned champion of AFM Golf Invitational

    The serene greens of the Lakowe Lakes Golf & Country Estate came alive on October 10th as some of Nigeria’s finest amateur golfers teed off at the second edition of the AFM Golf Invitational.

    The one-day 18-hole stroke play tournament held at the prestigious championship Lakowe Lakes Golf Club combined elegance, competition, and camaraderie.

    Dressed in the tournament’s signature all-white ensemble with branded caps, over 60 golfers competed under clear skies for top honours in a contest governed strictly by R&A Golf Rules and Lakowe Lakes Local Rules.

    At the end of a closely fought day, Peter Eben-Spiff (Handicap 2) carded an impressive 71 (−1 under par) to emerge overall Nett Winner and Tournament Champion, edging out a strong field that included Banjo Obaleye and Lawrence Welle, who returned +2 and +3 respectively, with Uche Obilor emerging as the guest players’ winner with a 2 over par.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria to add about 130 million people by 2050, says World Bank

    Eben-Spiff’s consistency off the tee and composure on the greens earned him a deserved victory, particularly on Lakowe’s challenging back nine, where water hazards and undulating fairways often test even seasoned players.

    The leader board reflected the competitiveness of the event, with golfers such as Lawrence Welle, KoBad Adeogun, and Mustapha Bala Hassan finishing just two strokes behind.

    Beyond the numbers, the AFM Invitational once again demonstrated its growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s premier amateur golf gatherings.

    The tournament, which began in 2023, was conceived by Aare Frank Momoh, who also serves as Chairman of  AFM Golf initiative.

  • Nigerian viewers to enjoy Sporty TV’s free-to-air sports packages

    Nigerian viewers to enjoy Sporty TV’s free-to-air sports packages

    Africa’s fastest growing free-to-air sports network Sporty TV has unveiled a number of exciting sports packages for its Nigerian market.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, Oluchi Enuha, the Executive Representative of the Network in Nigeria, said these packages would change the entire landscape of sports broadcasting, not only in Nigeria but across the globe.

    Enuha also announced a partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and other global media leaders, stating that the partnership would set new standards for free television and deliver value as well as affordable top class content for viewers and advertisers alike.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria to add about 130 million people by 2050, says World Bank

    “This is an unprecedented delivery of value and premium content at no cost to the Nigerian viewer. This is definitely transforming the broadcasting landscape across Africa,” Enuha  said at the presser.

    He continued: “We are delivering over 600 live events including the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, South American football, some Super Eagles 2026 World Cup qualifying matches(the last four games), the FIFA World Club Cup, the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup finals and even the just concluded 2025 World Athletics Championships in Japan directly to viewers free.”

    Sporty TV combines world class production, cutting edge technology and strategic partnerships in ensuring that every Nigerian household is able to enjoy premium sports content through its YouTube channel and mobile apps, guaranteeing maximum reach and convenience in the process.

  • I was wrong, Palmer out for six more weeks – Maresca

    I was wrong, Palmer out for six more weeks – Maresca

    Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer will be out for six more weeks as he continues his recovery from a persistent groin injury.

    The 23-year-old forward hasn’t played a competitive match since 20 September, when he was forced off by the recurrence of an issue that first emerged during the Blues’ shortened pre-season following their successful Club World Cup campaign.

    Palmer has made just three Premier League appearances this season and is running short of opportunities to impress England manager Thomas Tuchel before next summer’s World Cup.

    Chelsea decided to rest Palmer before the international break to give him the best chance of being fit and ready by November – but Maresca has pushed his potential return back to the end of next month.

    “I was wrong,” Maresca told a news conference on Friday. “Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. So, yes, this is the update.”

    The Chelsea manager said he was confident Palmer, who scored 15 Premier League goals last season, would not need surgery.

    “We try to protect Cole as much as we can,” Maresca said. “The most important thing is when he comes back, he is fully fit.

    “The medical staff are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough. We need to see it step-by-step. For sure, he’s going to be OK.

    Read Also: Chelsea’s Palmer sidelined with groin injury

    “He looks relaxed. He has tried to recover from the injury and is doing all the therapy.”

    Speaking before his side continue their Premier League campaign away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Maresca conceded Palmer would be a big miss.

    “To replace Cole is difficult, because Cole is a very important player for us – probably one of the best players in the Premier League – so to replace that kind of player is always difficult,” he said.

    “We don’t have another player like Cole, because Cole is unique.”

    Palmer will miss Premier League games against Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Arsenal, and a League Cup tie at Wolves.

    The six-week recovery estimate would also count Palmer out of Champions League games against Ajax, Qarabag and Barcelona, while ruling him out for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

    BBC Sports

  • Obi, Okpala challenge  African teams  to win World Cup 

    Obi, Okpala challenge  African teams  to win World Cup 

    By Daniel Oyekan

    Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi and erstwhile Nigeria international Sylvanus Okpala have called on African nations to stake their claim for the  FIFA World Cup, adding  the continent has matured enough to contend for football  ultimate prize rather than merely making up the numbers.

    Okpala who was part of Nigeria’s victorious 1980 AFCON squad and later served as assistant coach when the Super Eagles won the 2013 edition,   said African football has evolved technically and mentally, stressing that the next phase must be global domination.

     “African football has matured and must now shift its mind-set to winning the World Cup rather than just participating,” Okpala said in an interview aired on a Lagos-based sports radio station. “In 1994, Nigeria had the quality to win, but we lacked the belief. The inferiority complex must go. The game is the same everywhere — only organization and self-belief separate the best.”

    Okpala, who also represented Nigeria at the 1980 and 1988 Olympic Games added : “It has to start from the top. If football administration is well organized, it trickles down to the teams. That’s when you can achieve great things.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mikel Obi agreed wholeheartedly, identifying Morocco as a model example of a country ready to make history for Africa.

    Read Also: Poor  Super  Eagles’ outing in Bloemfontein: Envoy slams NFF

    He  stated: “Right now, only Morocco looks ready to win the World Cup. Look at how they’ve built from the junior level to the senior men’s and women’s teams everything is structured. You can see they’re doing it right.”

    The former Chelsea midfielder pointed to the North African nation’s performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they became the first African team to reach the semifinals, as proof that the continent can compete with the world’s best.

     “Morocco have shown it’s possible,” Mikel added. “They reached the semifinals; now the next target must be to get to the final and win it. Other African countries must follow that model plan, invest, and believe.”

    Equally,  former Shooting Stars coach, Duke Udi, noted the benchmark has already been reset by Morocco’s ground-breaking 2022 World Cup semi-final run. According to him, it’s no longer enough for African teams to merely qualify or make the last four — the next mission must be the final, or nothing.

    “Any nation that goes to the World Cup must strive to surpass Morocco’s achievement — get to the final or win it,” Udi said. “It’s been a long time Africa made an impact at the World Cup, and the only way to change that is to go beyond what Morocco achieved.”

  • W’Cup 2026 Play-Off:  Gabon’s Aubameyang fires  Super Eagles warning

    W’Cup 2026 Play-Off:  Gabon’s Aubameyang fires  Super Eagles warning

    Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sent a strong message to Nigeria’s Super Eagles ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash.

    Speaking after helping the Panthers secure a place in the playoffs, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker declared that Gabon is fully focused on making history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.

    “We want to go to the World Cup, and to get there, we have to win games,” Aubameyang told The Standard. “I’m very motivated, and when you have the chance to go to the World Cup, you have to be even more motivated.”

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

    The 36-year-old veteran, who continues to be the driving force of the Gabonese national team, will lead his side against Nigeria in the first leg of the CAF playoffs to be staged in Morocco.

    While the Panthers chase their maiden appearance at football’s biggest event, they face a formidable Nigerian team determined to reclaim their spot on the world stage after missing out on Qatar 2022.

    With Aubameyang’s firepower and experience, Gabon hopes to upset the odds—but the Super Eagles are equally desperate to soar back into the global spotlight.

  • WAFCON 2025: Otu splashes N50 Million on  Miracle Useni

    WAFCON 2025: Otu splashes N50 Million on  Miracle Useni

    Decorates Falcons’ defender with VVIP Honour, gifts plot of land.

    Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has hosted   Super Falcons defender  Miracle Useni in Calabar for being part  of the team that recently won the country’s record 10th  Women’s  Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco , gifting the female footballer 50 million naira for her contributions to the teams latest success in July.

    Other gifts to Miracle Useni include the  state’s highest honour accorded to a private citizen, VVIP of the State and the allocation of a piece of land, which the governor added  was  “to properly usher her into the season of sweetness.”

    The Governor Bassey Otu who took to his social media handle (on Facebook) to announce the kind gestures, said the aim is to motivate young people to strive to greatness.

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

    The governor’s post reads in parts: “In recognition of her outstanding achievements and the honour she has brought to Cross River State, I have conferred on Miracle Useni the highest honour accorded to a private citizen, VVIP of the State.

    “This status entitles her to all the rights and privileges enjoyed by VVIPs in Cross River, particularly at state events.

    “Additionally, I have approved the sum of ₦50 million and the allocation of a piece of land to properly usher her into this Season of Sweetness. This is our way of celebrating excellence and inspiring other young people to reach for greatness.”

    The jersey number 21 wearing-Useni with the Super Falcons, is  a native of Yakurr in Cross River State.