The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • NPFL to hold peace talks between Remo Stars, Ikorodu City

    NPFL to hold peace talks between Remo Stars, Ikorodu City

    The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has moved to mediate in the growing inter-club feud between Remo Stars and Ikorodu City ahead the resumption of the season on Wednesday, January 14.

    The two clubs have been invited to a reconciliation and peace meeting by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi on Tuesday, January 13 at the headquarters of the league body in Abuja.

    In a letter dispatched to the clubs, the NPFL expressed deep discomfort on the acrimony the clubs.

    READ ALSO; FUNKE AKINDELE: Undisputed queen of Nigerian Box Office

    “The NPFL is deeply disturbed by the growing acrimony between the two geographically brother clubs and wishes to intervene to engender an atmosphere of peace and sportsmanship”, the letter noted.

    It also stated that “while we will continue to uphold the provisions of the NPFL Rules and Framework, we place premium on having cordial relationships among our clubs”.

    In the light of the foregoing, the COO requested that the clubs send two top management officers for the peace meeting. The NPFL is of the view that reconciling the differences between the top managers of the club will engender peace among their supporters.

    In the invitation letter, it was specified that none of the two officers must be below the rank of Team Manager.

  • Recuperating Neymar targets World Cup with Brazil

    Recuperating Neymar targets World Cup with Brazil

    Neymar has started his recovery process after undergoing minor surgery on his left knee on Dec. 22.

    The Brazil forward, who turns 34 on Feb. 5, arrived at the Santos training ground on Thursday and looked in good spirits as he worked out in the gym. Neymar did specific exercises to strengthen his left knee following the arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus problem.

    He had postponed the operation to play for Santos in the final matches of the campaign and was crucial as the team avoided relegation.

    READ ALSO; Obi’s defection sets teeth on edge

    Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar da Silva Santos Sr., admitted earlier this month that the player had considered retiring after his latest injury but he is now focusing on getting fit to earn a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

    The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star signed a contract extension this week to stay with Santos through the end of 2026 having helped the club avoid relegation.

    Although no time has been set for his return to action, Neymar is expected to recover ahead of start of the 2026 Brazilian Serie A season later this month.

    He has not played for Brazil since suffering an ACL and meniscus tear during World Cup qualifying in October of 2023.

  • Niger Delta Games’ emphasis on talent discovery excites Ogunkoya

    Niger Delta Games’ emphasis on talent discovery excites Ogunkoya

    Former African 100m champion and national record holder Seun Ogunkoya has praised the emphasis placed on talent discovery by the Niger Delta Games.

    Ogunkoya a world acclaimed athlete during his prime stated that any country that ignores youth talent discovery has not started proper sports development and with the NDG focusing its attention in that area Nigeria can be sure of having more emerging grassroots talent.

     “First of all, the Niger Delta Games is a well-conceived programme,” said Ogunkoya, who is an ambassador of the NDG.

    “Kudos to the organisers for laying emphasis on youth talent discovery and when you event look at it, the Niger Delta is a catchment area for sporting talents; everything points to the fact that we are in the right direction.”

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    Ogunkoya, who has devoted his time to coaching young talents, said he would be gladly bringing some of his discoveries to the Games scheduled for February 20-27 in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

     “Of course, I’m bringing a crop of young athletes from Ondo State, and we are looking forward to the games.”

    The Niger Delta Games is making its second edition with over 3000 athletes competing in 17 sports disciplines. According to the Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, who is the Managing Director of Dunamis-Icon Limited, organisers of the games, only athletes Under-20 years of age will be allowed to register.

  • Sparkling Semenyo: Ghanaian jewel wants to ‘rewrite history again’ with Man City

    Sparkling Semenyo: Ghanaian jewel wants to ‘rewrite history again’ with Man City

    Antoine Semenyo said that he wants to “rewrite history again” at Manchester City after joining from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £65 million ($87 million).

    The 26-year-old, who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad and will be a major addition to their attacking arsenal.

    Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were also interested in the London-born Ghana international, who had a buyout clause that was understood to expire on Saturday.

    The widely trailed transfer is the first major move by Premier League clubs in the January window.

     “I have watched City over the last decade under Pep Guardiola, and they have been the dominant team in the Premier League as well as achieving amazing things in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup,” said Semenyo. “They have set the highest of standards and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep.”

    The winger said he wanted to be part of City’s rebuild after a barren season last year and the departure of a number of senior players.

     “I feel I’m improving but there are so many young players here who I think will be top players,” he said.

     “I want to be part of that, and I want to rewrite history again.”

    READ ALSO; Obi’s defection sets teeth on edge

    His final act after three years with Bournemouth was scoring a spectacular stoppage-time winner in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory against Tottenham.

    City, dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool last season, have signed Semenyo to boost their challenge for silverware on four fronts in 2026.

    Guardiola’s men trail Arsenal by six points at the top of the Premier League and are still involved in the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League.

    City’s options in wide areas are currently limited, with Savinho out injured and Omar Marmoush representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

    Semenyo has enjoyed a meteoric rise since being shipped out on loan multiple times by Bristol City early in his career.

    He eventually earned his move to the Premier League in 2023 and has blossomed into one of the most potent wingers in the top division under Andoni Iraola.

    Guardiola confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Semenyo would be in his squad for City’s FA Cup clash with third-tier Exeter on Saturday.

     “Everybody knows the qualities (he has) – he was playing extraordinarily at Bournemouth in the last few years and can play both sides,” said the City boss.

     “He’s the perfect age, the best years are to come, all the clubs try to bring in young players but he will make his career and best years here.”

    City are also in the market to boost their defensive options after losing Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injuries.

    Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is reportedly their prime target.

  • Liam Rosenior: ‘I’m the special one!’

    Liam Rosenior: ‘I’m the special one!’

    Liam Rosenior has admitted he faces a challenge to win over Chelsea fans as head coach but insisted the club’s potential is “limitless” and vowed: “I’m not arrogant, I’m very good at what I do.”

    The 41-year-old will take charge of his first game in today’s FA Cup third round trip to Charlton Athletic after signing a six-year contract to replace Enzo Maresca.

    Following Maresca’s departure, Chelsea supporters chanted against the club’s owner BlueCo during Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at Fulham and fans are planning a formal protest before their next Premier League game, against Brentford on Jan. 17.

    Rosenior is the fifth permanent head coach since BlueCo took charge of the club in 2022 and he told media on Friday: “I think at a club of this stature, the fans want success and they have every right to want success now.

    “The club is ingrained in the history of winning trophies, especially recent history. Winning titles, winning the Champions League and the fans should have those demands and those standards.

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    “My job, to win over the fans, I have to win games of football. To win over the fans, they need to see a team that represents them. I know this area well, I was born not far up the road [in Wandsworth]. It’s about hard work, determination and spirit. I remember playing at Stamford Bridge when Jose Mourinho’s team were at their very best and it was so difficult physically.

    “We’re trying to build things here in a different way. I’m very, very confident that in time we will show people why we have done it in this way. My job is to move it forward and get to a place where teams really fear coming to Stamford Bridge.”

    Rosenior managed Derby County on an interim basis before two years at Hull City and an 18-month stint at another BlueCo-owned club, Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

    Reflecting on his step up to a top Premier League club, he said: “You don’t limit your ambitions. I’m not arrogant, I’m good at what I do. In every job I’ve worked, whether it was as an interim, as an assistant, a head coach or a manager or whatever you want to call it, relative to the group I’ve worked with, I’ve been successful.

  • Spanish Super Cup Final: Alonso drops Mbappe bombshell as Flick may start Yamal

    Spanish Super Cup Final: Alonso drops Mbappe bombshell as Flick may start Yamal

    Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso confirmed Kylian Mbappé is on his way to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to join up with the team ahead of the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona.

    The 15-time European champions have been without their leading goal scorer since the start of the new year. Mbappé was diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee on the final day of 2025, joining Éder Militão in the infirmary.

    The France international missed out on Real Madrid’s return to domestic action, a 5–1 thrashing of Real Betis at the Bernabéu. Mbappé also did not make Alonso’s squad for the Spanish Super Cup, but his team still prevailed in the semifinals, defeating Atlético Madrid 2–1.

    Los Blancos were expecting to still be without their superstar forward for the final against Barcelona. But Alonso revealed Mbappé is “a lot better” and “feeling good,” so much so that he left the Spanish capital to fly to Jeddah just days before the upcoming Clásico. Alonso played coy on the Frenchman’s potential involvement in the all-important match, but he admitted Mbappé has a “chance” to play tomorrow  at Alinma Bank Stadium.

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    Despite Real Madrid’s fine form with Gonzalo García leading their line, the team’s best chance at defeating Barcelona comes with Mbappé on the pitch. In his last three matches against the Catalans, the former Paris Saint-Germain star has scored five goals.

    No matter what XI Alonso rolls out tomorrow, though, Los Blancos will deem anything other than winning the Spanish Super Cup a failure.

     “We have to win,” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said to Realmadrid TV after the game. “Last year we lost two finals against them and we want to win, just like them, who lost the Clásico in La Liga and will be hungry for revenge.”

    Indeed, Barcelona bested their bitter rivals 5–2 in last season’s Spanish Super Cup final and 3–2 in the Copa del Rey final. Madrid got their first bit of revenge in their first Clásico under Alonso, a 2–1 victory at the Bernabéu.

     “It will be a great game between two teams who will want to win. We have to recover well and have fresh legs on Sunday to win,” Courtois finished.

    In a related development, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is expected to bring Lamine Yamal back into his starting side for  tomorrow’s Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid.

    Yamal was not in the starting XI against Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals of the competition on Wednesday night, having struggled with a physical issue in the build-up to the match.

    The teenager was introduced in the second half, though, and having come through unscathed, he is set to be in the starting team for El Clasico this weekend.

    Roony Bardghji was on the scoresheet against Athletic, but the youngster is expected to be the player to make way in the final third of the field.

    Barcelona could otherwise be unchanged from the semi-final, as Flick was able to make changes in the second half, with the Catalan side five goals ahead in the 52nd minute.

    The La Liga leaders will again be without the services of Gavi (knee), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (unspecified) and Andreas Christensen (knee) due to injury.

  • Roy Keane tips Eddie Howe for Man United job

    Roy Keane tips Eddie Howe for Man United job

    Eddie Howe should be given the Manchester United manager job, according to Roy Keane. ESPN has reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick have held talks about an interim role after Ruben Amorim was sacked, while Darren Fletcher temporarily led the team against Burnley on Wednesday.

    But club legend Keane has pinpointed Newcastle United boss Howe as the ideal permanent appointment at Old Trafford.

    READ ALSO; Obi’s defection sets teeth on edge

    “I’d go with Eddie Howe. I like him, I like what he’s done. He has managed a lot of games,” Keane told Sky Sports. “His teams play good football. I know it’s not for everyone, he has critics, but I like what he’s done at Newcastle and Bournemouth.

    “He has managed 700 or 800 games, he’s still a young man. I like his calmness. Man United need a bit of that. I like people with emotion, I am an emotional person, but I like his calmness. He’s been in the Champions League a couple of times, won the cup. I’d like to see him go in there.”

    Amorim’s spell at United came to an end after a 14-month reign which yielded the poorest points-per-game average of any manager in the club’s Premier League era.

  • Senegal squeeze past 10-man Mali to book semi-final

    Senegal squeeze past 10-man Mali to book semi-final

    Senegal claimed a 1-0 victory over Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations first quarter-final clash at Grand Stade de Tanger on Friday afternoon.

     Senegal dominated proceedings early on but could not break down Mali’s compact defence.

    Mali created the game’s first clear opening when Nathan Gassama picked out Lassine Sinayoko, who looked to be through on goal, but was denied by a vital block. Senegal eventually took the lead, as Iliman Ndiaye slipped the ball through to Krepin Diatta, whose cutback was spilled by goalkeeper Djigui Diarra into the path of the Everton forward, who put it home.Pape Gueye almost doubled the Teranga Lions with a shot from outside the area, which narrowly drifted wide, much to the frustration of the Villarreal midfielder.Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second bookable offence before halftime, further complicating Mali’s task. Two minutes after the restart, Edouard Mendy made his first save of the game, keeping out Sinayoko’s attempt at the near post.

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Senegal edge Mali to book semi-final spot

    Diarra was immediately called to action at the other end, turning Idrissa Gueye’s long-range shot behind for a corner.

     Just before the hour mark, Mendy made another good save, denying Abdoulaye Diaby from altering the scoreline.

    Diarra then kept Mali in the contest with two quick saves, first stopping Sadio Mane’s shot before reacting sharply to keep out Pathe Ciss’ header.

    Senegal looked the likeliest to score before the final whistle, but were repeatedly denied by the Malian goalkeeper.

     Pape Thiaw’s side will now face either Egypt or defending champions Ivory Coast in next Wednesday’s semi-finals

  • Chelle: We’re physically,  technically ready for Algeria

    Chelle: We’re physically,  technically ready for Algeria

    One of the standout quarterfinal fixtures of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will see Nigeria’s Super Eagles face Algeria’s Desert Warriors at the Marrakesh Stadium in Marrakesh.

    The Super Eagles are the tournament’s most prolific attacking side, having scored 12 goals shared among seven different players.

    In contrast, the Greens have built their campaign on defensive solidity, emerging as the competition’s best defensive team with just one goal conceded so far. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Chelle was asked about the challenge of shifting the squad from negative to positive energy in light of issues surrounding the team, including disputes with the Nigeria Football Federation.

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 to book semi-final spot

    “This is my job, to try to stay focused only on the pitch, not around it. You can talk about the energy and you can talk about the state of mind, which is the most important thing,” Chelle told reporters. Chelle praised the unity within the Super Eagles camp, highlighting the solidarity shown by the players despite the challenges they have faced.”The group has stayed with great solidarity, so every time you do something, there are some good things and bad things, but you have to stay focused.

    The most important thing is your objective and the group.”In that case, our state of mind is good. We are physically ready.

    Tactically, I have to make choices, and technically we are ready too.”He also reiterated his stance on off-field matters, stressing that they should be addressed by the appropriate authorities rather than the coaching staff. “Once again, what happens around this team, I just want to talk about the pitch. If you have other questions, ask my Federation.”

  • Alebiosu back in Super Eagles training

    Alebiosu back in Super Eagles training

    Defender Ryan Alebiosu has returned to full team training with the Super Eagles after a cut in the leg he suffered in a 2025 AFCON group game against Uganda healed.

    The Blackburn Rovers fullback trained with the rest of the squad in Marrakesh Thursday evening on arrival from Fes.

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 to book semi-final spot

    There were initial fears that the injury he suffered on his AFCON debut against Uganda would rule him out of the remainder of the tournament.

    The Super Eagles take on Algeria tomorrow evening for a place in the AFCON semifinals.