The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Idongesit brothers to attend Fencing Junior World Cup

    Idongesit brothers to attend Fencing Junior World Cup

    Nigeria’s rising fencing talents, Mahadi and Mahathir Idongesit, will be among the 60 competitors at this weekend’s International Fencing Federation (FIE) Junior Epee World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

    Originally slated for Lagos, the tournament was relocated to Uzbekistan after the Nigeria Fencing Federation opted to redirect its resources toward hosting a more suitable Commonwealth Championships in 2026.

    The Idongesit brothers, who made their international debut for Nigeria at the 2025 African Championships in Lagos, are eager to test their skills against some of the world’s best. Mahadi currently holds a global ranking of 595, while Mahathir is placed at 608. Both will face stiff competition from highly-rated Egyptian stars, including world No. 4 Youssef Shamel and world No. 8 Eslam Osama.

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Nigerians faults CAF’s sharing formula  for Free-to-Air matches

    The event will also feature fencers from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, and host nation Uzbekistan.

    Speaking ahead of the tournament, Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s return to the international stage:“We are excited that our fencers are back in action after months of inactivity, particularly with the return of fencing tournaments. We are confident that their participation will help them gain valuable experience ahead of the Commonwealth Championships. We hope more of our fencers will return to action and begin competing at top level, because they need these experiences to measure up against the rest of the Commonwealth nations in 2026.

  • New football sport Gold as plays exhibition games in Lagos

    New football sport Gold as plays exhibition games in Lagos

    A new field sport, Goldas (Golden Age Soccer), was officially introduced through exhibition matches featuring four teams at the Ejigbo Mini Stadium on Ikotun Road in Lagos during the weekend.

    It was all fun, excitement, and entertainment galore as the new type of therapeutic football was introduced in Nigeria.

    The participating teams consist of 19 players each and compete for a total of 99 minutes, divided into three 33-minute halves. Unlike traditional football, this game is played on an oval pitch, resembling the Earth.

    Dr. Ngiejung Nabil, the International President, aims to convert people’s passion for football into solutions for economic challenges and youth unemployment. Nigeria was chosen for its hardworking youth and status as a business hub.

    Key features include six match reserves, a rule mandating equal participation, and jerseys labeled with letters instead of numbers. The traditional card system has been replaced with white, Earth Brown, and Black Cards for discipline, and a Golden Card for good behavior. Scoring also includes tactical skills, not just goals.

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    The game is being played in Cameroon, South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the UK.

    Nabil highlighted the growing disconnect between graduates and job opportunities, emphasizing the goal to assist passionate individuals rather than seeking profit.

    Taiwo Tony Fafowora, Vice President of the sport in Nigeria, noted that the game could create around 377,500 jobs for youth in the next two to three years, encouraging them to embrace this opportunity.

  • Palace coach backs Ucheto make more impact

    Palace coach backs Ucheto make more impact

    Crystal Palace head coach, Oliver Glasner believes Christantus Uche can now kick-start his career at the club after his impressive performance against Shelbourne on Thursday.Uche registered a goal and and assist in the Eagles 3-0 victory over the Irish side.The Nigeria international has struggled to make an impact since arriving the Selhurst Park on loan from La Liga club, Getafe in the summer.

    The 22-year-old impressed in Palace’s win at Fulham last weekend.

    Uche was handed his first start against Shelbourne, and he grabbed it with both hands.

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    “Christantus deserved it. He showed up against Fulham. He showed he can help us, and he can score goals. That is now for him, maybe the starting moment at Crystal Palace,” Glasner told TNT SPORTS

    Marco Silva’s Cottagers will have their ranks significantly depleted as their three Nigerian stars Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze are all heading to Morocco with the Super Eagles.

    “We are talking about three starting XI players. We know Alex is a key player in any position he plays. The importance of Calvin, and what Chukwueze has been doing in recent games. You have to find solutions. If you know any other way to handle it [AFCON], let me know.”

  • AFCON 2025: Fulham ‘ll miss Iwobi, Chukwueze badly, Says Silva

    AFCON 2025: Fulham ‘ll miss Iwobi, Chukwueze badly, Says Silva

    Fulham head coach Marco Silva has expressed frustration following the imminent departure of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    The trio were named in Nigeria’s squad for the competition by head coach, Eric Chelle on Thursday.

    Iwobi, Chukwueze, and Bassey would be away for around one month should the Super Eagles make it to the final of AFCON 2025.

    The biennial competition will run from Sunday, 21 December, 2025 to Sunday, 18 January, 2026.

    The three players have been exceptional for Fulham this season.

    Silva believed they would be greatly missed during their absence.

    “We are talking about three starting XI players. We know Alex is a key player in any position he plays. The importance of Calvin, and what Chukwueze has been doing in recent games. You have to find solutions. If you know any other way to handle it [AFCON], let me know.”

    Boniface to miss Werder Bremen vs Stuttgart with injury

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    Victor Boniface has been ruled out of Werder Bremen’s final home game of the year against VfB Stuttgart due to injury, DAILY POST reports.

    Boniface, according to Bremen head coach Horst Steffen, is currently battling a knee injury.

    Steffen declared that he is not certain the Nigeria international will play again for the club this year.

    “It happened in a challenge, knee to knee, and it really hurt,” Steffen told the club’s official website.

    “Unfortunately, the recovery hasn’t been as quick as we’d hoped. I can’t yet say whether he’ll be available for us again this year.”

    Boniface joined the Green and Whites on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.

    The 24-year-old has registered two assists in 11 league outings for Bremen this season.

  • Ajide U15 Football Cup enters final showdown

    Ajide U15 Football Cup enters final showdown

    The final of this year’s Honourable Tajudeen Ajide U15 Football Championship will take place this Saturday at Elegbata Playground, Lagos Island, Sports247 gathered.

    A press statement issued by the organisers revealed that the final match of the competition will be between Spotlecture FC of Ikorodu and Adebayo Samba FA of Ikotun.

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Nigerians faults CAF’s sharing formula  for Free-to-Air matches

    Before the main match of the day, First Class FC will enter the same pitch to face Infinite FC of Ikorodu in the third place game, as they both tussle for a consolation prize.

    Saturday will mark a climax in the competition that began with a total of 64 clubs drawn from various local governments across Lagos State, with all the matches decided on knock-out basis.

    The competition is sponsored by a former footballer, Tajudeen Ajide, who combined his passion with politics and later became the chairman of Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.

  • Ekpo backs Chelle’s squad for AFCON 2025

    Ekpo backs Chelle’s squad for AFCON 2025

    Former Nigerian international Friday Ekpo says Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle alone understands the rationale behind introducing several new players into his final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Chelle on Thursday released his list for the tournament, which runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco. The squad comprises three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and nine forwards.

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    The roster includes a number of fresh faces across various positions, including Blackburn Rovers full-back Ryan Alebiosu, Pisa midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Israel-based Usman Muhammed, Zulte Waregem’s Tochukwu Nnadi, and Istra 1961 striker Lawal Salim Fago.

    Reacting to the announcement, Ekpo suggested that injuries to key players may have influenced Chelle’s decision to bring in newcomers.

  • Turkey ‘Men of Year 2025’: Osimhen  pledges more Gala goals after scooping award

    Turkey ‘Men of Year 2025’: Osimhen  pledges more Gala goals after scooping award

    Super Eagles and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has been named Athlete of the Year in Turkey by GQ Türkiye.

    Osimhen received the Best Athlete of the Year Award in recognition of his dominant performances since arriving in the Turkish Super Lig.

    The Nigerian striker has quickly become a standout figure, delivering influential displays that have earned him admiration across the country.

    Read Also: Ministry of Works shines as federal MDAs begin Public Service games in Yola

    “Thank you to GQ. Of course, I can’t forget my family, Galatasaray,” he said. “ This means a great deal to me. I will do my best for my family, for Galatasaray, and for the fans.

     “Thank you for this award, I am grateful.”

    Last season, Osimhen was the top scorer of the Turkish Super Lig as Galatasaray won a record-extending 25th  championship as well as Turkish Cup.

    His latest honour adds to a growing list of accolades and further cements his status as one of Africa’s most prolific forwards.

    Osimhen’s profile continues to rise as he shines on the European stage.

  • NFF  urges  Super Eagles to shine  at Morocco 2025

    NFF  urges  Super Eagles to shine  at Morocco 2025

    The executive committee of the NFF has  urged  the Super Eagles to make up for their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup by shining at the 2025 AFCON.

    In a communiqué after its  board meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the NFF demanded the Super Eagles to “completely forget the unfortunate ending to the FIFA World Cup Playoffs and use the same North African kingdom as arena to write a new story about themselves and their abilities.”

    The Super Eagles lost on penalties to DR Congo in the CAF Playoffs in Morocco last month and so will not feature in the Intercontinental Playoffs in Mexico in March 2026.

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Chelle names Osimhen, Nwabali, 25 others in final Super Eagles squad

    The executives also ordered the NFF secretariat to ensure the Super Falcons play top friendlies during the February international window after they could not do so last month.

    The friendlies in February will prepare the Super Falcons for the defence of their WAFCON crown in March.

  • Super Falcons Drop In FIFA Rankings

    Super Falcons Drop In FIFA Rankings

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons have slipped to 37th  in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings.

    According to the updated rankings released on Thursday, the Super Falcons slipped to 37th  in the world with 1607.063 points.

    The drop is attributed to the team’s inactivity since their WAFCON qualifier against Benin Republic.

    Read Also: Ministry of Works shines as federal MDAs begin Public Service games in Yola

    Despite the fall, the Falcons remain Africa’s highest-ranked women’s national team while  South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and Morocco complete the continent’s top five.

    Teams now shift focus to upcoming qualifiers and international engagements before the WAFCON in Morocco again, in March, next year.

  • Jake Paul injures nose preparing  for Anthony Joshua fight

    Jake Paul injures nose preparing  for Anthony Joshua fight

    Jake Paul said he is nursing a nose injury just one week before his scheduled boxing match against former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

    Paul, a 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-fighter, said his injury has gotten worse while sparring in preparation for his Dec. 19 bout in Miami.

    “It’s getting more crooked, brother,” Paul said during an appearance Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I’m not gonna lie. Sparring the heavyweights, my nose has moved a couple millimetres this camp.”

    Read Also: AFCON 2025: Chelle names Osimhen, Nwabali, 25 others in final Super Eagles squad

    Paul did not confirm whether his nose is broken, but it appeared visibly off-centre.

    “A guy by the name of Frank Sanchez, he definitely cracked it a bit, so it definitely has a slight little something in there,” Paul said. “But yeah, man, it’s bad. Look at that.”

    The eight-round fight billed as “Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day” will take place at Kaseya Center and will stream live on Netflix. The fighters will wear 10-ounce gloves.

    Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is 36 and has not fought since being knocked out in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois on Sept. 21, 2024, in London.

    Paul (12-1, seven knockouts) has won his last six fights, most recently a 10-round unanimous decision against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28 in Anaheim, Calif.

    Joshua won the super-heavyweight gold medal at the London Summer Games in 2012. He won 24 of his first 25 pro fights before losing back-to-back decisions to Russia’s Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.