Author: Gabby

Asisat Oshoala delivered a stellar performance, netting three goals to lead Al Hilal to a commanding 5-1 victory over Al Qadsiah, securing their spot in the Saudi Women’s Cup final. The Nigerian star scored twice before halftime and completed her hat-trick in the 73rd minute, ensuring a 7-2 aggregate win after a 2-1 first-leg triumph.

Oshoala’s extraordinary form continues, with the forward accumulating 23 goals and six assists across all competitions this season. Her contributions have been pivotal for Al Hilal’s campaign. The team now awaits the winner of the semifinal between Al Ula and Al Nasr, the latter featuring another Nigerian international, Ashleigh Plumptre.

Moses Aduku, the head coach of Nigeria’s Falconets, has declared his intention to pursue a comprehensive win against Malawi in the second leg of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The team carries a 2-0 advantage from the first match.

The Zambian opponent must overcome the deficit by scoring at least three goals without reply at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe this Saturday to eliminate the Nigerian side. Aduku, who guided his squad to away triumphs earlier against Rwanda and Senegal, emphasized that they will not adopt a cautious stance.

“We will not sit back; instead we will attack them to see if we can score. I have faith in my players,” Aduku stated before the fixture. “Malawi will come out aggressively, so we must be ready.”

Nigeria has an unbroken record of participation in every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

According to a former assistant coach of Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray should pursue Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes in a future transfer window. Zeki Önder Özen believes that adding the Portuguese midfielder could be the decisive factor that persuades Victor Osimhen to extend his stay with the Turkish champions.

Özen, speaking with VOLE, described Fernandes as one of the world’s elite players, stating that his arrival would strengthen Galatasaray’s ambitions in the UEFA Champions League. He argued that Fernandes would create significant challenges for opposition defenses in the Süper Lig, and that pairing him with Osimhen in attack would be devastating.

“Bringing in Fernandes would make Osimhen want to remain with the club,” Özen said. “Imagine the impact when both players are at their peak. The combination would be unstoppable.”

After a long tenure spanning 13 seasons, Nigerian international Kevin Akpoguma is preparing to bid farewell to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The Bundesliga club has confirmed that the center-back will depart upon the expiration of his current contract, which concludes at the end of this campaign.

Akpoguma initially joined Hoffenheim in 2013 from Karlsruher SC. Over the years, he gained valuable experience through loan spells at Fortuna Düsseldorf and Hannover 96 before cementing his place in the senior squad. However, the 31-year-old has seen limited action this term, featuring in only eight matches across all competitions.

With no extension offered by the club, Akpoguma’s final home appearance at the PreZero Arena is set for this weekend against SV Werder Bremen. The defender, who previously represented Germany at youth levels before switching allegiance to Nigeria, will now seek a new challenge elsewhere.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has thrown his weight behind his former club in the Premier League title race, suggesting Mikel Arteta’s side can succeed even if they stumble in the final fixtures.

According to Merson, the Gunners may not require a flawless finish to secure the championship. Writing in his Sportskeeda column, the ex-midfielder pointed out that Arsenal’s remaining matches—against West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace—offer attainable points.

Merson highlighted a pivotal moment for Manchester City, noting that Jeremy Doku’s late strike against Everton prevented a more damaging result for Pep Guardiola’s team. “Imagine if Jeremy Doku hadn’t scored that late goal [against Everton], it could have been far worse for City,” he remarked.

Arsenal currently sits five points clear at the top, though City have a game in hand. This weekend, the north Londoners travel to West Ham, while the champions host Brentford. Merson remains confident: “I still believe Arsenal will win the league, and they might not have to win all their matches to do it.”

Sulaiman Umar Gamagira, a defender for Ranchers Bees, has expressed his team’s strong desire to secure a win against Doma United in their concluding Super Four match. The Kaduna-based side is set to face off with Doma United at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne this Friday.

After suffering defeats in their first two games of the tournament, Gamagira emphasized the importance of ending the campaign on a positive note. ‘This is our last game in the Super Four. We’ve dropped points in the previous two, so we must give our all to get three points,’ he stated in an interview with Nigerian Players Gallery.

The defender stressed that returning home without a victory is not an option. ‘We’re fully prepared and will leave everything on the pitch. We want to bring smiles back to our fans. We’re learning from our errors, and my teammates are eager for a win.’

Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer has shared his forecasts for several Premier League matchups set to take place in the 36th round of fixtures. The headline clash features Chelsea traveling to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, a game that could significantly impact Chelsea’s diminishing hopes of securing a Champions League berth. Elsewhere, the title race heats up as Manchester City welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, while Arsenal make the trip to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United the following day.

Speaking to BetFair, Shearer delivered his verdicts on four key games. He predicted a home victory for Liverpool against Chelsea, expecting the Reds to triumph at Anfield. For the encounter between Sunderland and Manchester United, the former striker foresaw a stalemate, suggesting the points would be shared. In the Manchester City versus Brentford contest, Shearer tipped the defending champions to secure a win. Finally, he backed Arsenal to overcome West Ham on the road, predicting a victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Andy Townsend, a former Chelsea midfielder, has publicly suggested that Cole Palmer should consider departing from Stamford Bridge in order to revitalize his form. The ex-player expressed his views during an interview with BetVictor, emphasizing that Palmer needs a fresh start to recapture his best football.

Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City, enjoyed a remarkable debut season with 42 goal contributions and followed it up with 18 goals last term. His efforts helped secure Champions League qualification and victories in the Club World Cup and Conference League. However, this season has been less fruitful, and despite still reaching double figures, the English playmaker has struggled to maintain his previous high standards.

With the World Cup on the horizon, concerns are mounting over Palmer’s spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. Reports indicate that the attacker is feeling unsettled at Chelsea, and Townsend believes the environment at the club may be contributing to his dip in form.

“First and foremost, Cole Palmer needs to rediscover his game. The difference between where he was a year ago and where he is now is significant,” Townsend stated. “He requires something. I sense that Cole is looking around the team and asking, ‘Who’s inspiring me? Who’s motivating me? Who’s truly there to fight alongside me?’

“There aren’t many at Chelsea. I believe Joao Pedro is a genuine talent. His performance at Villa Park earlier this season was among the best I’ve witnessed from a striker this season. It was outstanding.”

Townsend also pointed to Enzo Fernandez’s apparent desire to leave, suggesting that Palmer might feel compelled to follow suit. “Enzo appears to be already laying the groundwork for a departure, based on recent comments and actions. With Cole, the issue may arise at a club like Chelsea where there is constant movement; he might eventually feel that he is the one who needs to leave.”

As Chelsea languish in ninth place in the Premier League and prepare to face league leaders Liverpool, the pressure is mounting. Townsend concluded, “It wouldn’t surprise me if, at some point, should things not improve swiftly, he decides: ‘I think I might have to seek opportunities elsewhere.’”

Nigerian music sensation Burna Boy is set to collaborate with Colombian superstar Shakira on the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, titled “Shakira – Dai Dai” featuring Burna Boy. This marks the second consecutive World Cup to feature a Nigerian artist, following Davido’s contribution to the 2022 tournament’s anthem “Hayya Hayya (Better Together).”

The track is scheduled for release on Thursday, May 14, as announced by Shakira via social media. Sharing her excitement, she wrote from the Maracanã Stadium, “Here is ‘Dai Dai,’ the @FIFAWorldCup Official Song 2026. Coming 5/14. We’re ready! 🐆 @burnaboy.”

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with matches taking place from June 11 to July 19. This collaboration brings together two global icons, promising a vibrant anthem that reflects the spirit of the tournament.

Nigerian street-pop sensation Portable found himself in a harrowing situation just one day before his newborn’s naming ceremony. The controversial singer was involved in a single-vehicle accident on Thursday evening in Ogun State.

According to Portable, the incident occurred when his car’s brakes failed suddenly while he was driving. To avoid hitting another vehicle, he made the split-second decision to steer into a ditch. In a video shared on Instagram, he expressed gratitude for surviving the crash unscathed.

“My fans, join me to thank God,” Portable said in the clip. “I was just driving out this evening when the accident happened. Nothing do me o, I came out unhurt. I suddenly realized that the car had failed brake. My people have arrived here — I thank God they are not here to carry my corpse.”

He further revealed that he had already purchased two cows for the naming ceremony of his son with wife Bewaji. “Thank God that the accident didn’t happen when a trailer was passing on the road,” he added.

It is worth noting that Bewaji gave birth on May 1, 2026, the same day Portable participated in a celebrity boxing match against Carter Efe. In the lead-up to the naming ceremony, Portable had generously distributed free Ankara aso ebi fabrics to supporters.