Author: Gabby

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially appointed Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as the new head coaches for the Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets, respectively. This decision marks a significant reshuffle in the leadership of Nigeria’s age-grade national teams.

Maikaba steps into the role previously held by Aliyu Zubairu, who guided the Flying Eagles through the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the subsequent FIFA U-20 World Cup. With a wealth of experience, Maikaba has previously worked with the Golden Eaglets and served as an assistant to former Flying Eagles coach Paul Aigbogun.

Uwejamomere takes over from Manu Garba as the Golden Eaglets head coach. He has been a long-serving coach-analyst for the Super Eagles and currently heads the academy at Sporting Lagos FC, a club that recently earned promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). His background is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the youth setup.

Florent Malouda, a former Chelsea winger, has shared his insights on where Victor Osimhen should head next in the Premier League. According to Malouda, the Nigerian striker would thrive more at Chelsea or Liverpool than at Manchester United.

Malouda pointed out that Osimhen’s style and mentality align perfectly with the Premier League. He emphasized that the Galatasaray star’s next move should be to England, where he can compete for the UEFA Champions League.

“Looking at Osimhen’s approach to the game, he clearly belongs in the Premier League,” Malouda stated. “His journey through Italy, France, and Turkey shows he’s ready for the top level. The Premier League and Champions League are where he can truly shine.”

The Frenchman specifically named Chelsea and Liverpool as ideal destinations, citing their tactical setups and ambitions. “I believe Chelsea and Liverpool suit Osimhen much better than Manchester United,” he added.

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain, labeling them the standout side in European football over the past two years. The Belgian tactician shared his thoughts during a post-match press conference following PSG’s triumph over his team in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

“The quality on display from both teams was exceptionally high,” Kompany remarked. “PSG possess incredible talent. In my view, they have been the most impressive team on the continent for the last couple of seasons.”

Reflecting on the encounters between the two clubs, the former Manchester City captain noted, “We have faced them five times now. Our record stands at two wins, two losses, and one draw. We exhausted every option tonight. My congratulations go to PSG, but we will be back to challenge them again.”

Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter expressed satisfaction with his team’s display following their dominant victory against Doma United in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Six playoffs. The 4-0 triumph, which took place on Wednesday in Ikenne during Matchday Two, showcased a significant improvement from their earlier performance in the competition.

Buter highlighted the players’ commitment and energy on the pitch, noting that the result reflected the club’s true potential. “This is the standard we set for ourselves, and we need to maintain this level moving forward,” he stated in an interview with the club’s media team.

The coach acknowledged that the squad is still evolving, but he believes consistent effort will lead to further growth. “We are not yet a finished product, but with each game, these boys are gaining experience and getting sharper,” Buter added.

The win over Doma United positions Sporting Lagos strongly in the playoff race, as they aim for promotion to the Nigerian top flight.

UEFA has announced its Team of the Week for the Champions League semi-final second legs, with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain heavily represented. The selections follow the conclusion of the matches played on Tuesday and Wednesday, which saw both Arsenal and PSG advance to the final.

Arsenal secured their spot by defeating Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, while PSG overcame Bayern Munich in a thrilling contest on Wednesday. The standout performers from these games earned their places in the weekly lineup.

From Arsenal, goalkeeper David Raya, defender William Saliba, midfielder Declan Rice, and winger Bukayo Saka were all recognized for their contributions. PSG contributed four players as well: defender Willian Pacho, midfielder Desire Doue, winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and forward Ousmane Dembele.

Bayern Munich, despite their elimination, saw two of their stars included: Joshua Kimmich and Luis Diaz. Completing the lineup is Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill, who impressed despite his team’s loss.

The full UEFA Champions League Team of the Week is as follows: David Raya (Arsenal), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), William Saliba (Arsenal), Willian Pacho (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Luis Diaz (Bayern).

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has issued a directive requiring that all Matchday 37 and Matchday 38 fixtures commence at the same time. This announcement was made by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, through a memo distributed to all participating clubs on Thursday.

Owumi emphasized that the decision aims to uphold sporting fairness and safeguard the league’s integrity. In the memo, he reiterated that the remaining matches on both matchdays are scheduled to start simultaneously at 4 p.m. on the same date.

The league also advised clubs against requesting rescheduling of fixtures due to venue availability issues. Clubs facing problems with their regular home grounds must inform the NPFL of an alternative accredited venue by the close of business on May 7, 2026. Failure to do so will result in the league assigning a venue for the match.

Real Madrid has officially initiated disciplinary proceedings against midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni following a physical altercation during a training session on Thursday.

The incident escalated to the point where Valverde required hospitalization, prompting head coach Alvaro Arbeloa to call an emergency meeting to address growing tensions within the squad.

In a brief statement, the Spanish giants confirmed that both players would face internal disciplinary action. “Following the events of this morning, the club has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni. The outcome will be communicated once the internal process is completed,” the club announced.

The clash, described as “very serious” by sources, has raised concerns about the team’s morale as they approach critical fixtures.

Real Madrid has announced that midfielder Federico Valverde sustained a traumatic brain injury during a training session. The incident occurred following a collision with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, leaving the Uruguayan star unable to participate in the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona. This match holds significant weight in the LaLiga title race, making his absence a major blow for the team.

The club’s medical team conducted tests and confirmed the diagnosis, stating that Valverde is recovering at home and is in good condition. According to medical protocols, he will require a rest period of 10 to 14 days before returning to action. The injury reportedly happened during a routine training drill when Tchouameni accidentally clashed with Valverde.

This development forces Real Madrid to reconfigure their lineup for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team adapts without one of their key midfielders. The club has not disclosed any further details about the incident, but the focus remains on Valverde’s recovery and the team’s preparation for the crucial match.

Rangers International FC have set their sights on lifting the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League trophy as they prepare for their final home game of the season. Currently leading the standings with 62 points after 36 matches, the Flying Antelopes need just two more results to secure a historic ninth league championship.

This Sunday, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men will face Bendel Insurance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. The fixture carries immense weight as the team aims to capitalize on their home advantage and edge closer to the title. With only two games left in the campaign, every point is crucial.

In a passionate message on social media, the club urged fans to rally behind them: “A chance to make history. A chance to bring home our ninth NPFL title. This Sunday, we battle Bendel Insurance FC at The Cathedral with everything on the line.” The post underscores the determination within the squad to finish the season on a high.

Rangers have been in formidable form throughout the season, combining disciplined defense with quick counter-attacks. Their position at the summit reflects consistent performances, but the team knows that complacency could be costly. The players have shown remarkable resilience, and the coaching staff has emphasized the need for focus in the final stretch.

The upcoming match promises to be a tense affair, with Bendel Insurance eager to spoil Rangers’ party. However, the hosts are confident in their abilities and believe that the support of the home crowd will propel them to victory. A win would put them on the brink of glory, leaving them needing just a point from their last away fixture to seal the title.

For Rangers, this is more than just a game—it is an opportunity to write their names in the history books. The entire Enugu community is buzzing with anticipation, and the players are determined not to let this chance slip away.

In a heated exchange during a live stream on Wednesday evening, popular TikTok personality Jarvis vehemently denied Peller’s assertion that she was expecting his child. The confrontation quickly went viral on social media platforms.

Peller had earlier sparked speculation by announcing, “My baby with Jarvis is coming soon.” However, Jarvis was quick to shut down the claim, stating unequivocally that there would be no baby, especially with someone like him. She added, “Don’t even pray about that one yet. You’re not organized. Until I started seeing changes.”

When Peller attempted to remind her of the luxury car he had gifted her, asking, “Despite gifting you Benz?” Jarvis retorted, “You can collect it back. The car is still parked in your house, don’t stress me.”

The couple had previously fueled pregnancy rumors after a video surfaced online showing Jarvis undergoing an ultrasound. However, this latest exchange has put those rumors to rest, with Jarvis making it clear that she has no intention of starting a family with Peller at this time.