Author: Gabby

The stage is set for the 2026 President Federation Cup as Nigeria’s football governing body announced that the Round of 64 draw ceremony will take place this Friday. According to sources, the event will be held at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat in Abuja.

A total of 64 teams are set to participate in the men’s category of this prestigious national competition. In the women’s division, 32 teams will compete for glory. Following the national playoffs, four women’s teams and six men’s teams were eliminated, reducing the field to the current numbers.

The defending champions in the men’s category are Kwara United, who clinched the title last year. On the women’s side, Rivers Angels enter the tournament as the reigning champions.

Football enthusiasts across the country eagerly await the draw to see the matchups that will shape the road to the finals.

The newly appointed head coaches of Nigeria’s U-20 and U-17 national teams have finalized their technical staff. Abdu Maikaba, who will lead the Flying Eagles, has selected Ortega Deniran, Abdullahi Biffo, and Usman Mohammed as his assistants. Maikaba and his crew are scheduled to begin their duties on Sunday, as the team prepares for the upcoming WAFU B U-20 Championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, Eboboritse Uwejamomere, the new Golden Eaglets head coach, has appointed Olumide Joseph Ajibolade, Mohammed Kalli Kachala, and Abdullahi Isa to his coaching staff. The Golden Eaglets are set to participate in the WAFU B U-17 Championship in September, with the tournament acting as a pathway to the next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Rio Ferdinand, the legendary Manchester United defender, has made it clear that Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is his top candidate to take over the Red Devils on a permanent basis. Speaking during a talkSPORT appearance, Ferdinand admitted that while Michael Carrick has done an impressive job as interim boss, he would still prioritize Enrique if the Spaniard becomes available.

Carrick took the reins after Ruben Amorim was let go, and he has steered the club to a top-four finish, securing a Champions League spot. Ferdinand acknowledged Carrick’s contributions, saying, He would be my first choice given the limited options right now, considering what he’s achieved and the lack of alternatives.

However, Ferdinand added a caveat: The only person I would seriously consider, regardless of what Michael Carrick has done, is Luis Enrique if he becomes free. He’s a top-class manager. If he’s available, then I don’t care what Carrick has done—you bring him in because of his accomplishments at PSG.

Ferdinand’s comments reflect a belief that while Carrick has earned the right to be considered, a world-class talent like Luis Enrique would be an irresistible upgrade for Manchester United.

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has sent a clear message to Chelsea’s incoming manager, reportedly Xabi Alonso, regarding young defender Jorrel Hato. Stam insists that Hato must be given regular playing time next season.

According to Stam, Hato possesses immense talent and has already shown his quality, particularly in a standout performance against Manchester City. The Dutchman is comfortable on the ball, quick, and aggressive—traits Stam believes are essential for a modern defender.

Stam criticized Chelsea’s strategy of signing young players only to sideline them, suggesting that the club often sells promising talents without giving them a fair chance. He emphasized that Hato needs consistent matches to develop and improve.

The 20-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Ajax in the summer for £37 million, struggled for minutes under former boss Enzo Maresca. Despite being signed as a versatile defender, he featured sparingly, especially in the final weeks of Maresca’s tenure.

Stam hopes that the next manager, likely Xabi Alonso, will prioritize Hato and integrate him into the first team. He warned that managers often favor experienced players due to pressure for immediate results, but believes Hato deserves an opportunity to prove himself.

Chelsea’s interim manager, Calum McFarlane, has acknowledged that the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City represents the club’s final opportunity to achieve something meaningful this season. Speaking ahead of the Wembley showdown, McFarlane admitted that their recent league performances have fallen well short of expectations.

The Blues are set to face Manchester City for a chance to claim silverware and secure a spot in European competition next term. Despite a disappointing run of form, Chelsea managed to hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in their most recent Premier League outing.

When asked if the FA Cup final is their last chance to end the season on a high note, McFarlane responded, “Yeah, I think our recent form in the league has been way below the standard we’d expect and that we’d shown previously.” He added, “It’s an FA Cup final, so we want to win it. It’s a massive competition, a prestigious competition, and the club has history in it as well, having won it eight times. So, yeah, our focus is on that, performing as well as we can against a top side.”

McFarlane expressed confidence that his team can replicate the level of performance they displayed against Liverpool. “I’m confident that we’ll get a similar level, hopefully a similar level of performance, to what we got at Liverpool. I thought we ticked a lot of boxes in that game in terms of what we want from this team and how we get the best version of it. So, I’m confident that we can get that again,” he stated.

The caretaker boss also addressed the ongoing speculation about Chelsea’s next permanent manager, with names like Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, and Xavi being linked to the role. When asked if fans should be excited about these potential appointments, McFarlane replied, “Yeah, there’s a lot of names linked with the job. It’s not really my place to say who’s going to get it, who should get it, who’s a good manager, or who’s not a good manager. My job is to prepare the team for Saturday and that’s all I’ll be focusing on.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested that Chelsea might have an advantage because they do not have a midweek game. McFarlane responded, “Yeah, it’s tough when you have a game midweek and you have a triple game week. It’s tough. We’ve had a lot of them this year, but we’re focused on ourselves, we’re focused on how we prepare. We’re playing against an excellent side and an excellent coach, so we need to be at our best, regardless of whether they’ve had a triple game week or not. That’s what we’re focused on.”

Former Inter Milan striker Obinna Nsofor has publicly advised Victor Osimhen to depart from Galatasaray during the upcoming summer transfer window, stating that the Nigerian international has accomplished sufficient goals with the Turkish club.

Nsofor, who also played for West Ham United, emphasized that Osimhen’s ambitions to become the world’s top striker require a move to a club that regularly contends for the UEFA Champions League title. According to Nsofor, while Galatasaray is undeniably a prominent club, it is not among the favorites expected to win Europe’s elite competition.

Since joining Galatasaray from Napoli, Osimhen has secured back-to-back Turkish Super Lig championships. This success, however, has not silenced transfer speculation linking him to top European sides such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

In a statement on Brila, as shared via X, Nsofor remarked: “Victor Osimhen has done enough at Galatasaray. If he truly wants to become the best striker in the world, then he must move to a club that can compete seriously for the UEFA Champions League. Galatasaray is a big club, nobody can deny that, but when you talk about clubs expected to win the UEFA Champions League, they’re not among the favourites.”