Category: Entertainment

The Nigerian Football Federation has announced that Femi Azeez will replace Samuel Chukwueze in the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

Chukwueze was granted permission to miss both matches due to personal reasons, having recently buried his late mother in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria.

Azeez, who made a stunning debut for the Super Eagles by scoring a brace in a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe, will now have the opportunity to showcase his talent against European opposition.

Before heading to Europe, the Super Eagles are set to face Jamaica in the Unity Cup final on Saturday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM Nigerian time.

Following the final, Eric Chelle’s side will travel to Warsaw for a friendly against Poland next Wednesday, before concluding their tour with a match against Portugal in Lierra on Wednesday, June 10.

In a fresh acknowledgment, FIFA has verified that Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha continues to hold the record for the highest number of successful dribbles in a single World Cup match. The football governing body revealed that during Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash against Italy at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Okocha completed 15 successful dribbles—a feat that has stood unchallenged for over thirty years.

The former Super Eagles captain achieved this milestone against an Italian lineup featuring celebrated stars like Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, and Demetrio Albertini. FIFA highlighted that despite the arrival of many world-class dribblers in subsequent tournaments, no one has surpassed Okocha’s mark. Joint second on the list are former Brazilian forward Jairzinho and ex-England midfielder Paul Gascoigne, each with 13 successful dribbles in a single match.

FIFA also recognized other legendary players among the tournament’s elite dribblers, including Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, and Jamal Musiala. Additionally, Lionel Messi holds the record for the most successful dribbles across all World Cup appearances with 125, while Maradona recorded the highest number of successful dribbles in a single tournament with 53 during the 1986 World Cup.

This reaffirmation cements Okocha’s legacy as one of the most technically gifted footballers in World Cup history and solidifies his status as one of Nigeria’s most iconic sporting figures.

Rangers International FC, the newly crowned champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), have scheduled a trophy parade for next week Tuesday. The event is set to kick off at noon from the team’s camp in Enugu, as confirmed by sources within the club.

The Flying Antelopes secured their ninth NPFL title after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos last weekend. The win also secures them a spot in the upcoming CAF Champions League season under the guidance of head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu.

During the parade, players and officials will traverse various neighborhoods in Enugu, culminating at the Okpara Square. Following the city tour, the team will proceed to the Government House for a reception hosted by Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

The celebration marks a significant achievement for Rangers, who have now won the top-flight league nine times in their history. The parade is expected to draw large crowds of enthusiastic supporters eager to celebrate with the team.

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has thrown his support behind Arsenal ahead of their UEFA Champions League final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. In a heartfelt message shared through Ferrari’s official channels, the British racing icon, a lifelong Arsenal fan, urged Mikel Arteta’s squad to seize the moment and enjoy the biggest match of their careers.

Hamilton, who has followed the Gunners since childhood, praised the team for their Premier League triumph this season and encouraged them to complete a historic double by lifting the European trophy. He emphasized the importance of belief and enjoyment, telling the players to go out and perform with freedom.

“I’m so proud of you guys,” Hamilton said. “Keep pushing, keep believing. I’ll be watching, so just have fun. You’re already the greatest.”

The 39-year-old’s endorsement adds to the growing anticipation surrounding the final, where Arsenal seek their first Champions League title under Arteta’s guidance. Hamilton’s words are likely to galvanize the squad as they prepare to face a formidable PSG side determined to claim their maiden European crown.

In a significant recognition of his outstanding performances, Paulinus Okon has been named the Player of the Season for Akwa United, a team competing in the Nigeria National League (NNL). The midfielder played a crucial role in helping the ‘Promise Keepers’ secure second place in NNL Conference A during the 2025–26 campaign, contributing four goals throughout the season.

As a token of appreciation for his contributions, Okon received a reward of N1 million. Meanwhile, the club’s top scorer award went to Micheal Okenwa, who found the back of the net five times, earning him a N1.5 million prize. Yannick Menegbe was also honored for his creative output, receiving the most assists accolade.

Despite a strong season, Akwa United narrowly missed out on promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), finishing just behind conference winners Sporting Lagos.

Jose Mourinho has officially put pen to paper on a three-year contract to become the new head coach of Real Madrid, marking his highly anticipated return to the Santiago Bernabeu after more than a decade. The Portuguese tactician, who guided the club to a La Liga title, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup during his previous tenure from 2010 to 2013, will step into the role following the recent dismissal of Alvaro Arbeloa.

According to sources, Mourinho’s appointment will not be publicly announced until after Real Madrid’s presidential election on June 7, but the agreement has been finalized. The 63-year-old leaves Benfica, where he took charge in September and led the team to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga, to take over the reins at the Spanish capital.

Mourinho inherits a squad that endured a disappointing 2025-26 season, finishing without any silverware as rivals Barcelona clinched the La Liga title with a 2-0 victory in El Clasico. Real Madrid also suffered a heavy 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. The veteran manager is expected to bring his trademark intensity and tactical acumen to restore the club’s fortunes.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a positive update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. During his Friday press conference, Arteta confirmed that both players are available to start the match in Budapest.

“Timber is fit. Fit enough to start? Yeah. Madueke? Yeah, he is fit. The only one is Ben [White],” Arteta told reporters.

Timber has been sidelined since March after sustaining an injury during Arsenal’s victory over Everton. Meanwhile, Madueke scored a goal in the team’s league title-clinching win at Selhurst Park on the final day but picked up a minor injury concern during that match.

Ben White remains unavailable due to a knee injury he suffered against West Ham earlier this month, ruling him out of the highly anticipated European final.

Nigeria’s head coach Éric Chelle has expressed unwavering confidence that his side will triumph over Jamaica in the Unity Cup final. The match, scheduled for Saturday at the Valley, marks the third consecutive meeting between the two teams in the tournament’s showpiece event.

Last year’s final ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with the Super Eagles eventually winning 5-4 on penalties. Chelle, however, insists his team is prepared for any scenario. “Penalties are always a possibility, but my focus is on winning in regular time,” he told the NFF website. “I’ve instilled a winning mentality in this squad. We are ready to fight for the trophy.”

The Malian tactician emphasized that his players have embraced a culture of victory. “Every match we approach with the aim to dominate and secure the win. Whether it ends in penalties or not, we are prepared to come out on top,” he added.

The Unity Cup final kicks off at 5:30 PM Nigerian time. Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe will face India in the third-place playoff.

Atletico Madrid has turned the tables on Barcelona by launching a humorous social media campaign after rumors linked Julian Alvarez to the Camp Nou side. The Rojiblancos, clearly irritated by transfer speculation, decided to respond with sarcastic tweets mimicking a transfer announcement.

In a series of posts, Atletico claimed they had made an offer for Lamine Yamal. The alleged proposal included four tickets to a Bad Bunny concert, an annual subscription to ABC newspaper, and a bag of sunflower seeds. They used Fabrizio Romano’s trademark ‘Here We Go’ phrase to mock the transfer news cycle.

Another tweet targeted Pedri, humorously offering six tickets to Sunday’s show since Saturday’s concert was sold out. The club also pretended to bid for Raphinha on loan, suggesting a swap with players named Tom Ford and Smith.

These jabs come after reports that Barcelona is interested in signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico. The La Liga rivals have a history of tense relations, and this latest social media spat adds more spice to their rivalry.

Paris Saint-Germain has put a massive financial incentive on the line for their Champions League final clash against Arsenal. Every squad member stands to pocket €1 million if they emerge victorious in Budapest on Saturday, mirroring the bonus structure from last year’s triumph.

Luis Enrique’s side, who topped Ligue 1 comfortably, are aiming to successfully defend the European crown they secured in 2025. The motivation for retaining the trophy has been reinforced with this lucrative promise.

Key figures like captain Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé, and Vitinha are reportedly the driving forces behind negotiating these performance bonuses with the club’s hierarchy. Their influence ensures the entire team is aligned on the shared goal.

Speaking to the media ahead of the final, Enrique exuded confidence. “Across the eight matches so far, we’ve demonstrated our true quality and dominated the vast majority of encounters,” he stated. “Reaching the final again is a historic achievement for us. Our ambition is clear: to keep writing our legacy in European football.”