Category: Entertainment

Former Nigerian international and Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has emphatically declared Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele as the finest footballer currently active globally. The ex-Juventus star made this assertion during his weekly football analysis program, the Sunday Oliseh Global Football insights show.

Oliseh also opined that French national team captain Kylian Mbappe did PSG a significant service by leaving the Parisian club to join Real Madrid two seasons ago. According to Oliseh, Mbappe’s departure has allowed PSG to evolve as a team, shedding the aura of a one-man show. He stressed that before Mbappe’s exit, the narrative was that the striker essentially dictated terms at the club.

Reflecting on the team’s current dynamics, Oliseh noted that players are now more disciplined, with a focus on collective effort over individual influence. He highlighted comments from Dembele, whom he considers the world’s best, about the need to run and contribute defensively as evidence of PSG’s transformation. This shift, Oliseh argued, is why PSG have reached the Champions League final with virtually the same squad over the past two years.

The former midfielder recalled that Mbappe had rejected a new contract with PSG at the start of the 2023/2024 season after the Ligue 1 champions turned down a €120 million offer from Real Madrid for his signature. Oliseh believes this eventual move has been beneficial for both Mbappe’s career and PSG’s development as a cohesive unit.

Festus Austine, the team manager of Rivers United, firmly believes his squad will secure the 2025-26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) championship. The Pride of Rivers faces Katsina United in their season finale at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt next week.

Austine called on supporters to fill the stands and rally behind the team. “It’s been a tough week, but I know we’ll get it right against Katsina United,” he declared ahead of the crucial match. “Come to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium and cheer us to glory—I’m confident we’ll be crowned champions.”

Rivers United currently trail league leaders Rangers by just one point heading into the final matchday. To lift the title, they must defeat Katsina United and hope Rangers drop points against Ikorodu City.

Former Juventus midfielder Sunday Oliseh has shared his thoughts on the upcoming Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. Appearing on the Oliseh Global Football Insights program, the Nigerian legend stated that one element is clear in this showdown. He believes that if the match proceeds at a slow pace, Arsenal will emerge victorious. However, if PSG increases the intensity, they are likely to retain their title.

Oliseh explained: “In this final, one factor is definite. Should the tempo be low, Arsenal will triumph. But if Paris Saint-Germain elevates the speed and maintains a high tempo, we will witness the defending champions lift the trophy.” He added that the outcome does not hinge on Arsenal but rather on PSG’s approach. Defensively, the Parisian side has vulnerabilities, but offensively, they pose a significant threat. They are up against one of the world’s best defensive units.

“Arsenal rarely concede goals. Statistically, they appear likely to win because they haven’t lost a single Champions League match this season. Everything suggests they should prevail. Yet last year, Inter Milan were also formidable heading into the final, only to fall to PSG. These two teams are the finest in this year’s Champions League,” Oliseh concluded.

Former Shooting Stars goalkeeper John Dosu has emphasized the need for enhanced welfare packages for players and coaches in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). He argues that improved compensation is essential for the league to compete effectively with other top African leagues.

Dosu highlighted that inadequate salaries cause clubs to struggle in retaining their most talented personnel. In a social media post, he stated that the time has come to prioritize player and coach welfare in the NPFL. He pointed out that some coaches earn as little as ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 monthly, which hinders league growth.

Directly addressing NPFL chairman Mr. Elegbeleye, Dosu insisted that the league can and must do better. He noted that low wages lead to high turnover, reduced motivation, and difficulty attracting and keeping skilled individuals. According to Dosu, if the NPFL aims to enhance its brand, elevate quality, and rival other African leagues, salary structures and overall welfare must be improved across the board.

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has issued a passionate appeal to fans, urging them to back the national team, the Warriors, as they prepare for the Unity Cup. The tournament is set to feature a highly anticipated semi-final clash against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

Scheduled for Tuesday, 26 May at The Valley in London, the match promises to be a thrilling encounter. The victorious side will advance to the final on Saturday, 31 May, where they will meet either India or Jamaica.

Head coach Kaitano Tembo announced his 24-player roster for this friendly invitational event on Tuesday. The squad is eager to showcase their talent on an international stage.

In a statement released on its official X account, ZIFA emphasized the importance of fan support. “A night of pride, passion and African football excellence awaits as Zimbabwe’s finest take centre stage in the UK,” the statement read. “Diaspora family, this is your moment to rally behind the Warriors and paint The Valley in Zimbabwean colours.”

The football association is encouraging supporters to don the national colors and create an electric atmosphere that will inspire the team to victory.

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has shared his forecasts for the upcoming Premier League matchday 37 encounters, which span from Friday to Tuesday. The predictions cover a range of high-stakes games featuring top clubs.

Kicking off the round, Aston Villa hosts Liverpool at Villa Park on Friday night. Merson believes the home side will edge a 2-1 victory over Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Manchester United welcomes Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Sunday. The pundit sees a 2-1 win for the Red Devils. Meanwhile, Brentford is tipped to beat Crystal Palace 2-0, and Leeds United is predicted to share a 2-2 draw with Brighton.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to lose 0-2 to Fulham, while Everton is backed to defeat Sunderland 2-0. Newcastle United is forecasted to overcome West Ham United 2-0.

On Tuesday, Arsenal faces Burnley at the Emirates Stadium. Merson anticipates a comfortable 3-0 triumph for the Gunners. In a critical clash, Bournemouth is predicted to hold Manchester City to a 1-1 draw.

The standout fixture sees Chelsea taking on Tottenham Hotspur. The former Arsenal star expects Chelsea to secure a 2-0 victory in this London derby.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on his strategy to address the void left by injured defenders Jurrien Timber and Ben White at right-back. With Timber still on the recovery path and White ruled out for the season after picking up an injury in the narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham, the Gunners are facing a crucial period with both Premier League and Champions League commitments looming.

One name that has emerged as a potential solution is center-back Cristhian Mosquera, who has prior experience in the right-back role. When asked whether Mosquera could fill the gap, Arteta emphasized the need for flexibility. Speaking to Football London, he stated, “There are different options depending on the opponent and the tactical approach we want to take. We cannot rely on just one player; we must have two or three alternatives because situations can change rapidly during a match. Injuries can happen, so we need to be adaptable.”

The Spaniard further explained that the team has faced similar challenges throughout the season and has consistently found ways to maintain high performance. “We’ve had issues in various positions before, and we’ve managed to adapt. I’m confident we’ll do the same now,” Arteta added. The Gunners will need to quickly finalize their defensive setup as they push for silverware on multiple fronts.

Contrary to recent social media speculation, Crystal Palace will not receive any additional financial benefit from Eberechi Eze’s transfer to Arsenal if the Gunners clinch the Premier League title. Reports from Football.london clarify that the move, completed in August 2025 for an initial fee of £67.5 million, includes only £7.5 million in add-ons, none of which are tied to winning the league championship.

Fans had circulated claims that Palace could earn up to £10 million in bonuses should Arsenal secure the title at Selhurst Park on May 24. However, these rumors are unfounded. The add-ons in the deal are linked to other performance-related criteria that were considered achievable by Palace when the agreement was finalized.

Eze’s transfer involved his previous release clause of £67.5 million, which had expired before Tottenham and Arsenal stepped up their interest. Arsenal’s swift action and willingness to match the clause value won the race for the England international. Additionally, Eze’s personal attachment to the club he supported as a child and where he spent time in the youth setup before being released at 13 played a key role in his decision to join the Gunners.

World record holder Tobi Amusan has once again proven her dominance on the continental stage, securing her third consecutive title in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championship in Accra, Ghana. The Nigerian star expressed deep gratitude to her team and supporters following her victory on Wednesday night.

In a tightly contested race, Amusan crossed the finish line ahead of Zimbabwe’s Ashley Miller, who claimed silver, while compatriot Adaobi Tabugbo took the bronze medal. The win further cements Amusan’s legacy as one of Africa’s premier athletes in the event.

Taking to social media, the 29-year-old shared her emotions, writing, “African Champion x3. Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues.”

With her latest triumph, Amusan now sets her sights on the Shanghai Golden League meeting in China, scheduled for this weekend. She remains determined to add more medals to her collection for Nigeria, signaling that her pursuit of glory is far from over.

In the race for the Premier League crown, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has emphasized that his squad’s primary focus is on securing victories rather than fixating on goal difference. Speaking to the press on Thursday, Arteta acknowledged that while scoring goals could prove crucial, it is not the central aspect of their strategy.

Following Manchester City’s commanding 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, their goal difference moved to +43, just one ahead of Arsenal’s. The two teams are set to face challenging opponents in their remaining fixtures, with City taking on Bournemouth and Aston Villa, while Arsenal will go up against Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Arteta remarked, ‘First we have to earn the right to win the game. Obviously if you can make a difference with more goals, that’s even better. But we all play really tough matches. We had a really tough match against West Ham and managed to win it, and it was a great feeling. But we know ideally that scoring goals is going to be important.’