2025 | Page 3 of 64 | Trendbrio.com

Maduka Okoye On Bournemouth’s Radar

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago02 mins

Premier League side, Bournemouth has expressed interest in Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Bournemouth’s Sporting Director Tiago Pinto has previous experience in the Serie A with Roma and has in the past looked towards Italy in search of potential transfers. Most notably, he has signed Dean Huijsen from Juventus for the Cherries. Now he is looking at a goalkeeper from the same league. Okoye of Udinese is the keeper who has been scouted by the Premier League club. Presently negotiations over a potential deal haven’t started but as per Gianluigi Longari (via SportItalia.it), there is concrete interest. Okoye, who came to Udinese back in 2024, has only conceded 23 goals in the league. He has a decent amount of experience aged only 25 and could be a long term solution for Bournemouth as their Number One. Okoye has mentioned Dida as his idol while also stating that he looks up to the likes of Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Ederson and Thibaut Courtois.

Bruno Onyemaechi’s Olympiacos Wins Greek Super League

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago04 mins

Bruno Onyemaechi’s Olympiakos has returned to the throne of Greek soccer after two years of absence, clinching the Super League title with its home win against AEK. The Reds won 1-0 at the Georgios Karaiskakis thanks to an Ayoub El Kaabi goal on the 55th minute that triggered wild celebrations to last for hours. With the Greek Cup Final against OFI pending (scheduled for May 17), the Piraeus team can secure the domestic double on the back of winning the Europa Conference League last season, in one of the most successful 12-month periods ever for the club that is celebrating its centenary. Panathinaikos has taken a lead in the battle for her second spot that secures the ticket to the Champions League qualifiers, with a 3-1 home victory over PAOK. The Greens were more convincing on Sunday than against AEK a week earlier, when they ad hwon by the same score. This time they led 3-0 with goals from Azzedine Ounahi and Karol Swiderski, plus an own goal by Mateusz Wieteska. PAOK got some late consolation with Giannis Konstantelias. Olympiakos has mathematically won the title with three games left to play, having 66 points. Panathinaikos is second with 56, AEK stayed on 53 and PAOK on 52. In the 5-8 playoffs, Aris has all but clinched the fifth spot with its 1-0 win over Atromitos, and can only be challenged by Asteras that defeated OFI 2-1 in Tripoli. The battle in the play-outs rages on, with Volos coming out of the drop zone through its 1-0 win over Levadiakos, while Kallithea’s 3-1 defeat at Panserraikos put it back in the penultimate place. Lamia is all but relegated after its 1-0 loss at Panetolikos. Kifissia will most likely be the team to go up from the second group of Super League 2 to the top flight, thanks to its crucial 1-0 win at rival Kalamata on Sunday. A day earlier Larissa had celebrated its promotion from the first group. “Congratulations to our own Bruno Onyemaechi who has won the Greek Super League with Olympiacos FC,” the midfielder was congratulated on Super Eagles Twitter handle now X.

Onana to Return for Man United vs. Lyon -Amorim

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago06 mins

André Onana will return to the Manchester United team for their crucial Europa League clash against Lyon, head coach Ruben Amorim has confirmed. Onana was omitted for the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday after making two errors in the first game against Lyon last week. But the goalkeeper will return for the second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday, replacing No. 2 Altay Bayindir. Joshua Zirkzee will miss the game against the Ligue 1 side after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury picked up at St. James’ Park. “Onana will play tomorrow,” Amorim said. “I just think first of all as a coach and also as a former player, I try to do things that can help a player in this situation. “So sometimes we talk about managing players physically, we have to manage them also mentally but they have to return to competition. “Onana is ready, he had one weekend that I felt it was better for him to not play and a good thing for Altay to play and this week my thinking was to put Onana to play.” Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Amorim was also asked whether he could look to sign a new goalkeeper ahead of next season. “We need to improve every position on the field, goalkeeper is the same,” Amorim said. “We can work with André. André Onana already proved he is a top player with Inter. Altay the same with Fenerbahce. We are going to make that evaluation for any position in the squad. You can see my record. My record is the worst in the team. I am also underperforming.” The tie against Lyon is finely balanced after the 2-2 draw in France. Zirkzee came off the bench to score at Groupama Stadium, but will miss the return fixture after suffering a hamstring problem in the second half against Newcastle. Amorim confirmed the 23-year-old will not play again this season, leaving Rasmus Højlund as the only recognised senior striker in the squad. Højlund is enduring a difficult campaign with just eight goals in 43 games. “Joshua is out for the season,” Amorim said. “He will not play more this season, let’s prepare him for the next one. It is tough for him especially in this moment. “He is improving in all aspects and it is hard for any player to stop.” Despite languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, United could still finish the season with a trophy and a place in next season’s Champions League if they win the Europa League. Victory over Lyon would set up a semifinal against either Athletic Club or Rangers. Winning the competition would give Amorim a vital boost going into the summer and the Portuguese coach has admitted that playing in the Champions League would change what the club can do in the next transfer window. “It is more about the budget,” he said. “That is important when you are planning the next season. Champions League can change everything. You can see it both ways. If you have Champions League it is going to be tough to play against top teams on Wednesday and then top teams in the Premier League. “We are in the moment when the team needs a lot of work, that means a lot of time to train. We want to win the title, that is the most important thing. If you don’t have Champions League you have full weeks to rebuild the team.”

I’ll Play For Bendel Insurance FC If… -Ighalo

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago02 mins

Former Super Eagles and Manchester United striker, Odion Jude Ighalo, has hinted at starring for Nigeria Premier Football League side, Bendel Insurance. Speaking on The Abu Azeez Podcast, the 35-year old Al-Wehda of Saudi Arabia goal poacher said he wish to return to the local league before calling quit with football. Ighalo however insisted that the local club side must put in place adequate security if they want his services. Abu Azeez, who starred for several clubs in the local league and also a member of national beach soccer team, the Beach Eagles asked Ighalo if he would be willing to play for Bendel Insurance should the Edo State Governor call to. “I would love to play but they have to guarrantee my security because it is not just playing, there is some many things (sic) involved with it. “So, playing almost 20 years outside Nigeria, then come back to play in your homeland. I know it is going to be tough but if some certain things are out in place, why not? I would love to…,” Ighalo stated. Ighalo was given birth to in Edo but raised in Lagos, featured for Prime FC and Julius Berger before his sojourn in Europe. Between 2015 and 2022, he played 37 games, scoring 16 goals for Nigeria.

GOtv Boxing Night 33: Nigeria, Ghana Renew Rivalry As Otoo Clash with Osaigbovo

GOtv Boxing Night 33: Sensational Badoo to Fight Beninois Veteran, Coffi

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago03 mins

Nigeria’s teenage boxing sensation and University of Lagos Law undergraduate, Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun, is set to return to action at GOtv Boxing Night 33 on April 26th, where he will face Gbodja Jean Coffi of the Benin Republic. The bout is one of the seven scheduled for the event, which will take place at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Badoo, who has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most promising boxing talents, comes into the fight with an unblemished record of 14 wins from 14 fights, including eight knockouts. He was named Best Boxer at the last two editions of the event and left a strong impression at GOtv Boxing Night 32, where he dispatched the experienced Hammed “Ese” Ganiyu via technical knockout. The teenager will now go up against another experienced opponent in Coffi, a veteran from the Benin Republic. Coffi, nicknamed “Lit the Fire,” has recorded two wins in his last three outings. His most recent fight was against Congo’s Chadrack Kalala Mbenga. Speaking ahead of the bout, Bamidele Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Flykite Productions, said the encounter exemplifies the competition and growth that GOtv Boxing Night aims to deliver. He described Badoo as one of the most exciting young boxers in Nigeria and said the clash with Coffi would be a significant test of his ability to adapt against a seasoned opponent. Also on the card is an international lightweight contest between Ghana’s Emmanuel Otoo and Nigeria’s Tosin “Sojar Boy” Osaigbovo. Other notable pairings include William “Kaki” Amosu against Emmanuel “Ability Famous” Abimbola in the light welterweight category, and national contests involving Segun Gbobaniyi, Sodiq Oyakojo, Tobiloba Ijomoni, and Sodiq Adeleke. GOtv Boxing Night 33 is organised by Flykite Productions and sponsored by GOtv Nigeria.

Praises for Aluo-led Board as NNL Celebrates Players, Officials, Referees

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago04 mins

There were commendations from all quarters for the George Aluo-led Board of the Nigeria National League as the management of the second-tier of Nigeria’s domestic football organized its third Awards Ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday. President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who was represented by the NFF 1st Vice President Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, gave kudos to the NNL Board for the innovations it has introduced into the league, and challenged it to keep at the pace in order to take the ‘most important league’ to new heights. On his part, NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman of NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, affirmed that the NNL is on the right track to actualizing full private-sector clubs’ participation, while challenging the NNL board to keep encouraging private sector participation in club ownership and management. He also applauded the accomplishments of the Aluo-led board so far. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, was emphatic that given the various changes and innovations introduced into the league by the present board, the NFF has no regrets in putting the board in charge of the second-tier league. He utilized the opportunity to invite First Bank PLC to consider partnering with the NNL, as a way of giving back to the society and taking the youth off the streets to curb all forms of social vices. In his remarks, former NFF President Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi commended the warm relationship among the various league bodies and the Nigeria Football Federation. He noted that the present NFF leadership has continued to show genuine passion for football development at the grassroots, while also calling for private sector involvement in sponsorship of the domestic game. Chairman of the NNL, Mr. George Aluo, was full of appreciation to the eminent guests for their warm words of encouragement. He extolled the leadership qualities of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Dr Mohammed Sanusi at the NFF, and attributed the successes recorded so far by the league to the purpose-driven leadership at the NFF. “These Awards are a way of encouraging good performances and good conduct, and also to inculcate the spirit of competition among the various participants in the league. I commend our partners, ProStar Recreational Services Limited and Sportslights Hub for supporting the NNL to organize these awards to encourage our outstanding players, officials and referees.” Chief Executive Officer of the NNL, Mr. Emmanuel Attah, gave a brief background on how NNL secured the partnerships with ProStar and Sportslights Hub. He enjoined both organizations to continue to identify with the league especially as footage of league matches are now being seen in various parts of the country and the world at large.

2027: PDP Governors Playing Spoiler Role for Tinubu — Atiku’s Coalition

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago03 mins

The coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sabotaging the opposition by aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s interests ahead of the 2027 general election. In a statement by spokesman Salihu Moh. Lukman, the coalition criticized the PDP Governors Forum for rejecting efforts to form a broad-based alliance of opposition parties. Lukman described the PDP as a weakened force, alleging that it had failed Nigerians by not offering credible opposition since losing power over a decade ago. He claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had effectively hijacked the PDP, using actors like Minister Nyesom Wike to ensure the party cannot mount a serious challenge in 2027. He further accused the PDP governors of hijacking the party’s organs and undermining internal democracy. Lukman noted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP had not met in two years, illustrating the party’s dysfunction. He warned that the governors were now playing into Tinubu’s hands by opposing the formation of a united opposition front. According to Lukman, the coalition’s core mission is to rescue Nigerian democracy by restoring political negotiation, trust, and competitive democratic values. He emphasized that both APC and PDP had failed in this regard, often disrespecting agreements and sidelining democratic institutions. Despite resistance from PDP leaders, the coalition, which includes figures like Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Babachir Lawal, and other disenchanted APC leaders, remains committed to uniting patriotic Nigerians. Lukman extended a call to all political actors to join forces in rebuilding Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the future of the country depends on it.

Kwara Raises Alarm Over Fake Agriculture Offers

Our Reporters2 days ago2 days ago03 mins

As the planting season approaches, the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has observed a rise in the circulation of unsolicited messages on Kwara cial media platforms—particularly WhatsApp—asking farmers and agribusiness owners to submit personal information or register for certain initiatives allegedly linked to government programs, loans, or agricultural input support. The Ministry, in a press statement signed by the Press Secretary, Ashaolu Omotola, categorically stated that it is not in partnership with any unverified platform or group currently soliciting such information. The statement reads; “This is a sensitive period in the agricultural calendar, and we understand that many farmers are on the lookout for genuine support and training opportunities. Unfortunately, this is also the time when dubious individuals or groups may attempt to exploit public trust. “We therefore urge all farmers, agribusiness owners, and cooperative groups across the state to exercise caution and verify all information before engaging. Do not release personal or business data to any platform or individual not officially announced by the Ministry. “The Ministry remains committed to transparency, and to providing timely and credible support to the farming community in Kwara State. In line with this, the Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afees Abolore Alabi, has emphasized that this alert reflects the Kwara State Government’s commitment—under the leadership of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq—to proactively safeguard the interests of farmers and ensure transparency across all agricultural support systems. “It also underscores the administration’s forward-thinking approach to strengthening public trust and protecting genuine initiatives from abuse. “We encourage everyone to stay vigilant and avoid falling prey to misinformation. “If you come across any suspicious messages or individuals making unverified claims in the name of the Ministry, please report them through our official communication channels.”