Sports Archives | Page 68 of 111

Champions League: Ademola Lookman ruled out of Barca clash

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago01 mins

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman will miss Atalanta’s away Champions League match at Barcelona on Wednesday due to a knee problem. According to Gazzetta, Lookman won’t fly to Catalunya with the rest of the team today and will undergo tests on his injured knee in Bergamo. The nature of Lookman’s injury is still unclear, but according to Gazzetta, it could force the striker to the sidelines for one month. Gazzetta claimed that Lookman sustained the injury during a training session on Monday. Lookman, 27, has 14 goals and seven assists in 27 appearances across all competitions with Atalanta this season. This past December, he was named the Best African Player of 2024. A former Fulham, Everton and Leicester City striker, Lookman joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig for just €9.3m in the summer of 2022. He has scored 46 goals in 105 appearances with La Dea.

Sevilla signs N8bn Nigerian striker

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago02 mins

Spanish football club Sevilla has completed the signing of Nigerian striker Akor Adams in a four and a half-year deal worth over N8billion (€5 million). The 24-year-old forward from Benue will wear the number 15 shirt. He arrives from Montpellier, a Ligue 1 team, having played 15 games this season, adding three goals and three assists. Last season, he reached double figures as Montpellier’s leading striker, showcasing his potential to deliver in top-flight football. Adams is expected to be available for manager García Pimienta’s squad ahead of Sevilla’s weekend clash against Getafe. Standing at 190cm, Adams brings a commanding physical presence to Sevilla’s front line, offering the team a traditional target man to complement their attacking options. He will link up with fellow Super Eagles players Chidera Ejuke and Kelechi Iheanacho, though the latter is likely to exit the club during the winter transfer window. While Adams hasn’t had an explosive scoring record at Montpellier or his previous club Lillestrøm in Norway, his physicality and hold-up play could create opportunities for top scorer Dodi Lukebakio, strike partner Isaac Romero, or fellow new recruit Ronald Vargas. Sevilla, with just 24 goals in 21 La Liga games this season, have prioritised attacking reinforcements under Sporting Director Víctor Orta. After missing out on Juninho Vieira of Qarabag, Sevilla turned their focus to Adams, a player who aligns with García Pimienta’s tactical preference for a target man to balance his possession-based system.

Al-Hilal terminates Neymar contract

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago02 mins

Neymar has left Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal with his contract terminated by mutual consent. The Brazil international – still the world’s most expensive footballer after his €220million move to Paris St Germain in 2017 – joined Al-Hilal in August 2023. He signed a two-year deal worth a reported €150m a year. He has suffered anterior cruciate ligament and hamstring injuries in Saudi Arabia and played only seven times for Al-Hilal. The 32-year-old has been linked with a return to his former club Santos, where he began his senior career. They said in a statement: “Al Hilal Club Company and Neymar Jr have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship by mutual consent. “The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career at Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career.” Neymar has made only two appearances for Al-Hilal this season with the last coming as a substitute in November.

Ilorin Stadium renamed Rashidi Yekini Stadium

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago03 mins

The Kwara State Government has renamed the Ilorin Township Stadium in honour of former Super Eagles striker, Late Rashidi Yekini. This is contained in a statement signed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye on Monday. The statement reads in part; “The main bowl of the stadium is named after the late Rashidi Yekini, a football legend renowned for scoring Nigeria’s first World Cup goal and the country’s highest goal scorer till date. “Governor Abdulrazaq, similarly, approved for some other important state facilities to be named as follows: Table Tennis Arena is named after Atanda Musa (Manza Musa), who was a national champion in the games in 1979. “Indoor Sports Hall is named after Gabriel Babatunde Ladipo, the first black principal of the Government Technical Training School Ilorin (GTTS) who was regarded as the father of sports in the state. “Squash Court is named after Coach Bolakale Mogaji, executive chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission who was the pioneer coach, player, and national champion in the squash game. “KFA Academy is named after Coach Usuman Adenuja, the first football coach who took the Kwara Academicals to the final of Academical football competition. The Governor was among his products. “Hostel A of the stadium is named after Salihu Ishola, the first Kwaran commonwealth games’ medalist; Hostel B is named after Paralympic badminton bronze medalist Bolaji Eniola; and Hostel C is named after Bola Esan, the first female director of sports.” Late Yekini scored 37 goals in international matches and represented Nigeria in seven football tournaments including two World Cups where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition. He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

Super Eagles’ star, Onyemaechi joins Olympiakos

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago01 mins

Super Eagles’ left back Bruno Onyemaechi has joined Greek side Olympiakos. Trendbrio.com can report. Though, the details of the transfer deal with the Greek side is undisclosed, but the Nigerian international took to his X handle formerly Twitter to disclose the move. “New home. “God is the greatest, the defender wrote after sealing the deal,” the elated defender wrote. In August 2022, Onyemaechi joined Boavista on a season-long loan with an option to buy, Boavista however triggered the option and signed him on a permanent deal in June 2023. Onyemaechi made his international debut for Nigeria, playing as a left-back for the full 90 minutes of a 6–0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe, in the final group match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Nigeria qualified and went all the way to the finals where they lost 1–2 to Ivory Coast.

Moses Simon welcomes baby number three

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago01 mins

Super Eagles and Nante of France winger Moses Simon has announced the delivery of his third child. The pacy player took to his X handle former Twitter to revealed the new addition to the family. The player wrote; “I find no words strong enough to express my exact feelings, I’m sincerely grateful to God. “God has blessed my home with a baby boy. “Thanks my Queen for this marvelous gift to our family, you are indeed a strong woman and I am always proud of you.”

Morocco 2025: Nigeria to battle Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania in Group C

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago01 mins

Three-time African Champions, Super Eagles will battle Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. Their opening match will be against Tanzania. Tunisia, champions on home soil in 2004, eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon. The opening match of the 2025 AFCON will be hosts Morocco against Comoros on December 21 in Rabat. Group AMoroccoMaliZambiaComoros Group BEgyptSouth AfricaAngolaZimbabwe Group CNigeriaTunisiaUgandaTanzania Group DSenegalDR CongoBeninBotswana Group EAlgeriaBurkina FasoEquatorial GuineaSudan Group FCote d’IvoireCameroonGabonMozambique

Rivers Hoopers defeat Hoops and Read

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago02 mins

Nigeria Premier Basketball League champions Rivers Hoopers started their campaign at the 2025 Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship with a 72-54 win over Hoops and Read on Sunday. It was the third win for Hoopers over the Olumide Oyedeji-led team within the last three months. The KingsMen won the NPBL Atlantic Conference fixture on November 2 and followed it up with a commanding victory in the Final of the Final 8 tournament two weeks later. Hoopers who were without their head coach, Ogoh Odaudu, shook off a slow start in the first quarter to lead by 10 points (31-21) midway through the second quarter. Hoops and Read crawled their way back into the game with successive dunks, which took the game to a tie at 44-44 in the third quarter. They, however, struggled at both ends in the fourth, handing over the victory to a resilient Hoopers. The KingsMen will next play Comets on Tuesday.