Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Louis Buffon, son of legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, has pledged his international future to the Czech Republic rather than Italy. The 17-year-old Pisa winger, who qualifies for the Czech team through his mother, model Alena Seredova, has been called up to the Czech U-18 squad for upcoming matches against England, France, and Portugal. Buffon made his professional debut for Pisa in Serie B earlier this month and believes representing the Czech Republic is the best choice for his development. “I talked to my family, and we decided this was the best path for my career,” he said in an…

Rwanda midfielder Jojea Kwizera believes playing at home will be a huge advantage for his team when they face Nigeria in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The Amavubi will host the Super Eagles at the 45,508-capacity Amahoro Stadium in Kigali for their Group C matchday 5 clash. Rwanda, currently leading the group with seven points, are four points ahead of Nigeria, who are yet to win in the qualifiers. In a video shared by the Rwanda Football Association, Kwizera urged fans to show full support. “We have a really big advantage playing at home. I invite everyone to come…

Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has dismissed concerns over Nigeria’s poor away record against Rwanda, insisting that victory is a must in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The Super Eagles have never beaten the Amavubi on away soil in three previous attempts, but Troost-Ekong is confident they can change that this time. “We’ve read about our record, but we are not bothered. I was part of the last game in Kigali that ended goalless, but we know a draw is not an option this time,” he told thenff.com. “Our goal is to secure three points and boost our qualification…

Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole has expressed his excitement after receiving his first-ever invitation to the Super Eagles for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Speaking to the Super Eagles media team, Bankole described the experience as “amazing” and shared his joy at training alongside Nigeria’s top stars. “It has been great. Being in the midst of the big boys, the superstars, is an incredible feeling,” he said. Bankole, who has consistently been one of the standout goalkeepers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), remained confident that his hard work would eventually earn him a…

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has raised concerns over the safety of female footballers, stating that poor pitch conditions in major matches are putting players at risk. Recent high-profile games have highlighted the issue, sparking widespread criticism from players, coaches, and pundits. Substandard Conditions in Key Matches Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. The match, played at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano, was marred by worsening pitch conditions. Heavy rainfall had left the hybrid playing surface in poor shape, leading to large patches of mud that…

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has not been included in Argentina’s squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. The 37-year-old returned to Miami’s starting line-up for their Major League Soccer win over Atlanta United but picked up an injury during Sunday’s game. Inter later confirmed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has a “low-grade” injury to his adductor muscle. Messi was rested for three Miami games before coming off the bench and scoring in last week’s Concacaf Champions Cup win at Jamaican side Cavalier. Messi said in a story on Instagram, external that it was a “shame to miss two…

Galatasaray vice president Abdullah Kavukcu has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will decide his next career move in April. Osimhen, currently on loan from Serie A club Napoli, has been a key player for the Turkish Super Lig champions. However, his future remains uncertain, with top European clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal, also vying for his signature. Speaking to Turkish journalist Nevzat Dindar, Kavukcu revealed: “Osimhen will tell us his decision next month. At the moment, the top five clubs in the world are also interested in him.” Despite strong competition, Galatasaray remain keen on securing Osimhen…

Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier has revealed that he accepted a pay cut to join the club from Atlético Madrid, dismissing claims that money was his primary motivation. Trippier, 34, made this known following Newcastle’s 2-1 triumph over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Speaking in an interview with CBS Sports, the England international reflected on his decision to return to the Premier League and his belief in Newcastle’s project. Sacrificing for the Bigger Picture Trippier’s move to Newcastle in January 2022 raised eyebrows, especially since the club was battling relegation at the time. Many speculated that financial…

Genk striker Tolu Arokodare has expressed his excitement after receiving his first-ever call-up to the Super Eagles for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The 24-year-old, currently the top scorer in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League with 17 goals, was initially named in the 39-man provisional squad before making the final 23-man list. Speaking to NFF TV, Arokodare admitted he was surprised but also confident that his performances would earn him national team recognition. “I knew it was coming because I was doing pretty well, and I was hoping for it,” he said. “Being in the…

The 2025 Formula 1 season kicked off in dramatic fashion with Lando Norris securing victory in an action-packed Australian Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated Ferrari debut saw him finish a modest 10th, raising questions about how long it will take the seven-time world champion to adapt to his new team. A Learning Curve for Hamilton Since joining Ferrari, Hamilton has emphasized the steep learning curve he faces in understanding the car, its systems, and his new team environment. Throughout the Melbourne weekend, he repeatedly referred to “building” knowledge to extract maximum performance. “I’ve learned a…