Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Viktor Gyokeres finally ended a nine-game goal drought for club and country by scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-0 Champions League triumph against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Yet manager Mikel Arteta was quick to stress that the Swedish striker offers far more than just goals. Since joining the Gunners this summer, Gyokeres has provided Arsenal with a central attacking focal point they often lacked last season. Arteta explained that his signing has made the team “much more unpredictable,” highlighting the striker’s athleticism, work-rate, and physical presence as standout attributes. “He’s so physical, and the way he presses the ball and holds…

The UK government has pledged to do “everything in our power” to overturn a decision preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham next month. The move comes after the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) ruled that supporters of the Israeli club would not be permitted to attend the fixture at Villa Park on 6 November due to security concerns. The decision has sparked a wave of political and public backlash, with critics calling it discriminatory and “deeply wrong.” A government spokesperson confirmed that the Home Office is “working with police and…

Lando Norris set the early pace at the United States Grand Prix on Friday, leading McLaren team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri in a competitive opening practice session at the Circuit of the Americas. Norris, who trails Piastri by 22 points in the championship standings with six races remaining, produced a best lap that put him 0.279 seconds clear of his Australian teammate. The Briton’s performance marked a strong start to the sprint weekend in Austin, with the McLarens once again setting the benchmark in both one-lap speed and race pace. In an intriguing twist to the order, Sauber’s Nico…

Super Falcons stars Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo have been shortlisted for the 2025 CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, capping off a stellar year for Nigerian women’s football. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released its list of nominees on Thursday, featuring Africa’s top performers over the past year. Both Ajibade and Okoronkwo earned recognition after leading Nigeria to success at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. Ajibade, captain of the Super Falcons, has been in scintillating form for both club and country. The 24-year-old was named Player of the Tournament at the 2024…

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare is set to chase his first Premier League goal this weekend as Wolves travel to Sunderland for a crucial top-flight clash on Saturday. The Nigerian international, fresh from international duty with the Super Eagles, will hope to feature in the starting lineup and make a decisive impact for his club. Arokodare has struggled to find the net in the ongoing season, having made four appearances without scoring. The 24-year-old forward is eager to open his account in England’s top division and demonstrate his value under Wolves’ Portuguese manager, Pereira. With confidence high following a recent…

Apple has officially acquired the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States from 2026, in a landmark five-year deal valued at approximately $750 million (£558 million). The agreement marks Apple’s boldest move yet into live sports broadcasting and is set to reshape how American fans experience Formula 1. Under the new deal, Apple will pay around $150 million (£111.6 million) per year for exclusive rights, surpassing the previous $80 million annual contract held by ESPN. The agreement ensures that all Formula 1 races, qualifying sessions, and practice events will be available to Apple TV subscribers in the US…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been handed a one-match touchline ban and fined £8,000 by the Football Association following his dramatic dismissal during the Premier League win over Liverpool earlier this month. The Italian was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor in stoppage time after leaving his technical area to celebrate Estevao Willian’s 95th-minute winner. The goal sealed a crucial 2-1 victory for Chelsea over the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge, sparking wild scenes of celebration among players, staff, and supporters alike. According to the FA, Maresca was charged with “acting in an improper manner and/or using abusive and/or insulting…

Mercedes have officially confirmed that George Russell and teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli will remain their Formula 1 drivers for the 2026 season, extending a partnership that team principal Toto Wolff described as “strong and full of potential.” The announcement was made ahead of the United States Grand Prix weekend and comes just over a week after Russell’s dominant victory in Singapore, his second win of the 2025 campaign. With the news now public, Mercedes can fully focus on the final six races of the year as they battle Ferrari for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Continuity Over Change “Confirming…

As Nigeria gears up for the crucial playoffs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, former Super Eagles midfielder Friday Ekpo has urged the national team to approach the decisive matches with utmost seriousness and precision. Ekpo, who represented Nigeria during the late 1980s and early 1990s, emphasised that only a top-level performance will guarantee qualification for the World Cup in North America. Nigeria sealed their playoff spot emphatically, thrashing Benin Republic 4–0 in their final group game. The result ensured the Super Eagles finished among the best runners-up, earning them a place in the upcoming semifinal playoff format that…

Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal have booked their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after both nations recorded commanding victories in their final group games on Tuesday, sealing Africa’s last two automatic qualification spots. The wins see the reigning African champions and the Teranga Lions join seven other nations who had already confirmed their tickets to football’s biggest stage. Senegal, led by star forward Sadio Mané, produced a dominant display in Dakar, brushing aside Mauritania 4–0 to clinch top spot in Group B. The victory ensured Aliou Cissé’s side finished two points clear of DR Congo, who edged Sudan 1–0…