FORMER Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed how strict Premier League eligibility rules prevented Manchester United from signing him as a teenager, despite strong interest from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, monitored by PUNCH Online on Tuesday, Mikel disclosed that he was just 16 years old when he spent a month on trial at Old Trafford, training regularly with United’s first team. According to the former Nigerian international, Ferguson was impressed with his performances during the trial and took deliberate steps to protect…
Author: Peter Noah KC
NIGERIA’s Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, has completed a transfer from Atalanta to Atletico Madrid after the two clubs reached an agreement. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the versatile, dynamic, right-footed 28-year-old has signed with the former Spanish champions on a contract running until 30 June 2030. Lookman, who scored a hat-trick as the Italian side beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League in 2024, is expected to cost Atletico around 40 million euros ($47.5 million) according to media reports. The winger has scored three goals in 19 matches across all competitions this season for Atalanta. Born in…
ATLETICO Madrid have taken a decisive step toward signing Nigeria international Ademola Lookman after agreeing a €40m transfer package with Italian side Atalanta, placing the Spanish club firmly in pole position ahead of rivals Fenerbahce. News Point Nigeria Sport reports Atletico have also improved their salary offer to the 28-year-old forward, a move that has significantly strengthened their bid as the January transfer window enters its final days. The development marks a major shift in the race for Lookman’s signature, with the La Liga giants now better placed to conclude the deal after matching the financial proposal previously submitted by…
ATLETICO Madrid have intensified their pursuit of Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman as Turkish giants Fenerbahce edge closer to sealing a blockbuster transfer deal with Italian side Atalanta, News Point Nigeria Sport reports. The Spanish club had attempted to sign the 28-year-old attacker during the last summer transfer window but failed to reach an agreement with Atalanta. However, developments in the January window have forced Atletico to revisit the move as they seek to reinforce their squad ahead of the season’s decisive phase. Atletico’s renewed interest in Lookman follows confirmation from Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka on Friday that he would…
FORMER world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has broken weeks of public silence after a tragic car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two of his closest aides, describing the loss as devastating and emotional while vowing to honour their memories and support their families. News Point Nigeria Sport reports Joshua spoke on camera for the first time since the accident in a heartfelt video posted on his YouTube channel on Thursday, where he struggled to hold back tears while reflecting on the deaths of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, members of his long-standing backroom team whom he described as…
NIGERIAN football has been thrown into fresh mourning following the death of the mother of Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze, deepening a period of grief within the national team family. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the heartbreaking news was confirmed on Thursday by the footballer’s brother, David Chukwueze, who announced the loss through a series of emotional posts on his Instagram page. Struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, David wrote simply, “Can’t even post say RIP mom,” capturing the shock and pain surrounding the family’s loss. In another post, he added, “My forever love just left me…
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) may be forced to review or completely ban the use of towels by goalkeepers following a series of controversial incidents that marred the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that President of the CAF Referees Committee, Olivier Safari, disclosed that the governing body is considering regulatory changes in response to disruptions caused by the handling of goalkeepers’ towels during key matches at the tournament. The controversy first gained widespread attention during Nigeria’s semi-final clash against host nation Morocco, when Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was repeatedly…
NIGERIA captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Sunday Ndidi died in a road accident around the Umunede area of Delta State on Tuesday. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our footballer Wilfred Ndidi’s esteemed father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal traffic accident,” Besiktas, the Turkish club where the Nigerian international plays, wrote on their X handle. “May Allah grant mercy to the deceased; we extend our condolences to our footballer Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones.” Meanwhile, Ndidi has recalled his last moments with his…
FORMER Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has claimed his first piece of silverware with Qatari giants Al Ahli, marking a memorable start to his time at the club. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Al Ahli lifted the UAE-Qatar Super Cup Challenge Cup after defeating UAE side Al Jazira in a tense penalty shootout on Sunday night at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. The match ended level after regulation time, with Al Ahli eventually triumphing 4–3 on penalties to secure the title in dramatic fashion. Although Troost-Ekong did not feature in the encounter, the victory came shortly after the 32-year-old…
SUPER Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has heaped glowing praise on Morocco, describing the North African nation as a transformational force in African football following its widely acclaimed hosting of the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Chelle said Morocco not only delivered what many consider one of the best-organised editions of the continental tournament in recent history, but also helped reshape how African football is viewed globally through deliberate investment, strategic planning and historic on-field achievements. According to the Nigerian tactician, Morocco set a new gold standard for hosting Africa’s flagship football competition,…
NAPOLI have intensified efforts to sign Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman from Atalanta as the Serie A giants look to reinforce their attacking options before the transfer window closes, News Point Nigeria Sport reports. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that according to Italian newspaper Il Mattino, contacts between Napoli and Atalanta have accelerated in recent days, with negotiations now decisively underway for the 28-year-old winger. Lookman, who recently returned to Bergamo following his involvement at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, is widely expected to leave Atalanta either before the end of the current window or in the summer.…
ALTHOUGH the dust from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) outing has barely settled, Nigerian players have swapped the green-white-green jersey for their club colours. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that while some of the players are just returning to base, others have continued in the sizzling form that saw Nigeria finish in third place at the continental competition in Morocco. From Italy to Turkey, the Champions League to the Spanish La Liga, Nigeria’s AFCON stars are back, taking the spotlight in some of the most keenly-contested competitions. If there was a player who epitomised the untiring Nigerian spirit,…
THREE Super Eagles stars, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey have been named in the official Team of the Tournament for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a comprehensive technical assessment conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, the list notably excluded Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi, whose omission has sparked debate among fans and analysts, given his influential role during the tournament. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Osimhen, Lookman and Bassey earned their places after delivering standout performances that powered Nigeria to a third-place finish at the continental showpiece. CAF disclosed that the selections…
CHAIRMAN of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has said that the Senegal national team came “well prepared” for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final after learning lessons from the Nigeria vs Morocco match. Dikko said this during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria Sport, saying the controversial officiating in the last match between the Super Eagles and Morocco fueled Senegal’s preparation. “Senegal learned from what happened to Nigeria, probably in the last match. The officiating was not what it’s supposed to be. Everybody felt a bit off because all…
THE Super Eagles have soared to the 26th spot in the latest FIFA World Ranking, released on Monday by the football governing body. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the ranking, disclosed on FIFA’s website late on Monday, marks a remarkable 12-place jump. The Eagles also recorded a +79.09 points gain. Nigeria’s rise from 38th followed the team’s remarkable campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The Super Eagles finished third after edging the Pharaohs of Egypt last Saturday. The Eric Chelle side ran a campaign, considered by many as excellent, showing coordination and teamwork. Nigeria…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, on their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), praising their resilience, determination and display of the indomitable Nigerian spirit. The President’s congratulatory message followed the Super Eagles’ dramatic victory over seven-time African champions Egypt in the third-place playoff match on Saturday, where Nigeria triumphed via a penalty shootout after dominating regulation time. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria Sport on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the team for bouncing…
THE Super Eagles defeated Egypt’s Pharaohs 4-2 on penalties on Saturday to claim the bronze medal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a tense third-place playoff at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the encounter ended goalless after 90 minutes, forcing the contest into a shootout where goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali again proved decisive, saving spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Oumar Marmoush to hand Nigeria their ninth AFCON third-place finish and maintain their perfect record in the fixture. Coach Chelle named a rotated side, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman starting on the…
NIGERIA will be aiming to bow out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a high when they take on Egypt in a third-place play-off on Saturday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Super Eagles are fresh off a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to hosts Morocco, but are expected to bounce back against the Pharaohs of Egypt with a podium finish at the 2025 AFCON. Egypt, on the other hand, lost out to Senegal in the semi-final of the continental showpiece, failing to extend their record seven titles at the AFCON. Nigeria have the highest number of…
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan Jalal Jayed as the referee for Nigeria’s third-place playoff against Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that CAF announced Jayed’s appointment on Friday. The Moroccan will be assisted by his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Akarkad Mostafa. The assistant referee 3, according to CAF, is Hassani Khalil from Tunisia while the 4th official is Peter Kamaku from Kenya. Algeria’s Lahlou Benbraham will be the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). He will be assisted by Haythem Guirat from Tunisia and Hamza El Fariq (Morocco). The referee…
NIGERIA’s dream of winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) may have ended dramatically and painfully. But the Super Eagles have another shot at bowing out gallantly out of the competition in the third-place match against Egypt. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the three-time African champions lost 2-4 on penalties to Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 AFCON after a gruelling 120 minutes of football in Rabat ended goalless on Wednesday night. In a game of few clear-cut chances, the Super Eagles, who fired two goals past Algeria in the quarter-final, failed to score for the first…