Oyo Sports Update BKUP

The organizers of the Pacesetter Stars Showcase are proud to unveil four of Oyo State’s finest exports set to feature in the highly anticipated event. David Akintola (Hull City, England) returns home alongside Ibadan Apata’s own Afeez Aremu (Aberdeen, Scotland), with both players bringing their wealth of experience and international pedigree back to familiar grounds.

Joining them are two exceptional talents; Taofeek Malomo, former Shooting Stars captain now with Dinamo City, and Saki-born star Sodiq Awujoola of Ceramica Cleopatra FC. With a blend of homegrown excellence and global exposure, the stage is set for yet another thrilling showcase.

Kings Park Rangers FC are wrapped in grief as it mourns the heartbreaking loss of its Nigerian footballer, Saburi Adeniji, fondly known as Ola, who passed away after a devastating brain stem injury.

In honour of his life and in respect for the painful farewell ahead, the club has suspended its upcoming fixture against The Castlemen as preparations begin for his funeral. Ola was more than a player; he was a beloved teammate, a gentle soul in the dressing room, and a devoted husband and father whose love for his family was evident to all who knew him.

Since he was admitted into intensive care on January 15, 2026, the club and football family stood still in hope and prayer. Matches were halted in solidarity, and a GoFundMe campaign was launched to ease the burden on his loved ones, raising over £16,000 to reunite his wife and daughter with him from Nigeria; a testament to how deeply he was loved.

Ola’s passing has left an aching void, and the football community continues to weep, united in sorrow. Tributes have poured in from far and wide, celebrating a talented young footballer whose light shone far beyond the pitch. Though his journey was cruelly cut short, his memory will forever live on in the hearts he touched, the jerseys he wore, and the game he loved.

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‘I want to coach Real Madrid’ – Eric Chelle

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has revealed his long-term ambition to become the first African to manage Spanish giants Real Madrid, describing the goal as a major milestone in his coaching career.

‘Osimhen played AFCON with hamstring injury - Chelle reveals why Super Eagles failed vs Morocco

Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle said that the team’s main striker, Victor Osimhen, played the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a hamstring injury.

Even though the Galatasaray striker had some physical problems during the tournament in Morocco, he still stood out as one of the best players, scoring four goals and providing two assists in six matches.

His outstanding performances earned him a spot in the Confederation of African Football’s Team of the Tournament.

Out of the six games Osimhen played in AFCON 2025, he played the full 90 minutes in two matches, both against North African teams Tunisia and Algeria.

Chelle explained that Nigeria did not perform at their best in the semifinal against Morocco due to a demanding travel schedule.

He also mentioned that Osimhen kept playing despite his injury, and the team’s doctors carefully managed his condition.

“After the game against Algeria, which we played in Marrakesh, we travelled back to Fez, then from Fez we went to Rabat, and we played another match just 48 hours later.

“So we didn’t have a cryotherapy chamber with us to recover,” Chelle said on RMC Sport’s After Foot.

“It’s true that the recovery was really tough. We flew from Marrakesh to Rabat, but at this level, it’s really the small details that matter.

“After two training sessions, some rest after the game, and another training session before the next match, the team felt really tired.”

Nigeria’s main attacking players, Alex Iwobi, Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman, struggled to match their earlier performances in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against the Atlas Lions.

He added, “If you watch the match, Akor looks really tired; he missed a lot of balls. Victor is complicated because people need to know he played in the Africa Cup of Nations while injured.

“He had a small tear in his hamstring, so it was necessary to take care of it.”

Osimhen, who led Nigeria in their games against Uganda and Morocco, did not play in the third-place playoff against Egypt, even though he was included in the team list for that match.