Sports

The race for the 2026/27 Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot is expected to be fiercely contested, with Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu facing new competition after sharing the last two scoring honours with Eldor Shomurodov. Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, won the 2024/25 Golden Boot after scoring 26 league goals and providing five assists. He finished that season with 37 goals and eight assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. Although he was overtaken last season, when Onuachu and Shomurodov scored 22 league goals each, Osimhen still recorded 22 goals and eight assists in 33 matches for Galatasaray despite an injury-hit campaign. He will now target another Super Lig title and a strong Champions League campaign, with Galatasaray set to open their league season against newly promoted Corum on Friday. Onuachu, who shared last season’s Golden Boot with Shomurodov, will also be looking to retain his scoring crown with Trabzonspor. The Nigerian striker could benefit from the arrival of Mohamed Salah, although the Egyptian is also expected to compete for the scoring award. Salah joined Trabzonspor after nine years at Liverpool, where he scored 257 goals and registered 123 assists in 442 appearances across all competitions. He scored 46 goals and provided 33 assists over his final two seasons in England, making him one of the biggest threats to the established Golden Boot contenders. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku is set to join Fenerbahce and could provide another major challenge. The Belgian striker is moving to Turkey from Napoli, where he scored 15 goals and recorded 11 assists in two seasons. Injuries limited him to just seven appearances in his second campaign. Lukaku will hope to rediscover his best form in Turkey after an impressive World Cup outing with Belgium. With Osimhen, Onuachu, Shomurodov, Salah and Lukaku all in the mix, the 2026/27 Super Lig season promises an intriguing battle for the Golden Boot.

Albanian heavyweight boxer Kristian Prenga has admitted that Anthony Joshua’s punching power was too much to handle during their bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Prenga suffered the first knockdown of his career in the fight after Joshua recovered from being knocked down twice in the opening round and stopped him in the second round. The 35-year-old, who entered the bout with a 20-1 record, said Joshua’s power played a major role in the defeat, noting that he had never previously been knocked down, including during sparring. Prenga had initially stunned Joshua with a right uppercut that floored the British-Nigerian twice in the first round. However, Joshua quickly recovered and ended the contest in the following round. The fight marked a major step up in competition for Prenga, whose biggest victory before facing Joshua came against Joey Dawejko in 2024. After the victory, Joshua dedicated the win to his late friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in a car crash in Nigeria in December. Joshua said the victory was about more than his punching power, describing the late men as his brothers and saying their deaths had been difficult for him and their families.

Super Falcons forward Rinsola Babajide says Nigeria are fully prepared for their crucial 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Cameroon. The defending champions will face the Indomitable Lionesses at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca at 6pm on Sunday, with a place in the semi-finals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake. Nigeria finished second in Group C after a difficult start, while Cameroon topped Group D unbeaten. Babajide said the team understands the importance of the encounter and is ready for the challenge. “We are very excited to face Cameroon. We have played against them a couple of times before; we know their strengths, we are prepared, and ready to face them,” she said. The forward described the match as the biggest game of her career because of the opportunity to secure a World Cup ticket. She added that the team’s priority is to win, whether it is to defend their WAFCON title or secure qualification for the 2027 World Cup. Nigeria are aiming for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title, but must defeat Cameroon to keep their title defence alive. A victory will also guarantee the Super Falcons a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has urged the Spanish club to sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen as the ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski following the veteran forward’s departure to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire. Iniesta believes Osimhen possesses the qualities needed to spearhead Hansi Flick’s attack, especially as Barcelona continue to face difficulties in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who remains the club’s preferred transfer target. Speaking in an interview with NTV Spor, the former Spain international said Barcelona should prioritise signing an out-and-out striker if Ferran Torres leaves the club. According to Iniesta, while youngster Lamine Yamal is an exceptional talent, he should not be deployed as a central striker. He described Osimhen as one of the best options available to replace Lewandowski and recommended that sporting director Deco pursue a deal for the Super Eagles forward. Osimhen’s reputation has continued to grow following another productive campaign with Galatasaray, where he played a key role in the club’s 2025/26 Turkish Super Lig title triumph. Despite missing several matches due to a forearm injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigerian striker recorded 15 league goals and five assists in 22 appearances. The 2023 African Player of the Year also became the fastest player to reach 50 goals for Galatasaray, achieving the milestone in just 59 matches. His performances included a decisive brace against Antalyaspor to secure the league title and a goal in the Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce after returning from injury. However, a move to Barcelona could be complicated by financial considerations. Reports indicate that Osimhen is seeking an annual net salary of around €15 million, a figure that would significantly increase the club’s wage bill under Spain’s tax structure and pose registration challenges under La Liga’s financial regulations. Despite the financial hurdles, the striker is reportedly willing to reduce his salary demands to facilitate a transfer. He had previously shown a similar willingness during discussions with Atletico Madrid, although the Spanish club eventually abandoned the move after deciding not to part with Julian Alvarez. Galatasaray are also expected to demand between €70 million and €75 million for the Nigerian international, who has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for the Super Eagles. While Barcelona continue to monitor the situation, sporting director Deco remains focused on securing Alvarez. The club has already strengthened its attack with the arrivals of Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon but is still searching for a recognised number nine, with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic also under consideration. Meanwhile, Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing Osimhen before the transfer window closes.

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed that the team was determined to give everything on the pitch to avoid consecutive defeats at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), following their crucial victory over Zambia. Nigeria entered the match under immense pressure after suffering a surprising 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening group game. Needing a positive result to keep their title defence alive, the defending champions responded with a disciplined performance to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win. The task became more difficult just before halftime when defender Oluwatosin Demehin received a red card for a foul on Zambia captain Barbra Banda, leaving the Falcons to play with 10 players for the remainder of the match. Despite being a player down, Nigeria held firm after Asisat Oshoala scored the only goal of the encounter in the eighth minute. The team successfully contained Zambia’s dangerous attack, led by Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie produced an impressive performance to preserve the lead. Speaking after the match, Ajibade said the players knew victory was non-negotiable following the opening defeat to Malawi. She explained that the team approached the game with total commitment and determination, believing they had to give everything possible to keep their tournament hopes alive. Ajibade also credited her faith for helping her remain calm after Demehin’s dismissal. She said she trusted God throughout the match and believed the team would overcome the difficult situation despite being reduced to 10 players against one of Africa’s strongest attacking sides. According to the captain, there was never any panic within the squad, as every player remained confident they could protect their lead and secure the much-needed victory. The win has revived Nigeria’s chances of reaching the knockout stage. The Super Falcons will now face Egypt in their final group match, needing at least a draw to book a place in the next round as they continue their quest for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed the state’s readiness to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards following an inspection of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, by a CAF delegation. The five-member CAF team arrived in Nigeria to assess facilities proposed for both the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the annual CAF Awards ceremony. The delegation was led by CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, alongside officials responsible for technology, travel and accommodation, transportation, and branding. The team was received by officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission, led by Director-General Lekan Fatodu, during an inspection of the National Theatre, which has been selected as the venue for the awards ceremony. Speaking after the visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos is fully committed to delivering a world-class event. He noted that the inspection provided valuable feedback, adding that every aspect of the preparation is being carefully handled to ensure a successful hosting. According to the governor, the state is working behind the scenes to meet international standards and showcase Lagos as a capable destination for major sporting events. He expressed confidence that the city would provide an outstanding experience for African football stakeholders and fans. Nigeria has hosted the CAF Awards on four previous occasions, with the last edition taking place in Lagos in January 2015. While Abuja will host the CAF General Assembly on November 21, 2026, Lagos will stage the awards ceremony recognising Africa’s best footballers and other outstanding contributors to the sport. Before arriving in Lagos, the CAF delegation inspected facilities in Abuja, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, which will host delegates attending the General Assembly. The inspection tour is being coordinated by officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), including representatives from the federation’s media, marketing, security, protocol, and information technology departments. Nigeria secured the hosting rights for both CAF events after President Bola Tinubu approved the bid during the Africa Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, following a request from CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan secured the bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, ending her reign as the event’s champion. Amusan, who won back-to-back gold medals at the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Games, was aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive Commonwealth titles in the event. The 29-year-old finished third in the final with a time of 12.60 seconds. The Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton claimed the gold medal after clocking 12.33 seconds, while Megan Simmonds of Jamaica won silver in 12.41 seconds. Earlier in the competition, Amusan had raised hopes of defending her title after producing an impressive performance in the heats, winning her race in a wind-assisted 12.19 seconds. Although the time was not eligible for record purposes because of excessive wind assistance, it was the fastest performance ever recorded at the Commonwealth Games under any conditions. Amusan, however, was unable to reproduce that form in the final as Charlton and Simmonds finished ahead of her. Despite missing out on a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games title, the Nigerian sprint hurdler extended her remarkable record at the Games by securing a third straight podium finish in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Nigeria increased its medal haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Sunday as Ruth Asuquo Nyong claimed silver in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event with a combined lift of 168kg. Nyong began the competition with a 75kg snatch, placing third behind India’s Mirabai Chanu Saikhom, who lifted 85kg, and Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry, who managed 77kg. She bounced back in the clean and jerk, lifting 93kg to finish with a total of 168kg, narrowly edging Henry by one kilogram to secure the silver medal. Saikhom won gold after setting a new Commonwealth Games record with a total lift of 190kg, while Henry claimed bronze with 167kg. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s men’s 3×3 basketball team suffered a 21-16 defeat to hosts Scotland in their fourth group-stage match. The loss leaves the team with a 1-3 record, with their only victory so far coming against Cape Verde in their opening game. With Nyong’s silver medal, Team Nigeria’s tally now stands at three gold and four silver medals as the Games continue in Glasgow, where more Nigerian athletes remain in medal contention.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have retained their 26th position in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings but have dropped to fourth in Africa following Egypt’s impressive run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The rankings, released by FIFA on Monday, show Nigeria unchanged on 1,585.2 points. The Super Eagles remain ahead of Turkey, Australia, Algeria, Canada and Ivory Coast, who occupy 27th to 31st positions respectively. Nigeria have not played a competitive match since June, when Eric Chelle’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in an international friendly. Although their global ranking remains unchanged, the Super Eagles lost their place among Africa’s top three after Egypt advanced to the Round of 16 at the World Cup before losing 3-2 to Argentina. The Pharaohs’ strong tournament performance lifted them above Nigeria in the continental rankings. Morocco remain Africa’s highest-ranked team after reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, climbing one place to sixth in the world. Senegal continue to rank second in Africa despite slipping three places globally, while Algeria remain fifth on the continent after dropping one spot in the world rankings. Despite missing out on the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria remain the second-highest-ranked nation not to qualify for the tournament, behind Denmark, who are 21st in the world. The Super Eagles’ absence from the expanded 48-team competition has continued to draw criticism from football personalities. Former England captain John Terry recently described Nigeria as one of the biggest teams missing from this year’s tournament. Nigeria narrowly missed qualification after finishing second behind South Africa in their CAF qualifying group. They kept their hopes alive by defeating Gabon in the playoff semi-final but were eliminated after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the playoff final. The defeat marked Nigeria’s second consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, having also missed the 2022 edition in Qatar. Following the playoff loss, the Nigeria Football Federation challenged DR Congo’s qualification, alleging the team fielded ineligible players during the campaign. FIFA dismissed the appeal. At the top of the latest rankings, newly crowned world champions Spain reclaimed the No. 1 spot after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina dropped to second, while France, England and Brazil complete the top five. FIFA is scheduled to release its next men’s world rankings on October 7, 2026.