Sports reel

Meet “Mama Onome”: Life After the Pitch

Super Falcons legend Onome Ebi, fondly known as “Mama Onome” by her former teammates, is building a career in sports administration, leadership, and coaching following her retirement from professional football.

The 43-year-old Super Falcons' legend ended a remarkable playing career that spanned more than two decades after her final professional stint with Nigeria’s Abia Angels in 2025.

Since retiring, Onome has turned her attention to football governance and grassroots development, with much of her work focused on Nigeria and North America.

As part of her transition into sports leadership, Onome has completed the prestigious FIFA Players Executive Programme, which equips former elite players with knowledge of club management, financial planning and strategic decision-making.

Onome has also obtained a USSF ‘C’ Coaching Licence in the United States, strengthening her qualifications for future coaching and technical roles.

Beyond coaching and administration, the former Nigerian captain is using her platform to promote alternative football disciplines, particularly beach soccer and futsal, while advocating for greater awareness and infrastructure development in Nigeria.

Ebi continues to base much of her executive work between Lagos and Abuja, while travelling internationally for FIFA-backed sports administration assignments.

After making her mark as one of Nigeria’s most experienced women’s footballers, “Mama Onome” is now beginning a new journey as a sports executive and leader away from the pitch.


The Nigeria Football Federation

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026: Host Cities and stadiums

City: Bielsko-Biała
Stadium: Stadion Bielsku-Białej
Capacity: 15,316

City: Katowice
Stadium: Spodek Arena
Capacity: 15,048

Łódź
Stadium: Stadion ŁKS
Capacity: 18,029

City: Sosnowiec
Stadium: Zagłębie Sports Park
Capacity: 11,600

Super Eagles-eligible defender for Chelsea medical

Atalanta youngster Honest Ahanor is set to undergo a medical at Chelsea as he moves closer to completing a high-profile transfer to the Premier League club.

According to a report by SCORENigeria, Chelsea and Atalanta have reportedly reached an agreement worth close to €50 million for the 18-year-old defender, with Ahanor also agreeing personal terms on a long-term contract with the London club.

The highly rated central defender, born in 2008, is leaving Atalanta after just one season.

He joined the Italian club from Genoa in the summer of 2025 and has since attracted significant interest with his performances.

Ahanor remains eligible to represent Nigeria at international level and could potentially become an option for the Super Eagles in the future.

The youngster could spend the 2026/27 season on loan at another club, although Atalanta is currently not considered an option.

His permanent move to Chelsea is scheduled to take effect in June 2027.

Nigerian Winger Sets 20-Goal Target for the Season

Nigerian and Barau FC winger Joseph Atule has set his sights on scoring up to 20 goals in the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

According to a report by The Punch, Atule is available for Barau FC’s opening fixture against Nasarawa United at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano and is aiming to improve on his contribution from last season.

The former Enyimba forward was directly involved in 13 goals during Barau FC’s debut NPFL campaign, scoring eight goals and providing five assists as the Maliya Boys finished eighth.

Reflecting on his ambitions for the new season, Atule said he has challenged himself to reach the 20-goal mark, although he would be satisfied with a significant improvement on his previous tally.

“. . .If I am not going to score 20 goals, it should be a lot of goals. But I am looking at (scoring) 19 to 20 goals. That’s my target,” he told the club’s media.

Atule will hope to turn his personal target into a productive campaign as Barau FC look to build on their impressive first season in the NPFL.

Meet Amber Ogbolu: the Canada-Born Forward in Nigeria’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Squad

Canada-born forward Amber Ogbolu is set to represent Nigeria at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after earning a place in the Falconets’ final squad.

Ogbolu, who plays college football for Oregon State University in the United States, is listed by FIFA as an OSU Beavers player and stands at 1.7m tall.

Born and raised in Canada to Nigerian parents, she will now have the opportunity to represent her parents’ country on one of the biggest stages of her young career.

Her football journey began in Canada, where she attended Mother Margaret Mary High School and developed her skills from an early age before making a name for herself at Gillette College.

During her freshman season at Gillette College, Ogbolu scored 23 goals in 14 appearances and finished with 51 points, a tally that ranked second nationally and topped the scoring charts in Region IX.

Her impressive campaign earned her several individual honours, including Region IX Player of the Year, Region IX Offensive Player of the Year, and Region IX Freshman of the Year.

She was also named to the 2025 NJCAA Division I Region 9 First Team All-Region.

Ogbolu’s development has been closely guided by coach and mentor Marni Moses, who began working with her when she was eight.

Moses has helped shape not only her technical ability but also her confidence, discipline, resilience, and competitive mentality.

Away from the pitch, Ogbolu is an ambassador for GROW Women Leaders, where she mentors and coaches young people while encouraging them to pursue their ambitions with confidence and determination.

Now in Poland with the Falconets, Ogbolu will look to build on her impressive rise as she takes another major step in her young football career with Nigeria.

Kelechi Iheanacho Inspires Club's Comeback Victory

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho continued his fine form for Bursaspor on Saturday, scoring one goal and setting up another as they came from behind to beat Kayserispor 2-1 in the Trendyol 1. Lig.

According to a report by Daily Post, Kayserispor took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Florent Hasani converted from the penalty spot. The hosts held on to their advantage until half-time.

Bursaspor responded strongly after the break, with Iheanacho levelling the score from another penalty two minutes before the hour mark.

The Nigerian forward then turned provider in the 77th minute, setting up Alperen Babacan to complete Bursaspor’s comeback and secure all three points.

Iheanacho was substituted for Lewis Baker in the 87th minute.

The 29-year-old has now recorded four goals and two assists in his first four league appearances for Bursaspor.

His current form could boost his chances of earning a recall to the Super Eagles, with head coach Eric Chelle expected to name his squad for Nigeria’s September AFCON qualifiers in Uyo.


Nigeria Super Eagles

Victor Osimhen Scores Again For Club

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen continued his impressive start to the season by scoring again for Galatasaray in their 3-2 victory over Goztepe at Rams Park on Saturday night.

Osimhen converted from the penalty spot to score for the third consecutive league game, helping Galatasaray secure another important victory in a closely contested encounter.

The Nigeria international was a constant threat throughout the match, registering eight shots and providing one assist as Galatasaray held on for all three points.

His latest goal takes his tally to five goals in three league appearances this season. Osimhen has also found the net in every game he has played for the Turkish champions this campaign.

The victory moved Galatasaray to the top of the league table with seven points from their opening three matches.

Osimhen will now hope to maintain his scoring form when he links up with the Super Eagles for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.


Nigeria Super Eagles

Victor Osimhen's Early Life: What You Don't Know About the Super Eagles' Star

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen’s rise to football stardom began in the challenging surroundings of Olusosun in Lagos, where he grew up facing poverty and hardship.

Born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Osimhen was the youngest of seven children.

His parents, Elder Patrick Osimhen and Christiana Osimhen, hailed from Esan South Local Government Area of Edo State.

Osimhen lost his mother a few years after his birth, while his father died in 2020 at the age of 80.

Following his mother’s death and his father’s loss of employment, the young Osimhen helped his family by selling sachet water, popularly known as pure water, and other items in Lagos traffic.

Raised in Olusosun, a densely populated community located near one of Lagos’ largest landfills, Osimhen found football as an escape from the difficulties surrounding his childhood.

He developed a passion for the game at an early age, regularly playing barefoot on the streets with improvised balls.

His ability soon became noticeable during his time at Olusosun Primary School.

His talent later earned him a place at Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos, where he continued to develop before attracting the attention of national team scouts.

Osimhen’s major breakthrough came in 2015 when he represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

He finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 10 goals and played a key role in helping Nigeria win the title.

The Galatasaray striker has previously revealed that former Ivory Coast and Chelsea star Didier Drogba was his childhood idol and one of his biggest inspirations in football.

Amaju Pinnick Names Three Nigerians He Says Were Responsible for Adidas, Puma Dumping Nigeria

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the actions of three Nigerians contributed to sportswear giants Adidas and Puma ending their commercial relationships with Nigerian football.

According to a report by The Punch, Pinnick made the disclosure in the latest episode of The Pinnick Tapes (Remastered): NFF Scandals EXposed, published on Friday on Sunday Oliseh’s YouTube channel, Global Football Insights With Oliseh.

Reflecting on the challenges he encountered after becoming NFF president, Pinnick said Adidas had informed the federation of its intention to end its relationship with Nigeria only weeks or months after he assumed office.

He said he travelled to Zurich to meet the company’s president in an effort to persuade Adidas to reconsider its decision, but his efforts proved unsuccessful.

“I was utterly flabbergasted when I got the letter from Adidas. A few weeks or a few months into my being NFF president, they were leaving,” Pinnick said.

According to him, he later discovered that several issues had influenced Adidas’ decision, although he declined to disclose the details publicly because he would rather not indict anyone.

Pinnick said he then attempted to build a partnership with Puma but initially faced resistance from a senior executive of the sportswear company.

He recalled that the executive eventually agreed to meet him and narrated an alleged incident involving three Nigerians who had visited his home on Christmas Day.

According to Pinnick, the men told the executive they could abandon an existing contract with Adidas but attached certain demands to the proposal.

“He told me a story about how three Nigerians came to his house on a Christmas Day to tell him, ‘We can jettison the contract we have with Adidas, but this is what we wanted.’”

Pinnick said the incident reportedly convinced the Puma executive to sever ties with Nigeria and blacklist the country.

“He made up his mind never ever to have anything to do with Nigeria. He blacklisted Nigeria,” Pinnick added.

Pinnick did not reveal the identities of the three Nigerians or disclose the specific demands they allegedly made.

There’s no way I would have apologized to Keshi— Pinnick

Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has dismissed suggestions that his administration played a role in the decline of the late Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

According to a report by The Punch, Pinnick made the statement during the latest episode of The Pinnick Tapes (REMASTERED): NFF Scandals EXposed, published on Friday on Sunday Oliseh’s YouTube channel, Global Football Insights With Oliseh.

Responding to a question about whether the NFF’s relationship with Keshi in the latter years of his tenure contributed to the decline of Nigeria’s golden era, Pinnick said he had no reason to apologize to the former Nigeria captain.

Keshi guided Nigeria to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title and also led the Super Eagles to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Asked what he would say sorry for if he had the opportunity to meet Keshi today, Pinnick was unequivocal in his response.

“There’s no way I would have apologized to Keshi. Keshi, God rest his soul, he was an icon,” Pinnick said.

The former NFF president also maintained that his relationship with Keshi remained cordial until the coach’s death in 2016.