Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu says his team is ready for battle against Argentina, Ekwutosblog  reports.

The seven-time African champions will take on Argentina in a Round of 16 fixture at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Santiago on Wednesday.

The South Americans have an hundred percent record in the competition, having won all their three group games.

Nigeria, on the other hand, managed to escape to the knockout round as one of the best third-placed nations.

Despite the enormity of the task before his team, Zubairu is optimistic they will scale through the hurdle.

“Every game is a new challenge, and we’ll prepare with the same mentality — focus, discipline, and teamwork,” Zubairu said after Nigeria’s qualification was confirmed.

“We respect Argentina, but it’s a challenge that must be overcome.”

Ekwutosblog recalls the Flying Eagles eliminated Argentina in the Round of 16 at the last edition of the competition.

Former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, is set for a return to Rangers.

The Scottish Premiership giants are looking to hire a new coach after sacking Russell Martin.

Martin’s miserable reign ended after just 17 games, following a 1-1 draw with Falkirk.

The result sees Rangers sit in eighth position, with eight points from seven fixtures so far.

Goal reports that Gers could now turn to a familiar face in a bid to get the club back on track.

Gerrard cut his coaching teeth with Rangers in 2018 and led them to the Premiership title in 2020-21 – their only championship win since 2011.

He left in 2021 for Aston Villa. But Gerrard is available now, as he also leave Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January.

Aheated confrontation between Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Besiktas defender Emirhan Topcu overshadowed Saturday’s highly anticipated Istanbul derby, as Galatasaray and Besiktas played to a 1-1 draw at RAMS Park in the eighth week of Türkiye’s Super League.

The incident occurred in the 40th minute when Osimhen went down following a challenge from Topcu on the right flank. When the referee signaled for a throw-in rather than awarding the foul Osimhen expected, tensions erupted between the two players.

Osimhen, visibly agitated, approached Topcu in an aggressive manner before teammates intervened to restore order. The confrontation escalated to include multiple players, with Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok joining the fray. The situation was eventually defused through the efforts of Galatasaray midfielder Orkun Kokcu and other players who stepped in to separate the combatants.

Besiktas supporters arrive in force for away derby

The match drew significant crowd support from both sides, with approximately 1,500 Besiktas supporters making the journey from their home stadium Tupras Stadium to RAMS Park aboard 30 chartered buses. The away fans, who gathered hours before kickoff under heavy security measures, completely filled their designated section of the stadium.

Besiktas had taken an early lead through Tammy Abraham’s 12th-minute strike, but the visitors were unable to maintain their advantage as tensions rose following their goal.

Victor Osimhen (45) of Galatasaray faces off with a player of Besiktas during Turkish Super Lig week 8 football match between Galatasaray and Besiktas at RAMS Park in Istanbul, Türkiye on Oct. 4, 2025. (AA Photo)

Former international criticizes tactical approach and officiating

The 1-1 result extended Besiktas’s unbeaten away record this season, though both of their league defeats have come on the road. The draw lifted Besiktas to 13 points in the league standings.

Former Turkish international and prominent sports commentator Nihat Kahveci criticized the match officials’ handling of the Osimhen-Topcu incident during post-game analysis.

“Why can’t we watch the replay of the Osimhen and Emirhan Topcu situation again? They’re grabbing each other by the throat there, let’s watch the replay,” Kahveci said.

Questions remain over defensive mentality in high-stakes matches

Kahveci also offered pointed criticism of Besiktas’s tactical approach, suggesting the team retreated too defensively despite playing against ten men for a portion of the match.

“I don’t know if coach Sergen wants this or if the players are getting into this mentality psychologically. This happened in the Kocaelispor match too — Besiktas pulled back,” Kahveci said. “Galatasaray played good football with 10 men. Besiktas, in a very strange way, couldn’t make anyone feel that they were playing 11 against 10 — not the Galatasaray team, not us watching, not any spectator in the stands.”

The draw maintains the competitive balance in one of Turkish football’s most storied rivalries, though questions remain about both teams’ tactical approaches in high-stakes matches.