SportsNews
Nwakali makes EFL debut for Barnsley
Super Eagles midfielder Kelechi Nwakali finally made his debut in the English Football League on Saturday, October 26 as Barnsley registered an impressive 2-0 road win against Shrewsbury Town in a League One clash at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
The 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup winner made his first appearance in the third tier of English football five years after his departure from Premier League giants Arsenal.
After winning the Golden Ball at the U17 World Cup, the Gunners pulled off a massive transfer coup by luring Nwakali to the Emirates Stadium, beating a plethora of clubs to his services.
However, he didn’t make a single appearance for the Londoners due to a work permit obstacle and was shipped out on loan to MVV Maastricht and VVV Venlo in the Netherlands and Portuguese setup Porto before ending his association with the English club in 2019.
Nwakali returned to England in the summer transfer window, joining ambitious League One club Barnsley on a three-year deal, but has failed to break into the starting lineup, with fitness issues holding him back after missing pre-season preparations with the Reds.
Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Nwakali would be returning to the gameday squad for the trip to Shrewsbury Town, after he was left out of the squad for the home game versus Charlton Athletic.
With the outcome of the game all but decided thanks to goals from Jon Russell and Max Watters, Nwakali was handed his League One debut off the bench, replacing Luca Connell in the first minute of stoppage time.
Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi, has admitted they are waiting to see if the team would still play at the 2026 World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is optimistic of a potential lifeline from FIFA, after it submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Iwobi was asked by SuperSport if he would rather lift the AFCON 2025 trophy or qualify for the World Cup?
The 29-year-old, who played at the 2018 of the World Cup, replied: “I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.
“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.
“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Politics
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDOLES WITH SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE OF THE SUPER EAGLES ON THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER
President Bola Tinubu sends his condolences
to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.
The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.
President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.
“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.
I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.
President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
Arsenal’s starting XI to face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday evening has been unveiled.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opted to start Gabriel Jesus ahead of Viktor Gyokeres to lead the Gunners’ attack against the Red Devils.
This comes after Jesus scored a brace against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek.
The Brazilian will be assisted by Bukayo Saka and Leandro on the wings.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard return to join Martin Zubimendi.
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