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Nwakali makes EFL debut for Barnsley

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Nwakali

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.

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Court resumes hearing in case involving Anthony Joshua’s driver

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A Magistrate Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun State, has resumed hearing in the case against Adeniyi Kayode, the driver of a Lexus SUV involved in the fatal road crash that claimed the lives of two close associates of heavyweight boxing star, Anthony Joshua.

Kayode, 46, was arraigned before the Sagamu Magistrate Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding.

He is facing a four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention resulting in bodily harm and property damage, as well as driving without a valid national driver’s license.

The charges are said to be contrary to various provisions of the Federal Highway Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Ogun State.

The court had earlier granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties.

The case stems from a tragic accident that occurred on December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where the Lexus SUV reportedly collided with a stationary truck.

The crash led to the deaths of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, both close associates of the former world heavyweight champion.

Joshua and the driver were said to have sustained minor injuries in the incident. The boxer was later discharged from the hospital after being certified medically stable to continue his recovery at home.

Following the tragedy, Joshua, accompanied by his mother, visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay his last respects as arrangements were made to repatriate the bodies of the deceased to the United Kingdom.

Ayodele and Ghami were laid to rest after a funeral prayer held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque, followed by burial at Hendon Cemetery.

Their deaths, particularly Ghami’s as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele’s as his personal trainer and confidant, drew widespread tributes from across the global boxing community.

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Senegal win chaotic AFCON final after Morocco miss penalty and stage walk-off protest

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Senegal 1-0 Morocco (after extra time): Brahim Diaz fluffed a ‘Panenka’ penalty for the chance to win the Africa Cup of Nations, after the Senegal team had stormed off the pitch in protest | By WILL CASTLE

Pape Gueye’s stunning goal in extra time won the Africa Cup of Nations final for Senegal – after hosts Morocco missed the chance to win the trophy for the first time in 50 years as Brahim Diaz fluffed a ‘Panenka’ penalty following a controversial late decision that sparked an extraordinary protest from the Senegal team.

The final in Rabat descended into chaos deep into stoppage time when Morocco were awarded a penalty after a VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala when Diaz went down the box under the challenge of El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal, who had an opening goal disallowed for a soft foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimin moments before, were outraged and the majority of the Senegal team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, stormed off the pitch, leading to a 14-minute delay.

When Senegal were convinced to come back onto the pitch by talisman Sadio Mane, Diaz, with the chance to win a historic Africa Cup of Nations title for the hosts Morocco in the 24th minute of stoppage time, chipped his penalty softly down the middle – resulting in the easiest of saves for goalkeeper Mendy.

The final then went to extra time, where Gueye scored a stunning goal to win Senegal their second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years, in a final that will be remembered as one of the most chaotic international matches of all time.

 

 

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Obodo Village Wins Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s Multimillion Naira Football Competition in Thrilling Penalty Shootout

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Mark Chisom, Owerri— January 15, 2026

Obodo Village has emerged victorious in the highly anticipated Samuel Anyanwu Football Competition, clinching the championship after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Egbelu Village. The match, held today at Amaimo Central School in Ikeduru Local Government Area, ended in a 0-0 draw, setting the stage for the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

After both teams failed to score during regular play, the match proceeded to penalties, where Obodo Village showed exceptional composure to convert five of their attempts, while Egbelu Village could only manage four.

The competition, which began several weeks ago, saw teams from various villages across the community compete for the championship title. The final match was the culmination of months of preparation, with both teams showcasing remarkable skill and sportsmanship.

In his address at the closing ceremony, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the tournament’s sponsor, congratulated both teams for their determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition. “This tournament was not just about winning but about fostering unity and teamwork among our communities,” Senator Anyanwu said. “I am proud of the dedication each team showed, and I look forward to even greater participation in the future.”

Senator Anyanwu also announced plans to sponsor a bigger football competition in December 2026, further emphasizing his commitment to nurturing local talent. Additionally, he promised to sponsor exceptional footballers to modern football academies, offering them the opportunity to develop their skills at a professional level.

Obodo Village’s win has been hailed as a historic achievement for the community, with fans and supporters celebrating their hard-earned victory.

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