Sports

Don’t Rely Too Much On Osimhen, Babangida Tells Chelle

Published

2 months ago

December 11, 2025

Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida has warned Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle against building the team solely around forward Victor Osimhen ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Babangida expressed concern over Nigeria’s over-dependence on the Galatasaray striker, particularly after the team’s struggles when Osimhen was substituted at half-time during the 2026 World Cup play-off defeat to DRCongo.

“It is dangerous that it appears that the Super Eagles are built around Victor Osimhen. It was when Osimhen was removed at the beginning of the second half against Congo that the team started to struggle. That is very bad,” Babangida told Tribal Football.

The former winger emphasised that the Super Eagles of his era were not dependent on a single player and urged Chelle to address the issue before the tournament.

“The Super Eagles of my time were not built around one player. Many people have observed that the Super Eagles are built around Osimhen. This is a problem that Eric Chelle must fix if the team wants to win the AFCON,” he said.

“Chelle must impart this mentality to all the players, the attackers especially, that the team is not built around Osimhen. Any player given the nod to feature in any game must perform very well and play as a team.”

Babangida stressed that while a fully fit Osimhen is valuable, the team must maintain high morale regardless of his availability.

“We need a fully fit Osimhen, but we also need fully mentally prepared players who know that with or without Osimhen, Super Eagles can win. Morale should be high in the team whether Osimhen is there or not,” he added.

“Super Eagles should not be in a mess if Osimhen is injured. Chelle must address this issue because injury is part of the game. Osimhen’s absence in any game should not be the end of the world for Super Eagles.”

Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia as they chase a fourth AFCON title.

Sports

Transfer: Aribo seals loan move to Leicester City

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Leicester City have confirmed the loan signing of Joe Aribo from Southampton, DAILY POST reports. The move, according to the Foxes, is subject to league approval.

Aribo endured a difficult first half of the season at Southampton, making just seven league appearances, all as a substitute. The Nigeria international is not expected to return to the Saints, with his contract set to expire this summer.

The 29-year-old made 111 appearances for Southampton across four seasons in the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship.

Aribo will now link up with his new teammates as Leicester prepare for their upcoming Sky Bet Championship fixture away at Birmingham City on Saturday.

Sports

Transfer: Cristiano Ronaldo blocks moves for Benzema, Kante

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, boycotting Saudi Pro League games has led to several transfers being held up.

As it stands, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Youssef En-Nesyri cannot join new teams.

The potential move of Benzema to Al-Hilal was set to trigger a domino effect, which would have seen Kanté move to Fenerbahçe and En-Nesyri sign for Al-Ittihad. However, Ronaldo is opposed to it, believing the transfers would harm the balance and fair competition of the league.

His frustration comes from the fact that Prince Al Waleed, the outright to-be owner of Al Hilal in the summer — unlike Al Nassr, which is under PIF governance— can use his own personal funds to finalize transfers.

Sports

EPL: Late Fernandez Strike Gives Chelsea Comeback Win Against West Ham

Published

4 days ago

January 31, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner capped Chelsea’s thrilling fightback from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in a dramatic London derby on Saturday.

Liam Rosenior’s side trailed to first-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea ignored the half-time jeers from their angry fans, staging a brilliant revival after the break. Joao Pedro reduced the deficit before Marc Cucurella headed the equaliser.

For the first time in the Premier League era, Chelsea came from two down at half-time to win thanks to their captain as Fernandez netted in stoppage-time. West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off for violent conduct after tempers boiled over in the final seconds.

In what Rosenior had labelled Chelsea’s “biggest match of the season”, the Blues showed their character in memorable fashion. They climbed to fourth in the Premier League as Rosenior became only the fourth English manager to win his first three Premier League games after Bobby Gould, Sam Allardyce and Craig Shakespeare.

Rosenior has overseen six wins from seven games in all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca. The highlight of Rosenior’s impressive start had come on Wednesday when the Blues fought back from 2-1 down to beat Napoli 3-2 in Italy, securing a place in the Champions League last 16.

But this was arguably even more eye-catching than that success, given how Rosenior turned the tide after Chelsea’s wretched first half. Rosenior will bid to work another miracle on Tuesday when Chelsea look to overturn a 3-2 deficit in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Premier League leaders Arsenal.

– From boos to bedlam –

He made seven changes after the victory in Naples, with Cole Palmer back in the starting line-up after starring from the bench in midweek. Chelsea looked out of sync following the reshuffle and West Ham took advantage to go ahead in the seventh minute.

Bowen wriggled into space on the edge of the penalty area before curling in a cross that eluded the out-stretched boot of West Ham striker Pablo and caught Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez flat-footed as it drifted into the far corner. Rosenior suffered another blow when winger Jamie Gittens limped off injured after a challenge with Summerville.

Summerville inflicted more pain on Chelsea in the 36th minute.

In a flowing move from West Ham as Bowen picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka and his cross was perfectly weighted for Summerville to thump a superb finish past Sanchez from 12 yards. Alejandro Garnacho’s dismal display drew the ire of angry Chelsea fans and the Argentine winger was put out of his misery as Rosenior took him off at half-time.

Rosenior also removed Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato, but Sanchez had to save a fierce blast from Mateus Fernandes after the restart.