Sports

Aubameyang Banned As Gabon Government Suspends National Team After AFCON Exit

Published

8 months ago

January 3, 2026

Gabon’s Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, has announced sweeping sanctions following the national team’s poor outing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), including the suspension of the entire squad, the dismissal of the coaching crew, and the banning of senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.

The decision came after Gabon suffered a dramatic 3–2 defeat to the defending champions, the Ivory Coast national football team, on Wednesday, with Bazoumana Toure scoring the injury-time winner. The loss sealed Gabon’s third defeat in as many Group F matches, leaving the Panthers bottom of the group behind Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique.

“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the AFCON, the government has decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and remove players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said during a televised address late Wednesday.

The video of the announcement was briefly taken down from official platforms hours after airing before being reposted on Thursday.

Gabon’s AFCON campaign had already come under review by the Council of Ministers following Sunday’s 3–2 loss to 102nd-ranked Mozambique, a result that confirmed the team’s failure to reach the knockout stage. Aubameyang subsequently returned to his French club, Marseille, citing a thigh injury.

Reacting to the situation, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema described the team’s showing as damaging to the country’s image. “This has weakened part of our national identity,” he said in an official statement released on Wednesday. He added that the national team’s struggles revealed “a lack of method and the dispersion of resources,” and promised “strong and structural decisions” to restore discipline and ambition in sports governance.

However, the government’s intervention could attract sanctions from FIFA, which prohibits state interference in the management of its member football associations.

Sports

Turkey: Osimhen Climbs To Third On Galatasaray’s All-Time Foreign Scorers List

Published

1 day ago

August 22, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Victor Osimhen has moved into third place on Galatasaray’s list of all-time highest-scoring foreign players, Dailyvoice.ng reports. Osimhen achieved the milestone after scoring twice in Okan Buruk’s side’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Erzurum FK on Friday night.

The brace took the Nigeria international’s tally for the Turkish champions to 62 goals, moving him past former Czech Republic striker Milan Baros, who scored 61 times during his spell with the club.

Osimhen has now registered an impressive 62 goals and 16 assists in 76 appearances for the Yellow and Reds.

The 27-year-old now trails only Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, who has scored 77 goals, and Galatasaray legend Gheorghe Hagi, who occupies second spot with 72 goals.

The former Lille forward also reached another notable milestone with his brace against Erzurum FK.

Osimhen became the first Galatasaray player since Brazilian striker Mario Jardel in the 2000/01 campaign to score at least four goals in the opening two matches of a Süper Lig season.

The Super Eagles star has enjoyed a blistering start to the new campaign, registering four goals and one assist in Galatasaray’s first two league matches.

Sports

Ronaldo Scores 977th Career Goals, 130 For Al Nassr

Published

1 day ago

August 22, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored his 977th career goal following his return to action for Al Nassr on Friday.

The Portuguese player and captain has now netted his 130th goal for Al Nassr in all competitions since joining the Saudi Arabian club in December 2022.

Naija News reports that Ronaldo, who came off the bench, pushed Al Nassr’s dominance further after netting the 4th goal of the match in the 83rd minute following a brilliant assist from Yahya.

It is worth noting that Ronaldo had been starting off from the bench in Al Nassr’s previous matches. He watched from the stands when his side defeated Al Fateh on Saturday.

For Friday’s match, Al Nassr scored the opening goal in the 18th minute when Al Amri found the net, giving the away side an early advantage.

Angelo scored the 2nd goal in the 46th minute before Joao Felix turned the scoreboard to 3-0 in the 58th minute.

Ronaldo cemented the victory in the 83rd minute.

In other news, former Barcelona star Ronaldinho has announced his return to football at age 46.

Naija News recalls that the now 46-year-old, born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, retired from professional football in 2015.

However, on Thursday, he announced he is back with a target to score his ‘300th career goal’ for his new club, Ravenna, which plays in the Italian third division.

Ronaldinho won the World Cup for Brazil in 2002 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005. Before retirement, he last played a match in September 2015 with Brazilian club Fluminense.

Yesterday, Ronaldinho said he was happy to be back in football again.

Sports

Serie A Star Opens Up On Failed Transfer To Man United

Published

3 days ago

August 20, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Ederson has explained why his proposed move to Manchester United fell through this summer.

The Brazilian looked set to become Michael Carrick’s frst summer signing as the Red Devils’ permanent boss, but a long transfer saga ultimately ended in disappointment for the Brazilian, who did not get his switch to the Premier League.

The midfielder, 27, was reported to have failed a medical at Old Trafford, with the United doctors thought to have had doubts over his fitness levels.

As a result, it caused the English side to pull the plug on the £35million deal that they had struck with Atalanta back in June.

The transfer looked as though it would happen after the World Cup, with Ederson included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

He played a bit-part role in the Selecao’s run to the last 16, where they were defeated 2-1 by Erling Haaland and Norway.

Now, Ederson has broken his silence ahead of the new Serie A season, having signed a new deal at Atalanta.

His previous contract had just a year left to run, hence United managing to snag a cut price.

“I honestly don’t know what happened. I always had interest from other clubs, and I could’ve gone to another English side,” he told reporters (via The Standard).

“The tests went well, I don’t know what changed. I’ve been with Atalanta for four years and always played.

“I could’ve just waited to see what happened, but the great rapport with the club convinced me to stay and sign a new contract.

“I am very happy to remain with Atalanta, I really thank the club and [club CEO] Luca Percassi.

United have since turned their attentions to other midfield targets, bringing in the likes of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans for £35m.

Standard Sport reported early on Wednesday that the Red Devils were set to strike a deal worth £65m to bring long-term target Carlos Baleba to Old Trafford from Brighton and Hove Albion, with personal terms already agreed with the Cameroon international.