Nigeria’s national football team extended their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 journey with an emphatic 4–0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16 on Monday, 5 January 2026, but it was a dramatic off-ball moment involving Super Eagles stars Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen that dominated headlines post-match. 

Super Eagles Triumph, but Tempers Flare in Morocco

In Fès, the Super Eagles looked every bit the dominant force on a historic night that saw Nigeria’s forwards dismantle Mozambique’s defence.

Ademola Lookman opened the scoring and set up both of Victor Osimhen’s goals,

while Akor Adams added the fourth to seal qualification to the AFCON quarter-finals. 

However, the celebration was tempered by a heated exchange between Lookman and Osimhen in the second half.

With Nigeria comfortably ahead, the altercation unfolded after Osimhen appeared frustrated at not receiving a pass while in a promising attacking position.

According to reports, Osimhen confronted Lookman on the field reportedly telling him “it’s a team game”

and further prompting captain Wilfred Ndidi and even a Mozambique player to intervene. 

Shortly after the incident, the striker asked to be substituted and was replaced by Moses Simon, ending his night early.

Osimhen then drew further attention when he walked off the pitch directly to the dressing room, bypassing post-match celebrations and media obligations.

Lookman Downplays Rift, Calls Osimhen ‘Brother’

In the post-match press conference, Ademola Lookman calmly addressed the much-discussed clash,

dismissing any suggestion of internal discord within the squad.

“No, I’ve not seen him, but I don’t really think that’s really important the team won 4–0,” Lookman told reporters when asked about Osimhen’s outburst. 

The Atalanta winger went on to describe his striking partner as “our number one guy… a top striker, top player,”

insisting that “there are no issues between me and Victor. It’s just football. He is my brother.” 

Lookman also echoed the thoughts of captain Ndidi, who characterised the flare-up as a product of intense will to win

rather than fractured team harmony, and head coach Eric Chelle, who stated that such matters would be handled internally. 

Fan and Pundit Reaction: Passion vs Professionalism

While Nigerian fans celebrated the 4–0 win and progression to the AFCON quarter-finals, reactions to Osimhen’s behaviour have been mixed.

Some supporters took to social media expressing disappointment at the striker’s reaction,

especially given that he already had two goals in the match and that Lookman had provided key chances.

Others argued that emotion is part of football, particularly in high-stakes knockout games.

Analysts are now debating whether such on-field tension reflects competitive passion

or a need for better emotional control among Nigeria’s star players.

Nigeria national football team produced a commanding performance on Monday, 5 January 2026, beating Mozambique 4–0 in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 clash in Fès, Morocco.

The emphatic victory sends the Super Eagles into the quarter-finals and underlines Nigeria’s growing momentum in the continental tournament.

Nigeria Cruise into Quarter-Finals with Dominant Victory over Mozambique

From the outset, the Super Eagles stamped their authority on the match, taking an early lead through Ademola Lookman before star striker Victor Osimhen doubled the advantage prior to halftime. In the second half, Osimhen struck again before Akor Adams added the fourth, cementing a comprehensive victory that showcased Nigeria’s attacking firepower. 

The win capped off a superb night for Nigeria’s forwards, with Lookman not only opening the scoring but also playing a key creative role throughout, while Osimhen proved lethal in front of goal with his brace. Adams’ goal added further gloss to an already dominant performance.

Nigeria Vs Mozambique; Super Eagles’ Offensive Brilliance on Full Display

Nigeria attacking play was both cohesive and relentless. Lookman’s early opener unsettled Mozambique, and Osimhen’s clinical finishing punished any defensive hesitation. The Super Eagles controlled possession for long spells and carved out several other chances, illustrating their technical superiority.

By the final whistle, Nigeria had put on display a blend of experience and youthful energy that has characterised their AFCON campaign thus far. 

Mozambique’s Historic AFCON Run Ends

For Mozambique, this tournament marked a milestone as the team reached the knockout stages for the first time in its history. While their underdog run captured hearts, the gulf in quality was evident against a more seasoned Nigerian side. The Mambas will leave the competition with valuable experience after a spirited performance through the group phase. 

Nigeria Now Look to the Quarter-Finals

With this decisive victory, Nigeria advances to the AFCON quarter-finals, where they will face either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Super Eagles’ attacking confidence and tactical discipline will be key as they pursue their fourth continental title. 

Furthermore, Fans will be hoping that Nigeria can maintain this level of form as they move deeper into the knockout stages of Africa’s premier football tournament. 

Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United, bringing an abrupt end to his 14-month stint at the helm of one of Europe’s most famous football clubs.

The decision was confirmed by the club on Monday, 5 January 2026, just less than 24 hours after United’s 1–1 draw with Leeds United,

a match that became the final chapter in his turbulent tenure. 

A Tumultuous Tenure Comes to an End

Amorim was appointed head coach of Manchester United in November 2024, succeeding Erik ten Hag and inheriting a squad hungry for stability and success.

His arrival was met with a blend of optimism and skepticism given his relatively limited experience outside Portuguese football before taking the Old Trafford job.

However, his time in charge was marked by underwhelming results, tactical rigidity, and growing tension with the club hierarchy.

United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, their lowest-ever finish in the competition,

and further suffered defeat in the Europa League final, a campaign that brought more frustration than hope. 

This season failed to provide a marked turnaround. United currently sit sixth in the league,

but inconsistent form and a win rate of little more than 30 percent in the Premier League

ultimately failed to convince the board that Amorim was the right long-term leader. 

Pressure For Amorim Behind the Scenes

Sources reveal that Amorim’s press conference following the Leeds draw where he openly criticised elements of the club’s structure

and insisted he saw himself as “manager, not the coach” played a significant role in the breakdown of trust with key figures,

including director of football Jason Wilcox. 

Despite reports that United insisted the decision was about a lack of progress and evolution,

internal disagreements over tactics and transfer policy are widely believed to have contributed. 

Who’s in Charge Now?

With United already preparing for their next Premier League match against Burnley on Wednesday,

former club midfielder and current under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has been appointed interim manager while the search for a permanent successor begins. 

For a club with a rich managerial lineage and soaring ambitions, Amorim’s departure represents yet another chapter

in Manchester United’s ongoing quest to restore stability and success at the top of English and European football.

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has written his name into the history books by becoming Nigeria’s all-time leader in Premier League appearances.

The Fulham star reached this remarkable milestone on October 18, 2025,

when he played against his former club, Arsenal, marking his 299th appearance in England’s top-flight division.

This achievement surpasses the previous record of 298 appearances held by Shola Ameobi.

Iwobi’s journey began at Arsenal’s academy, where he rose through the ranks before making his senior debut under Arsène Wenger.

After several productive seasons with the Gunners, he moved to Everton in 2019 and later joined Fulham in 2023.

Over the years, the 28-year-old has earned a reputation for his versatility, work ethic, and consistency

qualities that have kept him relevant in one of the world’s most competitive football leagues.

The fact that this milestone came against Arsenal, the club that gave him his start, made the moment even more special.

Beyond personal achievement, Iwobi’s record is a testament to endurance and professionalism.

In a league known for its intensity, maintaining form and fitness across nearly 300 matches speaks volumes of his dedication.

His accomplishment also serves as inspiration to younger Nigerian players who aspire to succeed in Europe’s elite competitions.

Fans and football analysts have also praised his adaptability,

noting how he has evolved from a promising winger into a reliable midfielder who contributes both defensively and offensively.

At 28, Alex Iwobi still has several years of top-level football ahead of him, and his record is expected to grow even further.

With continued form at Fulham and his ongoing contributions to the Nigerian national team, Alex Iwobi stands as a shining example of longevity and excellence in modern football.

His achievement not only celebrates personal success but also highlights Nigeria’s growing legacy in world football.

Brown Ideye, a former Super Eagles striker and Africa Cup of Nations champion, has criticised Enyimba of the Nigerian Premier Football League

for what he called subpar welfare and irregular incentive payments during his brief time there.

The 36-year-old veteran, who joined Enyimba in December 2024, revealed his profound dissatisfaction with the way players are treated,

especially with regard to daily allowances and match bonuses, in an interview with the Bet9ja Home Turf podcast.

According to Ideye, players at Enyimba are paid as little as N7,000 or N8,000 per day during away matches, with no fixed rate or structured allowance plan in place.

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“At Enyimba, we were receiving N7,000 a day. Sometimes N8,000. It’s not even stable. One day it’s N7k, another day N8k,” Ideye said.

He explained that the amount is typically sent to the team captain, who then distributes it to players during trips for away games. The payments, he said, do not cover meals or essentials.

“If we had a game on Sunday and travelled on Friday, they’d pay N7,000 for Friday and Saturday, but on match day, Sunday, you’re on your own. No allowance.”

Brown Ideye Continues To Drag Enyimba Over Poor Treatment Of Players

The former Olympiacos and Dynamo Kyiv forward, who also played in England for West Bromwich Albion, said the situation is further compounded by Enyimba’s practice of delaying match bonuses until the end of the season, instead of paying them after each game or monthly.

“The worst part is you don’t get your match bonus weekly or monthly. They accumulate it and give you at the end of the season,” he lamented.

Ideye revealed that even the match bonuses were irregular and subject to arbitrary decisions by club officials.

“It depends on what the captain, chairman or director agree on before the season. There is no fixed structure. If it’s a game they really want to win, they may raise it to N30k or N40k. But on average, it’s N15k, sometimes N10k.”

He also noted that players who are not selected for matches receive even less, around N5,000, as a token bonus.

The striker, who helped Nigeria lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and has played in top-flight leagues across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, criticised the systemic issues in Nigerian club football and called for improved standards in player welfare.

“When I got there, that’s what I met on ground. I couldn’t believe it,” he added.

Brown ideye has also reacted to comments that He is rich and shouldn’t be asking Enyimba for money

“Because I get money, I should not ask for the one I worked for? Please pay me and the players last season’s match bonuses. @EnyimbaFC, the season ended in May, till now nothing. Next season will start next month,” Ideye wrote.

A complete deal has been struck between Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, and Napoli for the permanent signing of Victor Osimhen.

With 37 goals and eight assists in 41 games during his 2024–2025 loan, the Nigerian striker made an impression

and will now be a permanent member of Okan Buruk’s team.

Osimhen has a €75 million release clause that Galatasaray will pay, with €40 million up front and the rest €35 million due at the end of 2026.

Napoli will also keep its 10% sell-on clause and get bonuses totalling €5 million.

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An “anti-Serie A clause” in the contract prohibits Osimhen from signing a contract with a direct Serie A opponent for the next two years.

Fans Excited As Osimhen Gets To Spend The Next 2yrs With Turkish Club, Galatasaray

Osimhen will now continue where he left off with Galatasaray during his loan-spell last season,

where the Nigerian star striker flourished as he scored 26 goals and 5 assists in the Turkish Super League.

Meanwhile, recall that there have been back and forth between Osimhen and his former team, Napoli

Which lead to the player being benched frequently while still with Napoli

One thing that could be pointed to have caused  the fall out was racial discrimination, and constant blame on Osimhen anything the team lost

Although there reportedly were other reasons as to why the club treated the Nigerian player poorly

With just 2yrs left in his deal with Napoli, we can say it ended well for Osimhen, as he gets to play in where he is loved and heavily celebrated.

Although we hear that it’s always been the Player’s wish to play for an European club,

we guess that dream will be on hold for now, Atleast for the next 2yrs

Congratulations to Osimhen and the thousands of Galatasaray fans.

We look forward to another great season

Former Super Eagles coach Monday Sinclair has passed on at the age of 88.

In a short message circulated via social media, the Sinclair family said he died on July 17th.

“With total submission to the will of God, the Sinclair family announces the passing of our father, Coach Monday Sinclair, who passed away at about 3:15 p.m. this afternoon. We pray that God grants his soul eternal life,” Monday Sinclair family stated.

Sinclair, a respected figure in Nigerian football circles, is remembered both for his exploits on the pitch in the 1960s and his contributions on the sidelines as a coach and grassroots developer of talent.

Born in the pre-independence era, Sinclair made his debut for the Nigerian national team on February 27, 1963, during a Kwame Nkrumah Cup clash in Accra. In the match, the Green Eagles (as they were then called) suffered a 4–0 defeat to Senegal.

Despite the heavy loss, Sinclair would go on to become one of the key players in Nigeria’s football development during the formative years of international competition.

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He returned to the national spotlight decades later when he was appointed interim coach of the Super Eagles in 1997 following the departure of French tactician Philippe Troussier.

Though his tenure was short-lived and low-profile, Sinclair led the team through friendly matches in Tunisia and Zambia, with striker Kenneth Zeigbo emerging as a standout performer under his guidance.

Beyond the national team, Sinclair was revered as a grassroots coach and a relentless talent scout. His coaching philosophy emphasized free-flowing football and player development—an approach that saw him nurture several stars who would later shine in both domestic and international arenas.

Tributes have continued to pour in across social media and from football administrators, former players, and fans who remember Sinclair as a passionate mentor, a football purist, and a quiet but effective force in Nigeria’s football history.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and media officer Idah Peterside said Sinclair was the exponent of Jogo bonito football in Nigeria.

Peterside, in his tribute, recalled that Sinclair gave him his first professional break at the now-defunct Sharks FC of Port Harcourt—a gesture he said launched Peterside’s journey to national prominence.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by his family in the coming days.

On Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chelsea shocked everyone by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final.

And Cole Palmer, the hero of the Blues, was the driving force behind the English Premier League team’s second Club World Cup championship in its illustrious history—the first since 2021.

Palmer netted an early brace with two almost identical goals just eight minutes apart midway through the first half.

To the joy of Chelsea supporters who were searching for a way to cool off, the 23-year-old performed his trademark “cold” celebration at MetLife Stadium in the New Jersey heat.

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With the exception of their 1-0 loss to Botafogo in the group stage, which was their lone defeat of the competition going into the final,

it had seemed as though European champions PSG had almost controlled the CWC.

However, as the day went on Sunday, the French side’s situation deteriorated more.

João Pedro then scored his third goal of the competition in the 43rd minute

while making his second appearance for the Blues following a move from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Chelsea further maintained their effort throughout the second half, holding PSG in check as they easily won, despite a slowdown in goal scoring.

The Club World Cup Champions, Chelsea Celebrates Defeat Over PSG In a 3-0 Win!

Meanwhile, João Neves, a midfielder, was sent off for yanking Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella’s hair,

leaving Les Parisiens with ten players for the end of the game.

Chelsea players in ‘World Champions’ and number 25 uniforms hurried onto the pitch to celebrate the trophy when the referee blew the whistle for full time.

The CWC victory caps off an impressive season for the London-based club, who takes home its second trophy of the season.

The Blues clinched UEFA Champions League berth for next season after finishing fourth in the EPL

and a 4-1 win over LaLiga side Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final in May.

Cole Palmer also finishes the season with an impressive 18 goals just two years after joining the club from Manchester City.

The forward called it a “great feeling” to win the tournament, while commending Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca for his leadership.

“The gaffer put a great game plan out,” Palmer told FIFA after the game. “He knew where there would space and tried to free me up as much as possible.

I just had to repay him and score some goals. He [Maresca] is building something special. I feel we’re going in the right direction.“

The Italian 45-year-old Maresca, who joined the Blues from Leiceister City this season, gave credit to his players for the win.

“I have no words for the players,” Maresca said. “For me, we won the game in the first ten minutes. We set the tempo, we knew the way we wanted to play.

Today we found a position for Cole [Palmer] where there was more space to attack. The effort from all the players has been fantastic.”

Big big congratulations to Chelsea and all her fans! This was a win of the century

For tax violation, a Spanish court has sentenced Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti to a year in prison; however, he will not be imprisoned.

The former manager of Chelsea and Everton was charged with not paying 1 million euros (£830,000) in taxes on his wages

during his first stint as Real Madrid’s manager, which lasted from 2013 to 2015.

He must now pay a fine of 386,361.93 euros (£333,045.92), but he will not be imprisoned.

Recall that 66-year-old Carlos Ancelotti left Real Madrid at the close of the last campaign to take the Brazil position.

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Under Spanish law, any sentence under two years for a non-violent crime

rarely requires a defendant without previous convictions to serve jail time.

Earlier this year, Ancelotti said he “never thought about committing fraud” as he testified in court.

Ancelotti said he was offered a net salary of 6m euros (£5.1m) by Real

and that he left the structure of it to his financial advisers.

“I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had [done the same],” he said.

Star footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo have come under heavy criticism after He missed Diogo Jota’s burial due of personal reasons

With the video of him vacationing in a Yatch with his partner, it seems like his reasons for not showing up are indeed personal

Jota, 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, 25, were k!lled when their car crashed last week in northern Spain.

The pair were laid to rest at Gondomar cemetery in Portugal on Saturday afternoon,

with many of Jota’s Portuguese international team-mates paying their respects to the forward.

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However, the Portugal captain was not one of them, and it’s believed that he decided not to go to the funeral

due to previous tragedies that he has suffered in his life.

However, A day after the Diogo Jota’s funeral, Cristiano Ronaldo was pictured holidaying on a yacht in Mallorca with Georgina Rodriguez.

The 40-year-old was on the yacht when many anticipated him to fly to Gondomar,

a municipality close to Porto, according to Portuguese media.

The Portuguese publication Record also claims that Ronaldo might have chosen not to go

because of the sensitive nature of his father’s death, Jose Diniz Aveiro,

who passed away in September 2005 when Ronaldo was only 20 years old.

Possible Reason Why Cristiano Ronaldo Didn’t Attend Diogo Jota’s Funeral

Ronaldo was shocked to hear of Jota’s passing, but it is said that he did not make the journey

as he did not wish for his presence to overshadow the importance of people paying their respects to Jota and his brother.

See Photos from his Yatch vacation below:

Meanwhile some fans are not buying the excuse, as many feel Ronaldo showing up to pay His last respect was the best he could do to honor Jota

Let’s sample some comments below:

which one be you didn’t go to Jotas burial because you didn’t want your presence to overshadow every other person there,

where you are now is your presence not overshadowing?

Don’t you go for events? Just say you were relaxing and couldn’t make it

Another commenter wrote;

Average worst footballer, he was always jealous Jota was a better player than Penaldo! Pussy nigga tap in mechant

However, fans of the player believes his not showing up is not a big deal, as Ronaldo must have personally reached out to the family

HIS PRESENCE WONT RESURRECT THE MAN, HE HAS HIS REASON HE SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE

he has paid his respects and that is alright, must he attend, abi did he kill anybody?

He has said that he did not want to go there and have attention focused on him

instead of on the brothers and the grieving family because like it or not, people crowd around him wherever he goes.

I am sure he had a conversation with the family and they understand. Make una rest abeg.