For the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup hosts lost their opening match as Ecuador beat Qatar 2-0 with both goals in the first half. Ecuador’s striker Enner Remberto converted from the spot in the 16th minute after having his first disqualified. The 33-year-old Fenerbahçe player went on to add the second in the 31st minute. The South Americans …

Thirty-two teams — the only debutante being the host country — have hopes as the 22nd edition of the world’s biggest one-sport competition gets underway in Qatar. Some of the teams have high hopes in the peninsular Arab country, some others have contained hope, while yet another group bear unrealistic expectations. With stars ready to shine, and some others missing in action …

In the buildup to the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening on Sunday, one Nigeria’s stars in the competition has come into focus. Former Super Eagles captain, Austin JJ Okocha, it has been revealed, tops the list of most dribbles in a single FIFA World Cup game since 1966. According to a survey by Opta, the former Paris Saint Germaine midfielder …

As football-loving fans eagerly await the commencement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup holding in Qatar from 20th November to 18th December, the Embassy of Nigeria in Doha, Qatar has warmly welcomed fans travelling for the tournament, and urged them to respect the laws of the host country. In a statement by the spokesman of the embassy, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi …

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs have a deadline of this Friday complete and submit all processes of club licencing for the 2022/23 season. In a circular by NPFL’s Head of Operations, Prince Davidson Owumi, the clubs were told that “any club that fails to complete the club licencing requirements risks being foreclosed from participating in the 2022/23 season”. Several …

The management of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has set a benchmark of N10 million insurance policy for players of the 20 Premier League clubs, beginning from the 2022/2023 league season. In a letter dated 10th November 2022 and signed by the Head of Operations, Prince Davidson Owumi, the clubs in the top flight were informed that the minimum …

The inaugural meeting between the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the 20 participating clubs has been scheduled for next Monday in Abuja. According to the Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi, the meeting will hold from 6 pm at the Sandralia Hotel. Although no agenda was listed in the notice of invitation, it is …

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Chief Bukola Olopade has promised to splash $5,000 cash reward on the national men’s Under-23 football team, if they defeat their opponents from Tanzania this afternoon at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. The match is the second round fixture of the qualifiers for the African zone of the …

Coach Rasheed Alani Adegbenro has returned to Nigeria after three seasons in the highly competitive league in Somalia. In an exclusive interview with Sportspro News Publisher, Bayour Issah in Ilorin, Adegbenro described the league as a well organised even as the standard may be low in terms of performance index at the level of Confederation Cup and Champions league in …

An orientation workshop for the four promoted clubs from the Nigeria National League to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will hold in Abuja on Wednesday. The workshop to be flagged off by NPFL’s Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi is scheduled to hold at Sandralia Hotel in Jabi, Abuja. In attendance will be officials of Doma United, El-Kanemi Warriors, Bendel …