Nigeria and Russia will clash in a friendly match in 2025.

According to Russian journalist, Bartlomiej Banasiew, FIFA match agent, Jairo Pachon is working hard to arrange the game.

“Our representatives are cooperating with the Russia Football Federation on the organisation of a friendly match between Russia and Nigeria.

“This match is about as good as it gets,” Pachon was quoted by Banasiew.

The match is expected to be played within the FIFA window.

The venue is also expected to be sorted by the organisers.

It will be first meeting between Nigeria and Russia at the senior level

Super Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen has hit out at Libya for ‘over-respecting’ his team during both sides’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, qualifier on Friday.

The Mediterranean Knights frustrated Eguavoen’s men with their delay tactics for the majority of the game.

However, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s 86 minutes goal gave the Super Eagles a 1-0 victory over Libya.

Speaking about Libya’s time-wasting, Eguavoen said at his post-match interview: “We have a time keeper also in the name of Thomas.

“Actually they wasted like fourteen, fifteen minutes out of the 45 minutes which is not so good.

“They are a good side. You can see that they move the ball if they wanted to move, but now trying to bring such strategies, I don’t think it’s a good thing.

“Maybe they over-respected us. They thought probably if they come out at the initial stage they are going to get a lot of goals behind them. I don’t know if that is the way they want to play.”

Former Argentina striker, Sergio Agüero, has filed a lawsuit against Barcelona over €3million unpaid wages.

Barca owe the 26-year-old the money as part of his 2021 contract termination.

According to an official report sent to the Catalan club’s members, the matter is still in court.

Agüero signed for Barça from Manchester City on a two-year deal in 2021.

But he was forced to retire after only five appearances, due to heart problems he suffered during a LaLiga game against Alavés.

He officially announced his retirement in December 2021, reaching an agreement with the club to end his contract early.

However, a report detailing Barça’s financial accounts for the 2023-24 season, has revealed Aguero launched legal proceedings against the club earlier this year.

New Barcelona goalkeeper, Woijiech Szczesny, has insisted that he will not stop smoking any time soon.

Szczesny recently came out of retirement to sign a short-term deal with the LaLiga giants, following a serious injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the former Poland international spoke about his lifestyle choices.

“Smoking? There are aspects of my personal life that I don’t change, and it’s nobody’s business if I smoke.

“If anyone thinks they can change my personal life, try again, it has never worked!”

He added: “I don’t smoke in front of kids, I don’t give a bad example.

“But people take pictures of me smoking behind trees, where I can’t even see them… I try to hide it, not show it to people”.

Super Eagles caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has said this team will go all out to secure maximum points in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Libya.

Victory in both games will see the Super Eagles earn a berth at the AFCON 2025 finals which will be hosted by Morocco.

The Super Eagles currently occupy top spot in Group D with four points from two games.

Eguavoen claimed they want to wrap qualification for Africa’s soccer fiesta on time to avoid late pressure.

“We have to be practical about it: our best and surest route to the finals will be to pick up the six points in the matches with Libya, and be somewhat guaranteed of a place in Morocco even before Matchday 5. We don’t want to be in any anxiety in the run-in in this qualifying campaign,” Eguavoen told the nff.com.

“I admit we will miss Victor (Osimhen), but I believe in the other strikers available to get us the goals that will give us the three points in Uyo, and the three points in Libya.”

Flying Eagles forward Charles Agada has linked up with Sky Bet Championship side, Watford.

Agada will join the Hornets when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Mavlon FC player was previously linked with clubs in Spain and Switzerland.

The striker was part of Flying Eagles side at last year’s 2022 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Agada is currently in the Flying Eagles training camp ahead of the WAFU B U20 AFCON in Togo.

Former Flying Eagles midfielder, Tom Dele-Bashiru, is currently in the books of Watford.

Inter Miami superstar, Lionel Messi, has penned an emotional tribute to former Barcelona team-mate, Andres Iniesta, who has taken the decision to retire.

Iniesta is set to bring down the curtains on an illustrious career at 40.

The former Spain midfielder scored the winner as his country won the 2010 World Cup and also lifted two European Championships with La Roja.

At club level, he made 674 appearances for Barca and won nine LaLiga titles and the Champions League on four occasions.

Iniesta left for Japanese side Vissel Kobe in 2018 and has most recently been playing for the Emirates Club in the UAE.

Iniesta has teased his retirement – which will be confirmed on October 8, in a nod towards his iconic shirt number – in a video on social media.

And Messi wrote on Instagram: “One of the team-mates with the most magic and of the one’s I enjoyed playing together the most.

“Andres Iniesta, the ball will miss you and so will we! I wish you the best, always. You are a phenomenon.”

Emmanuel Ntuk has been named new head coach of Dakkada FC.

Ntuk’s appointment was confirmed in a statement by the club on Thursday.

The young tactician is making his second stint at the club after serving as technical adviser for Akwa Starlets, as Dakkada used to be known.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Emmanuel Ntuk as our new head coach,” the statement reads.

Ntuk is expected to help Dakkada secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The new season will start next month

Super Falcons forward, Chinonyerem Macleans, has sealed a move to Saudi club, Al-Shabab.

Macleans joined Al-Shabab from Russian club, Locomotiv Moscow.

The 25-year-old spent two years at Locomotiv Moscow, scoring 14 times in 33 league appearances.

The striker’s arrival increased the number of Nigerian players at Al-Shabab to three with Rita Chikwelu and Chinaza Agoh already a key member of the squad.

Speaking after her unveiling, Macleans stated: “I’m excited to join Al Shabab Women FC and contribute to the team’s success. Saudi Arabia’s vision for women’s football is inspiring, and I’m proud to be part of this journey.”

She was part of the Super Falcons squad to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele has apologised to manager Luis Enrique after he was dropped for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Arsenal.

Dembele was left out of the squad that lost 2-0 to the Gunners, after he clashed with Enrique over the weekend.

Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, has now revealed that both men have sorted out their issues.

Dembele is now expected to be called up for this Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash with Nice.

Romano wrote on X on Wednesday: “Ousmane Dembélé, expected to return into PSG group already against OGC Nice on Sunday.

“Dembélé apologized to Luis Enrique as the Spanish manager wanted and requested.

“The situation is fully expected to return to normality shortly.”

Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone at a nightclub in Madrid.

The 26-year-old Portuguese international was allegedly detained in the early hours of September 8 at La Riviera, a popular disco, and taken to a local police station for questioning, Dailymails reports.

His arrest occurred around 5:30 a.m. after Nunes was accused of taking a phone from a 58-year-old man who had attempted to photograph him in the nightclub’s restroom without his consent, according to Spanish daily El Mundo.

Born in Brazil, Nunes is said to have taken the phone in a moment of anger and refused to return it.

El Mundo stated that the police reportedly arrested him after being called to the scene and found the phone in his possession.

AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze, could leave Italy when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Super Eagles forward is attracting attention from Spanish side Atletico Madrid as well as Premier League teams, West Ham United and Aston Villa.

Chukwueze has struggled to impress at the San Siro following his arrival from Villarreal last summer.

The 25-year-old now looks set to leave, having been linked with a move to England in the past.

Chukwueze still has three years left on his contract with Milan.

He is expected to be named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Libya next month.

Former Premier League referee, Keith Hackett, has offered his thoughts on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes’ red card against Tottenham.

The former match official believes Fernandes should have merely been given a yellow card instead of receiving a red.

VAR did not intervene to revert the decision after referee Chris Kavanagh displayed the red card.

But Hackett opined that the VAR official could have made a better decision by asking the referee to look at the monitor and review the incident.

He told The Telegraph, “I can see why the referee may have decided this was worthy of a red card, as Fernandes looked to challenge James Maddison with Tottenham on the breakaway. However, after multiple viewings, I lean towards a yellow card.

“I feel the referee Chris Kavanagh would have benefitted from being asked to look at the incident again on the pitch-side monitor.”

Their latest defeat meant that the Red Devils are now 12th in the league table, sitting six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has expressed his frustration with the Red Devils following their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

Brennan Johnson put the visitors in front in the first few minutes of the game orchestrated by Micky van de Ven.

Van de Ven ran through the length of the Red Devils’ half before putting the ball on a plate for Johnson to finish in the 3rd minute.

Then to add insult to injury, United captain, Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute.

Dejan Kulusevski made it 2-0 for Spurs in the 47th minute while Dominic Solanke sealed the three points for Spurs.

Ferdinand, who won many titles with the Red Devils spoke after the game through his YouTube channel., “And we’ll get to the red card in a minute, but Van Der Ven ran through the whole team. And I look at it and just think, but it happened mid-week as well.

“It happened mid-week. Where’s the pride, man? Like, I just, I don’t know, that fight doesn’t seem like it’s where it should be.”

“We were an embarrassment today. The red card shouldn’t be an excuse for anybody at Man United now. It shouldn’t be an excuse for anyone at the football club.

“We were terrible. We were terrible to watch. It was a terrible kind of representation of who we are and what we are right now.

“Giving the ball away, constantly. I’m ranting here, but I can’t help it. I sat there and watched the game and just thought, what the hell are we?”

Como defender, Raphael Varane, could see his contract with the Serie A club terminated as he mulls retirement.

Varane is currently out of action with a serious injury and is considering leaving the club.

The Frenchman only joined Como this summer, after his contract at Manchester United ran out.

And football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, writing on X on Wednesday morning, revealed Varane could quit the game.

Romano wrote on X: “Raphael Varane is seriously considering to retire from football with a formal decision expected soon after his recent injury.

“He’d be leaving Como after signing for the Italian club in the summer.”

South Africa will host the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in January 2025.

According to SCORENigeria, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded the hosting right of the competition to South Africa.

South Africa hosted the competition 13 years ago.

Nigeria won the competition then, edging past Senegal in the final.

The Flying Eagles will first have to scale through from the WAFU B qualifying tournament to be hosted by Togo next month to book their flight to South Africa 2025.

Last year, the Flying Eagles finished third at the U20 AFCON in Egypt.

Chelsea boss, Enzo Maresca has confirmed his decision to bring defender, Ben Chilwell back to the Chelsea squad.

The England international is poised to return to the squad to make his first appearance of the season during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash with League Two leaders Barrow.

The Englishman looked set to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer after Maresca informed him and publicly declared he had no future at the West London side.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s League Cup clash, Maresca announced the situation had changed and now plans to name the left back in his matchday squad for the third-round cup tie after welcoming him back into first-team training.

“Ben Chilwell will be in the squad for tomorrow’s game.

“He is training. Hopefully we can give him some minutes,” he said.

Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has confirmed the positions for some of the players in his squad.

Maresca showed off the wealth of attacking options available to him during the 1-0 win at Bournemouth last weekend.

Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Neto and Nicolas Jackson all started the fixture at the Vitality Stadium.

With the scoreline at 0-0, Maresca introduced Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Sancho from the bench.

There has however been debate about Neto being used on the right wing, with the summer signing from Wolves mostly playing from the left wing so far due to the exceptional form of Madueke this season.

But Maresca clarified: “As left wingers, we have Jadon and Misha [Mudryk].

“As right wingers, we have Noni and Pedro. As attacking midfielders, we have Joao Felix and Cole.

“As a No9, we have Nicolas, Christo and Marc. We do not have so many players, we have two players for each position.”

Legendary Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, has admitted that he misses life as a football manager.

The 82-year-old stepped away from manager after the 2012/2013 season.

Ferguson retired after leading United to their 13th Premier League title in what was his 27th year at Old Trafford.

United have struggled for success ever since Ferguson’s departure, with Manchester City leading the way for much of the last decade.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast about life post retirement, he said: “Yeah, I miss it sometimes.

“I think the first year after retirement, I went to the European final and I said to Cathy ‘this is what I miss’ – big games, the European games.

“So then I went to most of the European finals because I find something I can relate to, something I would like to have done every day.

“Because these are the big events that United should always be involved in.”