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Samuel’s Performance Excites Fans

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Rave of the moment
and Eagles new goals machine Aaron Samuel Olanare has surprised many and proved his critics wrong with his goals and overall displays.
Most Nigerians hammered coach Stephen Keshi for calling up a player from China, who they tagged “Made-in-China”, but the striker has proved that after all said and done the game is all about your ability and what you produce on the pitch on day.
The Guangzhou R&F striker has now scored two goals in three appearances for Nigeria.
Both his goals oozed class – an acrobatic stabbing at the Sudan goal as Nigeria ran away 3-1 winners in Abuja and then his sweetly curled strike in Congo on Saturday firmly placed the Eagles on track for a place at Equatorial Guinea 2015.
Keshi has lauded his latest discovery, arguing that it is not all Nigerian players who are lucky to play for top clubs like Barcelona or in mainland Europe.
Desperation by Nigerian players to quit the country has also seen them opt for the backwater leagues from Albania to Moldova because they are better organised than what is obtainable at home.
Samuel’s performance should now opens the door for players who are doing well in leagues not highly-rated and recognised by Nigerians as “major leagues” like Romania, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, where there are players flying the country’s flag high.
Players like Akeem Latifu (right back, Aalesund,Norway), Chima Daniel Chukwu(striker, Molde,Norway), Kennedy Igboananike (striker, AIK, Sweden), Leke James(striker, Aalesund, Norway), Kehinde Fatai(striker,(Astra Giurgiu, Romania) to mention but a few have been consistent performers for their clubs over the years and deserve a look-in by the national team handlers.
For unknown quantity Samuel, he started his career with 3SC and Dolphins before in 2012, he joined the growing list of Nigerians in Europe when he joined Valerenga.
He was later snapped up by another Norwegian club Sarpsborg 08 in 2013 from where he joined Guangzhou R&F in China in the summer of 2014 on a two and a half year deal with a fee of €1.4 million.
The youngster’s first season in Europe with Valerenga was not great as he scored just a goal in five league appearances.
In 2012, he scored no goal for same team in 10 games, but scored a goal in two cup games.
In 2013 as a Sarpsborg 08 player, the striker scored five goals in 13 league games and scored same number of goals in same number of games in 2014 for Sarpsborg 08, before he moved to Guangzhou R&F in China where he had scored eight goals in 16 league games thus far.
He is a big, powerful and direct striker, who has a good technique and has lately proved he knows his way to goal.
Is Aaron Samuel now the man to lead the Eagles attack as Emmanuel Emenike has fired blanks for Nigeria for more than a year?
Only time will tell.

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NBF eyes Commonwealth Games redemption

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The Nigeria Boxing Federation has set its sights on six gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the body looks to recover from the administrative turmoil that undermined its preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

NBF Vice President Omonlei Imadu told our correspondent, “Our target is 10 medals, six gold, while others can come in silver and bronze colours. We are truly determined to make this a reality in Glasgow.

“We have moved focus now to the camping phase. Our aim is to ensure that the boxers are in perfect shape during and after the camping.”

Diaspora boxer Patricia Mbata, the African Games gold medallist based in the United Kingdom, was among the women’s finalists, while Kenneth Anigboro topped the men’s 90kg class. Other female finalists are Udoette Happiness and Gafar Fathia (51kg), Ajishola Kadijat and Gbadamosi Aishat (57kg), Sodipe Damilola and Ismail Abibat (65kg), Blessing Orakwe (70kg), and James Queen and Odoka Celestina (above 70kg). The male finalists are Ogunremi Michael and Habeeb Qazeem (55kg), Abdulwahab Abdulrahmon and Saliu Ridwan (65kg), Folly Hassan and Nwoha Precious (70kg), Daniel Joshua and Sharafadeen Fawas (80kg), and Anigboro Kenneth and Abiodun Adesoji (90kg).

National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade, who attended Nigeria’s Commonwealth trials, also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s prospects.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria have a successful outing at the Games, and the prospects in boxing truly excite me,” he said.

Nigeria’s push for improvement comes after the backdrop of a difficult period for the sport at the last Olympics.

Boxers who competed at Paris 2024 also raised concerns about poor preparation, with Zainab Adeshina stating there was no adequate equipment for training and Ifeanyi Onyekwere describing the build-up as a one-week camp filled with stress.

Nigeria also suffered a 4-3 defeat to Ghana in a Commonwealth Games warm-up friendly in Accra recently, a result Imadu acknowledged as a reminder of the work still required, while noting that the federation was in advanced talks with two other nations over additional preparatory fixtures before the Games.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, where boxing will feature across 14 events — seven men’s and seven women’s categories.

The NBF vice president also commended the board members for their commitment and altruism towards the welfare of the athletes.

“As a federation, we would like to appreciate these board members for their patriotism. This is an attestation of their dedication to the advancement of boxing in the country. As a body, we would continue to encourage the selflessness of our colleagues so we can collectively deliver on our mandate to revamp the squared ropes sports across the board,” he said.

The Yucateco boss further states the NBF’s readiness to deliver medals at the Games in Glasgow.

“Like I said previously, our focus has not shifted. We strongly believe that every boxer on the plane to Scotland must return with a medal for Nigeria, hence we took the lead as the only federation to call its athletes to camp ahead of time. 30 of our boxers have been in camp since April, and the federation has been solely responsible for their welfare since they commenced training,” Imadu added.

10 boxers, which consist of male and female, will fly Nigeria’s flag at the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games from July 23rd to August 2nd in Glasgow, Scotland.

At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, nine Nigerian fighters returned with four medals — one silver through Elizabeth Oshoba and bronzes for Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe and Ifeanyi Onyekwere.

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PH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday

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Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will, on Saturday, the 30th of May, 2026, do a street procession to celebrate as
Arsenal Football Club of England emerged  champions of the English Premier League (EPL).
The street parade will take off from the GRA junction by 11am,  through Aba Road to the UTC bus stop and back to GRA; thereafter, watch the Champions League final at Ediz Wine Bar, GRA.
This was disclosed by the coordinator of the community, Ugochukwu Oputa, while fielding questions from sports journalists on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Port Harcourt Arsenal Community is a fan base for Arsenal Football Club, in London, with the view to achieve unity, peace, and love among all football fans in Rivers State. This is what the fan base has been achieving since its inception.
According to him, arrangements are in top gear, as security and other logistics are set, waiting for the day to come.
“The celebration is necessary because it is not easy to win the EPL trophy after 22 years against all odds. As I speak, all Arsenal fans in the world are very happy and excited with this feat.
“I must tell you what is about to happen in Port Harcourt on Saturday has been happening in other countries.
The most interesting part is that other football club fans are joining in the celebrations.
“By His grace we hoping to win UEFA champions League and that will be another round of celebration because if we win that trophy it will be the first time ever, so that celebration will be huge” Oputa said.
He advised the forum to advise fans that will come out for the streets’ procession to be civil and orderly; hence, it is a celebration.
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Remo To rebuild After NPFL Relegation

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Former Nigeria Premier Football League champions Remo Stars F.C. have expressed regret over their fortunes in the Nigerian top flight this season following their relegation to the second division, Tidesports source reports.

Remo Stars were relegated on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Bendel Insurance F.C. in Benin City.

The Sky Blue Stars initially looked on course for survival when experienced striker Victor Mbaoma gave them the lead on the stroke of half-time, but the situation changed dramatically deep into stoppage time when Chijioke Akuneto equalised for Bendel Insurance to secure a 1-1 draw.

The delayed fixture between Kun Khalifat F.C. and Wikki Tourists F.C. later confirmed Remo’s fate, with the newcomers winning 3-1 to preserve their top-flight status and condemn Remo Stars to life in the second division.

In the wake of a season that saw them garner just 47 points from 38 games, only one year after winning the league title, the Sky Blue Stars described the outcome as heartbreaking.

“We understand the disappointment and frustration this season has brought. We did not deliver the performances or consistency required to maintain our place in the division. We take full responsibility for that failure.’’

“To our fans who filled the stands, supported the team online and stood by us even during our darkest moments, thank you. Your loyalty means everything, and we recognise that we owe you much more than what this season produced.

“Our focus now turns towards rebuilding with purpose and determination. Important decisions will be made, and every effort will be directed towards returning this club to where it belongs.”

They became the first defending NPFL champions to suffer relegation since Bayelsa United in the 2009/10 season.

They also became only the fourth reigning league champions to drop into the second tier during a title defence campaign after Stationery Stores in 1993 and Shooting Stars in 1999.

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