Sports
‘Rangers Sure To Bounce Back’
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rangers International Foot Ball Club of Enugu, Ozor Paul Chibuzor, has expressed optimism that the team which ended last season on a distant 5th position on the League Table has been re-positioned with a view to restoring its lost glory during the forthcoming season billed to kick off later this month.
Making his feelings known in a chat with sports writers in Enugu, the soft spoken club administrator stated that his team was fully prepared for the new season with the retention of about 75 per cent of players that featured for the Coal City ‘Flying Antelopes’ last season, while arrangements have been concluded to get quality players to replace the exited ones.
“I must tell you that Rangers is very much ready to reclaim all its lost glory this coming season. We have learnt our lessons from last season, which, to some extent, have to be celebrated because, for a long while, Rangers have not had the opportunity of playing teams from outside our shores and with our fifth place finish, our fans can enjoy some sort of international football when next season WAFU cup starts,” he said.
Chibuzor further continued that “I can tell you that as I talk, only two players are yet to sign the contract papers with us, and it is because they are in the senior national team. So, we are ready to give Enyimba a run for the trophy they won last season.”
Commenting on reports that players were not willing to sign for the club, and that he was not in the good books of the club’s financier, the club boss declared, “There is no iota of truth in that as I can conveniently tell you that 98 per cent of players that we need for the new season have all signed for us. “All the noise that the club’s supporters want me out is the handiwork of the club’s detractors that are operating within the club.
“But, for some few selfish individuals that are self-seeking, we are an organised group that has one goal of leading Rangers to the promised land this season. For the new season, we can boast of a very dedicated set of players that are willing to spill their blood for the club,” he said.
While enumerating some of them to include the likes of Francis Okammor, Uche Oguchi, Uche Ugochukwu, James Okwosah, John Aguda, Ozor said: “I don’t have any doubt that we will come tops in the coming season.”
On the players and coaches entitlements, he revealed that “ I have had fruitful talks with the state SSG and before the start of the new season, the backlog of dues owed will be settled with something for the new season also offset.”
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
-
Opinion3 days ago
Ozoro Festival: Tradition or Tyranny?
-
News3 days agoRSG Reiterates Commitment To Youth Dev
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoTranscorp Energy, Renewvia Partner On Renewable Energy Gap
-
Politics3 days ago
RIVERS WOMEN RALLY SUPPORT, CONTINUOUS PRAYERS FOR TINUBU
-
Politics3 days ago
AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR
-
Business3 days agoNSCDC Discloses Illegal Dump Site In Ikwerre Community
-
Politics3 days ago
Viral 2027 Nomination Forms Price List Fake, Misleading – APC
-
Business3 days agoYenagoa’s Radisson Hotel Ready December — NCDMB, Other