Sports
Fans In Calabar Call For Wenger’s Sack
Supporters of Arsenal FC of England in Calabar have called for the sack of the manager, Arsene Wenger, following the team’s scandalous defeat by rivals Manchester United on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Some of the angry fans said in Calabar that the 8-2 humiliation was an evidence of the sliding fortunes of the club.
“If Wenger continues to remain as the head coach of Arsenal, the club will be relegated because he has refused to buy experienced players,’’ said Mr Jude Okwe, a journalist.
Okwe said that Wenger had remained adamant in making reasonable signings, insisting that unless he was sacked, nothing would come out of the club in the current season.
“Wenger has forgotten that when he had the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Marc Overmars and Patrick Vieira, he almost won everything.
“So, he should know that a good team should be a blend of the old and new,’’ he said.
Another supporter, Mr Steve Ndem, a barber, said that Wenger needed to change his approach if he was to succeed.
“For Arsenal to succeed this season, Wenger must drop his tight economic policy and enter the market immediately for some quality players,” he said.
Ndem urged the club directors to go back to the drawing board on the issue of summer signings and make money available as soon as possible.
“The club directors should make funds available for more players and if Wenger refuses to buy, he should be sacked, ” he said.
Mr Ambrose Duru, a student, however, said that it was too early to call for Wenger’s exit, stressing that the premiership was still young to assess the strength of the team.
“The squad is very young and may overcome the initial stage fright before long but that should not stop the coach from buying mature and experienced players,” he said.
Duru further said it would be a miracle if Arsenal finished among the top four in the current season.
He said Arsenal needed overhauling from the coaching crew to the players, adding that the club’s policy of selling players without replacements was dangerous.
“The club sold Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy and is still planning to sell more before the close of the transfer market.
“Incidentally, they are not making any serious offer for top quality players in Europe, so this is ridiculous,” Duru said.
The loss to Manchester United was the second for the club in the three-week old 2011/2012 premiership season.
Arsenal had earlier lost to Liverpool FC 2-0 and drew 0-0 with Newcastle United in their opening game of the season.
Sports
European Giants Circle For Osimhen
Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race
Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.
Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.
According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.
“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”
Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.
The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”
It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”
The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.
Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.
His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.
Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.
The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor
Sports
Tennis Event Boosts Grassroots Development Push
A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.
The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.
On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.
In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.
Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.
Sports
W/Cup Qualifier: Flamingos In Impressive Opener
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.
The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.
Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.
Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.
The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.
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