Sports
Foreign Pros Return Add Shine To Nigeria League
Previously, Nigerian players who have featured for teams in Europe and Asia found it difficult to return to play in the Nigeria league, but that seems to be something in the past as a growing list of such players have retraced their feet back to where it all started for them.
Below are some of the players who have played for teams outside Nigeria and are now back playing in the domestic league.
In this current season, these ex-foreign-based stars are adding to the excitement of the local game.
Alex Nkume: The 25-year-old defender has joined Enugu Rangers after playing for VVV Venlo in Holland. The central defender played for Nigeria U20s in 2009. He played 35 games for VVV Venlo and his experience will be of great help for ‘The Flying Antelopes’ on his second coming.
Adebayo Adigun: The defender has joined Sunshine stars and has already made an immediate impact after he scored a last-gasp winner against Wikki Tourists on Sunday in a 3-2 win. The former 3SC player played in Japan for Kashiwa Reysol and Tokyo Verdy. He also played for Albanian side Bylis Ballsh and his last team outside Nigeria was Al-Tahadi FC in Libya. He has shown he is of good quality and will add glamour to the league.
Bassey Akpan: The goalkeeper has returned to Nigeria to man the post for Bayelsa United after he had featured for Vietnamese team, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. He is an experienced goalkeeper who represented Nigeria at U17 level in 2001 where he was named goalkeeper of the tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. He was also Super Eagles number one goalkeeper in the 2010 WAFU Cup and won the gold medal.
Tony Okpotu: The enterprising forward has retraced his steps back to Lobi Stars after a stint with Al Ittihad in Libya. He was one of the top strikers in Nigeria league before he left Nigeria. His return will be a good omen for Lobi and add glamour to the league.
Raphael Ademola: The midfielder was part of the 2007 victorious Golden Eaglets that won the FIFA U17 World Cup. He played for Spanish team Atletico Baleares and has been at 3SC since last season.
Chibuzor Okonkwo: The right back established himself in the Super Eagles under coach Samson Siasia. He is a solid defender and good free kick specialist. He also has ability to score from distance. He is playing for Gabros after his time at Asswehly Sport Club in Libya.
Razak Adegbite: The striker posted a stint with Turkish division two side Kahramanmarasspor before he rejoined Rangers.
Usman Amodu: The former Golden Eaglets left back has returned to Nigeria after he played in Sudan for Al Hilal and Llaneros F.C of Colombia. He has joined Gabros.
Jamiu Alimi: One-time Nigeria youth international has featured in Belgium and Ukraine and the big defender has now retraced his steps to Sharks after his stint overseas was plagued by injuries.
Isaako All Stars FC of Opuoko and Khana Khana AllStars Football all in Local Government Area of Rivers State will tomorrow engage in a friendly football match at Opuoko Mini Stadium.
Chatting with Tidesports in a telephone interview yesterday the Chairman of Khana All Stars Saro Tap-le said that the encounter is not going to be an easy game in spite it is an AllStars game.
He express his side readiness for the encounter stating that the opportunity as come for them to showcase their talents.
However, the chairman explained that AllStars game is not about winning but the excitement, love, unity and friendship it creates is more important.
” Tomorrow game is not going to be an easy one despite is a AllStars game. We are going there in a full force to do what we know how to do best and to showcase our talents.
“As Chairman of Khana All Stars I believes we have an edge over the Isaako All Stars be we are training so hard for the encounter” Tap-le said.
Also speaking the Chairman of Isaako All Stars Mina Zaasi Iloori sees the match as an opportunity to build relationships.
” My brother it is an AllStars friendly game I think winning is not important but the paramount thing is the relationship we are going to create among both teams and my community at large
” We are training hard because of the encounter because I will not be in my house and somebody will rob soap in my eyes.
” As I speak with you we are just coming from back training ground to ensure all my players are fit for the match.
” I am using this medium to call on football fans to come en mass to Opuoko Mini Stadium tomorrow and enjoy the best of round leather game.
I promise the game will be an exciting display of football talents and sportsmanship”, Iloori said.
Kiadum Edookor
Thierry Henry has called for the return of the away goals rule in the aftermath of the bombastic Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona.
The visitors at the Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys came within milimeters of clinching the first leg of the final-four clash after former Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted late in the second-half.
But the linesman was quick to raise his flag, and semi-automated offside ruled out what would have been a thrilling conclusion to the high-octane 3-3 draw.
The hosts came from behind twice to share the spoils, chasing Inter Milan from the first minute of the game after Marcus Thuram stunned the Barcelona faithful into silence with his neatly flicked goal.
Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead 20 minutes later, but it took just three more for the Blaugrana to finally get on the scoresheet courtesy of a moment of magic from teenage starlet Lamine Yamal.
Ferran Torres drew Barcelona level ahead of the break, but Lamal was forced to play catch-up again in the second-half after Dumfries scored his second.
In light of the impressive effort from Inter, Henry wondered if the team should have got more from the fixture ahead of the second-leg at the San Siro.
‘I know it’s been like that for a very time, and we have to accept it,’ Henry said of the removal of the away goals rule, ‘But off air I was talking to Jamie (Carragher), and I was like, “how can you score three goals away from home and you don’t have an advantage?”
‘Away goals for me were massive, you score three goals away and you still don’t have an advantage 0-0 at home,’ Henry shrugged.
UEFA took the decision to scrap the rule which gave goals scored away from home the ability to act as a tiebreaker in the case of level scorelines ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger claimed during his time as Arsenal manager in 2015 that the away goals rule ‘encouraged the team at home not to attack’ and that ‘the weight of the away goal (was) too big today’.
Without the rules, the tie at San Siro will go to extra time and penalties to decide which teams books their spot in the Champions League final.
But based on Wednesday evening’s performance, Henry seemed to give Inter a fighting chance against the newly minted Copa del Rey champions.
The 2025 London Marathon set a new world record for the number of finishers despite hot conditions on Sunday for its 45th edition.
A total of 56,640 runners crossed the finish line at the end of the 26.2-mile route, Guinness World Records has confirmed.
The number surpassed the previous record of 55,646 set by the New York Marathon in November.
Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said he hoped the high number of finishers inspired people to apply for the 2026 race ballot.
“The London Marathon was already the most popular in terms of ballot entries, with 840,318 people applying for the 2025 race,” he said.
“It is also the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event with more than £1.3bn raised for charity since 1981.”
The number of people applying for the ballot to enter this year’s race broke the world record of 578,304 for the 2024 edition.
Of UK applicants 49% were female, while there was a 105% increase in applications from people aged between 20-29.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa surged to victory in the elite women’s race in a world record for a women’s only field, while Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe triumphed in the men’s event.