Sports
Nigerian Clubs Can’t Win CAFCL – Coach
The chairman of Remo Stars FC, Kunle Soname, has declared that it would be difficult for any Nigerian club to win the prestigious CAF Champions League for now. Enyimba of Aba is Nigeria’s most successful club, after winning the CAF Champions League twice in 2003 and 2004. The Peoples’ Elephants defeated Ismaily of Egypt 2-1 on goals aggregate to lift the title for the first time in 2003 to end Nigerians long wait. They retained the crown the following year, with cash and moral support flowing from former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
Since then, Nigerian clubs merely make up the numbers in CAF competitions.
Speaking with Tidesports source at Ikenne on Friday at the end of the 2023 MTN/NPFL/LaLiga U-15 tournament, Soname said: “I don’t see any Nigerian club winning the CAF Champions League for now because of the huge financial burden involved.”
This season, Remo Stars made its continental debut, but faded away in the early stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Ikenne Warriors lost at home 1-0 to Morocco’s AS FAR, after recording a soul lifting 1-1 draw away in Casablanca two weeks earlier. They lost 2-1 on aggregate to become the fifth Nigerian club to crash out to the ‘military’ tactics of the Royal Moroccan Army football club.
Soname whose football academy and sports facilities at Remo, Ikenne is attracting football scouts from across the world, said that Nigerian clubs does not have the financial capacity required to win the CAF Champions League at the moment.
“I am saying this with all sincerity because finance has a huge role to play in modern day football,” Soname said. “We played against Morocco’s AS FAR and lost due to a number of factors. In our team, the highest paid player earns around $1,000, if you convert it at the rate of N750 per dollar. But in the Morocco’s AS FAR, a majority of the players earn between $10,000 and $11,000 monthly. Apart from having more money to recruit players, the North African clubs have more experience players. The only good thing about us is that in Nigeria, we have abundant talents waiting to be nurtured into stardom. You need a combination of experience players and money to do well in CAF competitions. We will continue to do our best,” Soname stated.
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
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.
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.