Sports
Derby Clash: Sharks, Dolphins’ Fans In War Of Words
The war of words have been on in Port Harcourt between fans of Dolphins and Sharks as the derby day approaches.
Both teams go head to head on Sunday at the Sharks FC Stadium in a game that will have a role to play in whether both sides remain in the Nigeria Professional Football League next season.
Both sides need to win the game, but a draw will favour Dolphins more since they are the away side and currently above Sharks on the log.
Telema George who says he has been a fan of Sharks all his life declares that only one result is possible on Sunday which will be a win for his side.
“Sharks are in a bad position now and do not need to drop points at home. We need the three points badly to escape relegation and I am sure we will win on Sunday against Dolphins,” Telema George said.
A member of the Dolphins Supporters club, Agwu Augustus, however, is optimisitc that Sharks will lose on Sunday.
“We are going to beat Sharks. It’s a local derby and it is unpredictable but with the caliber of players we have, I am optimistic we will defeat Sharks,” Augustus said.
Looking at the recent exchanges between both sides, Telema George admits that Sharks should be wary of Dolphins but says he will pray to God so his side could win.
“We look on God and we are praying. We always have the fear of Dolphins because when you compare both of them, Dolphins have a better head to head record compared to Sharks,” Telema George said.
Agu Augustus on his part admits it will be a tough game, but Dolphins will win and escape relegation at the end of the season.
“It will be a tight match, but we will win. With the caliber of players we have I don’t see why we won’t win,” he said.
When both sides played at the Liberation Stadium in the first round of the league, it ended 1-1, Yusuf Jaiyeola opening scores for Sharks and Godbless Asamoah getting the equalizer with three minutes left to play.
Meanwhile, Six goal hero for Dolphins this season, Godbless Asamoah wants his seventh and maybe eight on Sunday in the Port Harcourt derby.
Asamoah did not play for Dolphins until Match Day 10 against FC Taraba in Jalingo.
He has also been out injured on two occasions totalling eight match days, yet has managed six goals for his side this season.
Now he wants to score the goals that will give his side maximum points against neighbours, Sharks on Sunday.
“Remember, my first ever goal for Dolphins was against Sharks at our home. Now I pray to God that I can do same at their home,” Asamoah said.
“It’s a local derby. Remember the last time I scored against Sharks was my first goal in the Nigerian league so I believe I can do same again as we continue on our way to escaping relegation,” the Ghanaian striker said.
After he made his debut for the club against FC Taraba, he expressed the the desire to either finish top scorer in the league or at least for the club.
“The league is still going on and I know if I cannot be league top scorer, then I can be for Dolphins, just like Emem (Eduok) did last season.
“Then after this season, I can continue my goals adventure next season,” he said.
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.
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