Nigerian Football
MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS, SOLSKJAER, INTOXICATED BY IGHALO’S FORM
Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told youngsters to learn from the physical presence of Odion Ighalo, the loan striker. Many critics were left scratching their heads when Manchester United plumped for Odion Ighalo on the last day of the January transfer window, but the loan signing now appears to be a shrewd move.
The former
Nigeria international made it three goals from two starts as the Red Devils,
who opened the scoring through Luke Shaw, beat second-tier Derby 3-0 on
Thursday night to move into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Having spent
the last three years plying his trade in the Chinese Super League, it was
assumed that Ighalo would be nothing more than a stop-gap measure for United in
the wake of Marcus Rashford’s double stress back fracture.
But the former Watford striker, who took a pay cut to secure his dream move from Shanghai Shenhua, has impressed in his six appearances for the Premier League club, showing glimpses of the form that saw him plunder 15 top-flight goals for the Hornets in the 2015-16 campaign.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also seen enough from Ighalo, tipping him to make a big impact heading into the business end of the season.
After seeing the visitors seal a last-eight meeting against Norwich at Carrow Road on March 21, he said: “He’s doing what it says on the tin and what we asked for when we signed him… there’s more to come.
“He’ll improve, he’ll get sharper and more used to us. I have no doubt. He has a physical presence.
“You can get the ball up to him and he can keep hold of it. It’s hard to be a centre-back against him when he’s looking for you first and he buys himself half a yard just by that movement.”
At 30, Ighalo has plenty of experience when it comes to going toe-to-toe with aggressive defenders, something Solskjaer is convinced will rub off on youth-team products like Mason Greenwood.
“Sometimes, our young boys, they are not used to that from the academy,” he added. “They are used to, ‘You’re not allowed to tackle me’ almost.
“So, of course, I would like them to look at him and learn a couple of things.”
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand also told BT Sport Ighalo had won him over, owing to his different attributes compared to the usual front pairing of Rashford and Anthony Martial.
On his ability to occupy defenders and play with his back towards the goal, the pundit said: “People and myself included were probably thinking, Odion, where does he fit into all of this?
“If you have an opportunity to sign a player at the beginning of the January window, he is not the guy you are going to sign, but what he does bring is a point. A point where they can focus and play into him from the midfield. He offers the platform to run off.
“Marcus and Anthony want the ball in behind and not to bring people in. He’s in the centre of goal and that’s what he adds to this team.”
Ighalo should be on the bench for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford, but looks set to be introduced at some stage of the derby.
The boyhood United fan is also counting on the 12th man to will the hosts towards a league double – they beat City 2-1 away in December.
“Since I came here, the support I’ve been getting from the fans is amazing,” he told the club website yesterday.
“I’m very happy and I thank them, I want them to keep doing that on Sunday. It’s going to be a massive game, let’s cheer us to victory again.”
– REUTERS
Nigerian Football
Tiger Street Football Tournament Heads for Grand Finale in Awka After Electrifying Weekend
The maiden Nigerian edition of the Tiger Street Football Tournament is nearing its climax in Awka, following an action-packed weekend that blended grassroots football with music, street culture, and celebration.
The atmosphere around the venue was electric as DJs and hype men kept the energy high between matches, while food vendors, entertainers, and Tiger Beer enthusiasts turned the event into a full-blown street festival — a vibrant showcase of football, rhythm, and camaraderie.
From 16 teams that began the competition, only four now remain in contention for the ₦5 million grand prize, after thrilling quarterfinal fixtures held on Sunday, October 19.
In a day filled with goals and grit, Sunday Sparks, Peace Warriors, Peace Dominion, and Peace Ambassadors booked their places in the semi-finals.
- Sunday Sparks continued their dominant run with a 3–0 victory over Young Stars. Peace Warriors edged Star Boys 2–1 in a tense contest.
- Peace Dominion narrowly defeated Super Strikers 1–0, while Peace Ambassadors overcame Mgbakwu Pillars 2–1 to complete the semi-final lineup.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, October 25, where Sunday Sparks will face Peace Warriors, and Peace Dominion will take on Peace Ambassadors. The winners will advance to the grand finale later that same day at the highly anticipated “Tiger Uncaged” celebration.
Football fans in Awka have hailed the tournament as a breath of fresh air for local talent.
“The energy here is unbelievable. It feels like the real spirit of Nigerian football — no big names, just passion,” said Ifeanyi Okeke, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
“Kudos to Tiger Beer for bringing something this exciting to Awka. It’s giving young players real hope.”
Another fan, Chisom Udeh, described the event as “a refreshing celebration of local talent.” She added: “You can see the joy on the players’ faces — this is football in its purest form. Tiger Beer really deserves credit for supporting the streets and turning it into something this big.”
The grand finale will take place at Newberries Lounge, Awka, featuring a lively mix of football, music, and street culture. The event will be hosted by Uzor and headlined by Jeriq, with DJ sets from DJ SkyBlisz, DJ Snow, and DJ Kay-Y, alongside performances from Wanni & Handi. Hype men Twix da Jims and Slymshady will keep the crowd charged throughout the evening.
Fans will also have the chance to win exciting prizes in raffle draws during the finale. Organisers have reminded attendees that the event is strictly for persons aged 18 and above and encouraged everyone to enjoy responsibly.
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Nigerian Football
Brazil-Based Nigerian Star Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa Tipped for Super Eagles Call-Up
By Bolaji Okunola
Emerging Nigerian football prodigy Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa, popularly known as Fash11, is being closely monitored for a potential Super Eagles call-up following his dazzling performances in the Brazilian U-20 league.
The Fortaleza FC forward has taken the Brazilian youth scene by storm, scoring seven goals and providing two assists to power his club to victory in the league — a feat that has thrust his name into Nigeria’s senior national team conversation.
Before his move to Brazil, Fashanu honed his skills at Dynamic Plus Soccer Academy, a Nigerian grassroots club renowned for grooming young talents who have represented the country on the global stage.
His exploits at the academy caught the eye of international scouts during a scouting programme jointly organised by ATJ Sports and Trivella Brazil seven months ago — a move that ultimately secured his transfer to Fortaleza.
With Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle currently assembling his provisional squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier playoff and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Fashanu’s form has sparked excitement among Nigerian fans and analysts who see him as part of the nation’s next generation of attacking talents.
Speaking on his recent success, the young forward expressed pride in his achievement and eagerness to represent Nigeria at the highest level.
“Winning a tournament like this in a football country like Brazil is a dream come true,” he said. “I never imagined it could happen so quickly in my short spell with the club. This success motivates me to push harder, and I look forward to wearing the green and white jersey to make my country proud if given the opportunity.”
With his pace, flair, and goal-scoring instinct, Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa could soon join the growing list of Nigerian stars making waves from South America to the global stage — a bright prospect for the future of Nigerian football.
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Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, became an unexpected star attraction at the just-concluded World Football Summit in Madrid, thanks to a spontaneous late-night call to Nigerian football legend, Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha.
Narrating his experience in Madrid, Elegbeleye revealed how what started as a casual conversation during the summit’s gala dinner turned into a moment of surprise and excitement for global football executives.
According to him, the gala night—attended by top football administrators, investors, and professionals—had barely begun when some guests at his table became curious about Nigerian football. One Japanese delegate from the J-League leaned in and asked, “Do you know Jay-Jay Okocha?”
Elegbeleye smiled and replied confidently, “Jay-Jay? That’s my close friend.”
That statement immediately captured everyone’s attention. Though it was already past 11 p.m. in Nigeria, a Turkish delegate urged him to place a call to the former Super Eagles captain. Amid cheers and laughter, Elegbeleye obliged—and the atmosphere changed instantly.
“The moment they saw Jay-Jay’s WhatsApp display picture, the whole table went agog,” Elegbeleye recounted. “When he answered the call, the excitement in the room was unbelievable. People from nearby tables came over just to say hello to him.”
The NPFL boss joked that for several minutes, he and his phone became the “beautiful bride” of the evening, as guests lined up to exchange brief greetings with Okocha.
But the story didn’t end there. A Portuguese investor involved in ParaSoccer, visibly thrilled after speaking with the Nigerian icon, decided to express his admiration in a most unusual way — by upgrading Elegbeleye’s hotel room from a standard single to a deluxe executive suite.
“All because I’m friends with Jay-Jay Okocha,” Elegbeleye said humorously. “Next time I check in at my regular Eurostars Madrid hotel, they’ll probably wonder why I’m not in the super deluxe suite.”
The NPFL chairman concluded the tale with a touch of gratitude and amusement: “So, thanks, Jay-Jay, for making me a temporary big man in Madrid. But no thanks — because now I have a reputation to maintain.”
The incident has since become one of the lighthearted highlights of the World Football Summit, underscoring Okocha’s enduring global appeal and Nigeria’s rich football heritage.
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