May this 2025 bring forth all our legitimate heart desires..

Sunday Oliseh and John Mikel Obi need no introduction in Nigeria soccer circles. Both were Super Eagles captain at different times. Oliseh had 63 caps for Nigeria and scored three goals. Mikel had 91 caps for Nigeria and scored six goals. Both players won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Super Eagles players (Oliseh in 1994 and Mikel in 2013). Both players also featured in two world cups for Nigeria. Oliseh came third in the African Footballer of the Year award in 1998 (behind Mustafa Hadji and Austin Jay Jay Okocha), while Mikel came second in 2013 (behind Yaya Toure).

Nigeria have won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title three times in1980, 1994, and 2013. Nigeria also played the AFCON final games in 1984, 1988, 1990, and 2000 but lost them.

Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, clinched the prestigious Italian footballers’ association player of the year accolade for his stellar performances with Napoli in the previous season. The Super Eagles sensation received the award during Monday night’s ceremony following his pivotal role in securing Napoli’s first league title in 33 years.

Benjamin Mendy, the former Manchester City player, is taking legal action against his ex-club over unapproved wage deductions, amounting to millions of pounds. The France full-back, aged 29, concluded his tenure with City when his contract expired this past summer.

Renowned ex-Brazil and Barcelona defender, Dani Alves, is set to face trial in Spain for an alleged sexual assault case. Alves, aged 40, has been held in custody since January after an arrest relating to accusations of assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December.

Napoli made a pivotal decision to dismiss head coach Rudi Garcia after overseeing 16 games, installing former manager Walter Mazzarri until the season’s end. Garcia, a 59-year-old Frenchman, assumed his role in June but exits the team trailing league leaders Inter Milan by 10 points in Serie A.

Belgium and Chelsea football legend, Eden Hazard, officially retired from professional football on Tuesday at the age of 32, concluding a remarkable 16-year career. The forward achieved immense success during his time with Lille and Chelsea, although his club career came to an underwhelming conclusion during his stint with Real Madrid.

Hazard shared his thoughts on this milestone decision in an Instagram post, stating, “Listening to your inner voice and knowing when to call it a day is crucial.” After more than 700 matches played over a span of 16 years, Hazard has chosen to retire from professional football. He expressed gratitude for realizing his dreams and relishing the joy of playing on countless pitches worldwide.

Birmingham City Football Club has appointed Wayne Rooney as their new head coach. This development sees the 37-year-old former England captain taking on the role for a substantial three-and-a-half-year tenure.

Rooney’s appointment comes as a result of the club parting ways with John Eustace, the previous head coach, who was dismissed from his position after a 15-month tenure. This strategic move marks the first significant decision by Birmingham City’s new ownership group, Shelby Companies Limited, who assumed control in July.

Spanish soccer giants Barcelona find themselves under investigation for alleged “active bribery” as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into suspected corruption within the refereeing committee spanning two decades. This investigation was revealed through a court document obtained by Reuters.

Additionally, law enforcement authorities conducted searches at the offices of the Spanish refereeing committee (CTA) within the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid. These actions are part of the ongoing investigation into the “potential systemic corruption” within the CTA.

Morocco has been awarded the prestigious opportunity to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals. This decision comes as a replacement for Guinea, which was stripped of its hosting rights last year. Additionally, the 2027 hosting rights have been granted to a co-bid comprising Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Morocco emerged victorious by default, as Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew their bids before the vote took place during the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee meeting in Cairo.

Nigeria and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, scored a goal against Udinese in the wake of a controversial social media incident involving the player. Napoli had previously posted a mocking video on their TikTok account, which has since been removed, featuring Osimhen missing a penalty. The video included a high-pitched voiceover saying, “gimme penalty please.” This incident prompted a strong reaction from Osimhen’s agent, who threatened legal action against the club.

In response to the recent decision by the European soccer governing body, UEFA, to reinstate Russia’s Under-17 teams in European competitions, Ukraine has taken a firm stance. The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) released a statement, emphasizing their refusal to participate in tournaments involving Russian teams. This decision has stirred controversy and garnered support from various football associations worldwide.

French Ligue 1 club, Olympique de Marseille, has officially announced the appointment of Italian football figure Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach. This significant decision comes in the wake of the departure of Marcelino, the previous coach, and it was made public on a Wednesday.

Gennaro Gattuso, a 45-year-old football tactician with a rich history, will assume the coaching responsibilities at the club. Marcelino, a Spaniard, left the club under strained circumstances involving disagreements with the passionate Marseille supporters.

Ethiopian athlete Tigst Assefa made history by smashing the women’s marathon world record during the Berlin race held on Sunday. Assefa, who had clinched victory in the same event the previous year, triumphed with an extraordinary finishing time of two hours, eleven minutes, and fifty-three seconds.

Desire Ugochi Oparanozie, the former captain of the Super Falcons of Nigeria, has officially announced her retirement from international and club football at the age of 29. This significant announcement was made on her verified social media platform, X, on Wednesday.

Nigeria defender Ashleigh Plumptre has officially joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer, marking her departure from Leicester City. This exciting transfer has created a buzz in the world of women’s football.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is facing a provisional suspension due to an anti-doping violation. Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (NADO) recently revealed that Pogba’s post-match test following Juve’s 3-0 victory against Udinese on August 20th showed elevated levels of testosterone.

Arsenal’s surprising exit in the Women’s Champions League qualifiers saw them defeated in a penalty shootout by the French side Paris FC. This unexpected turn of events came as a shock, especially considering Arsenal’s impressive performance last season when they reached the semi-finals.

Neymar, the 31-year-old forward, has clinched the title of Brazil’s all-time top male scorer, surpassing the legendary Pele, during a resounding 5-1 victory over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying match. This historic moment unfolded as Neymar, previously tied with Pele at 77 goals, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, including a missed penalty, before ultimately securing his position with two crucial goals in the second half, marking his 125th appearance for the national team.