Sports
A Look Back at Nigerian Stars in European Leagues
Nigerian footballers, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Asisat Oshoala, have left an indelible mark on the European football scene throughout the recently concluded 2022/2023 season. Their exceptional performances have not only earned them recognition but also allowed them to etch their names into the annals of football history. Whether through their record-breaking achievements or by becoming integral pillars for their clubs, these players have made a significant impact on the pitch.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen, the 24-year-old Nigerian striker, had a remarkable season at Napoli in Italy. He secured the Serie A top scorer award with an impressive 26 goals, surpassing George Weah’s longstanding record and becoming the first African player to achieve this feat. His performances have attracted interest from top European clubs like Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
In a historic season for Victor Osimhen, he played a pivotal role in Napoli’s Scudetto win after 33 years, according to a trusted source for Nigerian sports betting tips and analysis. He became the first player since 2009 to win both the Capocannoniere (top goal scorer) and the Scudetto in the same season. Osimhen’s exceptional performances extended to the UEFA Champions League, where he scored five crucial goals. In Serie A, he recorded 26 goals and four assists in 30 appearances, while in the Champions League, he found the net five times in five matches. These impressive statistics in shooting and passing highlight his remarkable contributions to the team’s success.
Asisat Oshoala
Asisat Oshoala, also known as Super Zee, had a remarkable 2022/2023 season with FC Barcelona despite persistent injuries. She became the first African and Nigerian woman player to win two European Cup titles. Oshoala contributed five goals in the Champions League and played a crucial role in Barcelona’s victory in the Spanish Super Cup. Despite her injuries, she scored an impressive 21 goals in the league, matching her highest goal tally for the season. Oshoala’s talent was evident when she scored a hat trick, helping Barcelona Femeni achieve a world record of 50 consecutive league wins.
Samuel Chukwueze
Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze is the top African player in La Liga, surpassing other notable contenders. He received the most votes from fans and journalists across Africa.
In the 2022/2023 season, Chukwueze played 37 matches for Villarreal, scoring six goals, including a brace against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
He recorded an impressive total of 13 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, achieving double digits in both categories for the first time in his career. Chukwueze’s performances have attracted interest from clubs like Real Madrid and English Premier League teams. He notably completed seven dribbles in a La Liga match against Real Madrid, a feat achieved by only Lionel Messi since 2017.
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman, the 25-year-old Nigerian winger, impressed in the recently concluded Serie A season, scoring 13 goals in 30 appearances for Atalanta despite an injury setback. He became the first striker in 70 years to achieve this milestone in his debut season for the club. Lookman, alongside Victor Osimhen, was nominated for the Serie A Team of the Season. His passing game was also notable, with an average of around 30.97 passes per game and a 78.39% completion rate.
Other Top Nigerian Talents in Europe
Taiwo Awoniyi impressed in the Premier League, scoring 10 goals in 27 matches for Nottingham Forest. He made history by becoming the first Forest player to score in his first three Premier League starts, including a memorable 1-0 win against Liverpool.
Teremas Igobor Moffi had a prolific season on loan at Nice from Lorient in Ligue 1, netting 18 goals in 38 matches, including braces against Clermont Foot and Lens. He is currently the most expensive player in the Lorient squad.
Alex Iwobi struggled at Everton, scoring only two goals in 34 appearances. He provided six assists and had a pass completion rate of 79% with an average of 38 passes per match.
Moses Simon contributed five goals and four assists for Nantes in Ligue 1. In the UEFA Champions League, he made five appearances but did not score.
Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey played important roles for Rangers, with Bassey earning the man of the match recognition in Ajax’s 1-0 victory against NEC in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Unfortunately, Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu experienced relegation with Southampton in the English Premier League.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The deal between Arsenal Football Club and Emirates has been renewed, making it one of the longest-running and most recognisable partnerships in world sport.
Both parties first came together as partners in 2006 and have since built one of football’s defining partnerships. Spanning the entire Emirates Stadium era, the relationship has evolved alongside the club – supporting Arsenal’s ambitions, strengthening both organisations’ global reach and creating new ways for supporters around the world to connect with Arsenal.
The latest deal will see Emirates continue as the Champions’ front-of-shirt, training kit and stadium naming rights partner through to 2033.
The renewal comes at a pivotal moment in the club’s history following its recent Premier League title. The new agreement will build on many of the flagship initiatives that have defined the partnership, including the Emirates Cup, which brings world-class football to Emirates Stadium each summer, and Global Gooners, which gives supporters from around the world the opportunity to experience Arsenal in North London for the first time.
The next chapter of the partnership will begin this weekend as Arsenal welcome Borussia Dortmund to North London for the Emirates Cup, with a programme of anniversary activity celebrating more than two decades of shared history while looking ahead to the next chapter still to be written. Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, will attend alongside Arsenal senior leadership as part of the celebrations.
Launching alongside the partnership renewal is a new cinematic film featuring Arsenal legend Per Mertesacker. Set inside an antique shop filled with objects from across the Emirates era, the film celebrates two decades of shared memories between Arsenal, Emirates and our supporters, reflecting on the history we’ve made together and the moments still to come.
“Winning the Premier League is an incredibly proud moment in our club’s history and one that belongs to everyone connected with Arsenal. Emirates has been an integral part of this success – standing alongside us throughout this journey and sharing in the defining moments, challenges and successes that have shaped our club over the past two decades,” the chief executive of Arsenal, Mr Richard Garlick, stated.
On his part, the President of Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark, said, “Over the last two decades, Emirates and Arsenal have built something that goes far beyond a traditional partnership, and one we are immensely proud of. We have grown alongside the club through changes of era and ambition, united by a shared goal of bringing people closer to what they love.
“In practice, that has meant reaching the millions who follow Arsenal across the Emirates network and beyond and creating experiences for them that neither of us could have done alone.”
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals when they face Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday at 9:00 pm at the ongoing WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
The defending champions bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia and will now be aiming to finish the group stage strongly. All the matches of the tournament air live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv.
The final matchday of Group A saw hosts Morocco play out a goalless draw with Senegal, a result that was enough to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals in first position in their group. Algeria also secured their place in the knockout stages after a 2-0 victory over Kenya, bringing their group-stage campaign to a strong close.
Tuesday, Group B will conclude with Burkina Faso facing South Africa before Tanzania takes on Ivory Coast. South Africa and Ivory Coast played out a 2-2 draw in their previous match, while Burkina Faso bounced back from their opening defeat with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania. With the group still to be decided, the final results will determine which teams join the quarter-final line-up.
All eyes will then turn to Group C on Wednesday, where Egypt will face Nigeria, and Malawi will take on Zambia, with both matches kicking off at 9:00 pm. The Super Falcons will be hoping to build on their victory over Zambia and secure the result they need to advance to the knockout stages, while Egypt will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Malawi in their previous game.
Nigeria’s final group match comes after a difficult start to their title defence. The Super Falcons were stunned 3-2 by Malawi in their opening game but responded with a 1-0 victory over Zambia to revive their campaign. The ten-time champions will now need to complete the job against Egypt as they look to keep their hopes of retaining the continental crown alive.
The final group-stage fixtures on Thursday will see Ghana take on Mali, and Cape Verde face Cameroon on Thursday, with both matches also scheduled for 9:00 pm. Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their previous outing, while Mali secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde. The final results will determine which teams progress to the knockout stages from Group D.
Matchday 3 Fixtures
Tuesday, August 4
Burkina Faso vs South Africa – 9:00 pm
Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5
Egypt vs Nigeria – 9:00 pm
Malawi vs Zambia – 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 6
Cape Verde vs Cameroon – 9:00 pm
Mali vs Ghana – 9:00 pm
SuperSport Brings All the Live Action
Catch every match of WAFCON Morocco 2026 live on SS Football (Ch. 202, GOtv Ch. 61) and SS Football Plus (DStv Ch. 202) on DStv and GOtv. Fans can also stream every match live on DStv Stream from ₦6,000, with no decoder or dish required.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
At least for the next four seasons, DStv and GOtv subscribers are guaranteed access to all UEFA men’s club matches on SuperSport.
This is because CANAL+, the parent company of MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2031, ensuring SuperSport will continue to broadcast the UEFA Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues live to DStv and GOtv subscribers.
The four-season agreement, which begins with the 2027/28 campaign, covers more than 40 countries across the region and includes exclusive rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of UEFA club competitions, bringing the continent’s biggest European club matches to DStv and GOtv subscribers. The agreement also restores full UEFA Champions League coverage on CANAL+ Sport channels in French-speaking Africa, alongside the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
The rights deal further strengthens CANAL+’s sports portfolio, which already includes major football competitions such as the Premier League, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1, the Betway Premiership and the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The agreement ensures football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to enjoy live coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions on SuperSport when the new rights cycle begins in 2027.
“We are very proud of this new partnership, which gives us exclusive rights to all UEFA Men’s Club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For four seasons, until 2031, our subscribers will enjoy the thrill of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League’s biggest matches. Today, CANAL+ offers the most attractive sports line-up across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the acquisition of these rights is a perfect illustration of that.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and to the teams at Relevent for once again placing their trust in CANAL+, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Austria,” the chief executive of CANAL+, Mr Maxime Saada, stated.
