Getafe manager Jose Bordalas has firmly backed Barcelona`s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or later this month, declaring he has "no doubt" the winger will claim football’s ultimate individual prize. Bordalas was left awestruck by the Spain international`s brilliance on Saturday night, despite it coming at his own expense during Getafe’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in LaLiga. Speaking to the press after the match, the Getafe tactician admitted that Yamal’s talent is currently operating on an entirely different level, making him nearly impossible to plan for. "We all know Lamine’s level. He’s fantastic," Bordalas said, in quotes carried by Mundo Deportivo. "He is very difficult to stop, even when you take precautions. He is a magnificent young player, and he shows the level he has. He will improve much more and can win the Ballon d’Or. I have no doubt." The 19-year-old Euro 2024 hero is among the frontrunners on the 30-man shortlist for this year`s award. While Yamal faces incredibly stiff competition from established global superstars like Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, Bordalas believes the teenager`s trajectory is already unstoppable.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Moscow ahead of their high-profile international friendly match against Russia, scheduled for next Tuesday, October 6. The Nigerian delegation touched down in the Russian capital on Friday afternoon as they look to put behind them a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Guinea-Bissau in their recent 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Head coach Eric Chelle’s men are scheduled to hold their first tactical training session immediately on Friday evening to acclimatise to the weather. Tuesday’s showdown at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium will mark only the second time these two footballing nations face off at the senior international level. Their initial meeting in June 2025 at the Luzhniki Stadium ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, where a second-half equalizer saved the day for Nigeria. Having faced criticism over their recent qualification slump, the three-time African champions view this friendly as a crucial litmus test. Facing a Russian side that recently cruised to a 2-0 victory over Iran, Nigeria will need to dig deep to salvage pride on European soil. The Super Eagles camp features a significantly altered roster following a wave of player withdrawals. Key mainstays—including captain Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho—are notable absentees due to injury and logistical setbacks. In response, the technical crew has infused the squad with several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) standouts alongside late replacements like Vince Osuji and John Otomewo. Coach Chelle, who joined the team directly in Russia, expects to use this window to evaluate fresh talent before the upcoming U23 tournament commitments in November.

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has broken his silence on the civil war engulfing the national team, insisting he has a "clear conscience" following the dramatic fallout that led to captain Cristiano Ronaldo storming out of the squad`s camp. The stunning fracture between the manager and the country`s greatest footballing icon has sent shockwaves through the sport, plunging Portugal`s international campaign into immediate chaos. The national team was rocked to its core on Wednesday when Ronaldo abruptly packed his bags and abandoned his teammates. The veteran forward’s sudden departure came at the worst possible time, right on the eve of Portugal’s highly anticipated UEFA Nations League clash against Denmark, leaving the squad without its longtime leader and talisman. Sources close to the camp reveal that the 41-year-old superstar was left furious by Jesus’s recent handling of his squad status. The tension reached a boiling point following Sunday`s match against Norway, where Ronaldo was left as an unused substitute, watching the entirety of the game from the bench—a decision that visibly agitated the veteran striker. The situation deteriorated rapidly during the post-match press conference, where Jesus made pointed remarks explaining his tactical decisions. Ronaldo reportedly viewed the manager`s public comments as a direct sign of disrespect, ultimately triggering his decision to cut ties with the squad and exit the international camp ahead of schedule. Following his dramatic exit, Ronaldo heightened the brewing drama by issuing a cryptic, hard-hitting statement to the public. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star vowed that he would not remain silent, promising his global fan base that he would eventually reveal the absolute "truth" about the toxic internal politics that led to his departure. Despite the immense media storm and mounting pressure from fans, Jesus has refused to back down or apologize for his managerial choices. Speaking directly to Sport TV, the head coach maintained a remarkably calm demeanor, projecting total confidence in his actions despite the risk of permanently alienating the country`s captain. “I am completely relaxed, with a clear conscience regarding this situation," Jesus asserted, drawing a firm line under the immediate controversy. Dismissing further speculation for the time being, the manager added a ominous preview of what is to come: "After Sunday’s match, we will talk about everything.”

Head coach Emiliano Té has attributed Guinea-Bissau’s historic victory over Nigeria to superior tactical discipline, while warning his team that the journey to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is far from over. The Djurtus delivered a masterclass at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro on Tuesday, dispatching the Super Eagles to claim their second consecutive win in Group L. Goals from Franculino Djú and Mama Baldé, followed by a stoppage-time sealer from Álvaro Djaló, handed Nigeria its first defeat of the qualifying campaign. Nigeria had previously opened their account with a 2-1 win over Madagascar. Despite the commanding nature of the win, Coach Té refused to get carried away during his post-match press conference. He maintained that the result is simply another step forward rather than a guarantee of qualification. "Every game has its own story. You need to play tactical football, create better scoring opportunities, and always believe that you can do more and better, regardless of the opponent." — Emiliano Té, Guinea-Bissau Coach He added that the victory merely proves the national team is on the right path as they look ahead to upcoming fixtures. The result reshapes the dynamics of Group L, where Guinea-Bissau now sits in a favorable position following an earlier 2-0 win against Tanzania. The stakes in the group remain exceptionally high, especially since Tanzania has already secured automatic qualification as one of the co-hosts for the 2027 tournament.

History has been made in Nigerian football officiating as Zamfara-born referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam has been selected to officiate at the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 25-year wait for a Nigerian centre referee at the tournament. The 34-year-old official is the sole Nigerian centre referee to make the prestigious global list, standing out as one of only four referees selected from the entire African continent. According to an official release by FIFA on Thursday, the Referees Committee named 81 match officials—consisting of 27 centre referees and 54 assistant referees—representing 36 member associations. Abdulsalam’s historic call-up reflects his meteoric rise since earning his FIFA international badge in 2022. He has consistently retained his elite status through rigorous annual assessments and previously served as the only Nigerian referee selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN). His impressive resume includes officiating at two separate CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments alongside various WAFU regional competitions. Validating his growing continental reputation, Abdulsalam has also been designated to referee the crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Cameroon and Comoros. The Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, emphasized that the selected officials represent the global body`s most promising talent. Collina noted that the appointments were strictly merit-based, evaluating not just on-field performances but also the officials` ability to work seamlessly within international teams and withstand the high-pressure environment of a World Cup. For Abdulsalam, the Qatar tournament offers a monumental platform to showcase his skills on the world stage, marking a significant milestone for the development of football officiating in Nigeria.

Falconets head coach Moses Aduku has challenged his players to immediately shift their focus to Sunday`s crucial quarter-final clash against Colombia, warning that their emphatic victory over England belongs in the past. Nigeria is set to battle Colombia tomorrow at 2:00 PM Nigerian time in Lodz, Poland, with a coveted semi-final ticket at the ongoing 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on the line. While the Falconets head into the quarter-final on a high after dismantling England’s Young Lionesses 3-0 in the Round of 16, Aduku emphasized that complacency could ruin their World Cup campaign. "It will be unwise for us to keep thinking of the win over England," Aduku stated in an interview with www.thenewscredit.com. "That match is gone, and we already cut short our celebration immediately in the dressing room to focus on the encounter with Colombia." Aduku also cautioned that the South Americans will present a much tougher test, having already eliminated the host nation, Poland, earlier in the tournament. "The Colombians sent out the host nation and will not be a walk-in-the-park for us," the tactician added, demanding absolute concentration from his squad ahead of Sunday`s kickoff.

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has finalized a lucrative new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following high-level talks in the nation`s capital. The breakthrough agreement was reached on Tuesday during a decisive meeting at the National Sports Commission (NSC) headquarters in Abuja. The session brought together top sports chiefs, including NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. Under the terms of the new deal, the 48-year-old Malian tactician receives a massive financial upgrade. His monthly salary will skyrocket to $100,000, more than doubling his previous $45,000 earnings. In another major shift, the NFF has officially agreed to take over the financial responsibility for paying Chelle’s assistant coaches,THENEWSCREDIT reports. Chelle took the reins of the national team in January 2025. He quickly proved his worth by guiding Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, justifying the federation`s massive financial commitment to secure his long-term future.

Lionel Messi rewrote football history once again on Monday night, striking twice to send defending champions Argentina into the knockout rounds while matching a legendary World Cup scoring record. The 38-year-old maestro scored both goals in a dominant 2-0 victory over Austria. With this brace, the Inter Miami forward has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, matching a historic feat previously achieved only by France`s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil`s Jairzinho in 1970. Messi entered the Group J clash in Dallas in spectacular form, fresh off a historic hat-trick against Algeria in the opening match. Carrying his scoring streak over from Argentina`s magical 2022 championship run in Qatar, the legendary forward also surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose to claim his position as the tournament`s outright all-time leading goalscorer. Argentina has already secured its place in the Round of 32. The Albiceleste will wrap up their group stage campaign against Jordan in the coming days, where their captain will look to stand entirely alone by extending his scoring streak to seven straight games.

LAGOS — In an unprecedented move that has delighted football fans worldwide, football`s global governing body, FIFA, has officially honored former Super Eagles captain Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha with a retroactive Superior Player of the Match award. The special accolade recognizes his breathtaking performance during Nigeria’s iconic 3-2 group-stage victory over Spain at the 1998 World Cup in France. The presentation comes as part of a celebratory retrospective initiative by FIFA, in collaboration with Copa90, designed to formally recognize legendary individual World Cup performances that took place before the official, modern "Man of the Match" awards were formalized in 2002. Unveiling a Timeless Honor The 52-year-old midfield maestro took to his social media to share a viral video of himself unboxing the elegant silver trophy from a custom case. Beaming with pride, Okocha expressed his deep gratitude to the football world."I’m about to unveil this special award being given to me by FIFA," Okocha stated in the clip. "It was given to me for winning the Superior Man of the Match in a World Cup game, Nigeria versus Spain, 1998. I feel so honored to receive it." The Night Nantes Witnessed Magic The legendary encounter took place on June 13, 1998, at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. Facing a star-studded Spanish side heavily favored to lift the trophy, the Super Eagles orchestrated one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. While Sunday Oliseh`s thunderous 25-yard game-winning rocket remains the most replayed image of that match, it was Okocha who pulled the strings in midfield. His trademark audacious dribbling, deceptive body feints, and effortless creativity completely dismantled the Spanish tactical setup, pulling Nigeria back from behind twice to secure the 3-2 victory. The Undisputed King of Dribbling The timing of the retroactive award perfectly aligns with historical data reviews released by FIFA, which confirmed that Okocha still holds the all-time official World Cup record for the most successful dribbles in a single match. During Nigeria`s intense 1994 Round of 16 clash against Italy, a 21-year-old Okocha completed an astonishing 15 successful dribbles against a defensive line featuring legends Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta—a feat that remains untouched in football history. Decades after hanging up his boots, this late coronation cements Okocha not just as a Nigerian hero, but as an immortal artist of the global game.

The Oyo State Government has suspended the entire technical crew and management of Crown FC. The decision was necessitated following the team’s poor performance in the Nigeria National Leagu, NNL, last season. The state ministry of youth and sports announced the suspension today. According to the statement, the suspension takes immediate effect. The ministry stated that further decisions regarding the club and the next course of action would be communicated in due course. The Ajilete Warriors endured a difficult campaign and only secured their NNL status on the final day of the season. Crown FC finished in seventh position on the Conference B table with 16 points from 16 points.