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AFCON Qualifier: Osimhen Arrives Super Eagles Camp Ahead Guinea Bissau Encounter

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Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has arrived at the team’s camp in Abuja ahead of Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against the Djurtus (Wild Dogs) of Guinea Bissau.

The match is scheduled to take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, in Abuja.

Eagles Media Officer, Babafemi Raji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a chat that Osimhen, who had a flight delay in Lagos, joined the team in Abuja after Tuesday’s evening training.

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Raji said that the arrival of Osimhen brought the number of players in camp to 22, while Portugal-based defender Zaidu Sanusi was the only player still being expected and should be joining the team on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Napoli Slap £150m Price Tag On Osimhen – Report

The Eagles have six points from their previous two matches, as they confront Guinea Bissau in a top-of-the-table fixture that will largely determine the swing of the pool.

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They are favoured to qualify for the competition scheduled to hold in Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

Meanwhile, tickets for the encounter have been calibrated in price ranges of N2,000 and N10,000 for ordinary and VIP seats respectively.

Ademola Olajire, Communication Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the tickets are available at the football secretariat at the Package B of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

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READ ALSO: Osimhen Nominated For Serie A Player Of The Month Award

Olajire said tickets are also available at the Old Parade Ground, NFF’s former office at Wuse Zone 7 and other designated places which details will be announced on broadcast stations nationwide.

Egyptian referee Mahmoud Elbana will be in the centre, with his compatriots Youssef Elbosaty, Sami Halhal and Ahmed El-Ghandour to function as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

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Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the match commissioner and his compatriot Kotey Alexander will be the referee assessor.

 

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EPL: Nottingham Forest Sacks Postecoglou After 3-0 Defeat To Chelsea

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Nottingham Forest have sacked Ange Postecoglou barely minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

A statement from the Premier league club, released 20 minutes after full-time at the City Ground, reads: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

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READ ALSO: EPL: Paul Merson Predicts Chelsea vs Liverpool, Arsenal vs West Ham, Other Fixtures

Postecoglou was in charge for eight games and six of those ended in defeat.

It included an early Carabao Cup exit at Championship club Swansea City, when Forest led 2-1 in the 92nd minute before conceding two in four minutes to lose 3-2.

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The other two games – away at Burnley (Premier League) and Real Betis (Europa League) ended in draws.

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Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges New Armwrestling Board To Prioritize Accessibility, Sponsorship

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Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged members of the newly inaugurated Edo State Armwrestling Association board to embrace openness, accessibility, and proactive engagement with athletes and stakeholders.

Enabulele gave the charge during the board’s inauguration held at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The event had in attendance Executive Directors, the Permanent Secretary, and other top officials of the Commission.

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In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, the sports commission boss described the inauguration as “a new dawn in our collective journey to strengthen and elevate the standard of sports development in Edo State.”

READ ALSO:Enabulele Lauds Okpehbolo For Creating Enabling Environment For Football To Thrive

He urged the new executives to pursue sponsorships and partnerships that would drive growth and sustain the association’s programmes.

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“Financial support is the lifeblood of sports,” Enabulele said.

Through partnerships and sponsorships, we can provide the resources needed to nurture our athletes and expand our programmes.”

The Chairman also called for approachable leadership, encouraging the board to remain open to athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.

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Your guidance and presence will foster unity, strengthen teamwork, and create a culture of accountability and progress,” he added.

READ ALSO:Enabulele Hails Edo-born Athletes’ International Feats

Enabulele further announced plans to introduce quarterly appraisal sessions between the Commission and sports associations to ensure proper monitoring and measurable progress.

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These sessions will allow us to review achievements, address challenges, and design strategies for continued success,” he explained.

He urged the new board members to carry out their duties with dedication and vision, stressing that their collective efforts would transform Edo sports and inspire the next generation of champions.

In his response, the new Chairman of the Edo Armwrestling Association, Mr. Eromosele Albert, pledged to organize both national and international armwrestling competitions to boost the sport’s visibility and give Edo athletes more exposure.

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READ ALSO:Priotize Okpebholo’s ‘Catch Them Young’ Initiative, Enabulele Charges Sports Association Chairmen

Albert noted that armwrestling is gaining rapid popularity in the United States and Canada and promised to leverage global trends to enhance the sport’s profile and financial sustainability in Edo State.

He also expressed confidence that Team Edo would perform strongly at the next National Sports Festival, where the sport offers 34 gold medals.

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The inauguration ceremony ended with exhibition matches featuring male and female athletes competing in both left and right-hand categories.

Those inaugurated into the board include: Mr. Eromosele Albert (Chairman), Divine Rosemary (Acting Secretary/Coach), Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mr. Johnson Femi, Mr. Johnny Summers, Mr. Osagie Oghuma Peter, Dr. Benson Ogala, and Mr. Iraoya Olarenwaju.

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FULL LIST: Highest Goal Scorers In Europe’s Top Five Leagues

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As the 2025–26 football season gathers momentum, some of Europe’s most lethal forwards are already making their mark.

From La Liga to the Premier League, the race for the Golden Boot is heating up with familiar names and rising stars topping the charts.

The PUNCH takes a look at players across Europe’s top five leagues and the goals they have scored thus far.

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1. La Liga: Mbappé (Nine goals)

READ ALSO:[FULL LIST] EPL: From Jesus To Madison, Other Key Players Sidelined By Injury

Real Madrid’s marquee signing Kylian Mbappé has wasted no time in asserting his dominance in Spain. The French superstar leads La Liga with 9 goals, showcasing his trademark speed and clinical finishing.

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His arrival has electrified Spanish football, and he’s proving why he’s one of the most feared forwards in the world.

2. Ligue 1: Ansu Fati and Joaquín Panichelli (Five goals each)

Ligue 1 is currently led by Ansu Fati (AS Monaco) and Joaquín Panichelli (Strasbourg), each with five goals. While not as prolific as other leagues yet, these young talents are making headlines with their flair and finishing in what is shaping up to be a wide-open race in France.

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READ ALSO:PCN Seals 471 Pharmaceutical, Patent Medicine Stores In Edo

3. Bundesliga: Harry Kane (11 goals)

Top scorer Harry Kane has been in scintillating form, having bagged 11 in the league already, and the England captain also scored twice on Tuesday in a 5-0 win over Latvia that sealed their spot at the 2026 World Cup.

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4. EPL: Erling Haaland (Eight goals)

Manchester City’s prolific striker, Erling Haaland, leads the early-season race with 8 goals in just 6 matches. He also scored a hat-trick for Norway against Israel.

5. Serie A: Riccardo Orsolini, Bologna, and Christian Pulisic, AC Milan (4 goals each)

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Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini and A C Milan’s Christian Pulisic, who was recently named Serie A player of the season, have both hit the ground running, leading the goal scorers’ chart in Italy.

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