Sport
Galatasaray unveils Osimhen as Drogba attends
Football all-time legend, Didier Drogba is set to join massive entourage of top-rated celebrities and personalities who are expected to witness the official unveiling of Nigerian hitman, Victor Osimhen by Galatasaray of Turkey.
It was gathered that Osimhen will in the next few hours step out as a full-fledged player of the Turkish champions, for whom he netted 37 hosts in 41 games while on loan last season from SSC Napoli of Italy.
Osimhen’s stunning form and his insistence on never playing again for Napoli prompted Galatasaray to make a spirited bid for his signature in a full contract starting this week.
The deal that now ensures Osimhen is no longer attached to Napoli comes with an agreement for Gala to pay €40m upfront on the striker’s total transfer fee and an additional €35m next summer.
The agreement also includes €5m in bonuses for the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, 10% sell-on fee payable to Napoli for his next transfer and a privilege that he must not sign for any Italian Serie A club within two years of his stay at Gala.
While the club’s supporters, Nigerian fans and the world at large eagerly await Osimhen’s first match as a bona-fide player of Galatasaray, Sports247 gathered that Drogba is already heading to Istanbul for the 26-year-old Nigerian striker’s unveiling.
Although initial reports had indicated that Drogba and former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, who is also a Chelsea legend, were eager to lure Osimhen over to Stamford Bridge, the Ivorian icon has opted to support the rave of the moment at Gala, for which he also played from 2013 to 2014.
Incidentally, Didier Drogba also hit home 37 goals in 15 matches for Gala, which he joined after spending a year at Shanghai Shenhua of China; as he approached the twilight of his career, but still made a quick return to Chelsea afterwards.
Didier Drogba is now excited with the confirmation of Osimhen’s full transfer to one of his former clubs, and the highly regarded frontman, who recently lost a bid for election as the president of his country’s football federation, is set to witness the unveiling live.
“I’m thrilled (that) I will be attending Victor Osimhen’s unveiling in Turkey! After all the stress, it’s time to celebrate. I’m confident Osimhen will shine in the Turkish league. Wishing him all the best in this new chapter,” Drogba stated in a social media post.
The Ivorian sensation, who had two stints with Chelsea, netted a total of 212 career goals in 500 official matches, 226 of which were with The Blues, for which he hit home a century of goals in a highly successful tenure with the London-based side.
Drogba, who was named African Footballer of the Year in 2006 and 2009, retired from active football in 2018 after hitting 13 goals in 21 games for Phoenix Suns of USA and is now 47 years old.
Sport
Tobi Amusan Shines Bright with Silver at the World Athletics Championships
Nigeria’s sensational hurdler, Tobi Amusan, has made headlines once again, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan. This marks her return to the podium for the first time since 2022, showcasing her incredible talent and resilience.
Amusan demonstrated her elite athleticism by finishing the race in an impressive 12.28 seconds, securing a well-deserved second place. The gold medal was claimed by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who set a new national record with a remarkable time of 12.24 seconds. Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to Grace Stark of the United States, who completed the race in 12.34 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Amusan had already impressed fans by winning her semifinal heat in 12.36 seconds, setting the stage for a thrilling final. Her fierce competitiveness and dedication were on full display, reaffirming her status as a powerhouse in the sport.
Tobi Amusan’s stellar performance at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships not only adds to her accolades but also solidifies her place among the elite in track and field. The future looks incredibly bright for this remarkable athlete!
Sport
Tonali Rescues Italy from World Cup Crisis Against Israel
Sandro Tonali clinched a thrilling 5-4 victory for Italy over Israel on Monday, delivering a crucial late goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifier just as the Azzurri appeared to be spiraling into another crisis. The Newcastle United midfielder celebrated exuberantly in stoppage time after his speculative shot navigated through a crowd of players and found the back of the net, sealing a dramatic match in Debrecen, Hungary, which Italy seemed to be on the brink of throwing away.
The Azzurri, having missed out on the last two World Cups, were dominating 4-2 in the 81st minute when Giacomo Raspadori, who came on for the impressive Moise Kean, scored almost immediately after his introduction. Kean had previously set the tone by netting Italy’s first two goals.
However, an unfortunate own goal by Alessandro Bastoni and a header from Dor Peretz brought Israel back to level terms just when it looked like Italy would secure a comfortable win. Tonali’s fortuitous goal lifted Italy to second place in Group I, now tied on nine points with Israel, who have played one more match, putting them in a playoff position.
Gennaro Gattuso, Italy’s new coach, remarked, “We’ll take the win, which was crucial for us, but we’re completely crazy because we conceded some absurd goals. We have to address that issue because we’re too fragile; we allow goals too easily. The players realize this, but it’s my problem to solve. However, credit must go to the boys for showing the courage to fight back every time they faced adversity.”
Italy trails group leaders Norway by three points, still holding a potential chance to secure the top spot and the sole direct qualifying berth for the World Cup. Yet, Gattuso faces significant challenges ahead of the upcoming matches against Estonia and Israel, especially as the Israeli players donned black armbands in remembrance of the victims of a deadly shooting earlier that day in east Jerusalem.
Despite being the nominal home team, Israel could have justified a draw, having seen Kean repeatedly pull Italy out of trouble following an early own goal from Manuel Locatelli and a stunning strike from Dor Peretz in the 52nd minute in a mostly empty Nagyerdei Stadium.
The match was overshadowed by political tensions stemming from Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. A small contingent of Italian fans turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem, and boos echoed from some parts of the stadium, accompanied by banners reading “stop.” The Italian players also seemed disinterested at the match’s outset, as Israel showed more urgency and commitment compared to the four-time World Cup champions.
The nominal home side had a goal disallowed before Locatelli’s own goal put Israel ahead. He nearly redeemed himself with an acrobatic volley that struck the crossbar. However, ten minutes later, Kean scored a low drive past goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after receiving a knockdown from Mateo Retegui.
Kean found the net again nine minutes into the second half, equalizing right after Peretz had put Israel ahead again with a brilliantly placed shot. Politano eventually gave Italy the lead with a well-placed volley assisted by Retegui, and when Raspadori added a fourth goal, it seemed Italy would emerge victorious. But it was Tonali’s unconventional winner that ultimately secured the three points for Italy, averting a potential disaster that would have left their World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Sport
EPL: Postecoglou Set to Take Over as Nottingham Forest Head Coach
Ange Postecoglou has reached an agreement to become the head coach of Nottingham Forest, following the club’s decision to part ways with Nuno Espirito Santo. According to reports from Sky Sports on Tuesday, the 60-year-old Australian is preparing to return to Premier League management, having finalized terms just ahead of Forest’s upcoming match against Arsenal.
After discussions with the club earlier this week, both parties quickly came to an agreement. Postecoglou is set to be the eighth permanent manager at Nottingham Forest since Evangelos Marinakis took ownership in 2017.
The former Tottenham manager was released from his position at the end of the previous season after a disappointing run that saw Spurs finish 17th in the Premier League. Nevertheless, he managed to secure a historic Europa League victory, ending the club’s long wait for a trophy.
Currently, Forest occupies the 10th position in the Premier League table after three matches this season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure came to an end after 21 months, with his last game resulting in a 3-0 loss to West Ham before the international break in September.
Espirito Santo took the reins in December 2023 following Steve Cooper’s dismissal and successfully maintained the club’s top-flight status. Last season, he led Nottingham to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, marking their best standing since the 1994-95 season and resulting in their qualification for European competition for the first time in thirty years.
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