News & Analysis

The super Eagles lost 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau seem to be a great disgrace to a country loaded with such a population of gifted players. The Super Eagles problem is NOT talent. We have Osimhen, Look man, Boniface, Iwobi -a top 5 squad in Africa still struggling for qualification. Now. The country has just missed two World Cups in a row (2022 and 2026) and just yesterday, in the face of a missing African Cup Nation, although yesterday’s loss wasn’t the first time the country has experienced heavy loss, it has been a long time since the Super Eagles were handed a defeat this heavy, especially by an African team. We would have to go all the way back to AFCON 1990, when they lost 5-1 to Algeria. Before that, it was in 1982 when Zambia beat the Eagles 3-0, but then quick actions were taken by both players and administrators. my observation our problem is *SYSTEM plus MINDSET *. That is why
Countries keep working on permutations and combinations of the qualifications.
Here are the 5 real problems:

1. WE START EVERY QUALIFIER LIKE WE ARE JOKING
We failed to qualify for 2026 because we took 3 points from our first 12.
– 1-1 vs Lesotho (home)
– 1-1 vs Zimbabwe (home) – game in our hands, we drew
– 1-1 vs South Africa
– 1-2 loss vs Benin Republic

Coach Eric Chelle himself said the draws vs Zimbabwe and South Africa cost us the World Cup. You cannot chase qualification after 4 games.

2. COACHING INSTABILITY
3 coaches in one campaign:
Jose Peseiro → Finidi George → Eguavoen (interim) → Eric Chelle in Jan 2025.
Every coach comes with a new system. Players never settle.

3. NO IDENTITY – 11 INDIVIDUALS, NOT A TEAM
We have world-class forwards but:
– Midfield doesn’t control tempo. We can’t keep the ball under pressure.
– Defense is individual, not collective pressure.
– We play a long ball to Osimhen and hope. No patterns like Morocco or Senegal

Guinea-Bissau just beat us 3-0 yesterday in the Afton 2027 qualifiers — not because they have better players, but because they were well-organized and we were not.

4. OFF-FIELD MONEY PALAVER
Before the playoff vs Gabon/DR Congo, players went on training strike over unpaid bonuses.
How can you win when you are fighting off over money days before a World Cup playoff? The final vs DR Congo we lost 1-1 (4–3 penalties) in Rabat.

Former players like Mikel Obi and Iloenyosi now blame both players and federation for not taking responsibility when it mattered.

5. LOCAL LEAGUE IS DEAD — NO BACKUP
When Osimhen is injured, who replaces him? We have no striker from the NPFL ready. NPFL players are not in the Super Eagles. So we have 25 players, not 45.

—

THE FIX — What Must Change Now?

*A) Pick ONE coach and give him 3 years.* Chelle is stabilizing the team, let him build.

*B) Build around 4–3–3, not around Osimhen alone.* We need a midfielder who dictates — Nidi can’t do it alone.

*C) Start qualifiers with murderous intent.* First 2 games = 6 points, not 2 points.

*D) Bring NPFL back:* At least 5 home-based players must be in camp always. Create competition.

*E) Pay bonuses before camp, not during camp.*

If we don’t fix this, we will miss Afton 2027 too — and we have already started badly, losing 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau.

For us to have clear knowledge, let me quickly go to tactical analysis of that Guinea-Bissau 3-0 loss yesterday — what exactly went wrong on the pitch?

Although our players complained about de Setembro, Bissau
Pitch: Very bad — bumpy, sandy patches, but to me, this wasn’t a good reason for heavy loss. There is a certain thing that gives me that conclusion. It only shows people who will remember Mama Balde, who scored the winning goal in Abuja in 2023 those same by doubling the advantage on 65 minutes, and with Nigeria pressing to reduce the deficit, Alvario Djalo put the cherry on top in stoppage time, dancing past a sea of Nigeria legs to score.

This makes me have conclusion that it was not just a loss. It was a tactical lesson.

THE LINEUP & SHAPE

Celle started 4-3-3, but it became 4-2-4 because we were chasing.

– *GK:* Nwabali
– *Back 4:* Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Aursnes-style LB (Bruno Onyemaechi)
– *Midfield:* Onyeka, Onyedika, Iwobi
– *Front 3:* Awoniyi – Lookman – Chukwueze

Guinea-Bissau: Compact 4-4-2 mid-block. Wait and counter.

HOW THE 3 GOALS HAPPENED — SAME MISTAKE 3 TIMES

*GOAL 1 (15′ Franculino Dju 1-0):*
– Nigeria dominating possession, slow passing side to side
– Bassey steps up too high to press, leaves space behind
– Franculino receives between Troost-Ekong and Bassey, dribbles past both — no midfielder covers.
– Finishes low to far corner, Nwabali rooted

*Problem:* Our defensive line was 40 meters from goal on a bad pitch. Suicide vs fast striker.

*GOAL 2 (66′ Mama Balde 2-0):*
– Celle made a double sub at halftime: Moses User and Moses Simon ON for Onyeka and Awoniyi went more attacking.
– We lost midfield balance. Onyedika alone in midfield
– Guinea-Bissau won the ball, 2 passes. Mama Balde runs through the middle of our defense again — same channel.
– Bassey and Eking both caught ball-watching, no recovery pace.

*Problem:* When you chase 0-1 on a bad pitch, you need CONTROL, not more wingers. We removed a midfield and opened the highway.

*GOAL 3 (81′ – Zinho Gano 3-0):*
– Nigeria all out, 8 players in their box for cross
– Cleared, counter 3v2 vs our tired center-backs
– Simple square ball, tap-in

4 TACTICAL FAILURES

*1. No midfield press:*
Iwobi and Onyedika didn’t press their double pivot. Guinea-Bissau played through us easily. Ndidi missed badly — a no-ball winner.

*2. Wide play with no purpose:*
Look, the man and Chukwueze stood wide and crossed, but Awoniyi is not Osimhen — doesn’t attack crosses. Zero shots on target first half from open play.

*3. Bad pitch = Wrong plan:*
On a bad pitch, you don’t play tiki-taka on the floor. You play direct, second balls, set-pieces. Guinea-Bissau did that. We tried to play like Man City on sand.

*4. Fullbacks too high, too early:*
Aida and Onyemaechi were in the final third at 10 minutes 10. When we lost the ball, we had 2 vs 2 at back vs Franculino and Balde — the fastest players in Guinea-Bissau.

WHAT CELLE TRIED TO FIX (But Late)

– Brought Simon and User for pace, but sacrificed midfield
– Switched to 3-2-5 in possession, but Eking (33) can’t cover that much space.
– We had 64% possession, 12 shots, only 2 on target.

Guinea-Bissau had 5 shots, 4 on target, 3 goals. Clinical.

THE SOLUTION FOR SECOND LEG / Afton 2027

1. *Start Ndidi + Onyedika double pivot.* Never leave Onyedika alone. Need legs.
2. *Play 4-2-3-1 compact.* Don’t push both fullbacks. One stays, one goes.
3. *Direct football:* Osimhen or Boniface must start — need a runner behind, not Awoniyi to link-up on a bad pitch
4. *Press higher as a TEAM, not as individuals.* If the striker presses, the midfielder must push up 10 m. Yesterday, the gap between attack and defense was 35m.

*My rating:*
– Nwabali 4/10 – rooted for 2 goals, poor distribution
– Ekong/Bassey 3/10 — caught flat for pace
– Midfield 4/10 — no control
– Look man, 5.5/10 — only one try
– Chelle 4/10 — wrong subs at wrong time

This loss means we now have 3 points from 2 games in Afton 2027 qualifiers after missing World Cup 2026. The pressure is back.

The lover of football in the country has started to say if this loses them, Nigeria will get chances to qualify again our permutations and combinations ,But can this be continued doing things in the same way they expecting a different result?Thank God bless the country

The three best right foot forwards which nobody can drop are Qusmane Dembélé, Raphanin, and Vinícius Jr.

Here the tactical justification of the three great wingers world right now

1.OUSMANE DEMBELE – The Most Unplayable 1v1 Winger

Who is Dembélé?
Masour Ousmane Dembélé is a footballer who plays as a forward and right-winger for Paris Saint-Germain. He recorded as the third French player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup followed by Fontaine twice in 1958, and Kalian Mbappé (2022). 🇫🇷 Remember that he completed the hat-trick within the 32nd minute, making it the second-fastest World Cup hat-trick scorers in history which Erich Probst of Austria score the fastest hat-trick in 24 minutes during game against Czechoslovakia in 1954.
Below is a list of the fastest hat trick scorers in the world.
🇦🇹 Erich Probst – 24′ (1954 vs Czechoslovakia)
🇫🇷 Ousmane Dembélé – 32′ (2026 vs Norway)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Gary Lineker – 35′ (1986 vs Poland)
🇩🇪 Gerd Müller – 38′ (1970 vs Bulgaria)
🇸🇪 Gustav Wetterström – 44′ (1938 vs Cuba)

*Why he is justified:*
– *Two-footed:* Only elite winger in world who can go left AND right at full speed with no difference. Defenders can’t show him onto weak foot because he has none.
– *2025/26 Ballon d’Or Winner* – PSG finally made him central. 35 goals + 16 assists last season. Champions League winner.
– *Chance creation monster:* 3.8 successful dribbles per 90, 3.2 chances created per 90. When he is wide, he OPENS the field for Hakimi to overlap. When he cuts inside, he destroys low blocks.

*Justification:* You can’t game-plan for him. If you show him outside, he crosses with left. Inside, he shoots with right.

2.RAPHINHA – The Most Complete System Winger

Who is Raphinha ?In just five games this season, 2026/27, the Brazilian and Barcelona forward has contributed nine goals to the club, scoring six and three assists to match Lionel Messi’s record in 2017 for Barcelona.

*Why he is justified:*
– *Output + Work rate:* 2024/25: 34 goals + 25 assists for Barcelona. That is not winger numbers, that’s striker numbers.
– *Leads the press:* Under Flick, he is the first defender. Covers 11.5km per game. Creates turnovers high.
– *Big game player:* Scored vs every top 6 team in La Liga and vs Bayern, Dortmund, Inter in UCL.
– *Left foot = weapon:* Best inswinging cross and direct free-kick among the three.

*Justification:* Dembele and Vini are better dribblers, but Raphinha gives you *goals + assists + defense*. He is a coach’s dream. He justifies his spot because the team wins more when he plays.

3.VINICIUS JUNIOR – The Most Decisive Clutch Winger
Vinícius, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team and Considered as one of the best players in the world, he is known for his pace, technique, and dribbling ability, with 128 goals and 100 assists in 375 games in all competitions for Real Madrid:

*Why he is justified:*
– *Fear factor:* No fullback in the world wants to face Vini 1v1 in space. 4.5 dribbles per 90, highest success rate in Europe for high volume.
– *Champions League DNA:* 2x UCL winner, scores in finals. 2023/24 UCL Player of the Season.
– *Evolution:* No longer just speed. Now his finishing in the box is elite – low shot across keeper, chip over keeper. 24 goals + 11 assists last season despite injury.
– *Opens field differently:* Stays WIDE on touchline for Real Madrid, stretches defense to create half-space for Bellingham and Mbappe. That is pure “open field” winger job.

*Justification:* When game is 0-0 at 80 mins, Vini is the one who does something out of nothing.

Why All 3 Are Justified

Player Superpower Opens Field By Weakness
**Dembele** Unpredictability (both feet) Drags 2 defenders wide, frees Hakimi Injuries / Consistency
**Raphinha** Output plus Pressing plus Leadership Comes inside, lets Kounde/Balde overlap Not as explosive 1v1 as Vini
**Vini Jr** Explosive speed plus Clutch Stays wide, isolates FB, creates for others Sometimes loses temper / Finishing streaky

Here is my Final Justification:
– If you need to *BEAT A LOW BLOCK* call on Dembele
– If you need to *WIN THE LEAGUE* with system call on Raphinha
– If you need to *WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL* call on Vinicius

The title Critical Pathways to unlocking Africa’s footballing potential. It is very clear thatAfrica’s problem is not talent, and it has proved at past levels that great players have been produced in Africa. Africa doesn’t lack talent but lacks a system to convert talent.Africa remains underdeveloped primarily due to systemic financial constraints, poor administrative governance, and a severe lack of modern infrastructure. While the continent produces world-class talent, local leagues and grassroots systems struggle to sustain development due to several key factors: weak infrastructure. Many countries lack modern stadiums, standard training pitches, our system of education wasn’t fully challenged towards sport development, and advanced sports medicine facilities, which limits player growth.Administrative Issues & Governance: Financial mismanagement, corruption, and a lack of long-term planning within several national football federations often divert resources away from the sport. Player Talent Drain: The best young African talents migrate to wealthy European clubs early in their careers. This weakens the quality, commercial appeal, and competitiveness of domestic African leagues. Limited Domestic Funding: Local leagues struggle to secure high-value television broadcasting rights, corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales compared to their European or American counterparts. Underdeveloped Grassroots Academies: Outside a few elite structured academies (such as those in West and North Africa), systematic youth development programs and scouting networks are largely underfunded or absent

The gap between Africa and advanced countries is *SYSTEM*. Here are the critical pathways to unlock it:

1. GRASSROOTS CURRICULUM (6-14 years)
Street football gives you flair, but not fundamentals.
*What to do:* One national manual for all academies. Focus on first touch, scanning, passing, 1v1 – not winning trophies at U12. No league tables until U14. And train the grassroots coach – CAF D/C license minimum and government should sundial CAF courses to avoidable for the grassroots coaches.

2. SCHOOL plus FOOTBALL
If it’s “school vs football”, parents will never support football.
*What to do:* is to establish Academy which equal to School. Morning ball, afternoon class. Like Beyond limit fa in Nigeria ,Right to Dream Ghana or Morocco’s Mohammed VI Academy. You create intelligent players who understand tactics.

3. DEVELOP THE COACHES FIRST
You cannot have elite players with average coaches.
this is one of the major problem in Africa football majority’s grassroots coach are not well trained not because they don’t want but money involved I just suggest if CAFC, B/A/Pro cheap and accessible. Teach modern tools: video analysis, data, pressing, periodization. And stop sacking local coaches after 3 games. Give them 2-year projects. Just like Morocco built 200+ qualified coaches – then built a World Cup semi-final team.

4. PITCHES PLUS DATA PLUS SPORTS SCIENCE
You can’t learn a perfect touch on sand. You can’t scout in 2026 with only your eyes.
*What to do:*
– 5 regional High-Performance Centers per country with real turf, gym, physio
– Film EVERY Premier League game. Use GPS. Build a national database
– Add nutrition and injury prevention. Our players get fitter abroad because the SYSTEM there is better

5. MAKE THE LOCAL LEAGUE VIABLE
Why does a 17-year-old rush to Cyprus for $300? Because NPFL doesn’t pay on time.
*What to do:* Enforce Club Licensing for real. No youth team, no women’s team, salaries owed = No Premier League. Minimum wage $800-$1500 paid on time, with insurance. Proper TV deal. If a boy can earn at home at 19, he leaves at 21 worth $5m, not $20k.

6. TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE
FIFA Forward money comes, but never reaches the pitch.
*What to do:* Public yearly audit of Federation accounts. Money must go to pitches, coaches, and youth leagues – not just flying Super Eagles for friendlies.

7. KEEP AFRICAN IDENTITY – DON’T JUST COPY EUROPE
Our superpower is power, speed, 1v1 courage, flair.
*What to do:* Hybrid model.
African DNA plus European Organization equal to World Champion.
Keep the flair, add tactical discipline and collective pressing which Senegal and Morocco proved it.
8.INDIVIDUAL STRUCTURE

Each African should modernize its local league to suit its purpose, just like the Morocco and South Africa leagues are doing.School football, from primary to tertiary, should be more encouraged.Put a stop to the knock-out game at the group stage in our grassroots tournaments.Established a good and good youth league as it will have in most advanced countries in the world, just like when seniors are having league matches every week so as the youth category does.Professional coaches should be employed in schools

The Formula that Africa continent need is
*Raw Talent x (Qualified Local Coaches + Good Pitches + Education + Professional League + Data + Clean Money) = Africa Dominance*

In summary, we don’t need more agents taking kids away. What we need is a system that makes a 17-year-old better in his own country than he would be in Belgium, struggling to survive.

There’s no single reason. It’s been a mix of 4 big problems since the new owners came in 2022:

1. TOO MUCH SQUAD TURNOVER
The problem :Chelsea bought 30+ players in 2 years. ₦1B plus spent.
– No time to build chemistry. New manager, new system, new players every 6 months.
– Example: In 2024, they started 22 different players in the league. No settled XI.
– Veterans like Azpilicueta, Kate, Jorginho left. Leadership vacuum.

Sign:You see players not knowing each other’s runs. Misplaced passes.

2. MANAGER INSTABILITY*
– Tuchel → Potter → Lampard interim → Pochettino → Maresca
– 5 managers in 3 years. Each manager wants a different players and style.
– Maresca came in 2024 with possession plus high line” but the squad was built for counters. Takes time to adapt.

Fans plus players never get consistency.

3. INJURIES PLUS YOUNG SQUAD
The problem : Chelsea’s average squad age is ∼23. Youngest in the PL.
– Key players keep getting injured: James, Nkunku, Lavia, Fofana missed 50-plus games combined in 2 seasons.
– Young players: Palmer, Caicedo, Enzo are talented but inconsistent. They win 4-0 one week, lose 1-0 the next.
– No “winners” in the dressing room to drag games over the line.

4. OFF-FIELD CHAOS / FFP PRESSURE
– Boehly-Clearlake spent big but had to sell to balance the FFP. So they sold academy players: Mount, Gallagher, Chalobah.
– No clear sporting director structure until 2024. “Scattergun” recruitment.
– Pressure to sell every window equal to can’t build in the long term.

WHERE IT SHOWS ON THE PITCH 2025
1. No striker — Jackson is inconsistent. 1 goal in 5 games equal to drop points
2 Leaky defense High line plus young CBs equal to conceding soft goals
3. Midfield imbalance Enzo plus Caicedo are good on the ball, but no one controls the tempo
4. MentalityDrop points from winning positions. That’s a young team thing.

THE GOOD NEWS
Palmer looks world-class. Maresca’s style started clicking in late 2024.
If they keep the same XI for 10 games plus stay fit, results will improve. Chelsea are still 2-3 quality signings, plus one year’s stability away.

INJURIES PLUS SUSPENSION NEWS
Before the Arsenal game on Sunday Sep 6

– Moises Caicedo – Major doubt
– Injury: Unspecified
– Came on vs Brighton then went off in 20 mins
– Possible return: September 6 vs Arsenal. Alonso said it was “largely precautionary”

No other major injuries listed in the latest report. But Chelsea have had a “soft underbelly and tendency to cede possession” this season

As they lost against Arsenal on Sunday, September 6, 2026 it show that in Big London derby. Chelsea haven’t beaten Arsenal in 12 attempts

QUICK SUMMARY
– Form : Perfect start, 2 wins, 4th in table
Big worry injury to Caicedo plus defensive chaos

It is very sad to announce the death of a great grassroots football developer in Nigerian history. That man was Kashimawo Laloko.

Before many Nigerian footballers became household names, there were many visionary coaches working tirelessly behind the scenes to discover, train, and inspire the next generation, but this particular icon did a lot of comparable jobs in the youth’s development of this country.

Short story about the football icon

Born in 1944, Lalo dedicated more than four decades of his life to football as a coach, educator, administrator, and mentor. While he never became famous as a professional player, his influence on the game was extraordinary because of the countless young talents he helped develop.

In 1992, he founded the Pepsi Football Academy, a groundbreaking youth football program that gave thousands of Nigerian children the opportunity to pursue their dreams regardless of their background. Under his leadership, the academy expanded across Nigeria and became one of Africa’s most respected football development institutions.

Many players who passed through the academy went on to represent Nigeria and enjoy successful professional careers, including John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins, Osage Odemwingie, Sunday Mba, Elderson Echiejile, and Stephen Makinwa, alongside many other talented footballers.

Laloko also served as the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), where he helped strengthen coaching education, youth development, talent identification, and technical planning. He consistently believed that Nigeria’s football future depended on investing in young players and providing them with proper guidance, discipline, and opportunities.

Throughout his remarkable career, he: 🏆 Founded the Pepsi Football Academy in 1992. ⚽ Mentored thousands of young footballers. Helped produce several Nigerian internationals.
📚 Promoted modern coaching methods and football education. It left a lasting impact on grassroots football in Nigeria and inspired youth development programs across Africa.

Those who worked with him often described him as disciplined, humble, passionate, and deeply committed to helping young people succeed. Although he kept his family life private, he became a father figure to many of the players he coached, earning respect for his wisdom, leadership, and dedication.

Sadly, Kashimawo Lalo passed away on 26 March 2021 at the age of 76 after a brief illness. His passing was widely mourned across the Nigerian football community, with former players, coaches, administrators, and fans paying tribute to a man whose legacy continues to shape the game.

Today, every young footballer who dreams of rising from grassroots football to the world stage is walking a path that pioneers like Kashimawo Laloko helped create.

Rest in peace, Coach Kashimawo Laloko. Your vision, leadership, and commitment to developing young talents will never be forgotten.

❤️ If you believe Nigerian football legends deserve to be celebrated, LIKE this post, SHARE it with fellow football lovers, and tell us in the comments which player developed through the Pepsi Football Academy inspired you the most.

The 34-year-old Brazil’s star and all-time top scorer with 80 goals in 130 appearances for the country, surpassing Pele, who had 77goals in 92 games, Ronaldo 62 goals in 99games and Romário 55 goals in 71 games, indicating his international career ended after a game against Norway on brief exchange with a journalist remember Neymar got his first goal for his country in the same stadium, in a 2-0 win against the United States back in 2010.

Here is the statement he made.

“I tried and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here, and it ends here,” Neymar said in a brief exchange with a journalist from Brazil’s Globo Esporte after the game.

Neymar has never led Brazil to victory in a World Cup final, but he has played in four consecutive World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 with a total of nine World Cup goals and four assists.

His best World Cup was 2014, where he had five appearances with four goals and one assist to win the Bronze Boot, but missed two matches due to injury while Brazil lost the semifinals 7-1 to Germany.
In the sequence of years 2018 and 2022, they lost in the quarter-finals.

Maybe he collapsed in tears when the final whistle went, and had to be consoled by teammates because it was a poor performance in round 16 or because of his injuries in recent years. That makes the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, now back at his former club (Santos) where, at 19 years old, won the South American Footballer of the Year award in 2011.
To everybody Actually, it was a surprise when he was included in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup, but he did what he could, remembered: Neymar came on as a late substitute at the MetLife Stadium and scored a penalty deep in injury time, but that was a mere consolation after Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway, and Brazil lost 2-1.

The reason for the statement made by Neymar Jr: ‘It started here at MetLife Stadium, and it is now over’ is because Neymar Jr made his Brazil debut at MetLife Stadium on August 10, 2010, in a friendly against the United States.

Gabriel Martinelli has become one of Arsenal’s most exciting attacking players since joining the club from Brazilian side Ituano in July 2019. The Brazilian forward arrived in north London as a young talent with raw pace, energy and hunger, but he quickly proved that he had the mentality to compete at the Premier League level.

Martinelli made an immediate impression during his debut season at Arsenal. He scored important goals, pressed defenders aggressively and showed the kind of fearlessness that quickly made him popular among Arsenal fans. One of his standout early moments came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, when he scored a brilliant solo goal in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw while the Gunners were down to 10 men. Sky Sports described that performance as a major sign of his courage and work rate.

Arsenal signed Martinelli because of his potential and his attitude. He is not just a winger who waits for the ball; he works hard without it, tracks back, presses opponents and gives Arsenal energy on the left side of attack. Under Mikel Arteta, those qualities have made him an important part of the team’s attacking structure.

The Brazilian’s best Premier League season came in 2022/23, when he became one of Arsenal’s main goal threats. His pace, direct running and ability to attack space helped Arsenal compete strongly at the top end of the table. Martinelli’s understanding with teammates such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Jesus also gave Arsenal one of the most dangerous young attacks in English football.

Although competition for places at Arsenal has increased, Martinelli remains valuable because he offers something different. His speed stretches defenders, his pressing helps Arsenal win the ball high up the pitch, and his ability to cut inside from the left gives the team another scoring option.

At just 25, Martinelli still has room to improve. His decision-making, final pass, and consistency in front of the goal can still improve, but his talent and commitment are clear. For Arsenal, keeping him fit and confident could be crucial as the club continues to challenge for major trophies.

Gabriel Martinelli’s journey from Ituano to Arsenal shows why smart recruitment matters. He arrived as a promising teenager, but he has grown into a serious Premier League forward. If he continues to develop, Martinelli can remain a major part of Arsenal’s future for many years.

Wednesday was the first time joy for pacesetter queen after experience seven lost and one draw at Nigeria Woman league

The ladies played incrediblely with impact of recent tactical and strategy adjustments and introduced of new players into team really improved momentum of game and help at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo as oyo State’s female football side, Pacesetter Queens, finally recorded their first victory of the season with 2-0 over Adamawa Queens who actually in the 4th position in table in their Nigeria Women Football League .

After a tense first half that ended without goals, the hosts returned from the break with greater determination. Their persistence was rewarded in the 51st minute when Hikmat Adewale broke the deadlock, sending the home crowd into celebration and setting the tone for a stronger second-half performance.

The Queens continued to press forward with renewed energy, and their efforts were crowned again in the 80th minute when Kaase Esther calmly sealed the victory with the second goal, ensuring a comfortable and memorable win for the Oyo side.

With difficult at first round that saw the pacesetter queen struggle through and last performance we saw no don’t fear ladies we finished well as they hosting Ibom Angels FC again on next Wednesday. And sequence matches.

The Nigeria u17 Team is the most successful team in the tournament’s history, with five titles and three runners-up. Brazil is the second-most successful with four titles and two runners-up. Ghana and Mexico have each won the tournament twice, Despite being one of the top youth countries in the world, when was the last time they qualified or did well in the category?

A lot of unseeing hidden factors are killing our football development in Nigeria, although political instability and governance issues are major challenges to Nigeria’s football development. Frequent changes in government often lead to policy inconsistency, affecting long-term development plans. Corruption is another significant issue, but there are others such as

Selection of players based on federal character, godfatherism, and favoritism, rather than on merit and performance.

Rotation of football coaches across all age categories

Transfer of interest like in the olden days, the interests of the majority were in the local team, not now when everybody is crazy about foreign teams.

No team performance analysts across any of the national teams

Most parents don’t see football as a profession. They see it as a wasting of time, which is not like that in the developing world. Just tell me how profession pay, like football.

There is no age grade developmental program like in most developed countries. There are leagues for age grades from u10 to senior categories which are not like in Nigeria and there is a time in Nigeria, in particular, Ibadan Liberty Stadium, where the NFF u12 tournament was organized to develop young people, but after the first edition, the tournament was stopped.

Recycling players who are already past their prime, yet claiming to be young and energetic, making it almost impossible for genuine young talents to emerge and fill the gap.

The killing of school games across the nation and putting a stop to the primary school game really damaged our development stage, our development stage a lot.

Poor motivation for the grassroots clubs and coaches. At least if grants did not come from the grassroots, they should make it compulsory for local government to coach employees in local government.

Turning most of the school field into a house. In the country now, most of the old school fields have started turning into houses.

The influence of social media and the way in which the majority of young people use social media really affects the development of games in the country.