Meet The New King and Queen of African Football

🇳🇬 Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)

🇿🇲 Barbra Banda (Zambia)

Crowned on Monday, December 16, 2024.

Chelsea Winger, Mudryk Suspended Over Positive Drug Test

By Rufus Okoro

The Winger of the Chelsea Football Club (FC), Mykhailo Mudryk has been henceforth provisionally suspended from all football activities, having tested positive over drug tests.

The Ukraine international has not featured for the Blues since November 28, 2024, when he scored in a Europa Conference League win over Heidenheim. His prolonged absence had initially been attributed to illness, but was eventually revealed that he failed a doping test and is unavailable to the Head Coach, Enzo Maresca.

According to The Athletic, Mudryk tested positive for Meldonium, a medication typically used to treat heart conditions such as angina, after the November international break. Meldonium can reportedly assist with endurance and recovery for athletes.

A statement on the Blues’ official website reads: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

“Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.”

Mudryk has responded to the news by posting on social media, “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance. “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened. I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”

Mudryk joined Chelsea for £89 million ($113m) in January 2023, signing an eight-year contract, and has thus far taken in 73 appearances for the club, scoring a total of 10 goals. He maintains that his personal routine has not changed since passing a banned substance test in August.

However, FA regulations dictate that a player could be "provisionally suspended" after posting a positive test, as they are given an opportunity to explain themselves. Mudryk is now waiting on the results of a ‘B’ sample as he continues to cooperate fully with all of the relevant parties involved in the case.

FN News promises to keep you updated on the situation.

BREAKING: Super Falcons Clinches Gold in Ghana Over AWCON

The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Saturday, 1st December 2018 at about 8:35pm clinched the trophy of the African Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON) after a keenly contested final match with the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

The match, which took place in Accra, Ghana, ended 4-3 over penalties after the full time and extra 30 minutes ended goalless.

This is the ninth time the Super Falcons would claim the trophy.

The Nigeria's Francisca Ordega was named the Woman of the match while the fine South Africa's was recognized a the Woman of the tournament.

SPORT: Super Falcons Tackle Banyana Banyana Today Over AWCON Final

The defending Champions of the ongoing 2018 African Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON), the Super Falcons of Nigeria are to squarely face fierce rivals, the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the final match holding today being Saturday, 1st December 2018 in Ghana, the host nation.

The match will kick off by 5:00pm Nigerian time.

Rostrum365 sport crew gathered that the Banyana are already looking forward to a tough final match with the Falcons at the Accra Sports Stadium.

It would be recalled that the South African women defeated the Falcons 1-0 in their opening group game in Cape Coast and they are confident they will beat the Nigerian ladies again today.

On their way to lifting the trophy two years ago in Cameroon, Nigeria defeated South Africa 1-0 in the semi final.

It's noteworthy that both sides are already through to the women’s world cup in France.

But South Africa will be without Vice Captain, Jane Refiloe for the final match. She will reportedly miss the final against Nigeria due to club commitments.
nyana’s matches at the tournament, has left for Australia to join her new club side, Canberra United.

SPORT: Super Falcons Defeat Indomitable Lionesses 4-0, Qualify For Final

The Nigeria's Super Falcons on Tuesday, 27th November 2018 defeated the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 4-2 during penalties in the semifinals of the ongoing 2018 African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON).
Nigeria vs Cameroon

Nigeria finished second in group B after two wins and a loss, while Cameroon were top of group A with two wins and a draw.

Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby made no changes to the starting line up for their previous two games that ended on victory.


The Super Falcons were however bullied to creating very few chances in the first half as the Indomitable Lionesses controlled possession and set the tone of the game.

The Cameroonians aimed to revenge previous defeats by the Nigerian side as the game at the Accra Sports Stadium ended in a goalless draw at halftime, with neither team creating any clear cut chances.


The second half followed in the same pattern as the first with both sides unable to get the breakthrough.

Thomas Dennerby tried to change the game by introducing Falconets stars Rasheedat Ajibade and Anam Imo but the game ended goalless at 90 minutes full time.

The first half of extra time ended goalless with the Super Falcons in the ascendancy before the whistle. The second half ended goalless also as both side proceeded to penalty shoot out.

Captain Onome Ebi, Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala and Ngozi Ebere all converted their spot kicks to give Nigeria a 4-2 victory.

Rostrum365 Sport crew gathered that Cameroon star Ajara Nchout was voted Woman of the Match as she played a crucial role as the Indomitable Lionesses pressed the Super Falcons.

By winning the semifinal game the Super Falcons have qualified for the forthcoming 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup to be hosted in France and will face the Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the final match of the ongoing 2018 AWCON billed for Saturday, 1st december 2018.

It would be recalled that the Falcons were in their first match during the group stage defeated by the South-Africa side by 1-0.

SPORT: Super Falcons Tackle Indomitable Lionessses Today Over AWCON

The Nigeria's Super Falcons will today being Tuesday, 27th November 2018 slug it out with the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the ongoing African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON)being hosted in Ghana.

The Falcons on Saturday, 24th November 2018 graciously entered the semi-final phase of the tournament having humiliated the Equatorial Guinea side by 6-0, hence finishing second in their group.

Rostrum365 gathered that the Swede coach, Thomas Dennerby has warned the Indomitable Lionesses to be wary of his ever-ready Super Falcons.

Dennerby says his Super Falcons side are in good shape to take on Cameroon in Tuesday's semi-final clash in the ongoing AWCON.

The Super Falcons will rekindle their rivalry with Indomitable Lionesses when they go toe-to-toe at the Accra Sports Stadium in the quest to clinch a spot in the final of the competition.

With both sides set to meet for the ninth time in the tournament's history, the holders' gaffer believes his ladies will fight hard with everything in them to claim a win over Joseph Brain's side.

The match is expected to commence by 5:00pm Nigerian time.

SPORT: Eagles Play Goalless with Cranes @Asaba

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have ended their international friendly match with the Cranes of Uganda on a goalless draw.

The game, which commenced at about 4:30pm Nigerian time, on Tuesday 30th November 2018 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, was not unlike a real battle as the two teams seemed really prepared for the epochal outing.

The draw in the Asaba friendly was the second in eight games for the three-time African champions against the Uganda Cranes.

It was also the Super Eagles’ second draw in five games since losing 2-1 to Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The RostrumSport crew gathered that the stadium was full to stupor.

SPORT: Nigeria Plays Friendly with Uganda Today

After qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Super Eagles of Nigeria will slug it out with the Cranes of Uganda in a friendly game billed for today being Tuesday, November 20, 2018.

The game comes after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw away at South Africa which guaranteed them a top-two finish in Group E of the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.

The game will be played at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the Delta State capital, and would be played at 4:00pm Nigerian time.

It's noteworthy that the two teams have qualified for the 2019 AFCON to be hosted in Cameroon.

Rostrum Sport crew gathered that the city of Asaba is already filled to the brim as at the time of filing this report.

Stay tuned to Rostrum for further news on this.

SPORT: Super Eagles Draw with South Africa, Qualify for 2019 AFCON

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday, 17th November 2018 played a 1-1 draw with the Bafana Bafana of South African over the ongoing 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Super Eagles travelled for the game as group leaders with nine points, with the Bafana Bafana second with eight.

The Gernot Rohr’s men went ahead through Samuel Kalu, in what appeared like an own goal before the hosts levelled the score line. There were no goals in the second half.

It would be recalled that the the Bafana Bafana had earlier won the Super Eagles 2-0 at the Godswin Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.

In the other game of the group that was played same day, Libya mauled Seychelles 8-1.

Nigeria hosts Seychelles in their last fixture of the qualifying series and the former equally humiliated the latter.

Meanwhile,  by the latest development, the Super Eagles have qualified for the 2019 AFCON with ten points aggregate.

SPORTS: Real Madrid FC Sacks Coach Lopetegui after a Disgraceful Outing

 

The Spanish revered league, Real Madrid FC has sacked Julen Lopetegui as manager after four and a half months in charge at the Bernabeu.

The Spaniard succeeded Zinedine Zidane in June but the crushing 5-1 El Clasico defeat by Barcelona on Sunday, 28th October 2018 was their fifth loss in six games.

Real, Champions League winners for the past three years, are ninth in La Liga after their worst start since 2001-02.

The 52-year-old will be "provisionally replaced" by ex-player Santiago Solari, coach of B team Castilla.

Lopetegui took a training session on Monday, 29th October 2018 but his fate was confirmed following a board meeting.

A club statement said "there is a great disproportion between the quality of the staff of Real Madrid" and "the results obtained to date".

Eight of the current Real squad are on the 30-man shortlist for the 2018 Ballon d'Or.
Solari has a favourable run of fixtures for the start of his tenure, beginning with a Spanish Cup match against Segunda Division B Group 4 side Melilla on Wednesday.

Real then play Valladolid - sixth in La Liga - on Saturday, Group G's bottom side Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on 7 November, and the mid-table Celta Vigo the following Sunday.
It is the second time Lopetegui has been sacked this year having been dismissed by Spain two days before the World Cup.

That sacking came after it emerged the Spanish football federation was unaware he was in talks to take the Real job after the tournament.

Real have 14 out of a possible 30 points in the league this season and have taken only one from their past five matches - their worst run since they went pointless in the final five games of 2008-09 under Juande Ramos.

They are now six points above the Spanish top flight's relegation places, and seven behind leaders Barcelona.

SHOCKING: Leicester City Boss Dies in Private Jet alongside Others

 

The owner of Leicester City FC died when his helicopter crashed outside the stadium, the club has confirmed.

Billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger were killed when the aircraft spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball on Saturday, 27th October 2018.

It had just cleared the King Power Stadium when it came down at 20:30 BST.

The Duke of Cambridge said he was lucky to have known Mr Vichai, describing him as a dedicated family man.

Leicestershire Police said it believed the other people killed in the crash to be two members of Mr. Vichai's staff - Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare - pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

 

The pilot, Mr. Swaffer had over 20 years' flying experience as a private jet and helicopter pilot.
His career included flying helicopters for live media broadcasting including Channel 4's The Big Breakfast and the Virgin Radio traffic helicopter.

Mr. Swaffer's friend Ms. Lucie Morris-Marr said he was a "veteran in the field" and would have done all he could to prevent lives being lost in the crash.

She described him as a "funny and vivacious" man who was in an "aviation love story" with Mrs. Lechowicz, his darling wife who happened to equally be a pilot.

"Not many people get to work and travel with their soulmate, travelling the world going to glamorous places," she said.

The couple were professional pilots who lived together in Camberley, Surrey. Mrs. Lechowicz moved to the UK from Poland in 1997 to join her missing rib.

In a statement, the Polish embassy said: "With great sadness, we received the news about the death of Izabela Lechowicz in the Leicester catastrophe.

"She was a great pilot, winner of the #Polka100 contest. It contributed to the creation of a positive image of Poland in the UK."

Mr. Vichai, 60, who was married and had four children, bought Leicester City for £39m in 2010.

Under his ownership the Foxes won the Premier League in 2016, having started the season as 5,000/1 outsiders.

SPORTS: Nigeria to Face Uganda in International Friendly

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be facing the Cranes of Uganda in an international friendly. 

The match, which is expected to take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba the Delta State capital on 20th November 2018, would be after the team's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with South Africa.

The Federation of Uganda Football Association has confirmed the proposed outing on Sunday, 28th October 2018.

The warm-up match will be happening three days after Gernot Rohr’s men face South Africa in Johannesburg over the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.

Rostrum equally gathered that the Cranes, who are a point away from securing a ticket to Cameroon 2019, would be jetting into Asaba three days after their qualifier against Cape Verde at the Namboole Stadium.

SPORTS: Super Eagles Move Four Places Upward In the latest FIFA Ranking

 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are now occupying the 44th position in the latest FIFA ranking release on Thursday, 25th October 2018. 

It's noteworthy that they were formerly occupying 48th position in the last ranking released in September.

This is not unconnected with their recent performance in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers. Their present position signifies that they have benefited from the consecutive wins in the said matches.

They are now the third best on the African continent, following Tunisia and Senegal who are occupying the 1st and 2nd positions, respectively. The Tunisia and Senegal moved up to 22nd and 25th, respectively, in the latest FIFA ranking.

The latest ranking therefore revealed that the Super Eagles not only improved on the world stage but also on the continent.  

Other top ranked teams in Africa include Congo DR (46), Morocco (47), Cameroon (51), Ghana (52), Burkina Faso (57), Egypt (58) and Côte d'Ivoire (64).

SPORTS: Nigeria Beats Libya in Tunisia Over AFCON Qualifiers

A brace by Odion Ighalo and another goal by Ahmed Musa gave the Nigeria’s Super Eagles a 3-2 victory over host Libya in Sfax, Tunisia, to move  to the top of Group E of 2019 All African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Super Eagles led the game 2-0 in the first half, with Ighalo and Musa scoring three minutes apart. However, the Libya’s Mohamed Zubya reduced the deficit in the 35th minute.

Subsequently, in the second half, Ahmad Benali levelled the score line for Libya after the team piled a lot of pressure on the Nigeria side.

But Ighalo in the 81st minute gave Eagles the full three points, to keep them ahead of South Africa in the group.

The Super Eagles now have nine points, overtaking South Africa who played a goalless draw away at Seychelles earlier in the day being 16th October 2018.

Libya is third in the group with four points and Seychelles just recorded a point, making them be at the bottom of the group.

The teams in the group will next meet on 16th of November, 2018 with Nigeria travelling to South Africa, while Seychelles will host Libya.

SPORTS: Nigeria Humbles Libya At Uyo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria had on Saturday, October 13, 2018 defeated the Mediterranean Knights of Libya by a 4-0 aggregate at the Uyo township stadium, Akwa Ibom State over the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Super Eagles, who were at home, needed to clinch maximum points against their opponents to continue their quest to qualify for the tournament that will be hosted in Cameroon come 2019.

With South Africa getting a 6-0 victory over Seychelles in the other group game, the Super  Eagles had to win to ensure they kept up the pace with the group leaders.

  

The Gernot Rohr's men got the job done in style with Odion Ighalo netting a hat-trick along with a curler from Samuel Kalu to give the team a resounding 4-0 win at the end of the show.

SPORTS: Eagles Battle Libya Today Over AFCON Qualifiers

 

The Nigeria's Super Eagles are expected to slug it out today being Saturday, 13th October 2018 with the Libyan National team over the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The team's midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi has said that Gernot Rohr’s men have no excuse but to win against Libya on Saturday in the 2019 AFCON qualifying game.

He, thus, believed that the Eagles have enough quality to defeat the North Africans this weekend at home.

“We have been training hard and the coach has studied them well,” Onazi told CSN.
“I don’t think we stand a big chance if we fail to win at home in Uyo. We have no excuse but to win. We have studied how they play and coach knows what to do.

 

“We have enough quality to get past Libya, but we must be very careful. It’s a very important game for us and we know it means a lot for us to win this game, we know how important it is for Nigerians.

“We are putting in all it takes to win. Every time we come to the country to play, we always give our best because it’s a privilege to play for this country. We have been training for this past few days and we are putting finishing touches to our preparations. I hope and pray that come Saturday, God will give us the grace to win.”

The Saturday game is scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital and the kick-off time is 4pm.

Nigeria thus far has three points in the Group E after losing their opening game to South Africa before clinching a comfortable 3-0 victory away against Seychelles
.
Libya, on the other hand, is currently on four points after two games.

The Super Eagles will travel to Tunisia for their next match slated for Tuesday, October 16, 2018.