EJUKE SIGNS FOR SEVILLA
Twenty-six-year-old Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke has signed for Sevilla FC on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with CSKA Moscow at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
In a statement by Fabrizio Romano on X last week: “Chidera Ejuke, new Sevilla player on three year deal as exclusively revealed. Story confirmed.”
The Zaria-born winger spent his final season on loan at Royal Antwerp, scoring five goals and providing six assists while making his Champions League debut. A special move for him, as he becomes the first Nigerian player to represent Los Rojiblancos. Best of luck for the future, Ejike.
RIAD COMPLETES TRANSFER TO CRYSTAL PALACE
Moroccan centre-back Chadi Riad has committed his future to Crystal Palace. At just 20 years old, he has represented some of the top clubs in Spain, famously donning the colours of Barcelona and Real Betis. The defender joins after an impressive season on loan at Real Betis, making his debut for the Moroccan national team in the process.
Widely acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the move on X:
‘Official, confirmed. Chadi Riad joins Crystal Palace on fee around €15m from Real Betis. Contract until June 2029 for the defender. First addition for Oliver Glasner, waiting for Daichi Kamada next.’
The centre-back himself expressed delight at the move in a statement last week:
“I’m really happy to join Crystal Palace. I was interested in coming here because of the history of the club, and the league in which it plays. They have been telling me how they played this year and I think it complements perfectly the way I play. The club has high-level players who are young and I have come here to follow their same trajectory, to grow as they have grown.”
Good luck in the English League, Riad
GRAM COMPLETES MOVE
Tunisian international Alaa Gram has completed a move to Ukrainian club Shaktar Donetsk from Tunisian club Club Sportif Sfaxien.
“Fabrizio Romano confirmed the move on X:
Shakhtar Donetsk have just completed deal to sign Tunisia centre back Alaa Ghram. Deal agreed for €2m with CS Sfaxien.”
The young centre back is capable of playing across the backline and can play in midfield too. One to watch in the coming seasons!
THE WORKING ONE GETS THE JOB DONE
Enugu Rangers are champions of the Nigerian Premier Football League once again, claiming their first league title in eight years. The eight-time winners have finally ended their league trophy drought. Head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has led the team to the league title in his debut season with the club.
A 2-0 win against Bendel Insurance and a loss by their closest rivals, Reno Stars, to Sunshine Stars confirmed them as champions ahead of the final league game of the season.
Ilechukwu quickly dismissed comparisons to Jose Mourinho after being referred to as ‘The Special One’ following the title triumph. Instead, he called himself ‘The Working One.’
This is a milestone achievement for Ilechukwu, as he secured the first league title of his managerial career after previously finishing second with MFM FC and Plateau United in the 2016/2017 and 2021/2022 seasons, respectively.
The Flying Antelopes have secured qualification for the preliminary rounds of Africa’s premier club football competition, the CAF Champions League, next season due to their incredible achievement.
RUTHLESS DISPLAY BY THE ATLAS LIONS
The Democratic Republic of Congo faced off against Morocco in their Group E World Cup Qualifying match. Morocco looked to consolidate their position at the top of the table while DR Congo aimed to secure their first point in the qualifiers.
The Moroccans asserted their dominance early on as Azzedine Ouhani, set up by teenage sensation Eliesse Ben Seghir, danced away from his marker and fired the ball in to give them an early opener. Subsequently, Congo failed to clear the ball properly from a Moroccan set piece, and the ball deflected kindly to Chadi Riad, who put it beyond the rushing goalie to grab his maiden international goal.
Hakimi turned provider four minutes later, teasing a low pass into the box, and Ayoub El Kaabi fired it first time into the back of the net. El Kaabi, back in the starting XI, was back among the goals.
The UECL final hero grabbed his second of the match, finishing off a well-worked team move at the back post as Ouhani turned provider. It was a scintillating first-half performance by the Atlas Lions. They grabbed the fifth with a clever set piece routine. Ouhani teed up El Kaabi once again, and the striker directed the ball into the net with his head, placing it beyond the reach of the goalie. A perfect hat-trick for the UECL player of the tournament, who was subbed off afterward.
Morocco completed the rout as substitute Soufiane Rahimi rifled his shot into the back of the net just two minutes after coming on. It was a complete show of dominance by the North African country.
BACK TO WINNING WAYS
South Africa got back to winning ways as they played host to Zimbabwe in their Group C World Cup Qualifying match. Bafana Bafana got off to a flying start against their neighbors, with Iqraam Rayners capitalizing on a defensive error to grab an early opener in the first minute. A horror moment for Munashe Garananga.
Zimbabwe wasted no time in grabbing the equalizer as Tawanda Chirewa danced his way around in the South African box and poked the ball into the net in the second minute. A lifeline for the visitors, and it was game on!
Zimbabwe nearly went ahead through Chirewa, but the South African goalie was quick to deny the attacker from a tight angle in the 36th minute. Chirewa meant business as he went close once again in the 45th minute with a nice turn and a shot, but his curling effort drifted wide of the goal.
After some fine work by Oswin Appollis on the wing, he crossed the ball in, but it was intercepted by the goalie, who spilled it into the path of Thapelo Morena, allowing the substitute to grab a goal. The hosts took the lead once again. Appollis threaded a delicious through ball down the middle for Morena, who raced onto it. Opting for a Delima-esque finish, he rounded the keeper and fired the ball into the back of the net. A second goal for the substitute to seal the win.
South Africa sits second on the table, level on points with group leaders Rwanda and third-placed Benin Republic.
COMEBACK WIN FOR THE PANTHERS
Gabon faced off against The Gambia in what turned out to be an entertaining thriller in Franceville.
The visitors took the lead in the 33rd minute, with Yakuba Minteh connecting well with a deep cross from Omar Gaye at the back post. They nearly doubled the lead seven minutes later through a smart set piece routine, but Mbaba reacted quickly to tip Musa Barrow’s shot over the bar. The visitors went into the break with a lead.
The second half was delayed due to power issues in the stadium, but the hosts didn’t take long to grab the equalizer after the restart. First-half substitute Jim Allevinah scored for Gabon in the 52nd minute. Afterwards, they took the lead from a corner kick, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacting quickest to guide the ball into the net after it deflected off the Gambia defender.
They extended their lead further as Allevinah turned provider for Denis Bouanga, teeing the forward with a lofted pass, and the latter guided it into the net with a simple header. The Gambia weren’t done yet, as they grabbed a goal from a corner. Ebrima Colley flicked a cross from a corner backwards into the path of Ebou Adams, who hit it first time into the net on the half-volley to set up a tense finish. The hosts held on and ultimately secured the three points. Gabon is second in Group F with 9 points, while The Gambia remains fifth on the table.