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Super Eagles Set To Lose Premier League Star To Italy

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to lose talented defender Michael Kayode to the Italian senior team, report has indicated.

 

​Kayode has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League since last season. He joined Brentford from Fiorentina in 2025, and he has been a consistent performer ever since.

​Last season, he featured in 37 games, contributing one goal and one assist. He was a solid rock at the back and became famous for his long throws, which consistently caused trouble for opponents and led to goals for his club.

​However, Nigeria had taken notice of Kayode since his days at Fiorentina, and there have long been calls to draft him into the national team setup.

​The obstacle, however, has been that the 22-year-old currently plays for the Italian youth setup. Although he has Nigerian roots, he is eligible for Italy because he was born there and obtained his citizenship when he turned 18.

​Consequently, he has represented them at the Under-18, Under-19, and Under-21 levels. Still, there was hope that as long as he did not feature for the senior team, he would remain eligible to play for the Super Eagles.

​Those hopes are now set to be dashed, as he has been called up to the Italian senior team for the upcoming international break.

​They take on Belgium, Turkey, and France in their opening fixtures of the new UEFA Nations League, and if Kayode features in those games, under FIFA rules, he will no longer be eligible to play for Nigeria even if he later decides to switch allegiances.

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Van Dijk: Why Liverpool Lost To Arsenal In Sunday League Game

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Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, has expressed his disappointment following their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

 

Kai Havertz’s goal in the first half proved to be the winner for the Gunners.

Speaking to the media after the game, Van Dijk bemoaned their failure to take their chances.

“Disappointment, disappointment,” Van Dijk said.

“We had some opportunities, we tried everything. I think we could have maybe done a bit better towards the last 15 minutes of the game to get more balls in the box.

“But it wasn’t enough today and that’s why disappointment is definitely the feeling I’m having

“After we conceded the goal, we started to play much better. A big chance from Alexis could have changed the game.

“Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but we all know, in the second half, anything could still happen and we kept pushing and going for it.”

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2026 U-17 WWC: Venezuela Coach Reacts To Defeat Against Flamingos

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Venezuela head coach Dayana Frías has reflected on her side’s narrow defeat to Nigeria’s Flamingos in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

 

The South Americans crashed out of the competition following a 1-0 loss to Nigeria, who secured their place in the semi-finals.

Although Venezuela struggled to match the Flamingos’ intensity, La Vinotinto put up a determined defensive performance, keeping the Nigerian side at bay for much of the encounter.

The game appeared destined for a penalty shootout before Nigeria were awarded a late spot-kick after Venezuela defender Migleydys Bolsegui was adjudged to have fouled Oluebube Umejiaku.

Azeezat Oduntan stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to hand Nigeria a crucial victory and book their place in the last four.

Frías admitted that a costly mistake proved decisive but expressed satisfaction with her team’s overall performance and development throughout the tournament.

“It was a good performance overall, but I think we made one mistake and paid for it. As for the experience, it’s been really beautiful and rewarding,” Frías told FIFA.

“I’m happy to see how much they’ve grown and how they’ve developed as footballers throughout the tournament. We also have seven players who are eligible to play again next year, so I think they’re ready to come back and keep growing.”

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Hakimi Gets Hat- Trick As Le Havre Slumps To PSG 1-5

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Achraf Hakimi produced a masterclass from full-back, netting three goals to inspire Paris Saint-Germain to a dominant 5-1 win over Le Havre. Despite an early scare from Josh Maja, Luis Enrique’s side showed their tactical superiority to maintain their lead at the top of Ligue 1.

 

PSG continued their relentless pursuit of another Ligue 1 title with a comprehensive 5-1 demolition of Le Havre at the Stade Oceane. The match began with an unexpected twist as Maja gave the hosts a shock lead in the 18th minute, capitalising on a rare lapse in the Parisian backline.

However, the Parisiens responded with tactical precision, levelling through Mika Godts before taking a half-time lead thanks to the first of three strikes from captain Hakimi. The Moroccan international was the undisputed protagonist of the evening, demonstrating why he is considered one of the world’s most elite attacking defenders.

In the second half, Enrique’s side tightened their grip on the proceedings, suffocating Le Havre with 71% ball possession. Hakimi added his second in the 55th minute before providing the assist for Senny Mayulu to make it four. The rout was completed in the 69th minute when Hakimi secured his hat-trick, rounding off a performance of staggering individual quality.

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