Author: Brila

Brighton & Hove Albion have assigned squad numbers to the first team players ahead of their first competitive game of the 2018-2019 campaign with Balogun getting No. 14. The number 14 shirt is the same number the Super Eagles defender used while on the books of SV Darmstadt 98 during the 2014-2015 season. Gaetan Bong has already taken Balogun’s preferred number three jersey at Brighton while central midfielder Dale Stephens will wear number six. Leon Balogun was an integral first team member of the Super Eagles during the Summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Man United have reportedly entered the race with Arsenal to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona before Thursday’s transfer deadline. United boss Jose Mourinho has shown a keen interest in bolstering the central defence this month but he is also said to hold an interest in bolstering the attack front. According to Mundo Deportivo, Man United are now said to be weighing up a surprise approach for Dembele, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal during the ongoing transfer window. It is added that the Frenchman won’t come on the cheap with the Blaugrana said to demand at least £89m…

Nigerian Tennis Player and World Number 204 Olajide Omotayo has declared that he is under no pressure to perform at the ITTF Nigerian Open. pic.twitter.com/FEWTDf65Cv — ITTF Nigeria Open (@ITTFNigeriaOpen) August 8, 2018 The 23-year-old who plays professional in Europe mentioned a respected  Colleague, Aruna Quadri who is 18th in the World as a perfect example of a player who is under some pressure. He was part of the Nigerian quartet that won Silver at the Commonwealth games 2018 held in Brisbane Australia. Omotayo is currently the 3rd highest ranked Nigerian, and the 8th ranked African…

Kenya’s former 400m hurdles world champion Nicholas Bett has died aged 28, following a car crash on Wednesday. Bett had just returned from the Africa Championships in Nigeria when he died in Nandi, north west Kenya. In 2015, he made history in China by becoming the first Kenyan to win a world gold at a distance shorter than 800m. He was a two-time African bronze medallist and his twin brother Haron Koech is also a hurdler. Athletics Kenya confirmed Bett’s death on Twitter, while Kenyan sports minister Rashid Echesa tweeted his condolences to the Bett family.

Super Falconets Coach Chris Danjuma has assured Nigerians of his side’s qualification into the second round of the competition ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Haiti. In a brief chat with www.brila.net’s Pius Idoko on Telephone, Danjuma said the Falconets will definitely progress into the next round of the FIFA Mundial taking place in France. The veteran tactician also stated that his players will not overlook or underrate their next opponent, HAITI as a pushover. Danjuma further stressed that they will be focused and has promised that the same level of attention given to the Germans will be…

Chelsea have agreed to pay a world record €80million (£71.6m) to replace Thibaut Courtois with Athletic Bilbao’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. With Courtois trying to force a move to Real Madrid by going AWOL, Chelsea have taken drastic action by paying Kepa’s Athletic Bilbao buy-out clause ahead of Thursday’s Premier League transfer deadline. The deal, which has been greeted by widespread astonishment, will also shatter Chelsea’s record that had stood at £57m for striker Alvaro Morata, who joined from Real last summer. The path of Courtois to Real is set to be further smoothed by the Liga club’s…

Former Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia has expressed his disappointment after being denied of the chance to Manage the Cameroonian National team. Siasia was on the 77-man shortlist for the vacant National team Manager’s position after the departure of Hugo Broos. The Cameroonian FA last week announced CLARENCE SEEDORF & PATRICK KLUIVET as their new Manager and Assistant Manager respectively. The appointment of the former AC Milan  Manager ends a long controversy over the succession of Hugo Broos who led Cameroon to the continental title at the 2017 CAN tournament in Gabon. His assistant, Patrick Kluivert was…

Dutch League giants PSV Eindhoven has joined Torino and EFL Championship clubs QPR, West Brom and Derby County in a bid to sign Olaoluwa Aina from Chelsea. The Super Eagles defender Aina, is a man in demand after the Blues indicated that they can allow to let him leave temporarily again this season according to The Mirror. Italian side, Torino and Championship trio Derby, West Brom and QPR are also keen on the versatile defender. Aina spent last season on loan at Hull and missed out on a place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad after being named…

Thibaut Courtois’ potential move to Real Madrid is creating knock-on effects across Spain with Athletic Club fearing the sudden exit of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Bilbao side fought hard to keep the young Spaniard amid Real’s interest in January and signed him up to a new contract, running to 2025 with an 80 million euro release clause. Such a figure is not deemed high enough by those within the club to guarantee his future and there is panic that, just as Manchester City did with Aymeric Laporte, a Premier League giant will swoop and sign one of their star players, leaving Athletic powerless in the process. First…

Former Man United Captain Rio Ferdinand has warned the club not to sell France World Cup star Paul Pogba and instead to focus on strengthening the squad. Speculation about the midfielder’s future is rife, with reports of interest from Barcelona, but Ferdinand has told executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward he must keep hold of the 25-year-old. Manager Jose Mourinho has already predicted a “difficult season” if United do not do more business before the Premier League transfer window shuts on Thursday. Ferdinand, who made more than 450 appearances for the club, wants Pogba to stay and Spurs defender…