Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Gun Violence, Bad Pitches and Weather Chaos: Can the US Really Host the 2026 World Cup?

Should the USA Still Host the 2026 World Cup Amid Rising Concerns?
Football fans around the world have begun to question whether the 2026 FIFA World Cup should still be hosted in the United States—or if their hosting rights should be revoked. This debate has resurfaced following the tragic shooting and assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, during a public speaking event in Utah.

While this tragedy should not be used to chase clout, it has nevertheless reignited discussions about America’s ability to safely and successfully host the world’s biggest sporting event. Security concerns are only one part of the conversation.

The FIFA Club World Cup, recently hosted in the U.S., was plagued by numerous problems: poor pitch conditions, extreme weather that forced matches to be delayed for over an hour, and widespread visa difficulties for fans and teams. These issues raised eyebrows about whether America is truly prepared for the scale and demands of a World Cup.

Now, with political violence making global headlines, football fans are asking tough questions:

Is the USA capable of guaranteeing safety and smooth organization in 2026?

Or should FIFA consider relocating the World Cup to a country better positioned to host?

Rip to Charlie Kirk!!!

Being A Nigerian Is The Hardest Job Ever Known To Mankind

Being a Nigerian is one of the top three hardest things in the world, and it’s not even number three. Imagine drawing with South Africa one day, and the very next day the power grid collapses, plunging the whole nation into darkness. Is this life? It’s so sad that even the bare minimum is not provided. Just yesterday, there was flooding at Maryland, and cars were literally swimming.
Someone once said if you have money, you would enjoy Nigeria. But even then, you’ll see Cybertrucks worth millions of dollars turned into canoes because of the Lagos floods. Funny enough, the Lagos government has decided that the easiest way to fix this is to witch-hunt by seizing Capri-Sun from supermarkets simply because they use plastic straws.

How long are we going to continue like this?
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Besides, it’s obvious that these same people have applied their incompetence to our sports sector, which is at least supposed to give us some joy in this country. After all, isn’t it these same officials that lost Favour Ofili to Turkey after failing to register her for two consecutive Olympics—and instead of apologizing for their errors, they blamed her for being disrespectful?

I honestly can’t count the number of times I’ve been told that this country is unfortunately not for Nigerians. How can we continue like this? Honestly, being in Nigeria—and even being a Nigerian—reduces your chances of survival and success by 50%.

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Super Eagles Fall From Grace To Grass: Who Should Be Blamed?

The Super Eagles are in danger of missing another World Cup after drawing with South Africa yesterday. While I won’t blame them entirely for the result—because, like it or not, the pitch condition was terrible and even the host country struggled on it—Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup probably began earlier, with the draws against Zimbabwe and Lesotho, followed by the loss to Benin Republic.
So, who should be blamed for our fall from being the “Giant of Africa” in football to becoming the “Super Chickens,” a team that nations no longer respect, to the point where South Africa had the audacity to give us a tiki-taka pitch? Or did the CAF president allow it simply because he is South African, while our voices were not loud enough to oppose it?

Many people are blaming Eric Chelle for our struggles in the World Cup qualifiers and are even calling for his sack. However, this man has secured 8 points out of a possible 12 in four games. So, who should the blame really fall on? The players? Honestly, as much as we want to criticize them, I can only feel sympathy. Most of them are in their prime and would love to appear at a World Cup, especially since many of them may not make the Super Eagles squad by the next edition. At the very least, even if just to “mark attendance,” you can’t convince me these players don’t want to be there.

So, what exactly is the problem? I believe it stems from constantly changing coaches in every qualifying campaign. A good coach can make great things happen. Take SSC Napoli, for example: in 2023, they won the Scudetto under Luciano Spalletti. However, the following year, after Spalletti left, Napoli—with nearly the same set of key players, only missing Kim Min-jae—finished 10th.

Again, this is not to shift all the blame from Eric Chelle, who is still trying to fix the mistakes of both George Finidi and José Peseiro. The real fault lies with the NFF for failing to secure a competent, stable coach. Until then, the Super Eagles will keep changing coaches like clothes, and consistency will remain a dream

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Nigeria vs Rwanda: Proof That Super Eagles Don’t Deserve a Spot at the World Cup

Nigeria's match against Rwanda, despite the win, has proven that Nigeria has no business in the 2026 World Cup—if we even manage to qualify. Honestly, they need to start paying us for watching Super Eagles matches because the whole team looked disjointed and confused.
Furthermore, Osimhen, who had scored Nigeria's last three World Cup qualifiers, was subjected to a harsh tackle. This led to his substitution in the 35th minute, raising concerns about his fitness for the South Africa match.

Back to the team’s performance: we couldn’t string two or more good passes together. The attacking responsibility was placed solely on Alex Iwobi, while the defensive midfielders failed to make any meaningful contribution in attack. On top of that, the right wing was basically non-existent.

South Africa currently leads with 16 points. Interestingly, the only time they dropped points was against Nigeria. Obviously, even if we defeat them, it would be almost impossible for them to slip up in their remaining matches. However, not all hope is lost for the Super Eagles, especially if Nigeria is awarded the three points from South Africa fielding an ineligible player.

Yes, we don’t deserve to be in the World Cup. But we will still hope to see Naija in the tournament—Amen.


Nigeria Vs Rwanda: Still Hope for the World Cup

As the World Cup draws near, Nigeria's chances of qualifying are extremely slim—almost 0.1%. If we mistakenly lose to Rwanda in our home match in Uyo, we can kiss even that 0.1% goodbye. However, despite being fourth on the World Cup qualification table for now, qualification still seems possible.
Firstly, let’s talk about the fact that South Africa fielded an ineligible player against Lesotho, and three points should be deducted from them. Aside from that, the fact that FIFA and even CAF allowed Zimbabwe and Lesotho to play their home matches in South Africa is a disgrace.

But despite all that, if the Super Eagles win all their remaining four matches, including against South Africa, and FIFA does the needful—which they must and will do—Nigeria would definitely qualify.

The only problem is that a team which has managed just 7 points from six games doesn’t really deserve to be anywhere near the World Cup. Eric Chelle will face a daunting task in trying to make Nigeria qualify, fixing the mistakes of George Finidi and José Peseiro.
That said, looking at the 23-man squad that was called up, I can say this is the best squad in terms of deserved call-ups. Let’s go, Super Eagles!


Friday, September 5, 2025

Is Victor Osimhen Unhappy at Galatasaray?

Victor Osimhen’s Silence at Galatasaray: Focus or Frustration?
Since his permanent move to Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen has not posted anything on social media. This comes in stark contrast to his loan spell, when he frequently shared stories before and after matches. His silence has drawn attention from fans, with some questioning whether it is linked to the love and recognition continually shown to club captain Mauro Icardi.

The Icardi Factor

Despite not being fully fit, carrying extra weight, and still recovering from injury, Icardi continues to be given minutes on the pitch. After every game, the song "Aşkın Olayım” 
” (“Let me be your love”), which is Icardi’s goal celebration anthem, is played in his honor. Meanwhile, Osimhen — who is currently Galatasaray’s most in-form player — receives no such recognition.

Even in a recent match, when Osimhen was injured and Icardi went to warm up, the crowd erupted for the Argentine captain. Some fans interpreted this as a sign of disrespect towards Osimhen. Adding to this tension, Osimhen has not celebrated any of his goals this season, further fueling speculation about his mood.

Transfer Market Promises and Frustrations

Another possible reason for Osimhen’s brooding demeanor is Galatasaray’s transfer activity. Reports suggest he was promised a Champions League–ready squad, but the management left critical issues — such as the goalkeeper position — unresolved until the last moment.

This weakness was exposed in their last match, where Osimhen was visibly frustrated, at times begging the wingers to deliver crosses. That said, some of Gala’s signings have been impressive. Singo has strengthened the defense, İlkay has improved the midfield, and overall the club did well in the market. Still, one more midfielder would have made it close to perfect. For the league, reinforcements in midfield and defense could still be added and later registered for the Champions League.

More Focus, Less Noise

In my opinion, Osimhen’s silence is not about Icardi or Galatasaray’s transfer window. Instead, he seems determined to stay focused on his goals this season. The same attitude was visible when he reported to the Nigerian national team camp looking visibly serious, with the Super Eagles on the verge of missing another World Cup. Osimhen’s focus suggests he is trying to push both himself and his teammates to higher levels.

Barcelona Dreams
Looking ahead, this may be Osimhen’s last season — or at most his second-to-last — at Galatasaray. Barcelona are actively searching for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, and Osimhen has been on their radar since his Lille days.

In an old interview, he admitted to supporting Barcelona as a child and expressed his dream of playing for them. More recently, he revealed there was a club he wanted to join soon, likely hinting at the Catalan giants. While he also downplayed the importance of such a move by saying it “didn’t really matter,” the possibility remains strong.

If Osimhen fails to win something major at Galatasaray, such as the Champions League, a transfer to Barcelona could sour his relationship with Gala fans. But if he achieves glory first, he would leave as a legend, remembered for his contributions rather than questioned for his departure.


Thursday, June 26, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo Extends Al Nassr Contract Until 2027

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new deal with Al Nassr, extending his contract until 2027, with an additional one-year option, according to Ben Jacobs and Fabrizio Romano. His previous contract was set to expire in June 2025. This extension makes him the highest-earning footballer and athlete in the world, as he is expected to earn up to €200 million per year (base salary), excluding bonuses.
Additionally, his contract includes a 15% equity stake in Al Nassr, effectively making him one of the co-owners of the club and granting him influence over all club transfers. Beyond this, the Portuguese star is also set to earn additional money for goals scored, and even more if he wins the Golden Boot again.

While some have questioned the decision to extend Ronaldo’s contract—especially given the massive financial commitment to a 40-year-old—others argue that it reflects his continued value. Admittedly, Ronaldo, despite being considered the GOAT in his prime, is no longer what he once was—no offense, but that’s genetics, right? Still, that doesn’t mean he isn’t good anymore. Recently, Portugal won the 2025 Nations League after his equalizer against Spain forced the match into penalties.

That said, the old Ronaldo might have dragged Al Nassr to a title even with a squad of average players. Nevertheless, his impact on the Saudi Pro League cannot be overstated. His move there in 2023 sparked a boom that attracted many other players to the league. Al Nassr’s follower count on X (formerly Twitter) also surged, as Ronaldo is the most followed athlete in the world.

It was also rumored that the Saudi Pro League had offered Ronaldo a move to another club within the league if he didn’t renew with Al Nassr, though these claims remain unconfirmed.

Those Who Reported Jonathan to America Are Now Calling Trump Names – Rufai Oseni

Arise News journalist Rufai Oseni has called out the hypocrisy of some individuals who have attacked Donald Trump for designatin...