by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 14, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
After five remarkable years, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has officially closed the chapter on her career with Paris FC Féminin, the French club confirmed on Friday.
The 24-year-old Nigerian shot-stopper joined the Parisian side in 2020 from Rivers Angels, and since then, has evolved into one of the finest goalkeepers in the D1 Arkema league. With 100 league appearances, an impressive 44 clean sheets, and a 74.4% save rate, Nnadozie’s legacy at Paris FC is etched in gold.
During her tenure, she helped steer the team to three UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifications, lifted the Coupe de France, and collected prestigious individual honours, including D1 Arkema Goalkeeper of the Season and the UNFP Best Goalkeeper Award.
Paris FC paid tribute to their departing star with a moving farewell post:
> “Arriving at Paris FC in 2020 from Rivers Angels FC, Chiamaka immediately became an essential part of the team. Arkema’s best goalkeeper in 2023 — she is leaving Paris FC after a magnificent victory in the Coupe de France, where she was one of the main actresses.
Paris FC warmly thanks Chiamaka for all these five years that will forever leave an imprint in the history of the club. We wish her all the best for the next step of her career.
Thank you, Maka!”
While the club did not confirm her next destination, strong rumours suggest a move to England could be on the horizon — a new stage for a player whose growth has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Wherever Nnadozie goes, one thing is certain: her time in Paris will be remembered as one of resilience, brilliance, and historic achievement.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 14, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Barcelona’s pursuit of a new left winger has taken an unexpected turn, as the Spanish champions seem to have cooled their interest in Nigerian star Ademola Lookman, with renewed focus now on Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.
In recent weeks, Lookman had emerged as a potential target for Barça, reportedly suggested by new manager Hansi Flick. The Super Eagles forward, who is poised to leave Atalanta this summer, had drawn interest from top clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Atletico Madrid.
However, according to reports from Monfort Carlos via Onze, the Catalan giants have reopened talks with the agent of Nico Williams—Lamine Yamal’s close friend and Spanish international. The 22-year-old dazzled last season for Athletic Bilbao, registering 11 goals and seven assists in 45 appearances. Barcelona had failed in an attempt to sign him last summer, but with Liverpool refusing to part ways with Luis Díaz, the Blaugrana are once again considering Williams as a top target.
Despite the shift in attention, a potential move for Ademola Lookman cannot be completely ruled out. While no formal contact has been made between the player and Barcelona, the club has yet to secure any of their alternative targets, leaving the door open for further developments.
Lookman, who has been a revelation for Atalanta with 52 goals and 25 assists in 118 games across three seasons, is also attracting interest from Juventus and Arsenal. With the summer transfer window fast approaching, the Nigerian forward will soon have to decide his next destination.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 14, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Nigeria’s Sadiq Umar left in transfer limbo as summer window opens; Beşiktaş lurking in the shadows
Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar appears to be edging closer to the exit door at Real Sociedad after suffering a double snub from both his parent club and recent loan side, Valencia CF.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance at Valencia during a half-season loan — scoring five goals in 16 appearances and even winning the club’s Goal of the Season award — the La Liga outfit declined to activate the €10 million buy clause in his deal.
Back in San Sebastián, the 28-year-old finds himself unwanted at Real Sociedad, who are now reportedly keen on offloading him permanently despite his contract running until 2028. His early promise at the club was derailed by a serious knee injury in 2022, and he has since struggled to fit into Imanol Alguacil’s system.
With no solid offers yet on the table, Sadiq remains in limbo.
A cryptic message shared on Instagram by the forward — “You don’t love me or I don’t love you. What’s the answer? To keep it best in secret then say we don’t love each other” — has further stoked speculation of an imminent move, interpreted by many as a symbolic goodbye to Spanish football.
Reports in Turkey suggest Beşiktaş are monitoring his situation closely, with a potential loan move under discussion, although talks remain in the early stages.
Sadiq, who is currently vacationing in Nigeria, remains a player of notable value — rated at €5 million — but unless a breakthrough occurs soon, he risks another season on the sidelines.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 14, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Newly promoted Turkish Super Lig side Kocaelispor are on the verge of landing a significant coup with the imminent signing of Nigerian forward David Okereke, whose reputation as José Mourinho’s personal nightmare continues to grow.
After a standout 2024/25 season on loan at Gaziantep FK — where he finished as the club’s top scorer with nine goals and three assists — the 27-year-old is now set for a fresh chapter with Kocaelispor. His goals played a pivotal role in Gaziantep’s survival, guiding them to a respectable 12th-place finish.
But it was his goal against title-chasing Fenerbahce at the Ulker Stadium that stole headlines — not just for the timing, but the trivia it added to his resume. Okereke became the first Nigerian player to score against a José Mourinho team while playing for three different clubs: Venezia, Cremonese, and Gaziantep.
That knack for unsettling Mourinho’s defenses has earned him cult status among fans and a certain wariness from the Portuguese tactician himself.
While Gaziantep had the option to keep him, Turkish reports indicate they passed on the clause — opening the door for Kocaelispor, who have now reportedly struck a verbal agreement with Okereke. Final discussions are expected on Monday, according to Sportsblog247.
The club, preparing for its first season back in the top tier, plans to bolster all departments, with Okereke tipped as their marquee attacking signing.
Cremonese, who signed Okereke for €2.5 million in 2022, still hold his rights and will need to finalize a formal agreement with Kocaelispor to seal the deal. As of now, the striker is valued at €2.2 million, per Transfermarkt.
If completed, the move would not just mark Okereke’s return to the Turkish Super Lig — but hand Kocaelispor a proven goal-getter with a knack for the big stage.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 14, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
At just seven years old, Christopher Bonsu Baah was ready to trade in football boots for dancing shoes. The Ghanaian youngster, now a rising star at Belgian club Genk, admitted he nearly gave up football entirely to chase a different dream — dancing.
“I was a dancer. I said I would not play football again,” he told Joy Sports. “I would sneak out just to go dance.”
But behind the scenes, two people weren’t ready to let his football journey end so easily — his mother and his youth coach, Sule. Realizing the talent slipping away, the duo joined forces with a shared mission: bring Christopher back to the pitch.
“The two of them were straight on me,” he recalled. “Even when I sneak out at midnight, my coach would come out chasing me, and my mum too. They really helped me.”
Their persistence paid off. In 2023, after catching eyes in Ghana’s lower leagues, Bonsu Baah made a rapid leap to Norway’s Sarpsborg. After just 12 games, he secured a move to Belgian top-flight side Genk — a remarkable rise that may never have happened without his mother and coach’s tough love.
Today, Bonsu Baah is hailed as one of Ghana’s most exciting football prospects — not just for his talent, but for a backstory that proves how the right support at the right time can change everything.
