Sport

Former England striker Wayne Rooney has named his top three standout performers in the Premier League so far this season. Rooney made the selection while speaking on Amazon Prime, highlighting Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo, and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres as his top choices. “Top three, probably Semenyo. I think he’s been brilliant for Bournemouth, carrying on his form from last season,” Rooney said. Read Also: Barcelona Asked Lewandowski to Stop Scoring to Avoid €2.5m Payment – Biography Claims “I’d also put Bryan Mbeumo in there. I think he’s been really good for Manchester United, even after a difficult start to the season for the club.” He added that his third pick would be Arsenal’s Gyokeres, noting the striker’s consistent impact for the Gunners.

Barcelona reportedly asked star striker Robert Lewandowski to stop scoring goals towards the end of his first season with the club to avoid triggering a financial clause in his transfer deal. The revelation is contained in a newly published biography titled “Lewandowski. Prawdziwy” (“Lewandowski. The Real One”) authored by Sebastian Staszewski, which details behind-the-scenes events from the 2022–23 season. According to the book, the conversation took place after Barcelona secured the LaLiga title under former manager Xavi Hernandez, with two fixtures remaining in the campaign. Read Also: Barau FC Leadership Holds First-Ever Meeting At the time, Lewandowski led the scoring charts with 23 goals—two short of a milestone that would have activated a performance-related add-on. Staszewski claims the Polish striker was summoned for a meeting with top club executives, where he was reportedly told: “Robert, we need you to stop scoring goals in the last two matches.” The reason, the biography states, was purely financial. Scoring 25 league goals would have obliged Barcelona to pay Bayern Munich an additional €2.5 million as part of the agreement that brought Lewandowski to Camp Nou. (Sports)  

The Super Eagles have booked their place in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup after a thrilling 4-1 victory over Gabon in Rabat on Thursday. Victor Osimhen led the charge with a brilliant brace, while Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams added a goal each as Nigeria found their rhythm late into extra time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. The win moves Osimhen closer to Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, with the Napoli forward now on 31 goals—just six behind Yekini’s 37. Read Also: Super Eagles Resume Training After Boycott Over Unpaid Allowances Despite a disrupted buildup marked by players’ protests over unpaid allowances, the Eagles maintained focus once the whistle blew. Osimhen had several chances early in the game but was denied by Gabon’s impressive goalkeeper, Loyce Mbaba. Nigeria finally broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when Akor Adams capitalized on a defensive error to slot home his second goal for the national team. However, Gabon equalized through Mario Lemina in the 89th minute, forcing the game into extra time. In the extra period, Nigeria’s attacking prowess came alive. Ejuke netted his first goal for the Eagles, before Osimhen’s double sealed a comfortable victory for the three-time African champions. The Super Eagles will now face either Congo DR or Cameroon in Sunday’s final of the African playoffs. The winner will claim Africa’s sole ticket to the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced that the Matchday 9 fixture between Barau FC and Kano Pillars will be played behind closed doors on Sunday. In a letter dated Tuesday, 14th October 2025, and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body stated that the decision was taken for safety reasons. According to the statement, “The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has directed that the Matchday 9 fixture between Barau FC and Kano Pillars be played behind closed doors in accordance with established safety and security protocols.” Read Also: Barau FC Record First NPFL Triumph, Outclass Kun Khalifat The statement further added that only the following categories of personnel will be granted access to the stadium: referees’ council members, state football association officials, accredited members of the press, and security personnel. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) persons only are expected to be present within the match arena. No spectators, supporters, or unauthorized individuals shall be admitted into the stadium under any circumstances. Furthermore, the NPFL Secretariat will continue to deploy two (2) officials for subsequent Barau FC home matches to conduct on-the-spot assessments and provide detailed reports on compliance, organization, and security standards. Barau FC has accepted the NPFL’s decision, despite earlier efforts to allow fans entry into the stadium. The NPFL Matchday 9 fixture between Barau FC and Kano Pillars is scheduled for Sunday, 19th October 2025, at 4:00 PM, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata. Signed: Ahmad Hamisu Gwale Media Director, Barau FC

Barau Football Club has recorded its first away victory of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, defeating Kun Khalifat FC 3-1. This was conveyed in a statement signed by the club’s Media Director, Ahmad Hamisu Gwale, on Sunday and made available to newsmen in Kano. The NPFL Matchday 6 encounter was held at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, Abia State, in the presence of both clubs’ officials. The triumph also marked Barau FC’s first win of the current NPFL campaign. Read Also: Barau FC Appoints Ladan Bosso as New Technical Adviser The Maliya Boys’ forward, Yahya Ibrahim, equalised in the 16th minute with a fine finish off Sai’du Salisu’s brilliant assist, after Kun Khalifat FC had taken the lead in the 14th minute. Midfielder Hilary Ekawu then put the Maliya Boys ahead in the 64th minute, converting from Bismark’s precise cross, before Yahya Ibrahim doubled the lead with his second goal of the match, following an excellent pass from Sugau Aliyu. The brace took Yahya Ibrahim’s tally to three goals in the 2025/2026 NPFL season. Speaking after the match, Barau FC’s Technical Adviser, Ladan Bosso, praised his players for their resilience despite playing away from home. “Actually, I am so happy with the result. Our club proprietor, the general manager, my coaching staff, officials, and players all did well to secure this victory,” Bosso told newsmen. He further emphasized that the team would build on this performance, remain focused, and prepare strongly for their next home fixture against Warri Wolves. Yahya Ibrahim also expressed his delight at scoring twice, dedicating the goals to his parents for their prayers and support. With this victory, Barau FC has moved up to 18th position on the NPFL table, with five points from five matches. The Maliya Boys will host Warri Wolves on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, on NPFL Matchday Seven.