Team Imo athletes gave a spirited account of themselves on Monday at the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, winning four silver medals across Para Table Tennis, Darts, Cricket, and Para Powerlifting.

Cyclist Onasanya Samuel opened the haul with a silver medal in the 80KM road race, while weightlifter Victory Iwuoha added one silver and two bronze medals in the 60KG category to further boost Imo’s tally.

In Para Table Tennis, the duo of Amarachi Blessing Nkwocha and Chizoba Ohaka fought gallantly but were edged out by Abia’s Goodnews Young and Ikechi Victoria in the Girls’ Doubles final, settling for silver.

Another silver came from the Darts 501 singles event where Grace Ebochukwu lost 2-0 to Team Delta’s Jessica Okonkwo in the final.

The Cricket team also showed resilience, finishing runners-up to secure silver in the male ODI category.

Para Powerlifting produced more joy for Team Imo, with Ojike Caleb claiming second place in the Men’s 87KG event.

With these results, Team Imo’s medal count now stands at six silver and two bronze medals.

While the performances drew applause, officials emphasized there is still room for improvement as Team Imo continue their push for gold when the Games resume on Tuesday.

By Silvernews

Fulham have secured the signing of Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan on a season-long loan, with an option to make the deal permanent. The 26-year-old has been handed the No. 19 shirt for the 2025/26 campaign.

Chukwueze links up with compatriots Calvin Bassey, last season’s Player of the Year, and Alex Iwobi, one of Fulham’s consistent performers. Speaking after his unveiling, the winger expressed delight at joining the London club, saying he already feels at home.

Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan welcomed the addition, describing Chukwueze as an explosive talent with valuable experience in Europe and international football for Nigeria.

By Silvernews

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Super Eagles midfielder Chrisantus Uche on a season-long loan from La Liga side Getafe, with an obligation to buy. The 22-year-old will wear the No. 12 shirt for the 2025/26 campaign.

Uche becomes Palace’s fifth signing of the summer, joining Walter Benítez, Borna Sosa, Yeremy Pino, and Jaydee Canvot. Chairman Steve Parish described him as an exciting young talent with full international experience, while the player himself called the move “an unbelievable moment” and a big opportunity in his career.

The midfielder’s rise has been rapid, starting in Spain’s fifth tier with Moralo CP in 2022 before moves to AD Ceuta and Getafe, where he impressed with four goals and seven assists in 38 appearances last season.

By Silvernews

Sevilla have confirmed the mutual termination of Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract, ending the Nigerian striker’s stay with the La Liga side. The 28-year-old, who signed from Leicester City in 2024, made 11 appearances and scored three goals before being loaned to Middlesbrough in January, where he featured 15 times with one goal and two assists.

Iheanacho returned for preseason but failed to make the matchday squad in Sevilla’s opening three league games, leading to his exit a year before his deal was due to expire. Coach Matías Almeyda had preferred other attacking options this season.

The former Manchester City forward is now a free agent and has been heavily linked with Scottish champions Celtic, who remain keen to bring him in as they seek to strengthen their attack following their Champions League elimination.

By Silvernews

Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili has confirmed her switch of allegiance to Turkey, bringing an end to her long-running disputes with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). The 21-year-old, a 200m Olympic finalist, made the announcement on social media, citing repeated negligence that cost her appearances at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Her ordeal began in Tokyo, where she was disqualified along with nine other Nigerian athletes after the AFN failed to conduct mandatory anti-doping tests. The heartbreak was repeated in Paris, when she was omitted from the women’s 100m start list despite meeting qualification standards, a blunder later blamed on AFN and NOC officials.

By switching allegiance, Ofili joins a growing list of Nigerian athletes who have opted to represent other countries, including Gloria Alozie, Francis Obikwelu, and Emmanuel Bamidele. She will sit out the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo while completing her nationality switch, in line with World Athletics regulations.

Owerri, September 1, 2025 – The Commissioner for Sports in Imo State, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, has extended warm new month greetings and a message of encouragement to athletes representing the state in Delta.

In his goodwill message, Onyeocha prayed for abundant blessings, renewed strength, and fresh opportunities for the month of September. He urged Imo athletes competing away in Delta State to stay safe and make the state proud by bringing home laurels.

“Embrace each day with hope, courage, and purpose. We are confident in your ability to excel and represent Imo with distinction,” Onyeocha stated.

The commissioner further wished the athletes a joyful, productive, and fulfilling month, reminding them to shine bright and stay inspired as they carry the hopes of the state on the national stage.

The Nigeria Players Union, the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers, NANPF is overwhelmed by the number of requests made to its office by players asking the union intervention over various complaints they have sent to the NFF players status and Arbitration Committee PSAC for adjudication to safe their career.

It will be recalled that the players union had called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to facilitate the meeting of the players status and Arbitration Committee before the start of the 2025/26 league to forestall situations that may lead to the affected players from being trade restraint. Unfortunately the NPFL league has started while some players are yet to be cleared by their clubs and unpaid debts owed players due to unresolved issues that are yet to be adjucated by the NFF PSAC.

The union is therefore calling on the NFF as a matter of urgent importance to facilitate the meeting of the players status and Arbitration Committee to enable it dispense with the unresolved cases so that players can move on with their life and career.