Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the Premier League match against Leeds United at Old Trafford. Copyright: ImagoxConorxMolloy

Manchester United‘s seventh loss of the English Premier League season was confirmed last night as Leeds United clinched a 2-1 win, courtesy of a double from Noah Okafor, Soccernet.ng reports.

Michael Carrick’s side hadn’t kicked a ball in an official game since the 20th of March, before the International break, and were a little rusty at Old Trafford as Okafor broke the deadlock inside five minutes.

The Swiss-Nigerian doubled the lead in the 29th minute, and after the game, taunted the Red Devils with a post on his social media page.

Having waited days to watch their team back in action again, the Nigerian Manchester United fans didn’t hold back in calling out the incompetence from the fans.

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Have a look at what the fans feel about Manchester United’s loss to Leeds United, as compiled by Soccernet.ng.

Reacting to the performance, Chris Analysis said: “After a full month, the players decided to disgrace us at Old Trafford. A lot of players need to go, even the manager. I’m not sure he’s the right one.

“Casemiro is leaving, we need a replacement before he exits. If there’s none, we need to beg him to stay. Just because Mainoo was absent, we could not string passes together.”

Opposing fans also taunted the Red Devils, calling them out and telling them to win their games after calling out Arsenal and Chelsea over the past few days.

Chukwuma Henry also raised concerns about Michael Carrick’s in-game decisions – “If we played against Manchester City like this, we’d concede seven. We have a striker who doesn’t run. If Carrick gets this job, it’s all down to Benjamin Sesko.”

“We travelled, and everything changed. He’s not been fielding Ugarte since, and today, it was evident. It was a poor performance all round. I’ll keep blaming the manager.”

“We’re experiencing foolishness in this club. There has to be consequences for these things. I don’t think Carrick is the man. I always talk about Iraola because I saw him do things with Semenyo and the rest. They all left, but he defeated Arsenal,” Kurotams Justus said.

“Amorim is the cause of our problems. Playing a game per week has made these players relaxed. How far can we go in the Champions League with Ugarte and Luke Shaw in the starting eleven? Overhaul the entire team,” Orduson Jenny added.

Manchester United’s loss to leads put them level on points with Aston Villa, who occupy 4th place on the EPL table, opening up the race for the Champions League spots with six games left to play.

https://afrigather.com/atleticos-ademola-lookman-becomes-4th-super-eagles-star-with-ucl-quarterfinal-goal/

Ademola Lookman has written his name into Nigerian football history after becoming only the fourth Super Eagles player to score in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Atalanta forward struck for Atlético Madrid in their high-stakes second-leg clash against Barcelona, delivering a goal that changed the direction of the tie.

Lookman’s moment came in the 31st minute at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, just as the match was beginning to slip away from Atlético.

Barcelona had started brightly, scoring twice early through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres to wipe out Atlético’s first-leg advantage.

With the aggregate score suddenly level, tension grew inside the stadium. But Lookman stepped up at exactly the right time.

The move began shortly after a brief stoppage caused by a collision involving Fermín López and Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso. Once play resumed, Atlético broke forward quickly. Marcos Llorente surged down the flank and delivered a sharp, low cross into the box.

Lookman timed his run perfectly. Calm and composed, he met the ball first time and guided it past goalkeeper Joan García. It was a simple finish, but one that carried huge importance. The goal made it 2-1 on the night but, more importantly, restored Atlético’s aggregate lead to 3-2.

In a tie that had swung quickly in Barcelona’s favour, Lookman’s strike slowed their momentum and gave Atlético back control.

It was also his sixth goal for the club since arriving from Atalanta in the winter transfer window.

Ademola Lookman’s place among Nigerian greats and what comes next

With that goal, Lookman joins a very small group of Nigerian players who have scored at this stage of Europe’s biggest competition.

Before him, only three Super Eagles stars had managed it. Victor Osimhen scored for Napoli in 2023, although his side were knocked out by AC Milan. A year earlier, Samuel Chukwueze produced a famous late goal for Villarreal against Bayern Munich, sending his team into the semi-finals.

The earliest of them was Obafemi Martins, who scored for Inter Milan back in 2006 during a quarter-final tie against Villarreal.

Lookman is now the latest name on that list, and he may not be done yet.

If Atlético Madrid go on to secure qualification, they will move into the semi-finals, where the stakes become even higher.

And for Nigerian players, scoring at that stage is even rarer. Only two Nigerians have ever found the net in a Champions League semi-final. Finidi George did so for Ajax in 1995 with a stunning long-range effort against Bayern Munich, while Martins scored again in the last four for Inter in 2003.

That means Lookman now has the chance to become just the third Nigerian to achieve that feat, a remarkable milestone in itself.

His immediate focus, though, will be on finishing the job against Barcelona. But whatever happens next, his goal has already secured him a place in Nigerian and Champions League history.

Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor. Copyright: Seskimphoto/IMAGO

Nigeria striker Paul Onuachu is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career as he continues to fire Trabzonspor to an unexpected challenge for the Turkish Super Lig title, Soccernet.ng reports.

However, Onuachu’s position in the race for the European Golden Shoe shows just how tough the competition can be.

As of mid-April 2026, the Super Eagles forward sits 10th in the standings. He has scored 22 league goals, which is an excellent return by any standard.

However, in the Golden Shoe rankings, those goals translate into 33 points. This is because the Turkish Süper Lig uses a 1.5 multiplier, rather than the higher 2.0 given to Europe’s top five leagues.

That difference has a big impact. Players like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland benefit from the stronger coefficient. Kane, for example, leads the race with 31 goals and 62 points, showing how quickly the numbers can rise in a higher-ranked league.

Even so, Onuachu’s place in the top 10 is impressive. He is competing with some of the most feared strikers in world football, despite playing in a league where each goal counts for less in the final ranking.

His performances this season have been outstanding. He has scored 18 of his goals from open play and added four penalties, showing both sharp movement and composure. He has also been dominant in the air, scoring eight headed goals, thanks to the physical strength and positioning that make him such a difficult opponent for defenders.

Can Onuachu close the gap in the Golden Shoe race?

Onuachu will definitely score more goals when he returns from his current injury however, the challenge facing the former Southampton star is about overcoming the system itself.

While he leads the Turkish Süper Lig scoring chart comfortably ahead of players like Mauro Icardi and Eldor Shomurodov, the points gap between him and Europe’s top leagues remains significant.

Still, his recent form suggests he is not giving up. During the second half of the campaign, he went on a remarkable run, scoring 10 goals in just nine matches. He also made history at Trabzonspor by becoming the first player since 1992 to score in 10 consecutive games across all competitions.

That kind of consistency keeps him in the conversation, even if catching the leaders will be difficult.

Elsewhere in the race, names like Vedat Muriqi and Igor Thiago are also pushing hard, showing how competitive this year’s Golden Shoe battle has become.

Undoubtedly, the final weeks of the season will be crucial for Onuachu. To climb higher, he will likely need both a strong finish and perhaps a dip in form from those above him.
But regardless of where he finishes, his campaign has already proven that he is among Europe’s most reliable goalscorers, even when the system is not fully in his favour.

https://afrigather.com/super-eagles-prospect-ayaosis-breakout-season-sparks-viktoria-plzen-slavia-prague-interest/

Emmanuel Ayaosi produced one of his best displays of the season at the weekend, providing two assists as MFK Karvina came from behind to beat Slovan Liberec 3-1 in the Czech top flight, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 21-year-old Nigerian winger played the full match and was at the heart of everything positive for his side, especially after they went a goal down early on.

Liberec took the lead inside four minutes through Raimonds Krollis, but Karvina responded quickly and gradually took control of the game. Ayaosi’s real impact came in the second half. With the score level and the visitors reduced to 10 men, he showed composure and vision to change the match.

First, in the 67th minute, he picked out Aboubacar Traoré with a well-weighted pass that split the defence and led to Karvina’s second goal. Then, ten minutes later, he delivered again, this time setting up Pavel Kacor with another precise assist to seal the victory.

It was a performance built on awareness, timing and creativity. Ayaosi constantly found space in wide areas, drove at defenders and made smart decisions in the final third. His ability to deliver accurate passes under pressure stood out, and he finished the game as the main difference between the two teams.

That display adds to what has already been a strong campaign. Ayaosi now has six goals and six assists in 27 league matches this season. He has become one of Karvina’s most reliable attacking players, capable of both scoring and creating chances.

Ayaosi: From steady growth to rising demand

Ayaosi’s journey to this point has been one of steady development. He began his professional career in Nigeria with Dakkada FC before making the move to Europe, joining Karvina’s system.

Like many young players adapting to a new environment, he started with the club’s reserve side, learning the demands of European football in the Czech third tier.

Those early years were about patience and improvement. He was used sparingly at first when he stepped up to the senior team, often coming off the bench. But over time, his confidence grew, and so did his influence.

This season has marked a clear breakthrough. Ayaosi is no longer just a squad player, he is now a regular starter, trusted to play full matches and deliver in key moments. His numbers reflect that progress, but so does his overall performance level, with consistent displays and growing tactical maturity.

Unsurprisingly, his form has caught the interest of bigger clubs. Czech giants Viktoria Plzen are believed to be leading the race for his signature, with Slavia Prague also monitoring his development closely. There are also reports of interest from clubs outside the Czech Republic, particularly teams looking for quick, creative wide players.

With his market value rising to around €2 million and the summer transfer window approaching, Ayaosi could be set for the next step in his career. If his current form continues, a move to a bigger club looks increasingly likely.

For now, though, his focus remains on finishing the season strongly with Karvina, while quietly building a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most promising young talents in Europe.

And should a move to a more reputable club materialise, Ayaosi could be one step closer to fulfilling his dream of playing for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

Endurance Alade. Photo – Bart krijnen

Dutch-born Nigerian defender Endurance Alade is in advanced talks over a summer transfer, with a second-division club in the Netherlands and a Belgian side both in negotiations to sign the 20-year-old centre-back, Soccernet.ng can exclusively reveal.

The move would represent a significant step up for Alade, who currently plays for Vitesse’s under-21 side, and could fast-track his path into Nigeria’s youth national team setup.

Sources close to the player have confirmed to Soccernet.ng that discussions are progressing well and that a decision on his next destination is expected before the end of the current season.

Transfer could open door to Super Eagles selection

The transfer is being viewed as a potentially decisive moment in Alade’s international career. A move to a competitive first-team environment in either the Dutch second tier or Belgian football would strengthen his case for a call-up to Nigeria’s U-23 squad or even the senior national team.

Alade has never hidden his desire to represent the Super Eagles. In an interview with Pulse Sports Nigeria last year, the Vlissingen-born defender was emphatic about where his international loyalties lie.

“My dream is to become an important defender for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and one day win the title of Africa’s Best Player,” Alade said. “I see myself playing at the highest level, continuously working hard, believing in myself, and achieving even greater success than I can imagine.”

He has previously stated that he would turn down a call-up from the Netherlands in favour of Nigeria, citing Jay-Jay Okocha and William Troost-Ekong as his role models.

Spijkenisse to Vitesse — and now beyond

Born in the Netherlands to Nigerian parents, Alade came through the youth academy at VV Spijkenisse before spells at MSV’71 and Excelsior Maassluis. He joined Vitesse’s under-21 squad on a performance-based contract in the summer of 2025 and has made a handful of competitive appearances, including captaining the side in a goalless draw against Heerenveen’s reserves.

While the step up to Vitesse provided exposure to a more professional environment, Alade’s camp believes a permanent first-team role at a club where he can play regular senior football is the next step needed to put him on the radar of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.

A familiar path for Nigerian football

Alade mirrors a well-worn route for players of Nigerian heritage developing in European lower leagues. Alex Iwobi, now a key figure for Nigeria, came through the English youth system before committing to the Super Eagles. Calvin Bassey made a similar journey through the Leicester City academy and Rangers before becoming a mainstay of the national team.

The NFF has faced criticism in recent years for failing to identify and recruit eligible players early enough, a point Alade himself has raised publicly. He previously called on the federation to follow Morocco’s model of actively engaging with diaspora players, pointing to the successful recruitment of Brahim Diaz as an example.

With ongoing negotiations and a move expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, Nigerian football fans will be watching closely. A successful transfer could be the catalyst that finally brings Endurance Alade into the Super Eagles conversation.