News

NFF Mandates Match Commissioners To Be Tech-savvy, Or Get Kicked Out

President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has told Nigeria’s football match commissioners to be ready to enhance their capacity, become tech-savvy, vibrant and agile on the job or see their names deleted without any ceremony.

Speaking at this year’s NFF Match Commissioners’ seminar, at the Sandralia Hotel, Abuja on Wednesday, Gusau harped on the imperative of foistering global best practice in the realm of match commissioning in Nigeria, and declared that the NFF will no longer tolerate indolence, incompetence as reflected in poor report presentation and lack of elegance and integrity on the part of any match commissioner while on duty.

“I have continued to harp on the need for an improved welfare package for you, and you all know that to whom much is given, much is expected. I am sad to report that during a recent assessment of match commissioners, there was a high percentage of failure. We cannot continue to tolerate poor performance. We are working to scale down the number of match commissioners and we will do that through evaluation of your reports.

“A good number of match commissioners do their work diligently and with integrity, and make us proud. Those are the ones that will remain. We want our football to be up there among the best universally and the work of a match commissioner is of utmost importance to how a football match turns out.”

Earlier, Chairman of the NFF Match Commissioners’ Appointment Committee, Alhaji Babagana Kalli assured the gathering that only the very best will continue their service to Nigeria Football as the NFF is taking proactive steps to change the narrative about match commissioners.

“There is no doubting the fact that the world of match commissioning has tremendously transformed and we must gear up in our task assignments in order to ensure the leagues, and indeed Nigeria Football, prosper. It is the cumulative contributions of each one of us that periodically build the process and system of administration in Nigeria.

“The NFF and therefore, this committee will not tolerate any act that has the potential to bring the game into disrepute. We must be conscious that the process of reducing the population of match commissioners in Nigeria is still ongoing and thus, our match commissioners must rise up to the occasion and be equal to the task in every aspect of your duties, obligations and responsibilities.”

Also present at the occasion were NFF Executive Committee members Sharif Rabiu Inuwa and Ganiyu Majekodunmi, Match Commissioners Appointment Committee members Sabo Abdullahi Dutse, Kenneth Nwaomucha, Aminu Maimaga, Yakubu Sarma and Usman Maulud, and former Nigeria captain and Chairman of Enyimba FC, Nwankwo Kanu.

News

Spanish Giants Take Big Step In €60 million Rated Super Eagles Star Signing

Spanish Giants Take Big Step In €60 million Rated Ademola Lookman Pursuit

Barcelona, the Spanish LaLiga giant, has contacted the agent of Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman regarding a potential transfer this summer, according to Soccernet.ng.

Barcelona has been monitoring Lookman as a potential summer signing as they look to bolster their attack ahead of next season.

The Super Eagles star is expected to leave Atalanta summer. He has already attracted a lot of attention, and that is not a surprise, as he has contributed 50 goals and 24 assists in 115 appearances.

To get Lookman, Barcelona would have to outdo Juventus, Arsenal, Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, and Nottingham Forest who are also interested in acquiring his services. Liverpool have also been reported to be in the mix.

Now, in a new development per Caught Offside, the Blaugrana have made a vital step to sign Lookman. Barcelona have contacted Lookman’s agent for a possible deal in the summer.

The Super Eagles star has a release clause of €60 million at Atalanta, and with the way that Barcelona have conducted their business for the last two years, they could still eke out the fee despite their financial challenges.

However, the wages could be the issue. Ademola Lookman currently earns just over €2 million per year at Atalanta. Currently, only four players make more than that at Barcelona. And the Spanish champions will be careful to keep their wage structure intact.

This might be an issue, as the other English clubs looking at Lookman could easily double or triple his wages. Moreover, since the 27-year-old grew up and played in England previously, he could have to favour a return there.

News

Victor Osimhen: The €40M Transfer Race That’s Heating Up Europe

victor osimhen- sportsmarketinternational

Victor Osimhen is once again dominating headlines—this time, not just for his goal-scoring brilliance, but for a high-stakes transfer race drawing the eyes of Europe’s elite.

Currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, the Nigerian striker has been unstoppable, notching 31 goals this season and leading his team to their first Turkish Cup final in six years. His latest masterclass—a clinical strike in a 5–1 demolition of Konyaspor—has sent scouts, fans, and football directors into a frenzy.

But what’s next for the Super Eagles talisman?

Manchester United’s Game-Changer?

According to multiple sources, including Goal and TeamTalk, Manchester United have already reached an “agreement in principle” with Osimhen for a summer move. The deal is rumored to cost between €30M and €40M—an absolute bargain for a player of his caliber.

United see him as a “transformational signing”—a potential fix for their long-standing striker crisis and a spark to reignite their Premier League and Champions League ambitions.

PSG, Chelsea Join the Race

Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea aren’t far behind. With Kylian Mbappé heading to Real Madrid and Chelsea desperately needing firepower, Osimhen’s availability is turning heads. PSG is reportedly ready to go head-to-head with United for his signature, while Chelsea could swoop in with a late offer.

What This Means for the Market

Osimhen’s move—regardless of the destination—will reshape the 2025 summer transfer market. Clubs are on alert, agents are negotiating, and fans are watching every move.

He isn’t just a footballer; he’s a brand, a marketable figure, and a potential franchise centerpiece for any club smart enough to close the deal.

Stay tuned to Sports Market International for real-time updates, expert insights, and the stories that shape the global sports business.

Want to stay ahead of the market curve? Join to our WhatsApp Channel and never miss a beat.

News

Serie A 2025: When Football Paused for a Nation—and the Title Race Tightened

Football has always been more than a game. In moments of global triumph or collective grief, it reflects the pulse of society. This week, Serie A reminded us of that truth.

On Monday, April 21, 2025, the Italian top-flight league came to a respectful standstill following the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The Argentine-born pontiff, revered globally for his humility and spiritual leadership, succumbed to complications from double pneumonia. In response, Lega Serie A made the solemn decision to postpone all Serie A and Primavera 1 matches, underscoring football’s deep interconnection with Italian culture and national sentiment

Among the postponed matches were Parma vs. Juventus, Genoa vs. Lazio, and Cagliari vs. Fiorentina—games that held serious implications for title hopes, European qualification, and relegation battles. But in a rare move that goes beyond sport, the football world united in silence, showing respect for a man who transcended faith, language, and borders.

While fans were left waiting, they understood that sometimes, life asks us to pause. And Serie A did just that.

Intensity Builds as Season Nears Finale

Before the pause, the 2024–25 season was building toward one of the most thrilling conclusions in recent history. Inter Milan, neck-and-neck with Napoli at the top of the table, suffered a dramatic 1-0 loss to Bologna—a stunning bicycle-kick goal from Riccardo Orsolini sealing their fate. Now, with only five matches left, the Scudetto race is wide open, and tension is rising.

Elsewhere, Atalanta continued their impressive campaign with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini, while reflective about their missed title opportunity, remains focused on Champions League qualification—a feat well within reach if their momentum holds.

As we prepare for Serie A’s return, Sports Market International remains your front-row seat to every goal, every moment, and every headline that shapes the global game.