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African Games: Quadri gold jinx continues, Edem wins first medal

Nigeria’s highest-ranked table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, lost the men’s singles final of the table tennis event of the 2024 African Games to arch rival Omar Assar in Acrra, Ghana on Tuesday.

Quadri lost 4-3 to the Egyptian to settle for silver, Nigeria’s second medal at the Games, after Offiong Edem had earlier claimed bronze in the women’s singles event on Tuesday.

Quadri, who is making his fourth appearance at the Games in Accra since his debut at the 2011 edition in Maputo, Mozambique has never won an African Games gold medal.

In Maputo, he reached the semi-finals and eventually finished fourth, while at the 2015 edition in Brazzaville, Congo, he qualified for his first-ever final in the men’s singles event but lost the pulsating final 4-3 to Assar.

A the 2019 edition in Rabat, Morocco he stopped Assar from reclaiming the title in the semi-finals, only to lose it to compatriot Olajide Omotayo in the final.

In Accra, Quadri defeated two Egyptians in the quarter-finals and semi-finals to reach the final, first beating Mohammed Abdel Aziz, before dispatching El Beiali Mohamed 4-0.

For Quadri, it’s another mission unaccomplished at the Games, as he had hoped to eventually claim the elusive gold in Ghana but he insists he lives to fight another day.

“It’s really hard and tough. But of course, we keep fighting and fighting. It’s not about winning all the time, it’s about sportsmanship,” Quadri said.

This is why we are professionals; this is what we are made to do. It’s always a very difficult match; it shows that the level of the competition is actually improving.”

Meanwhile, Offiong Edem became the first athlete to earn Nigeria a medal at the Games in Ghana after finishing in the top three of the women’s singles of the table tennis event on Tuesday.

The Spain-based star played her best matches in the last 16 and quarter-finals when she defeated the Alhodaby twins – Marwa and Mariam – to join the league of medallists in the women’s singles.

Set up against defending champion Dina Meshref of Egypt in the semi-finals, Edem caved in with a 4-0 defeat to settle for bronze, just like she did at the 2019 edition in Rabat, Morocco.

“I am so happy that we were able to attend the last World Championships in Korea and this really helped my game a lot. I want to thank the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation for their support and I believe attending such a competition really helped me personally here in Ghana.

“The Egyptians are ahead of us because they attend more competitions than us and we hope we can get such support to return to the top of the game in Africa,” Edem said.

 

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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.

 

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

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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.

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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.

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