Sports
Maresca Names Ruben And Haaland As Manchester City Captains
Manchester City have named Ruben Dias as their new captain, with Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma also included in the club’s leadership group.
Dias takes over from Bernardo Silva, who left City during the summer. The Portugal defender will lead the team, while Haaland, Guehi and Donnarumma will take on additional leadership responsibilities as City continue life under new manager, Enzo Maresca.
The announcement was made by coach Maresca earlier today, September 4, with the four players chosen for their experience and influence within the squad. Maresca previously named Enzo Fernandez as captain during their time together at Chelsea, but Dias will now wear the armband at the Etihad Stadium.
Maresca also spoke about Fernandez’s arrival at City after the Argentina international completed a joint-British record £125 million move from Chelsea on deadline day. He said several City players were keen to see the midfielder join the club because of his winning mentality and experience.
“I know Enzo quite well and I know what he can bring to the team,” Maresca said. “He is a winner, a winner’s mentality and knows how to win [after] the World Cup, Club World Cup.”
The manager added: “I can promise you that in the last four or five days four or five players from the squad were asking if he is coming or not because they want him to be with us.”
Fernandez could make his City debut against newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. His transfer formed part of City’s record £458 million spending spree, which also included Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the club had handled Fernandez’s departure respectfully and was now focused on moving forward.
“In football many things happen. With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect. What he has done for the club has been great, but now it’s time to move forward,” Alonso said.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo on Friday.
Madagascar stunned the home crowd at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium by taking the lead in the 16th minute through E. Kari, who converted a pass from R. Ponti.
Nigeria responded before half-time, with debutant George Ilenikhena restoring parity after combining with Alex Iwobi to finish off the move.
The Super Eagles completed the comeback in the second half when another debutant, Moses Usor, scored to put Eric Chelle’s side 2-1 ahead.
Nigeria held on to secure all three points and make a winning start to their Group L campaign.
The result is particularly significant because Tanzania, one of the group’s co-hosts, already has an automatic place at the 2027 AFCON finals.
Consequently, only the highest-placed team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will claim the remaining qualification ticket from the group.
The Super Eagles will next travel to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday for their second Group L fixture, while Madagascar will face Tanzania.
Nigeria were without Victor Osimhen for the match after the Galatasaray striker was ruled out of the opening two qualifiers while recovering from a muscle injury.
Team FCT have emerged winners of the Abuja Zone of the ongoing 2026 First Bank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation Inter-Secondary School Football Competition.
The FCT side finished top of the zonal standings with 10 points to secure the first position, while Plateau State came second with 7 points.
Other teams that participated in the Abuja Zone competition were representatives from Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
Speaking after FCT emerged champions of the zone, 16-year-old Victor Onyebuchi, an emerging star and a student of GSTC Garki, praised the organisers for providing young footballers with an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Onyebuchi said he had hoped and prayed that FCT would emerge winners of the group, expressing delight that his wish had been fulfilled.
He, however, stressed that the team must work harder ahead of the national final, where they will aim to compete for the overall title.
“I am very happy that FCT emerged winners of the group. I prayed for this and my wish has come true. Now, we have to work harder for the national final and hopefully emerge champions,”
Onyebuchi said.
The promising midfielder also revealed that the competition represents an important platform in his ambition to become a professional footballer.
“My dream is to become a professional footballer in Nigeria and later play for the national team. I believe this tournament can give me the opportunity to achieve that dream.”
The Abuja Zone was one of the zonal centres for the 2026 First Bank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation Inter-Secondary School Football Competition, designed to provide young players with a platform to develop and showcase their football abilities.
Former Super Eagles captain and Al-Ahli star, William Troost-Ekong, has converted to Islam.
Troost-Ekong was said to have recited the Shahadah in Doha, Qatar, where he plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli, as reported by a Qatari press, “Al-Arab” on Wednesday.
A respected Islamic cleric, Dr Muhammad Salah, also shared a video on his verified Facebook account wherein the defender recited the testimonies.
The 33-year-old defender first moved to the Arab region in the summer of 2024, when he signed for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Khaleej.
He joined Qatari side, Al-Ahli in January 2026 on a one-and-a-half-year contract and has since played 14 matches across all competitions, including a single appearance in the current season.
On the international stage, Ekong won 83 caps for Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, scoring 8 goals.
He reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and was named best player of that edition.
Troost-Ekong also represented Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games, establishing himself as one of the country’s most experienced defenders of the past decade.
He enjoyed a distinguished international career with Super Eagles, making more than 70 appearances for the Super Eagles.
Between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi: The Truth in Between
Six inmates die in one week amid suspected cholera outbreak in Kano prison
Painful: Blessing CEO Loses Son While Still In Kirikiri Prison
-
News15 hours agoHow AI Could Cause the catastrophic death of a Billion people — Billionaire Bill Gates Warns
-
Sports15 hours agoAFCON Qualifier: Nigeria Defeats Madagascar
-
News23 hours agoSoludo Govt Admits: ‘Peter Obi Did Well as Anambra Gov Amid Financial Records Dispute
-
News15 hours agoPastor Adeboye Welcomes 105 Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa
-
News24 hours ago2027: Otti Backs Tinubu, Says Role as Governor Makes Opposition Difficult
-
News15 hours agoPolice Arrest Officer Who Said Igbo Man Can Never Be President