Sports

Ex-Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Fregene dies at 77 after protracted illness

Published

2 years ago

October 14, 2024

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Peter Fregene, the former Green Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper, is dead.

Segun Odegbami, a close friend of Fregene and ex-international, broke the news in a heartfelt Facebook post on Sunday night.

Odegbami said the Nigerian football legend died in the presence of Tina, his wife, and two of his children after a protracted illness.

The 72-year-old former striker who recently solicited financial assistance for Fregene, 77, expressed gratitude to those who supported the ex-goalkeeper during his illness.

“And the Man died. A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one week, passed on to meet his Creator,” he wrote.

“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina.

“On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sports persons, his family, friends, fans and a few incredible Nigerians that quietly rallied round and, with their support, prayers and the will of the Creator of the Universe, kept him alive until this night, I say a big ‘thank you’.

“Good night ‘Apo’. Rest my friend, rest in peace, finally!”

Popularly known as the ‘Flying Cat’ or ‘Apo’, Fregene was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Nigeria national football team from 1968 to 1971. He was then recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals. He also represented Nigeria at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.

During a career spanning over two decades — from the 1960s to the 1980s — he won the Nigerian FA Cup with both ECN and Stationery Stores.

Peter Fregene was an integral part of the iconic team that dominated Nigerian football in the 1960s and 1970s

Stationery Stores Football Club also mourned Fregene, who was described as an “integral part of the team in the 1960s and 1970s”.

In a statement released on Monday, Adetilewa Adebajo, chairman of the club, offered condolences to Peter’s wife and children.

“Peter was an integral part of the legendary Stationery Stores team of the sixties and seventies that provided 10 players on a regular basis to the National Green Eagles Football team,” the statement reads in part.

“He was in the squad that represented Nigeria in the 1968 Olympics. A team that held the giants of Brazil and Pele to a 3-3 draw.

“Peter was undoubtedly the dominant goalkeeper in the country in the late 60s and 70s. His exploits are woven into Nigeria’s football folklore as his agility earned him the nickname the flying cat amongst others. His physical presence, superb abilities and showmanship, endeared him to millions on fans.

“On behalf of the family of the Late Israel Adebajo, Board, Management, Players, past and present especially our teaming supporters, we commiserate with the Family, Children and devoted wife Tina of our beloved player and goalkeeper.

“We pray the Almighty will give us all the strength and fortitude to overcome this sad loss. We take solace in the memory, legacy and joy this beautiful soul has given us with his exploits in the beautiful game.

“Thank you Champion. Rest in Peace.”

Sports

Arsenal win EPL title after 22 years

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2026

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Arsenal are English Premier League (EPL) champions after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to hand Arsenal an unassailable four-point lead with just one match remaining to the end of the season.

The Gunners win the EPL title for the first time in 22 years, since the legendary Invincible side won it in the 2003/04 season.

In the club’s 100th season without relegation from the EPL, the club will celebrate its centenary participation with a league title won on the back of a record 28 EPL wins that surpassed the 26 wins recorded by the Invincibles. The defence prevented opponents from registering a shot on target in six matches, equaling a 23-year league record, and also scored a record 17 goals from corner kicks.

Mikel Arteta’s tough side has led the table for most of the season before a late mini-collapse, and Man City’s late surge in form nearly threatened their title ambition for a second season in a row.

City’s late resurgence, however, was initially stunned by Everton in early May and completely collapsed against Bournemouth.

Guardiola’s side visited the Vitality Stadium aware that any result other than a victory would seal Arsenal’s title. But they lacked the execution for the mission after falling to a wonderful strike from Junior Kroupi in the first half.

City were only kept in the game by Bournemouth’s profligacy in front of goal. When Erling Haaland’s equaliser was squeezed home in the eleventh hour of the game, even the most faithful City supporter knew it was too little, too late.

Arsenal and Arteta secured the league earlier than they would have predicted, giving City a prodigious title run-in.

The league triumph is Arteta’s second major title with the North London club since joining in December 2019, adding to the English FA Cup trophy won within six months of his tenure in May 2020.

The 44-year-old Spaniard wins his fourth title overall and can win his fifth — and third major trophy — with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend.

Sports

WrestleMania 42: Nigerian wrestler Oba Femi beats 10-time WWE Champion Brock Lesnar

Published

2 months ago

April 20, 2026

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Nigerian professional wrestler, Isaac Odugbesan, popularly known as Oba Femi, defeated 10-time WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar, on his WrestleMania debut on Sunday.

The clash, one of the headline matches at WrestleMania 42, ended on a dramatic note as the 27-year-old Nigerian overpowered the veteran.

Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring after the match — a gesture widely regarded in professional wrestling as a sign of retirement.

Oba Femi, also known as “The Ruler,” is a former NXT champion and has spent just three months on WWE’s main roster.

The contest began with both wrestlers testing each other’s strength before Lesnar briefly seized control with a series of offensive moves.

However, Femi absorbed the pressure and responded with a dominant display, shifting momentum in his favour.

Lesnar delivered an F5, but Femi quickly recovered, hitting a chokeslam before finishing the contest with his “Fall From Grace” sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall victory.

The bout quickly became a major talking point on social media, with fans reacting to the upset win.

Femi, a former shot put athlete, is a two-time NXT Champion and a one-time NXT North American Champion.

Born in Lagos, Odugbesan competed in track and field during his school years before signing with WWE in 2021 through its NIL programme.

He went on to win the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and the 2024 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

During the WrestleMania Sunday post-show, Femi sent a message to Roman Reigns, popularly known as the “Original Tribal Chief,” drawing a loud reaction from fans as he hinted at a possible title challenge before the end of the year.

Sports

BREAKING: CAF overturns Afcon final result, declares Morocco winner

Published

3 months ago

March 17, 2026

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The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals and declare MOROCCO the winner of the title.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January in a match which was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.

Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players did eventually return and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

However, that result has now been overturned by CAF.

A statement by the African Football’s Governing Body said that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.