Kelechi Iheanacho’s 67th-minute goal saved the Super Eagles’ blushes on Sunday as they continued on a bumpy ride in the 2026 World Cup Qualification Competition.

The goal drew the Nigerian side level for a 1-1 ending against Zimbabwe in their Group C Match Day 2 fixture at Butare in Rwanda.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Walter Musona had given the game’s hosts a 26th-minute lead from a free-kick from about 30 metres out.

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The goal again underlined the need for the Nigerian team’s technical crew to have a re-think about their goalkeeping department.

It was a kick goalkeeper Francis Uzoho should have been able to do something about, given the distance, but he only leapt when it was too late.

NAN reports that the result means Nigeria has only two points from two matches in the group, and will host South Africa on June 5 in their Match Day 3 fixture.

Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne on Wednesday shot to the top of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table with a comprehensive whipping of the Shooting Stars FC.

In their Match Day 6 fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, the hosts were clinical in annihilating the Oluyole Warriors and were two goals up by half-time.

The game’s opening moments were marked by a little exchange of scoring chances which were not utilised as a result of poor finishing.

But Remo Stars soon made their doggedness count when they scored in the 22nd minute through Ahmed Akinyele who utilised Sodiq Ismail’s assist.

The Shooting Stars did fight back, with young midfielder Abdullahi Lawal shooting a few inches wide from about 20 metres out after a pass from Joshua Akpan in the 37th minute.

But it was the hosts that went on to register their name on the scoreboard three minutes later when Sikiru Alimi converted a penalty kick to double their lead.

The visiting side redoubled their efforts in the second half, injecting fresh legs in Gideon Monday and Douglas Archiv who replaced team captain Taofeek Malomo and Oke Kayode respectively.

However, their finishing kept on letting them down as the hosts stood resolute when on the back foot.

Alimi went on to make it a brace for himself and extend his side’s lead with their third goal in the 64th minute.

The hosts only needed to wind down the clock thereafter, as the Shooting Stars continued to search for a goal in the three matches they have played away from home.

The result took Remo Stars to 12 points from four wins and one loss in five matches, with a +4 goal difference.

As for the Shooting Stars, it is their second loss in three away outings, conceding five goals and scoring none.

It made it 10 points from three wins, one draw and two losses from six games, scoring a total of seven goals and conceding eight.

Kenyan marathon runner, Titus Ekiru has been banned for 10 years, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said Monday, on account of both doping and tampering in a case that involved collusion with a high-ranking doctor in a Kenyan hospital.

One of his positive tests, for triamcinolone acetonide, came at the Milan Marathon in May 2021, which he won in a time of two hours, two minutes, and 57 seconds, which would currently rank him the seventh-fastest all-time marathon athlete.

The ban comes after an investigation found the 31-year-old obstructed the AIU’s probe into two adverse analytical findings (AAFs) by using false information and documentation.

His ban runs from the date of his provisional suspension on June 28, 2022 until June 27, 2032. His results on and since May 16th, 2021 have been erased and he must forfeit all race prizes and money.

Ekiru also tested positive after winning the Abu Dhabi Marathon on Nov. 26th for pethidine and its marker norpethidine.

An investigation showed Ekiru received injections of banned substances during undocumented hospital visits, and the AIU was able to determine medical documents submitted to explain his AAFs were forged and inconsistent with hospital and pharmacy records.

“For athletes involved in doping and the entourage who assist them, there is one strong message from this case – there is nowhere to hide,” said AIU chair David Howman.

Ekiru won at least 10 marathons or half-marathons between 2017 and 2021.

– Reuters