Victor Osimhen has expressed excitement about training under the new Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle.

The Super Eagles are set to regroup this weekend for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. This will be the first time most of the players will be meeting the Malian coach.

Chelle had previously traveled to Europe in January, where he met with players like Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Moses Simon.

“I’ve spoken with him a few times and I understand the goals he has for the team and the players,” Osimhen told BBC Sports Africa. The Super Eagles have yet to secure a win in the qualifiers and currently sit fifth in Group C.

Osimhen stressed the importance of teamwork and determination to qualify for the World Cup. “Winning matches isn’t just about the coach. The players need to give their best, stay focused, and work together to achieve our goal,” said the Galatasaray striker.

Ronaldo Nazario has pulled out of the race to become the next president of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF).

The former Real Madrid striker had previously shown interest in challenging the current president, Ednaldo Rodrigues. However, the 48-year-old announced that he’s stepping back after facing resistance from key figures in Brazilian football.

Ronaldo explained that after speaking with the 27 regional affiliates, 23 of them made it clear they were satisfied with the current leadership and were backing Rodrigues for reelection. He said he wasn’t given the chance to present his ideas or discuss his plans for the future of Brazilian football.

“If those in power believe Brazilian football is in good hands, then my opinion doesn’t matter,” Ronaldo said. “I couldn’t even get a seat at the table to share my vision because there was no willingness to listen.”

In a thrilling UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match at the Metropolitano Stadium, Real Madrid edged past city rivals Atlético Madrid, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 1-0 defeat in regular time led to a 2-2 aggregate draw.

The match began dramatically, with Atlético’s Conor Gallagher scoring in the first minute, leveling the aggregate score following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory in the first leg.

Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to equalize when they were awarded a penalty, but Vinícius Júnior’s attempt was unsuccessful.

The match proceeded to extra time, but neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout. The shootout was filled with tension and controversy. Atlético’s Julián Álvarez slipped during his attempt, inadvertently touching the ball twice, resulting in the goal being disallowed after a VAR review.

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Fede Valverde, and Antonio Rüdiger successfully converted their penalties. Despite Jan Oblak’s touch, Rüdiger’s decisive penalty found the net, sealing Real Madrid’s advancement to the quarter-finals.

Reflecting on the victory, Jude Bellingham credited the team’s resilient mentality, emphasizing their composure and understanding of game situations as key factors in their success.

This victory sets up a quarter-final clash between Real Madrid and Arsenal, who advanced after defeating PSV Eindhoven with an aggregate score of 9-3.