Tottenham Hotspur forward Dominic Solanke has expressed his strong desire to visit Nigeria in the near future, saying he looks forward to connecting with his roots.

The 27-year-old, born in Reading, Berkshire, to a Nigerian father and an English mother, has yet to make the trip to Nigeria.

Solanke, who previously played for Chelsea, shared his excitement in a recent interview with Showmax, revealing that a visit to Nigeria is something he’s eager to do.

“I haven’t actually been yet,” Solanke admitted. “I definitely need to take some time off soon and go and see my roots, so hopefully in the next few years.”

While Solanke’s career with the England national team means he is no longer eligible to represent Nigeria, his connection to the country remains strong.

The striker mentioned that he closely follows Nigerian football and keeps up with the accomplishments of Nigerian players, including his friends and fellow professionals.

One of his favorites is Ademola Lookman, a standout Nigerian footballer who has made significant strides in Europe.

Solanke praised Lookman’s incredible performances over the past few years, calling them “nothing short of phenomenal.”

He added, “What he has been doing has been crazy, especially for the Nigerian national team, so I have been super proud.”

Solanke also spoke highly of Victor Osimhen, one of the top strikers in world football.

The Nigerian forward, who plays for Serie A side Napoli, has been consistently impressive, and Solanke has been following his progress.

“Another of my favorite Nigerian footballers has to be Victor Osimhen.

He has been one of the best in the world,” he said, recognizing Osimhen’s impact both at the club level and with the Nigerian national team.

Despite his English international commitments, Solanke’s admiration for Nigerian footballers and his intention to reconnect with his Nigerian heritage shows the depth of his cultural ties and interest in his father’s homeland.

Barcelona manager, Hansi Flick, has praised Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time, responding to the Inter Miami forward’s recent positive comments about his former club.

Messi, who left Barcelona in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain before making the move to Inter Miami, recently spoke highly of Barcelona’s current squad under Flick’s leadership.

The 36-year-old Argentine legend referred to the team as “spectacular” and expressed his pride in how they have been representing the club in recent months.

In a pre-match interview ahead of Barcelona’s LaLiga clash with Celta Vigo, Flick reflected on Messi’s words with gratitude and admiration.

He said, “It’s an honor that Leo Messi, the greatest player of all time, says good things about Barça.” Flick went on to highlight how much it means to the club that Messi continues to follow Barcelona closely, despite his departure years ago.

Messi’s comments on the team have been well received by both players and staff, with the Argentine showing great respect for the younger talents now making their mark at the Catalan club.

Flick acknowledged how significant it is that Messi holds the current squad, many of whom are in their early 20s, in such high regard.

For Barcelona, Messi’s endorsement serves as a morale booster, especially as the club works to rebuild and restore its dominance in both La Liga and European football.

It has been announced that Enugu state will hold the 23rd edition of National Sports Festival in 2026. According to the National Sports Commission, they officially assigned the event to Enugu State. This was announced to the public by the Director-General of the commission, Bukola Olopade on Friday.

A thorough decision and evaluation was made before Enugu emerged at the best option for this event hosting. The National Sports Festival holds every 2 years and the 22nd edition will be hosted by Ogun State in January 2025. Thousand of athletes from all around Nigeria will attend the event to foster sportsmanship and national unity in country.