MEDIA
After heroic performance against at Old Trafford, Uzoho may be Man United-bound
Man United made hard work of it again against Omonia Nicosia but they have all but qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League.
According to Manchester Evening News, Nigeria’s Francis Uzoho may be on the radar of Manchester United following his spectacular form last Friday.
“Going off Manchester United’s penchant for recruiting back-up goalkeepers who have excelled against them, Francis Uzoho’s chances of an Old Trafford transfer are auspicious”, reports the newspaper.
The only difference is Uzoho did not step off the pitch undefeated.
For 93 minutes, he was until Scott McTominay rifled the ball in from close range.
In the 90th minute, McTominay almost endangered spectators with a shot and that was the cue for thousands to vent and exit.
The days when United supporters stayed until the final kick belong to yesteryear. Uzoho collaped to the turf at full-time and was hauled up by his manager Neil Lennon.
The mentality of this United squad is still a work in progress and labouring to two wins over the Cypriot league runners-up underlines that. McTominay’s mentality is never lacking and his recovery was a swift one.
Thirty-four attempts, 13 corners, 12 saves, one stubborn custodian and one goal.
Uzoho was blamed for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup yet has salvaged his calendar year with a night to remember, despite the belated blemish.
Omonia Nicosia were deprived of their impressive goalkeeper Fabiano yet Uzoho was as vigilant and busier, denying Marcus Rashford twice in the first-half and grazing Casemiro’s piledriver onto the crossbar. There were two saves inside the first 30 seconds of the second-half.
Tom Heaton and Martin Dubravka, spectators in the dugout, and Lee Grant were men possessed against United before they transferred to the club. Uzoho is a boyhood United fan and vowed he would “die” in goal against them. His goal certainly led a charmed life
In the 87th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo was impatiently demanding the ball’s return and Erik ten Hag scratched his goatee quizically.
Ten Hag found the solution, though. Substitutes Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho created the opening for fellow substitute McTominay.
The ignominy of two goalless home group games would have all but guaranteed United an additional knockout tie in February. Real Sociedad beat FC Sheriff and have taken maximum points and it remains likely there will be something to play for in the return tie in San Sebastian on November 3.
Omonia had the disadvantage of playing on Monday, losing to AEL. Their 5-3-2 formation was hardly watertight – United unleashed more efforts at goal than in Cyprus – yet there is something about insipid Thursday nights that drain the entitled of focus and United’s finishing was feckless.
Winning the group has been incentivised as the runner-up has to endure a two-legged tie against a team demoted from the Champions League. United are all but through, with only a point required at home to Sheriff in a fortnight.
United’s travelling supporters possibly hope they do finish second as Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Ajax, Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid or Sevilla could await. Shakhtar Donetsk has the appeal of a trip to Warsaw, the Ukrainian team’s temporary residence.
Two free midweeks in February are particularly appealing to Ten Hag with two Premier League fixtures already postponed and yet to be rearranged, with the King’s coronation coinciding with a capital trip to West Ham.
United were more penetrative with Sancho and Luke Shaw combining down the left and Eriksen, benched for the first time all season, joined the cavalry in the 70th minute.
Tyrell Malacia and Fred demonstrated why they have had seats reserved for them of late. Antony, guilty of botching a chance he converted on his debut and at Goodison Park, regressed after a promising performance against Everton.
“F–k’s sake,” Lennon roared amid United’s dominance. He was soon cursing at his own side’s bluntness. United peppered the ‘keeper’s goal, rattled the woodwork and with a goal apparently inevitable the best chance of the first-half fell to Omonia. Selfishly, Bruno disregarded the free Andronikos Kakoulli, who was square.
A stricter referee would have expelled Lisandro Martinez for his barge on Kakoulli as he attempted to seize on Diogo Dalot’s hospital pass. It was a careless night at both ends.
The fixture was primarily enriched by the sight of 4,500 Cypriots in the away end, almost all of them bedecked in Omonia green. Lennon, synonymous with Celtic, will have appreciated that on his return to a stadium he last played at 14 years ago in the Champions League. The Ulsterman savoured every second, recording a video on his phone with the stands empty prior to kick-off.
Old Trafford was impressively vast for such a humdrum fixture, another reminder the Europa League would be better off scrapping the ‘league’ element and reverting back to straight knockout ties.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s candour about potentially buying United was felt as thousands stood and clapped during a rendition of “Stand up if you hate Glazers”. Many sported this season’s replica shirts and all had already lined the Glazers’ wallets by stepping inside the stadium.
It is a complex and nuanced situation but such chants are not going to significantly startle a family that has owned the club for nearly 18 years and has the safe distance of the Atlantic Ocean between them and the mob in Manchester. Momentum has not been as sustained as the captivating, if flawed, green and gold campaign and the mobilising is not as febrile as in 2005.
On this evidence, United are not worth their valuation. Uzoho’s has soared.
By Christian Emeruwa
For sports to truly develop in Nigeria, we need active, courageous, professional and unbiased sports journalists who can ask difficult questions and hold administrators accountable.
But the painful reality today is that many sports journalists in Nigeria are poorly paid, poorly protected and economically vulnerable. A journalist who cannot survive independently will eventually struggle to remain completely independent. This is not because many of them lack principles, but because survival itself has become a daily battle.
Over the years, I have seen passionate and dedicated sports journalists pushed to the brink of compromise simply due to economic hardship. Some of the finest minds in sports reportage today suffer in silence. At the same time, a few administrators have mastered the art of building personal media teams from the same journalists who should ordinarily question them objectively.
The result is what we see today:
– coordinated attacks on critics,
– blind defence of administrators,
– destruction of opposing opinions,
– and growing division within sports media spaces.
This raises serious questions:
What is being done by sports journalists themselves to improve their welfare and independence? What role is SWAN playing in protecting the dignity, welfare and professional future of sports journalists in Nigeria?
What structures exist to support young and upcoming sports reporters who genuinely want to practice ethical journalism without becoming tools in political or administrative battles?
If nothing drastic is done to improve the welfare, training, independence and protection of sports journalists, then we should honestly stop expecting journalists to consistently hold sports administrators accountable. Independence is difficult when survival depends on the very people you are expected to question.
Sports journalism is too important to Nigerian sports development to be left in this condition. Strong sports administration needs strong sports journalism. The two must challenge each other professionally for the system to grow.
This is not an attack on anyone. It is a sincere call for reflection and reform. The future of Nigerian sports reportage depends on the decisions we make today.
Dr Christian Emeruwa is the current head and founder of CAF Safety & Security, a FIFA Senior Safety & Security Officer, a Sport Administrator, a Lecturer and Consultant.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has congratulated sports journalist and club administrator Godwin Enakhena following the promotion of Sporting Lagos to the top-flight Nigeria Premier Football League.
In a letter jointly signed by its leadership, SWAN praised Enakhena’s role in guiding the club from the Nigeria National League to the NPFL, describing the achievement as a reflection of “visionary leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment” to the growth of football in Nigeria.
The association noted that the club’s rise to the elite division underscores the discipline, resilience, and collective effort of the management, coaching crew, and players under Enakhena’s stewardship. It added that the feat should serve as a springboard for further success in the country’s top division.
SWAN also commended the Sporting Lagos chairman for promoting professionalism and contributing to raising standards within Nigerian club football, expressing confidence that the club would make a positive impact in the NPFL.
In the message, SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin, along with the wider sporting media community, wished Enakhena continued wisdom, strength, and success as Sporting Lagos prepares for life in the top flight.
The letter was signed by SWAN General Secretary Ikenna Okonkwo.
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Rapids Sports & Entertainment, DMPartners and Metis Craton have jointly unveiled the maiden edition of the Nigeria Sports Industry Outlook, a landmark report designed to provide a comprehensive review of the sector and map out expectations for the future.
The annual publication, the first of its kind in the country, captures insights from key stakeholders across the sports ecosystem, offering a structured assessment of the past year alongside projections for the year ahead.
A Growing Global Industry with Local Potential
The release of the report comes against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding global sports economy. According to the World Economic Forum, the sector is currently valued at $2.3 trillion, contributing nearly 2 per cent of global GDP, with projections indicating growth of more than 50 per cent over the next decade.
For Nigeria, the stakes are even higher. With over 70 per cent of its population under the age of 35, sports is increasingly seen as a powerful economic and social driver, capable of generating employment, investment, and innovation.
A ‘Defining Document’ for Stakeholders
Co-curator Tonte Davies described the 2026 edition as a pivotal resource for the sector.
“The Nigeria Sports Industry Outlook Report is a defining document for the sports sector. It provides a clear lens into the future of sports in Nigeria, highlighting investment opportunities, addressing structural challenges, and reinforcing the urgent need to position sports as a sustainable business,” he said.
Davies added that the report, which has already generated significant interest among stakeholders, is accessible via the official LinkedIn pages of the three co-producers.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Another co-curator, Adedamilola Adedotun, emphasised the need to close the information gap within the Nigerian sports industry.
“We are very bullish about the potential of sports in Nigeria. But while we recognise its possible social and economic contribution, we also acknowledge the knowledge gap within the industry. This Outlook provides critical information about various sectors, stakeholders, and their projections for the future,” he noted.
Five Pillars of Industry Growth
The report is structured around five key pillars considered essential to the long-term development of the sports industry:
- Governance, Policy and Regulations
- Sporting Events
- Partnerships and Investments
- Licensing, Intellectual Property and Merchandising
- Sports Infrastructure
According to co-curator Telema Davies, these pillars reflect global best practices.
“Governance and policy provide direction, partnerships and investments fund development, events drive product visibility, infrastructure forms the foundation, and licensing and intellectual property protect commercial value,” she explained.
A Strategic Tool for Decision-Makers
The Nigeria Sports Industry Outlook 2026 is positioned as a strategic intelligence and reference document for investors, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to identify opportunities across the sports value chain.
Beyond analysis, the report serves as a call to action, urging stakeholders to harness Nigeria’s demographic advantage and align sports with broader economic development goals.
As the country continues to explore new growth sectors, the report underscores a clear message: sports is no longer just entertainment; it is serious business.
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