Sport
Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars Secure Key NPFL Wins
Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars secure NPFL key wins, boosting title hopes and continental qualification prospects in decisive matches
Ikorodu City maintained their lead in the Nigeria Premier Football League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Enyimba at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
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Joseph Arumala’s 29th-minute strike proved decisive as the visitors absorbed sustained pressure to secure all three points.
The win lifts Ikorodu City to 44 points from 26 matches, keeping them at the summit and extending their advantage over Enugu Rangers, who moved to second with 43 points after a 2-0 triumph against Wikki Tourists.
Rivers United remain third on 41 points but retain five games in hand following their CAF Champions League exit.
In Abeokuta, Shooting Stars strengthened their continental ambitions with a commanding 4-2 victory over Warri Wolves.
Peter Ita opened the scoring for the visitors within seven minutes, but Sodiq Ibrahim equalised shortly after, settling the home side’s nerves.
Lucky Emmanuel put Shooting Stars ahead in the 29th minute with a flowing team move, before Desmond Ojietefian extended the lead nine minutes later from a corner.
Stephen Amos sealed the win with a long-range strike midway through the second half, although Othuke Egbo scored a late free-kick for Wolves.
The victory moves Shooting Stars to 38 points from 25 matches, three points behind a CAF Confederation Cup place, highlighting the team’s growing confidence in the season’s decisive phase.
Wolves drop to 11th with 34 points from 26 games, reflecting their inconsistent form.
Elsewhere in the NPFL, Katsina United edged Nasarawa United 1-0 thanks to a late Boubacar Massaly strike, while Kwara United drew 1-1 with Kano Pillars.
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El-Kanemi Warriors secured a narrow 1-0 win over Plateau United, and Bayelsa United shared a 1-1 draw with Bendel Insurance.
Cristiano Ronaldo announces his retirement from Portugal international duty after 23 years, ending a career that included 146 goals in 234 games
On 5 November 2026, Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international duty, bringing an end to a 23-year career with the national team just as a rift with manager Jorge Jesus appeared to have been patched up.
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The 41-year-old posted a video on social media in which he declared that the time had come to hang up the number 7 jersey.
“Portugal will always be in me,” he said. “The time has come to hang up the number 7 of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
Ronaldo added that the decision was not easy and had been taken with both the head and the heart.
He leaves as Portugal’s most capped player and the highest goalscorer in men’s international football history, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
His career highlights include the Euro 2016 title and two UEFA Nations League triumphs.
The announcement comes a day before Jorge Jesus was due to name his squad for the November Nations League fixtures, following reports that Ronaldo had been included in the preliminary selection after a September fallout over playing time.
In October, Ronaldo had accused Jesus of breaking his word after being left as an unused substitute against Norway, leading him to leave the national team camp.
He later apologised and stated he remained available after any punishment.
The pair were reported to have cleared the air, yet Ronaldo has now chosen to step away entirely.
The decision closes one of the most remarkable international careers the sport has seen and leaves Portugal without its long-serving captain for the remainder of the Nations League campaign.
Also read: Mourinho Balanced on Vinicius With Soft Approach
Football has been stunned by the sudden end to Ronaldo’s Portugal chapter. While he continues at club level with Al Nassr, the national team must now look to the future without its greatest ever player.
José Mourinho says he is 80 per cent soft and 20 per cent tough with Vinicius Júnior after Real Madrid’s Champions League win over AEK Athens
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