Kicking off!

Last weekend was a torrid one for the two Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL clubs, Plateau United and MFM who represented the country in this year’s CAF Champions League.

Both clubs were eliminated from the elite continental competition as they failed to surmount the hurdle of North African clubs, Etoile du Sahel and MC Alger.

They have since dropped to the lower league where the other NPFL ‘continental clubs’, Akwa United and Enyimba have been seeking for honours.

As it is, Nigeria now boasts of four teams in the CAF Confederation Cup play-off round which will commence next weekend.

Our cover story is on the play-off draws held on Wednesday in Cairo, the performance of the NPFL ‘continental clubs’ and their chances of progressing to the group stage of the second tier competition.

In the interview corner, we have for you the exclusive interview with the man of the moment in the NPFL, Junior Lokosa. The leading goal scorer in the NPFL told us that he draws inspiration from two of the best strikers in the world, Samuel Etoo and Lionel Messi to score goals.

Our man in London, David Billington is still at his personal best as his Premier League Column is filled to the brim with mouth-watering stories.

In boxing, Nigerian-British born boxer, Anthony Joshua knows old rival Dillian Whyte is plotting a route back towards him, and has welcomed the idea of a second fight.

And in tennis, we serve you the story of the big-hitting Argentine tennis sensation, Juan Martin del Potro who has insisted that staying fit and being able to compete is far more important than winning his second grand slam.

Although the leading football leagues in Europe are observing the international break, you won’t miss anything in our Euro Round Up page. It is still loaded and spiced with captivating stories.

Have a blessed weekend.