The four teams that have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been confirmed: North Korea, Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands.

These teams advanced following the completion of the quarter-final matches on Sunday and the early hours of Monday.

North Korea edged out Brazil with a 1-0 victory, while the Netherlands triumphed 3-0 on penalties against Colombia after a 2-2 draw.

Japan secured a 1-0 win over Spain, and the United States overcame Germany 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after their match also ended 2-2.

Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani has praised the club’s decision to replace Victor Osimhen with Romelu Lukaku, calling it a perfect move. Rrahmani made the comments after Napoli’s 4-0 win over Cagliari at the weekend, highlighting the key differences between playing alongside Osimhen and the Belgian striker.

Osimhen, who left Napoli on loan to Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig this summer, was replaced by Lukaku at the request of new manager Antonio Conte.

Osimhen’s departure came after a period of being sidelined at the club.

Despite an initial loss to Verona, Napoli has rebounded with three consecutive wins, including the recent victory over Cagliari. Speaking to Sky Italia after the game, Rrahmani compared the two strikers:

“There is a big difference.

In previous years, we had Osimhen, who held the ball less and looked more for space in behind. With Lukaku, we can play even under pressure. He has a strong physique, helps us win second balls, and closes down plays effectively.”

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) transfer chief, Luis Campos has confirmed that the French Ligue 1 club side indeed considered a move for Victor Osimhen before his switch to Galatasaray.

Osimhen left Napoli for Gala last week on-loan for the season. Campos said at the ‘Thinking Football Summit’: “He (Osimhen) was studied as one of the possibilities for PSG.

“However, we concluded that we were very satisfied with Gonçalo Ramos, Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio.” Campos nevertheless denied that an offer had been made to Napoli for the Nigerian striker.

“No, but I understand that I have been linked to Osimhen since I brought him to Lille from Charleroi and because I have known him since he was 16.

“We have an excellent relationship and we respect each other a lot. It’s the market, we all talk to everyone. If all the players that were linked to us had arrived, we would have five stars per position.”

Osimhen, meanwhile, attended his very first training session as a Galatasaray player and he has been reunited with his friend and former Napoli teammate, Dries Mertens.

The Nigerian striker secured a last-minute loan move to Galatasaray after the close of the Serie A transfer window but he went on international duty for his country.

Galatasaray shared images of the pair of attackers, Osimhen and Mertens training, smiling and laughing together during Okan Buruk’s training session on Thursday.

Alex Iwobi is seeking to outrightly own the Premier League assist record for a Nigerian player when Fulham host West Ham United in a London derby at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Iwobi and the legendary Nwankwo Kanu jointly hold the record as the Nigerian footballers to have made the most assists in the English Premier League as both men have a total number of 29.

Arguably Nigeria’s greatest footballing export, Kanu would enjoy great success in the English Premier League with Arsenal despite also playing for both Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.

The two-time African Footballer of the Year enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, winning two EPL titles and two FA Cups, the first of those a domestic double in 2002.

Second to only Shola Ameobi for Premier League appearances among Nigerian players, Kanu supplied 29 assists in his 273 matches but he can be surpassed by Iwobi when Fulham welcome West Ham.

However, Iwobi who has also contributed 29 assists in 256 Premier League games for Arsenal, Everton and Fulham has gone off the boil as regards his setting up a team-mate in recent weeks.

Iwobi’s last Premier League assist came exactly five months ago and that was precisely on April 14, 2024 when Fulham co-incidentally defeated West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium.

On that occasion, the attacking midfielder set up Andreas Pereira to score the Cottagers’ second goal against the Hammers who were playing right at home in the 72nd minute.

If Iwobi gets to set up his teammate when Fulham face West Ham in their next EPL game of the 2024/25 season, he will become the Nigerian player with the most assist in the history of England’s top-flight.

The Nigerian duo of Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, meanwhile, have started each of the three games played by Fulham in the EPL this season with the former scoring one goal.

Joe Aribo is set for his 25th Premier League game even as the Nigerian midfielder aims to help Southampton secure their first win of the season by defeating Manchester United.

Two teams seeking to return to winning ways after suffering defeats before the international break meet at the St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday as Southampton host Man United.

Aribo suffered his third straight English Premier League defeat this new season with Southampton which fell 3-1 against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on August 31.

For Aribo, the encounter was his 70th appearance across all competitions in the colours of Southampton whom he joined from Glasgow Rangers in the summer window of the year 2022.

The Nigerian who was substituted in the 82nd minute of the defeat to Brentford with his place taken by Adam Lallana has bagged six goals and one assist as a Southampton player.

However, the Super Eagles midfielder has so far played 24 Premier League games in the colours of Southampton from which he has been able to hit the back of the net on two occasions.

Ola Aina is poised to make his 60th Premier League appearance when two unbeaten records will be on the line at Anfield on Saturday as Nottingham Forest visit Liverpool.

Aina began his Premier League career for Chelsea on October 15, 2016, playing eight minutes as a substitute against Leicester City aged 20 years and played six times for the Blues.

He thereafter played 31 EPL matches while on loan at Fulham in the 2020/21 season. He debuted at Premier League level for Forest in his side’s match with Arsenal on August 12, 2023.

Aina played 22 Premier League games last season for Nottingham Forest, scored one goal and provided one assist. The defender has played 25 English top-flight matches for Forest.

So far in his EPL career, the versatile Super Eagles defender has appeared in 59 games in the competition with three goals and two assists to his name.

He started every one of Forest’s three EPL games in 2024/2025. The last time Aina featured came on August 31 versus Wolverhampton Wanderers, playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.