Sports

Nigerian Goalkeeper James Honoured with Spot in Finland’s Team of the Season

Published

2 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Ibrahim Lawal

Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper Samuel Friday James has earned recognition among the best-performing players in Finland following his impressive displays for SJK Akatemia in the 2026 season.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper ranks second among the league’s selected best-performing XI, with an average rating of 7.61, according to statistics published by Totori News.

James’ performances have stood out despite the challenging campaign faced by his club, with his consistency between the posts making him one of the bright spots in the team.

The former Mavlon FC goalkeeper has recorded four clean sheets in Finland’s Ykkösliiga this season, while his shot-stopping ability has further underlined his growing reputation in European football.

According to available season statistics from FootyStats, James has made 20 league appearances, playing 1,800 minutes. He has conceded 32 goals and made 75 saves from 109 shots faced, giving him a save percentage of approximately 68.8 per cent.

His four clean sheets account for 20 per cent of his league appearances, demonstrating his ability to keep opponents at bay despite the defensive challenges confronting his team.

James has also shown composure and resilience in difficult matches, including his recent international outing for Nigeria against Russia, where he made his senior Super Eagles appearance in the 3-3 friendly draw on October 6.

Standing at 1.95 metres, the young goalkeeper possesses the physical attributes required for the modern game, combining his reach with quick reactions and an increasingly valuable experience of European football.

His rise has been particularly encouraging following his move from Lagos-based Mavlon FC to Finland in 2025. Since then, he has continued to develop through regular competitive football and has attracted attention for his performances.

James’ latest statistical recognition of 7.55 rating in the team of the season adds to his growing profile as Nigeria continues to assess goalkeeping options for the future.

At 20, the goalkeeper will be hoping to build on his progress in Finland and establish himself as a regular contender for the Super Eagles, while continuing to improve his performances at club level.

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Sports

NNPC-SNEPCo Swimming Contest: Grange School Claims Top Honours

Published

2 hours ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Grange School emerged overall winner of the third NNPC-SNEPCo InterSchools Swimming Competition, held at Ikoyi Club 1938 over the weekend, showcasing its dominance at the event.

Grange School topped the standings with 418.5 points, finishing ahead of St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, which scored 243.5 points. IC Marlins came third with 207 points, while Temple School secured fourth position with 163.5 points. Corona School finished fifth with 134 points.

The competition attracted 17 schools and more than 280 swimmers, providing a platform for young athletes to demonstrate their swimming abilities, competitive spirit and potential.

Members of Ikoyi Club 1938 and representatives of the sponsors, NNPC-SNEPCo, witnessed the competition. The delegation was led by the company’s Communication Manager, Gladys Afam-Anadu, who represented the Managing Director of SNEPCo.

Afam-Anadu commended the impressive turnout, expressing optimism that the competition would continue to promote swimming and nurture young talents across the country.

The Vice Chairman of the Swimming Section, Babatunde Pearse, also praised the participation, describing the competition as an important platform for discovering and developing future swimming stars.

“These are the swimmers of tomorrow, and they have done very well. We are delighted with the turnout and look forward to welcoming even more schools and swimmers next year,” Pearse said.

He added that sustained support from sponsors would enable organisers to expand the competition and reach more young swimmers.

The Chairman of the Swimming Section, Akinbulejo Onabolu, commended the standard of competition and the performances of the participants.

Onabolu reaffirmed the section’s commitment to developing swimming talent and creating more opportunities for young athletes to compete, improve their skills and excel.

The event underscored the importance of school competitions in promoting swimming and providing young athletes with opportunities to showcase their abilities.

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