Oma Akatugba
@omaakatugba • 203,148 subscribers
Sports Journalist. Co- Founder…..Travel Junky. Global Football Consultant.
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I first met Saud Abdulhamid on my very first trip to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia. I had gone there to see Odion Ighalo, back when he was still playing for Al Hilal. That day, I was standing outside the training ground, just waiting, taking everything in. Then suddenly, a beautiful white G-Wagon pulled up. The windows were fully tinted, so you couldn’t see who was inside. For a moment, I was convinced it had to be Ighalo. As the window rolled down, I got ready to greet him—only to be met by Saud, flashing his trademark smile. He waved at me, and I waved back, even though, truthfully, I had no idea who he was at the time. Not long after, Ighalo arrived, and we headed into the training ground. That’s when I properly met Saud, along with his brother. We had a brief chat before training started, and that was the beginning. Our paths crossed again when Saudi Arabia played Nigeria in a friendly match in Portugal. After the game, in the middle of the crowd, I heard someone shout, “Ighalo!”—it was Saud. From there, we stayed connected, following each other online, keeping in touch in our own way. Then came another reunion, this time in Lens, inside his small but tastefully furnished apartment in the heart of the city. Back then, things were still uncertain for him. He wasn’t playing regularly, but I remember him telling me clearly that he wanted to stay in Europe, stay with Lens, and fight for his place. There was a quiet determination about him. I could feel it. And today, looking at his journey, that belief has paid off. He has grown into an important player for the club, playing his part in helping them secure a Champions League spot. He’s become one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest ambassadors in Europe. And life keeps moving forward. He just got married too. Big congratulations to you, my brother. My next video will be dedicated to him. What a guy!
Oma Akatugba81,689 views • 14 days ago
I watched Olivier Giroud score a brace against Paris FC last night in Lille’s beautiful stadium. Later, he was subbed off for Ethan Mbappé, Julian Mbappé’s younger brother, who’s already a fan favorite here. It feels great to be back home after such an impressive run abroad.
Oma Akatugba628,226 views • 6 months ago
Swiss striker Breel Embolo denied entry to the USA over visa issues… Here’s why 👇⚽
Oma Akatugba22,803 views • 7 days ago
Fikayo Tomori becomes a key reference point as Olu OLU from Nigerian Football Weekly Nigeria Football Weekly🦅🇳🇬 makes a very salient argument about diaspora talents and their relationship with the Super Eagles. We had an extensive discussion 5 months ago in Morocco on how Nigeria can better position itself to attract top diaspora players going forward. From building stronger connections to improving the overall appeal of representing the national team, the conversation also touched on the importance of branding and marketing the Super Eagles on a global scale. There’s a clear need for a more strategic approach—one that not only appeals emotionally but also presents Nigeria as a professionally run and ambitious football project. The full discussion is available via the YouTube link below.
Oma Akatugba47,057 views • 20 days ago
Last night at the post-match press conference, the legendary Bayer Leverkusen coach, Xabi Alonso, remarked, ‘You gave me a good tip on Boniface.’ This came up as we discussed Victor Boniface after he scores his 7th goal for the table topping Bayer Leverkusen. To give context, I caught his attention by asking whether Boniface would be a good fit for the Bundesliga back when he faced Bayer Leverkusen in the europa league, while still playing for Saint Union Gilliose in Belgium.
Oma Akatugba1,240,534 views • 2 years ago
