ALTHOUGH the dust from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) outing has barely settled, Nigerian players have swapped the green-white-green jersey for their club colours. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that while some of the players are just returning to base, others have continued in the sizzling form that saw Nigeria finish in third place at the continental competition in Morocco. From Italy to Turkey, the Champions League to the Spanish La Liga, Nigeria’s AFCON stars are back, taking the spotlight in some of the most keenly-contested competitions. If there was a player who epitomised the untiring Nigerian spirit,…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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THREE Super Eagles stars, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey have been named in the official Team of the Tournament for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a comprehensive technical assessment conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, the list notably excluded Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi, whose omission has sparked debate among fans and analysts, given his influential role during the tournament. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Osimhen, Lookman and Bassey earned their places after delivering standout performances that powered Nigeria to a third-place finish at the continental showpiece. CAF disclosed that the selections…
CHAIRMAN of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has said that the Senegal national team came “well prepared” for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final after learning lessons from the Nigeria vs Morocco match. Dikko said this during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria Sport, saying the controversial officiating in the last match between the Super Eagles and Morocco fueled Senegal’s preparation. “Senegal learned from what happened to Nigeria, probably in the last match. The officiating was not what it’s supposed to be. Everybody felt a bit off because all…
THE Super Eagles have soared to the 26th spot in the latest FIFA World Ranking, released on Monday by the football governing body. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the ranking, disclosed on FIFA’s website late on Monday, marks a remarkable 12-place jump. The Eagles also recorded a +79.09 points gain. Nigeria’s rise from 38th followed the team’s remarkable campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The Super Eagles finished third after edging the Pharaohs of Egypt last Saturday. The Eric Chelle side ran a campaign, considered by many as excellent, showing coordination and teamwork. Nigeria…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, on their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), praising their resilience, determination and display of the indomitable Nigerian spirit. The President’s congratulatory message followed the Super Eagles’ dramatic victory over seven-time African champions Egypt in the third-place playoff match on Saturday, where Nigeria triumphed via a penalty shootout after dominating regulation time. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria Sport on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the team for bouncing…
THE Super Eagles defeated Egypt’s Pharaohs 4-2 on penalties on Saturday to claim the bronze medal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a tense third-place playoff at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the encounter ended goalless after 90 minutes, forcing the contest into a shootout where goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali again proved decisive, saving spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Oumar Marmoush to hand Nigeria their ninth AFCON third-place finish and maintain their perfect record in the fixture. Coach Chelle named a rotated side, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman starting on the…
NIGERIA will be aiming to bow out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a high when they take on Egypt in a third-place play-off on Saturday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Super Eagles are fresh off a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to hosts Morocco, but are expected to bounce back against the Pharaohs of Egypt with a podium finish at the 2025 AFCON. Egypt, on the other hand, lost out to Senegal in the semi-final of the continental showpiece, failing to extend their record seven titles at the AFCON. Nigeria have the highest number of…
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan Jalal Jayed as the referee for Nigeria’s third-place playoff against Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that CAF announced Jayed’s appointment on Friday. The Moroccan will be assisted by his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Akarkad Mostafa. The assistant referee 3, according to CAF, is Hassani Khalil from Tunisia while the 4th official is Peter Kamaku from Kenya. Algeria’s Lahlou Benbraham will be the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). He will be assisted by Haythem Guirat from Tunisia and Hamza El Fariq (Morocco). The referee…
NIGERIA’s dream of winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) may have ended dramatically and painfully. But the Super Eagles have another shot at bowing out gallantly out of the competition in the third-place match against Egypt. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the three-time African champions lost 2-4 on penalties to Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 AFCON after a gruelling 120 minutes of football in Rabat ended goalless on Wednesday night. In a game of few clear-cut chances, the Super Eagles, who fired two goals past Algeria in the quarter-final, failed to score for the first…
BILLIONAIRE industrialist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, on Thursday announced that he will fulfil his $500,000 pledge to the Super Eagles despite the team’s failure to clinch the Africa Cup of Nations title. News Point Nigeria Sport report Rabiu disclosed this in a message shared on his official Instagram page, where he applauded the Nigerian team for their resilience, courage and fighting spirit throughout the tournament. He praised the players for giving their all on the pitch, noting that although the desired outcome was not achieved, they had made Nigerians proud with their performance. “You fought with your…
HOSTS Morocco survived a nervy night in Rabat to see off Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Youssef En-Nesyri stroked the winning spot kick into the bottom corner after Yassine Bounou saved from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi. It means the Atlas Lions have reached their first Afcon final since 2004, as they bid to lift the trophy for the first time since 1976. They face Senegal in Sunday’s final (19:00 GMT) after they beat Egypt 1-0 in Wednesday’s first semi-final. The Super Eagles…
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea to officiate the highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final clash between Nigeria and host nation Morocco, scheduled for Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that CAF released the list of match officials on Tuesday, confirming Laryea as the centre referee for the high-stakes encounter that will determine one of the finalists of the continental showpiece. He will be assisted by Zakhele Siwela of South Africa and Souru Phatsoane of Lesotho, while Arsénio Maringule of Mozambique will serve…
THE Super Eagles on Monday conducted a closed-door training session in Rabat as preparations intensified for Wednesday’s high-stakes Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash against tournament hosts, Morocco, News Point Nigeria Sports reports. Nigeria’s players and officials arrived in the Moroccan capital from Fez earlier in the day and are currently camped at the Rihab Hotel. The training session took place at the state-of-the-art Complexe Mohammed VI, one of Africa’s premier football facilities. According to the team’s Media Officer, Promise Efoghe, the decision to bar the public and media from Monday’s session was deliberate, aimed at giving head coach…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the Super Eagles following their emphatic 2–0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as Nigeria’s private sector also rallied behind the team with massive financial incentives ahead of the semi-finals. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Super Eagles secured a place in the last four of the tournament with a commanding display at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday, overpowering a highly rated Algerian side that had conceded just one goal prior to the encounter. Reacting shortly after the final whistle, President Tinubu took…
MOHAMMED Salah was once again on the scoresheet as Egypt beat holders Ivory Coast in an enthralling and action-packed quarter-final at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). News Point Nigeria Sports reports that after Omar Marmoush slotted the Pharaohs ahead after just four minutes, the North Africans were never behind in the game. But Emerse Fae’s Elephants are known for their resilience and refused to let their opponents blow them away despite Ramy Rabia’s header giving Egypt a 2-0 lead just after the half hour. Ahmed Fatouh’s own goal gave the Ivorians hope before half-time, but Salah quickly restored…
NIGERIA’s Super Eagles booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding 2–0 victory over Algeria at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Desert Foxes, who had conceded just one goal throughout the tournament before the quarter-final, were undone by Nigeria’s relentless pressure and clinical second-half finishing. The result sets up a mouth-watering semi-final clash against tournament hosts Morocco. At full-time, Nigeria secured a convincing 2–0 victory over Algeria, with both goals arriving in an impressive second-half display. Victor Osimhen opened the scoring in the…
LED by Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria’s form at the Africa Cup of Nations has offered cause for optimism ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight quarter-final against Algeria despite reports of unrest in the squad. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Super Eagles arrived in Marrakesh for the last-eight tie as the top scorers at the tournament with 12 goals in their four games so far. Wins against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in the group stage were followed by a 4-0 demolition of Mozambique in Fes in the last 16, the biggest victory for anyone in an AFCON knockout tie…
Hosts Morocco and Senegal booked their places in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday night after contrasting quarter-final victories over Cameroon and Mali respectively, as the tournament entered its decisive stage. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in Rabat, Brahim Diaz continued his sensational scoring run to inspire Morocco to a convincing 2-0 victory over Cameroon, keeping the hosts’ title ambitions firmly alive in front of a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The Real Madrid winger, who has now scored in every match of the tournament, registered his fifth goal in five appearances when he provided…
SUPER Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has stepped in to calm rising tensions in the national team’s camp at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, pledging to personally pay outstanding match bonuses if the Federal Government fails to fulfil its obligation before Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Algeria. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Ndidi made the commitment amid growing concerns that unpaid bonuses could disrupt Nigeria’s preparations for one of its most crucial matches of the tournament. The Leicester City midfielder was quoted by BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji on Thursday, shortly after assurances were given by the…
THE Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday held a training session in Fez, Morocco, despite growing tension in the camp over unpaid bonuses and allowances, following reports that players and officials were prepared to boycott training and delay their movement to Marrakesh if the issue was not resolved. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Nigeria are scheduled to travel from Fez to Marrakesh on Thursday, ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final clash, but uncertainty surrounded the team’s preparations after claims emerged that promised payments for the ongoing tournament were yet to be received. Veteran sports journalist Oluwashina…