INTERESTING developments are emerging in Nigerian football as reports reveal that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been paid his salary in advance until October 2025. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, during an interview with former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami on Eagle 7 Sports Radio 103.7 FM. Dikko stated that the payment was facilitated by a presidentially endorsed support group aimed at re-igniting Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. After missing out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Super Eagles are once again struggling. Nigeria currently…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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THE Flying Eagles of Nigeria got off to a winning start in their quest for an eighth U20 Africa Cup of Nations title, beating Tunisia 1-0 in a tightly contested Group B opener at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on Thursday. A first-half strike by Auwal Ibrahim was all that separated the two sides, as the Flying Eagles ground out a result in a match full of physical battles, near misses, and late drama. Despite Nigeria dominating early proceedings and carving out several chances, they found a resilient Tunisian side determined to hold their ground. But in…
SUPER Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has led Nigerian football in celebrations of Remo Stars with a gesture befitting the first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League title win, gifting the team a total of N10m, N5m to the players and N5m to the technical crew after placing a personal video call to the team. Head coach Daniel Ogunmodede confirmed this to PUNCH Sports Extra as their feat triggered an outpouring of tributes from the highest quarters. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined in lauding the feat, describing it as a testament to the hard work, discipline, and unyielding spirit of the players, the…
NIGERIA’s Flying Eagles will kick off their campaign for an eighth U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title on Thursday when they face Tunisia’s Junior Carthage Eagles at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo in the opening Group B fixture. The fixture evokes memories of 40 years ago when Nigeria defeated Tunisia to win their second continental crown. That win, earned over two legs, saw the Flying Eagles draw 1-1 away in Tunis before sealing a 2-1 win in Lagos. Nigeria trounced Tunisia 4-0 in the third-place match of the 2023 U20 AFCON, also hosted by Egypt. Head Coach Aliyu…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has congratulated Remo Stars Football Club on winning the 2024–2025 Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) title, describing the achievement as “a proud moment” for Ikenne, Ogun State, and Nigeria’s sporting community. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, Tinubu praised the team’s resilience, perseverance, and commitment to excellence, noting that their triumph comes just four years after their promotion to Nigeria’s top football division. He particularly admired the team’s courage in staying focused after enduring three previous seasons of narrowly missing out on the title.…
REMO Stars have secured the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League title with three games to spare after a pulsating 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes in a match-day 35 game in Ikenne on Sunday. Remo looked set to mop up the title this weekend after Kano Pillars defeated Rivers United 2-0 on Friday. It looked like the Sky Blue Stars would fail to pounce on the leverage as they struggled to find the net against a resolute Tornadoes defence. Until second-half substitute Olamilekan Adedayo scored a trademark late belter to save the day for coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s side after toiling for…
TEAM Nigeria’s weightlifters wrapped up their participation at the 2025 African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius, yesterday with a total haul of 18 medals—13 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze—cementing Nigeria’s status as a continental powerhouse in the sport. A contingent of six weightlifters, four female, two male, and two coaches represented the country at the continental championship. Nigeria’s final day of competition saw Sarah Ovayioza deliver a show-stopping performance in the women’s 76kg weight class, lifting a combined total of 237kg in the snatch, clean, and jerk. Her flawless execution earned the nation three more gold medals and…
FORMER champions Kano Pillars put a dent in the title ambitions of Rivers United on Friday, beating them 2-0 in Kano, and in the process, handed Remo Stars the advantage to claim their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League title with three games to spare, Saturday PUNCH reports. Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa and veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali scored two second half goals to get the job done for the four-time champions, who have also moved within reach of a CAF Confederation Cup spot. The match-day 35 game, a potential title decider, attracted interests beyond Kano and Port Harcourt, and fans…
THE Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has confirmed that the country’s contingent will compete in the men’s 4×100 metres, women’s 4×100 metres, 4×400 metres mixed relay and the newly introduced 4×100 metres mixed relay, making up four of the six events at this year’s 2025 World Athletics Relays. The World Athletics Relays scheduled to take place in Guangzhou, China, from May 10th to 11th. According to the AFN, the men’s 4×100 metres squad comprises Alaba Akintola, Udodi Onwuzurike, Favour Ashe, Karlington Anunagba, Folawiyo Olaoye and Usheoritshe Itshekiri, while the women’s 4×100 metres team includes Rosemary Chukwuma, Success Umukoro, Tiana Eyakpobeyan,…
THE Nigeria Premier Football League has slammed El-Kanemi Warriors with a ₦3.5 million fine, following crowd trouble during their Matchday 34 clash against Ikorodu City in Maiduguri. The NPFL also ordered their stadium closed to fans for the rest of the season. This was disclosed by NPFL in a post on its website on Wednesday. This comes after El-Kanemi Warriors’ supporters were found guilty of vandalising the visiting team’s vehicle and throwing objects onto the pitch during the match, describing these actions as grave breaches of its code of conduct. The statement reads, “El-Kanemi Warriors has been sanctioned by the…
SEVEN-TIME African champions, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria, will face hosts Egypt on Tuesday in a friendly game ahead of the 2025 U-20 AFCON which kicks off in Cairo on Monday, April 27. The Flying Eagles arrived in the Egyptian capital city on Sunday, more than a week ahead of their first game against Tunisia next Thursday. A delegation of 24 players and nine officials, led by head coach Aliyu Zubairu, touched down at the Cairo International Airport aboard Egypt Air flight on Sunday evening. According to the Nigeria Football Federation, the team is lodged at Jewel Sports City and…
FORMER Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo has warned Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen to move to the Premier League, stating it would be the best step for his career. As the 2025 summer transfer window approaches, Osimhen’s future has become the subject of much speculation, with several top clubs closely monitoring the prolific striker’s potential decision. Ighalo believes the English top flight offers the ideal platform for his compatriot to elevate his career. Osimhen currently plays for Galatasaray in the Turkish Süper Lig on loan from Italian Serie A side Napoli. He has been one of the standout performers in European…
THE President of the Nigerian Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph has invited four hosting states ahead of the 25th edition of Nestle Milo basketball championship for boys and girls categories from April 23rd to 25th in Lagos. The four hosting state include Kano, Oyo, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja while the grand final stage of the championship will be played in Lagos later in the year. A statement signed by the NSSF’s Secretary General, Ola Funsho Usman PhD and made it available to newsmen, said the president made the invitation to the state coordinators to ascertain and…
A FAN identified as Bashir Bala has been sentenced to three months in prison with an option of a fine for assaulting a Plateau United player, Temitope Vincent, during a Nigeria Premier Football League game in Lafia last Sunday. Bala was sentenced by a Chief Magistrate Court in Lafia on Thursday after he was arrested by the police at the stadium. The tension-filled clash between Nasarawa United and Plateau United ended 3-2 in favour of the home side, but the final whistle was followed by a troubling incident that left the Plateau United player at the mercy of the fan.…
THE value of Nigerian footballers continues to soar globally, with 2023 African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen retaining his crown as the country’s most valuable player. Joining him at the top of the valuation charts are 2024 CAF Player of the Year Ademola Lookman and Bundesliga sensation Victor Boniface. Here ranks the top 10 most valuable Nigerian football stars with over €315 million as of April 2025. Victor Osimhen – €75 million The 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year remains Nigeria’s most valuable footballer. Osimhen, who powered Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, is currently…
THE governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, unveiled the logo, theme song and mascot for the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival tagged ‘Gateway Games’ slated to commence in the second week of May 2025. Represented by his deputy, Noimot Oyedele, at the event held at the cinema hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre in the state capital Abeokuta, the governor called for understanding, cooperation of all Nigerians to make the event a success. According to him, the theme song which is rich in rhythm and spirit was composed by the talented Bayo Adepetun, while the…
NIGERIA’s U-20 coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has issued a warning to international football agents and wealthy sponsors to stay away from the team’s training camp in Katsina State. This warning comes as the junior team enters its final phase of preparations for the upcoming U-20 African Championship, set to take place in Côte d’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18. An international football agent, who pleaded anonymity, exclusively told News Point Nigeria Tuesday night that Zubairu’s call was intended to prevent any distractions during the training period. The agent revealed that the Flying Eagles coach has turned off his two main…
NASARAWA United has been slammed with a ₦6 million fine and banished to Gombe State for their home matches following an attack on a Plateau United player. The Plateau United player Vincent Temitope was assaulted, leading to cuts on his neck, after some Nasarawa United supporters attacked him in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game on Sunday. In a statement on Monday, the NPFL said the Solid Miners breached the rules of the football body for failure to “provide adequate & effective security” during the game. “Following these breaches, Nasarawa Utd have been banished to the Pantami Stadium in…
NIGERIA’s football has been plunged into deeper mourning following the death of Charles Bassey, another member of the iconic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)-winning Green Eagles squad. The former national team forward passed away on Saturday at the age of 71, just hours after the death of team captain and legend Christian Chukwu was confirmed. Read Also: President Tinubu, Atiku, Gov. Mbah mourn Nigerian football icon Christian Chukwu The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed Bassey’s passing in a statement issued on Sunday, describing it as a devastating blow to the nation’s football fraternity. “This has been a day of…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have joined the long list of people, especially in the football family, in paying tribute to late Super Eagles hero Christian Chukwu, who died on Saturday. “Chairman,” as the late Nigerian football icon was called, died at 74, throwing family, friends, and the entire nation into mourning. In his tribute to the former centre defender, Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, hailed the patriotism of Chukwu. “Christian Chukwu was more than a footballer and coach. He was a symbol of excellence and patriotism. He brought joy to millions,…