FOR the umpteenth time this year, Nigeria and Ghana will go toe-to-toe on the pitch on Sunday and this time, it’s a doubleheader which sees the Super Eagles B take on the Black Galaxies in the first leg of their CHAN 2024 qualifiers, just as the Flamingos and their U-17 counterparts vie for the inaugural WAFU B U-17 Cup. The first leg encounter of the CHAN qualifiers is slated for the Accra Sports Stadium at 4pm Ghana time and 5pm Nigeria time while the WAFU B U-17 girls’ final will take place at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram.…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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KANO Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali, Remo Stars wing-back Sadiq Ismael, Rivers United centre-back Stephen Manyo, and the current Nigeria Premier Football League top scorer Anas Yusuf are in the 18-man roster for the doubleheader 2024 CHAN qualifiers against Ghana. After about three weeks of camping in Ikenne, stand-in head coach Daniel Ogunmodede picked the four players and 14 others for the assignment. Other players in the sqaud include Enyimba goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena as well as Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole. The Super Eagles B arrived in Ghana on Friday night ahead of Sunday’s first leg encounter against the Black Galaxies. Nasarawa…
THE 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games Ogun 2024, slated for January 12th, has been shifted and will now be held next year 2025 from May 16th to 30th, 2025. This was part of Thursday’s communiqué issued at the end of the Joint Technical Meetings held in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital. Reading the communiqué, the Secretary of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Thecla Opara, said that the postponement has become necessary to effect some of the recommendations of the technical committee to have a world-class festival. “The committee agreed that in order to give some time to effect…
SUPER Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are proving their status as Africa’s elite with scintillating performances in Europe this season, as the Nigerian duo continue to justify the country’s back-to-back CAF African Footballer of The Year awards, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The pair have lit up European football this term, contributing 21 goals and 10 assists in just 33 appearances combined, cementing their positions among the continent’s most lethal attackers. Osimhen has transformed Turkish giants Galatasaray into Europe’s only unbeaten team across domestic leagues, cup competitions, and European tournaments among the top eight ranked leagues, netting 10 goals…
THE 2024 edition of the NLNG Golf Classic ended in Bonny, Rivers on Saturday with Oluwaseun Adedipe and Lady Kafayat Bamimore clinching the top prize in the men and ladies categories. The two-day NLNG Golf Classic Invitational sponsored by Nigeria LNG which was the fifth in the series, began on Friday morning with the tee-off ceremony at the Bonny Island Golf Club (BIGC). The MD, Nigeria LNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila, was on ground, along with other dignitaries, including Engr Emmanuel Nnabuife, Production Trains Asset Manager, who represented the GM Production Nnamdi Anowi, Capt. Lawrence Chukwu, Terminal Manger, Dr. Sam Ekong,…
NIGERIA forward Ademola Lookman, Zambia striker Barbra Banda and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams were the big winners at a star-studded 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday as Africa’s best performers for the year were honoured. The glittering ceremony was attended by football royalty from the continent and beyond in a celebration of the incredible growth and development of the game in Africa, and the astonishing strides that have been made in men’s and women’s football in recent years. See full list of the winners below: 2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN) Ademola Lookman…
AHEAD of Monday’s (today’s) CAF awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation has thrown its weight behind Nigerian stars, Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who are in the run for CAF Player of The Year awards in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, The PUNCH reports. Lookman and Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s contest for honours at this year’s CAF event, as the country is in line for seven awards. The men’s category is locked in a tight race between Lookman and four other contenders. The 27-year-old will vie for the men’s Player of The Year Award…
SUPER Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong and former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr have thrown their weight behind Ademola Lookman to win the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of The Year award in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday. Lookman, who has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for Atalanta this season, is among the final nominees for the prestigious award alongside Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi and Rowen Williams. Speaking with talkSPORT, Troost-Ekong expressed confidence in his international teammate’s chances. “I would say he’s arguably our best player and arguably the best player in Africa right now. On December 16, there will be the…
SUPER Eagles forward Ademola Lookman and Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s contest for honours at this year’s CAF Awards, after making the final shortlist of their awards categories which will be handed out on Monday in Marrakesh, Morocco. Nnadozie will be gunning for two honours as she is in the mix for the Women’s Player of The Year award along with Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda. The Paris FC shot-stopper is also a favourite for a back-to-back win in the Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year category. The men’s category is however still locked in a tight…
THE National Sports Commission has distanced itself from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation into alleged financial impropriety at the Nigeria Football Federation. A top official of the NSC, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “I don’t know anything about any NFF issue with the EFCC. “The issue is with the NFF not the NSC.” The EFF had, in a letter dated November 28, 2024, and signed by Farouk Dogondaji on behalf of the commission’s chairman, requested details of NFF’s financial dealings from the sports commission. The anti-graft agency sought information about sponsorship deals, tournament…
SUPER Eagles AFCON 2013 winner Brown Ideye has sealed a deal to join nine-time Nigerian premier football league champions, Enyimba, until the end of the current season for an undisclosed fee. Enyimba’s Sporting Director and former Super Eagles forward Ifeanyi Ekwueme said Ideye will feature for the People’s Elephant. “We have been discussing with him for several weeks and he agreed to play for us. We are very happy to have a legend in our club” Enyimba said “Ideye will be with us until the end of this season and we believe he will strengthen our team’s attack as we…
TOJEMARINE and Safety Babes have been crowned champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024 on Sunday. At the grand finale held at the NIS gymnasium at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, Tojemarine produced an elite-level performance to defeat Sokoto Rima Strikers 36-33 and finish top of the men’s standing with 64 points while Sokoto Rima Strikers stayed second with 59 points. Tojemarine became the first Lagos-based side to emerge champions since the handball league began in Nigeria. Tojemarine also became the first team in the South-West region in the open era to win the title. 2023 winners, Niger…
ATALANTA President Antonio Percassi has reiterated that Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will not be sold during the January transfer window amid interest from elite clubs in Europe, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Lookman has been one of the most sought-after players in Europe, following his exploits with the Italian club last season and how he has started the current campaign. The 2024 CAF Player of The Year nominee’s recent involvement for Atalanta was the stoppage-time match-winner against AC Milan on Friday night, taking his tally to eight goals and four assists in 12 Serie A games and 10 goals and five…
GOVERNOR Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has hinted that he would rejig the management of the state owned Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Nasarawa United for enhanced performance in the second round of the ongoing NPFL season. This is no doubt as a result of the underwhelming performance of the ‘Solid Miners’ in the 2024/2025 season. Nasarawa United under the chairmanship of Solomom Babanjah are currently placed last on the NPFL table with a paltry 15 points from 15 matches played so far. The ‘miners’ have recorded four victories, three draws and eight losses to sink deep into relegation…
NIGERIAN international Victor Osimhen has emerged as Africa’s most valuable striker, with compatriot Victor Boniface ranking as the second most valuable forward from the continent, according to the latest market valuations on Transfermarkt. Osimhen, who plays for Italian side Napoli, is currently valued at €75m, making him the joint-fifth most valuable striker globally alongside Argentina’s Julian Alvarez, Sweden’s Alexander Isak, and Germany’s Kai Havertz. The 25-year-old Nigerian has justified his high valuation this season with impressive performances, netting nine goals and providing six assists in 12 appearances across all competitions. The 25-year-old has been particularly impressive in the Super Lig,…
THE Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced a new date for the match day 16 fixture involving Sunshine Stars and Shooting Stars. The encounter was initially scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 8 will now hold on Saturday, December 7. The NPFL also revealed a change in venue for the game. The game will be staged at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, instead of Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode. The NPFL made the announcement in a letter signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, yesterday. Part of the statement reads: “Going by the new arrangement, the…
AS the celebration for the 2024 CAF Africa Player award gears up, Cameroon international Flavien Enzo Boyomo is confident that Nigeria international and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is the favourite to win the men’s best player award. Lookman, who made history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European club competition final during his club’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen last season, has been getting massive backing from teammates, stakeholders and fans since CAF announced the final shortlist for the award. Boyomo is the latest to throw his weight behind the Nigerian to claim the honour when the…
THE MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja is set to come alive today (Wednesday) as some of Nigeria’s football legends and top sports administrators showcase their skills in the Shehu Dikko Novelty Match. Organized to honor Mallam Shehu Dikko’s appointment as Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the match will pit Team Shehu Dikko against Team Nigeria, with Dikko himself set to feature for both sides. Team Nigeria boasts an impressive lineup, including Daniel Amokachi, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Shehu Abdulahi, Samson Siasia, and Victor Ezeji. On the other side, Team Shehu Dikko…
BENDEL Insurance secured a 2-1 victory over Plateau United, while Lobi Stars ended their four-game winless streak with a slim 1-0 win against Kwara United in Saturday’s Nigeria Premier Football League fixtures. At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Bendel Insurance took an early lead when Uche Collins struck in the seventh minute. However, Plateau United responded swiftly, with Victor Dawa equalising in the 24th minute. The tightly contested match was ultimately decided by Kayode Oke’s well-taken goal in the 66th minute, giving the Benin Arsenals the edge over their opponents. In Lafia, Lobi Stars grabbed a much-needed victory…
THE latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday has Nigeria recording the most significant drop following unimpressive performances in the last international window. In the November rankings, the three-time African champions plummeted from 36th to 44th globally, an 8-place decline. From its previous 1503 total points, the team’s points now stands at 1482.23. Among African teams, Nigeria is ranked 5th behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria. The reason for this poor rating cannot be far-fetched, as the Super Eagles lost to 1-2 lowly-rated Rwanda at home in Uyo and only managed a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic in the last phase…