Author: Peter Noah KC

FORMER Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has fired back at Nigerian head coach Eric Chelle over his controversial claim that “voodoo” contributed to Nigeria’s failed World Cup play-off bid against the Democratic Republic of Congo, branding the assertion as “ridiculous” and “a lame excuse.” News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Chelle’s comments, made after the Super Eagles’ agonising elimination, triggered widespread outrage across the football community, with fans, pundits, and ex-internationals accusing him of trivialising Nigeria’s shortcomings. Mikel, speaking on his popular podcast, became the most prominent voice to challenge the coach’s remarks. Reacting with disbelief, the former Chelsea…

FORMER Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has urged Nigeria’s national team to fix what he describes as their most damaging weakness; inconsistency as preparations intensify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Okocha’s intervention comes at a time when Nigerians are still reeling from the emotional and sporting disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a second consecutive absence from football’s biggest tournament. Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign was turbulent from start to finish. Over 10 matches, the team managed four wins, five draws and…

FORMER Ghana captain and African football icon, Asamoah Gyan, has tipped the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the strongest contenders for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Gyan, who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the 2025 CAF Awards in Marrakech on Wednesday, said Nigeria’s quality, experience, and recent near-successes put them among the tournament’s top favourites alongside hosts Morocco and defending champions Ivory Coast. The Black Stars legend noted that although Ghana failed to…

NIGERIA have risen three places to 38th in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking announced on Wednesday following a month in which the Super Eagles played two competitive fixtures, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The ranking update, which covered 149 national-team outings worldwide since the previous release, reflects Nigeria’s 4–1 victory over Gabon and the 1–1 draw with the DR Congo that ended in a 4–3 penalty defeat in the African play-off. Despite the heartbreak of missing out on the 2026 World Cup, those results were sufficient to nudge the Super Eagles up the table. Nigeria’s new points total stands at…

MOROCCO captain Achraf Hakimi won the African men’s player of the year award on Wednesday, capping a season in which he lifted the UEFA Champions League with his club Paris Saint-Germain. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the 27-year-old also won a fourth Ligue 1 title last season and claimed the French Cup and UEFA Super Cup, however PSG came up short in the final of the Club World Cup as Hakimi was forced to settle for a runners-up medal in New York. The right-back beat out two past winners in Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Nigeria striker Victor…

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday apologised to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Nigeria lost to DR Congo on penalties in a tightly contested African play-off final on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, shattering the Super Eagles’ hopes of featuring at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the NFF described the defeat as “a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football.” It noted that…

NIGERIA’s football coach has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of practising “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ended in a penalty shootout loss. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the African play-offs final in Rabat on Sunday, and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March. In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time”. “That…

SUPER Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is among the three finalists for the CAF Player of the Year award. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Galatasaray man, the winner of the award in 2023, will battle it out with Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) for Africa’s most-coveted individual prize. Osimhen was part of the list released on Sunday evening by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the award last won by Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman. In the women’s version, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade was also part of the shortlist for the prize. She will contend with Morocco’s duo…

THE Super Eagles won’t be at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that this was after Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo in a tightly-contested African play-offs final on Sunday. The game ended 1-1 after normal and extra time. But during penalties, the Leopards of DR Congo overpowered the Super Eagles 3-4 to pick Africa’s sole ticket for the intercontinental play-offs billed for March next year. Deadlock broken from the spot, DR Congo are through to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/KcKtc0TEas Nigeria had taken the lead, just three minutes…

NIGERIA’s hopes of securing a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs have received a significant boost after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday confirmed that Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to face the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sunday’s crucial African playoff final in Rabat, Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the clarification eases growing tension among fans after widespread reports suggested that the Leicester City star would miss the encounter due to accumulated yellow cards from the earlier stages of the qualifiers. In a post on the Super Eagles’ official X handle,…

THE Super Eagles produced a commanding performance to defeat Gabon 4–1 after extra time in their World Cup qualifying playoff, a result that keeps Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that it was a night of mild drama and optimism, and long after the final whistle, certain talking points continued to linger. As Nigeria prepares for a tough test against DR Congo come Sunday, here are five things we learned on Thursday. Even on a night when he struggled for long spells, Victor Osimhen once again delivered when it mattered most. The Galatasaray forward…

NIGERIA strengthened their bid for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday as striker Victor Osimhen scored twice to inspire the Super Eagles to a 4-1 victory over Gabon in extra time, securing their place in the play-off final. Akor Adams put Nigeria ahead in the 78th minute, but just as the Super Eagles seemed poised for a 1-0 win, Mario Lemina struck for Gabon in the 89th minute, sending the match into extra time. In extra time, Nigeria regained the lead when substitute Chidera Ejuke scored his first goal for the Super Eagles after 97 minutes.…

THE Super Eagles of Nigeria have finally received all outstanding bonuses and allowances owed to them by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), ending days of tension and uncertainty ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff semi-final clash against Gabon in Rabat, Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that team captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the development on Wednesday via his verified X handle, announcing that the long-running financial dispute had been resolved and that the team’s full attention was now on securing qualification for the next round. “Issue RESOLVED. Outstanding financials cleared and on ground. Team is UNITED…

NIGERIA’s preparation for this week’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa play-off against Gabon suffered a major setback on Tuesday after the Super Eagles boycotted their scheduled training session in Rabat, Morocco, in protest over unpaid bonuses. A senior team official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development to News Point Nigeria Sports, revealing that both players and sections of the technical crew refused to take part in the evening training session until their outstanding allowances were settled. “The boys are not happy. They expected the bonuses to be sorted before this camp,” the official said. The protest…

NIGERIA’s Super Eagles have officially commenced preparations for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off clash against Gabon, with ten players already in camp as of early Monday in Rabat, Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the early arrivals include Fulham duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Tolu Arokodare. Also in camp are Russia-based forward Olakunle Olusegun, Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem, and Besiktas midfield marshal Wilfred Ndidi. Team captain William Troost-Ekong, FC Paris winger Moses Simon, and promising young defender Benjamin Fredericks complete the list of players who checked in ahead…

THE Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has imposed a fine of N9m on Katsina United for breaching the league’s Framework and Rules during their week 12 match against Barau FC on Saturday, November 8, at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that irate fans believed to be supporters of Katsina United invaded the pitch shortly after Barau FC’s Orji Kalu scored in the 69th minute to level the game at 1-1. While some of the angry fans ran into the pitch, others pelted the visitors with dangerous objects, one of which injured Nana Abraham on the neck.…

NIGERIA have named a 24-man squad for the 2026 World Cup playoffs, recalling Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, for the tie against the Panthers of Gabon. News point Nigeria Sports reports that Okoye returns after serving a two-month ban for involvement in betting. Onyedika is making the list following his missing of the final games of the World Cup qualifier due to injury. The Super Eagles’ list, which was released early Saturday, also included long-time absentee and Sevilla forward, Chidera Ejuke, and Raphael Onyedika. The squad features regulars like Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen; captain William Troost-Ekong; Alex Iwobi of Fulham; Ademola Lookman…

NIGERIA’s football stars will learn their CAF Awards fate on November 19, 2025, when the Confederation of African Football hosts its annual gala night in Rabat, Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that The ceremony, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. Nigerian time) will honour the most outstanding African footballers, coaches, and national teams for their performances over the last 12 months. This year’s edition marks the third consecutive time Morocco is hosting the prestigious awards, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and top football dignitaries expected to grace the occasion. Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen and Super Falcons…

TENSION is brewing ahead of the Super Eagles’ crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash as fans and football stakeholders express outrage over the appointment of South African match officials for Nigeria’s first-leg tie against Gabon. In a letter reportedly issued by FIFA on November 3, 2025 obtained by News Point Nigeria Sports, Tom Abongile of South Africa was named centre referee, with veteran assistant referee Zakhele Siwela and trailblazing female official Akhona Makalima appointed to support officiating and Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) duties. The match is scheduled to take place on November 13 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium,…

SUPER Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, has said he fully understood the weight of expectation placed on him when he agreed to take charge of Nigeria’s national football team, insisting that success is the only acceptable currency for survival in the job. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the former Mali coach, who guided Nigeria to the African play-offs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an unbeaten six-game run four wins and two draws is gearing up for a decisive double assignment: the World Cup playoff later this month and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco…