Author: Peter Noah KC

DEFENDING Champions of the Betsy Obaseki Woman Football Tournament, Edo Queens Football Club of Benin-City on Saturday defeated Abia Angels FC of Umuahia in 4-0 to move into the semifinals of the annual pre-season competition. In one of the quarterfinal games played at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Edo Queens’ winger, Chioma Moses, scored twice, while Emem Essien and Folashade Ijamilusi added one goal each to make it four for the Nigerian champions. The ladies from Umuahia fought hard in the second half to reduce the tally, but their efforts were thwarted by the Edo girls. Moses Aduku’s team…

STAND-IN Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, says Ahmed Musa remains the captain and is welcome back to the team any time. The 31-year-old Al-Kholood of Saudi Arabia centre back made the observation in a press conference on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s 2025 AFCON qualifying fixture against Libya at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. “He’s still our captain, and he’s welcome back any time. He’s our most capped player, a good role model, and he’s a good leader. I am happy to deputise for him,” said the Netherlands-born, who is expected to marshal the Super Eagles backline later today. Aside…

THE home-based Super Eagles team has been drawn against Ghana in the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers. The draw which held in Cairo Egypt on Wednesday pitched the West African bitter rivals against each other, meaning only one of them can make it to the tournament. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the uniquely designed CAF competition that is reserved for players plying their trade in their respective countries between 01 – 28 February 2025. A total of 40 nations engaged in the draw to determine the first of two rounds of qualifiers to determine the final teams…

SUPER Eagles interim coach, Austine Eguavoen, has backed Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Awoniyi and other invited players to deliver the three points despite the absence of his number one choice striker, Victor Osimhen. Nigeria take on Libya in a doubleheader game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The first match of the doubleheader is set for Friday, October 11, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium before both sides trade tackles at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, Libya four days later. Unfortunately, Eguavoen will not be without Osimhen after the striker picked up an injury during Galatasaray’s 3-3…

ENYIMBA FC will face two Egyptian clubs, title-holders Zamalek and Al Masry, in the group stage as they bid to become the first Nigerian winners of the CAF Confederation Cup. Mozambican team Black Bulls complete Group D after the draw was made at the Confederation of African Football offices in Cairo on Monday. Enyimba have been the most successful Nigerian club in CAF competitions, winning back-to-back Champions League and Super Cup titles between 2003 and 2005. But the second Super Cup success was the last time a club from African football powerhouses Nigeria have lifted a CAF trophy. Based in…

SUPER Eagles captain Ahmed Musa marked his return to the Nigeria Premier Football League with a brace but missed a penalty for Kano Pillars, who beat Sunshine Stars 2-0 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on Sunday. Winless in their last three matches, coach Usman Abdallah and his team were weighed down by the pressure of the new campaign, and he trusted the returning Musa with a place in the starting lineup. Making his third debut for Kano Pillars in the week five game, Musa justified Adballah’s confidence in him as it took him just four minutes to register…

VICTOR Osimhen has been left out of Nigeria’s squad for the doubleheader 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya. In the list released on Saturday, Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen omitted Osimhen due to injury concerns but named in-form Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman in the 23-man squad. The list contains regulars like skipper William Ekong, winger Moses Simon; Alex Iwobi; Stanley Nwabali, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Victor Boniface among others. Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel returns to the side after missing the AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda in September. Playmaker Chidera Ejuke is also returning…

SUPER Eagles captain Ahmed Musa is in contention to make his third debut for former champions Kano Pillars when they host Sunshine Stars in a Nigeria Premier Football League match-day five fixture at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Musa and Nigeria midfielder Shehu Abdullahi rejoined the Sai Masu Gidas on short-term contracts for the 2024/25 season. Both players were pictured at the training ground of the former champions on Thursday, preparatory to their home game against the Owena Waves. “Ahmed Musa, Shehu Abdullahi, Nazir Laja, and the rest of the squad trained ahead…

THE 2024 Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation will hold today in Asaba, the Delta State capital. All delegates arrived yesterday in the Delta State capital for the meeting slated to be held at the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House. The NFF Annual General Assembly is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country in a given year, and serves as the melting pot of interplay of ideas and eventual formulation of policies and rules and regulations that govern the administration and organization of the game nationally for the succeeding one year.…

THE Nigeria Football Federation will on Thursday (today) reel out the maiden nominees for the NFF Monthly Awards, which will be voted by fans and journalists, the body announced on Wednesday. With three categories of awards, the project is aimed at celebrating Nigerian players in the Nigeria Premier Football League and those plying their trades with foreign clubs. The categories are Player of the Month for male and female, Goal of the Month, and Discovery of the Month. “As football leagues across the globe resumed fully last month, the Nigeria Football Federation is proud to announce the launch of the…

NOVA Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to the well-being and interests of high-net-worth individuals by sponsoring the 27th Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament. Hosted at the prestigious Ikoyi Golf Club 1938, the annual tournament for 2024 took place from, September 21st, to Saturday, September 28th, 2024. The Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament, organized by the Ikoyi Golf Community Nigeria Association (IGCNA), showcased the remarkable talent of golfers and the sport’s capacity to foster connections across board. This year, Mr, Tayo Babalakin emerged as the Nigeria Cup 2024 Champion, clinching the title with a stunning 85 gross with Handicap (HCP) 19 = 66…

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigerian football as he pledged concerted efforts to take the sport to higher heights. The former Chairman of Zamfara State Football Association who was elected on September 30, 2022 clocked two years in office yesterday. Speaking as his two years anniversary, Gusau cited the existing peace in Nigerian football as one of his major achievements in office. He said the peaceful relationship atmosphere has contributed to the improved performances of both the men’s and women’s national teams. Gusau maintained that the Super Eagles’ second place…

JUVENTUS Sporting Director Cristiano Giuntoli says it took him four months to bring Victor Osimhen to Napoli from Lille in 2020 while working at the club in 2020. Signing the 25-year-old has never been on the knife’s edge for his suitors since announcing himself as one of the world’s reputable strikers at Lille, where he notched 13 goals in 27 matches from 2019 to 2020. Giuntoli, who outwitted other suitors to bring Osimhen to Napoli for around €75m, revealed his frustrations at the time during a chat with Corriere della Sera, adding that Napoli should have sold the African Player…

ANTHONY Joshua has been suspended from boxing for 28 days following his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois. The two-time heavyweight champion was sent to the mat four times as Dubois unleashed a blistering performance to defend his IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium last Saturday. Joshua was knocked out in the fifth round after a savage right hand from his opponent, leaving him crumbled on the canvas. As a result of that defeat, Joshua has now been handed a 28-day suspension by the British Boxing Board of Control. Before anyone panics, Joshua’s ‘ban’ is standard procedure for British fighters who…

AUGUSTINE Eguavoen will continue in his role as the interim coach of the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said. NFF disclosed this in a statement on X on Thursday, saying the appointment followed a recommendation from the NFF’s Technical and Development Sub-Committee. “The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the Federation’s Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen to continue in his role as Head Coach of the Super Eagles, and lead the team in its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya next month,”…

HEAD coach of El-Kanemi Warriors, Aliyu Zubairu, is confident that the Maiduguri side can win all their home matches in the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season. Following a thrilling 4-3 win at Nasarawa United last Saturday, the Maiduguri side have now picked up four points in two matches this season, and both were on the road. Ahead of what will be their first home match of the season against Plateau United on matchday four, the gaffer believes the Maiduguri side will be inspired by their away form as well. “No hiding place for any opponent that comes to Maiduguri,…

FOOTBALL enthusiasts have taken to social media to urge the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to invest in the Nigeria Premier Football League. This is against the backdrop of the billionaire business mogul regretting not buying the English Premier League giants, Arsenal, when his interest lies in owning a football club. In an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua in New York, Dangote explained that he missed out on buying Arsenal when the club were valued at around $2bn but instead committed his resources to the refinery project in Nigeria. The Kano-born had in 2020 made…

THE President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has expressed his regret for not buying Arsenal when his interest lies with owning a football club. He said he wished he had bought the English side club when the team was valued at around $2 billion. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua in New York, the billionaire business mogul explained that he missed out on buying Arsenal by committing his resources to the refinery project. He said, “I think that time has passed. The last time when we had this interview, I told you as soon…

THE Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, has disclosed that about 1,600 athletes will compete in the forthcoming Armed Forces Games 2024 between 23rd to 27th September, 2024 in Kaduna. Addressing a press conference in Kaduna to usher in the commencement of the games with the theme, ‘Enhancing Military Professionalism Through Sport’, AVM Marquis who doubles as the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) said the event will feature 19 sporting activities. He noted that the Organization of African Military Sports awarded Nigeria the hosting right for the African Military games 2024 to be held in Abuja.…

KANO State athletes, who participated in the 8th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address the issue of their poor camp allowances. The athletes, speaking anonymously, expressed dissatisfaction with the daily allowance they received, claiming it was significantly lower than that of their counterparts from neighbouring Northwestern states. “We were given less than N20,000 for ten days, while athletes from Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara received N50,000. Jigawa athletes were paid the highest, receiving N80,000,” one of the athletes said. Despite the disparity in allowances,…