Author: Peter Noah KC

NIGERIA’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have suffered a major setback in their global standing, falling 11 places in the latest FIBA world rankings released on Thursday, now sitting in 53rd position. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that this decline follows Nigeria’s performance at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament in Angola last month, where they reached the quarterfinals but failed to progress further after a tough 91–75 loss to Senegal. According to the September update by the world basketball governing body, D’Tigers dropped from 42nd in March 2025 to 53rd globally, amassing 248.7 ranking points, down from 297.8 points earlier…

NIGERIA’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has taken a dramatic twist, offering a glimmer of hope for the Super Eagles despite their recent struggles and continued slide in the FIFA World Rankings. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the world football governing body, FIFA, has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against South Africa for fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena during their March qualifier against Lesotho, a development that could significantly reshape the Group C standings and Nigeria’s chances of securing an automatic ticket to the World Cup. South African outlet SABC Sport reported that FIFA confirmed in a letter dated…

THE race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as football’s world governing body, FIFA, released its latest list of disciplinary sanctions from the ongoing African qualifiers with no mention of South Africa despite persistent protests from Nigeria and Benin Republic over the eligibility of star midfielder Teboho Mokoena. The four-page document, obtained by News Point Nigeria Sports, detailed sanctions against several national teams, including Qatar, Indonesia, and Argentina, but failed to impose any penalty on the South African Football Association (SAFA) for allegedly fielding Mokoena while he was suspended. Nigeria and Benin had lodged…

THE Federal Government has fully cleared the allowances and performance bonuses of Team Nigeria athletes participating in the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, bringing relief and renewed morale to the country’s representatives on the global stage. The announcement was made by Dr. Kehinde Ajayi, Director of Press at the National Sports Commission (NSC), in a statement issued Tuesday shared with News Point Nigeria Sports. The Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, personally met with Team Nigeria athletes and officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in Tokyo, where he reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment…

THE future of Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is now under serious review as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prepares to decide his fate following the team’s faltering campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, made this known on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, monitored by News Point Nigeria. Dikko explained that while the NSC had given the national team all necessary support including chartering flights, paying bonuses, and providing logistics, the final decision on Chelle’s job rests squarely with the NFF. “Eric Chelle is…

THE Flying Eagles, Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, departed Abuja on Sunday night for Santiago, Chile, to intensify their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will run from September 27 to October 19. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the seven-time African champions are on a mission to end Nigeria’s decades-long wait for a maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy. The team has been camping in Abuja for the past month, fine-tuning tactics under head coach Aliyu Zubairu, before embarking on this crucial final lap. The team will hold a two-week training camp in Chile, beginning Tuesday,…

A FRESH wave of excitement swept through Kano’s football community on Thursday, September 11, 2025, as Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Member of the House of Representatives representing Bichi Federal Constituency, officially unveiled Bichi First Football Club and named former Flying Eagles and Super Eagles star, Abubakar Musa, as the club’s first head coach. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the ceremony, held at the club’s premises in Bichi Local Government Area, drew local sports enthusiasts, traditional leaders, youth groups, and community stakeholders who hailed the lawmaker’s initiative as a groundbreaking step in sports development. Speaking at the unveiling, Hon. Bichi…

SUPER Eagles’ forward, Ademola Lookman has officially returned to Atalanta’s first-team training, ending weeks of speculation surrounding his future after a tense transfer standoff with the club. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the 27-year-old forward had been training separately since August following his push for a high-profile move to Inter Milan. The situation escalated when Lookman scrubbed his social media accounts of all Atalanta-related posts, sparking rumours of a potential exit. According to Sport Mediaset, Inter reportedly tabled a €45 million (£38m/$53m) bid for the player, but Atalanta refused to sell, insisting that Lookman was integral to their plans…

FORMER Super Eagles captain and Nigerian football legend Mikel John Obi has issued a scathing criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), insisting the entire board must step down if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that speaking on the Obi One Podcast, the ex-Chelsea midfielder expressed frustration at Nigeria’s precarious position in the qualification race, warning that missing out on back-to-back World Cups would be disastrous for Nigerian football. “If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go… it’s unacceptable,” Mikel declared. “We didn’t…

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has openly criticised striker Cyriel Dessers and faulted captain William Troost-Ekong following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with South Africa in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Eagles, desperate for a win to reignite their fading qualification hopes, endured a frustrating evening that has now left their World Cup chances hanging by a thread. The game started on a sour note when Ola Aina was forced off with an injury in the eighth minute. Matters worsened in the 25th minute when skipper Troost-Ekong…

EXCITEMENT and anxiety are building as Nigeria’s Super Eagles prepare for a decisive clash against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the match, scheduled for Tuesday at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, will kick off at 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time (6:00 p.m. local time). Analysts say the game is a must-win fixture that could determine the Eagles’ fate in the qualifiers. Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 10 points from seven matches, trailing South Africa on 16 and Benin on 11. Rwanda follow with eight points, Lesotho with…

THE Super Eagles of Nigeria have departed Uyo for South Africa, where they will lock horns with Bafana Bafana in a high-stakes 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the team, which edged Rwanda 1–0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, left on Sunday morning aboard a ValueJet aircraft with 22 players in camp. However, the squad will be without talismanic forward Victor Osimhen, who picked up an injury during the hard-fought victory against the Amavubi. Osimhen, 26, limped off in the first half of the Rwanda clash and has since…

A LONE strike from Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare was all the Super Eagles needed to see off resilient Rwanda in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier, keeping Nigeria’s slim hopes of reaching the competition alive. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Arokodare’s acrobatic effort from the turf in the 51st minute earned Nigeria their second victory in the qualification series, helping them leapfrog the visitors to second position, six points adrift of Group C leaders South Africa, who they face on Tuesday. Nigeria came to the game on the back of a poor start to the qualification race, needing victory…

NIGERIA’s Super Eagles face a mounting uphill task in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after Group C rivals South Africa and Benin Republic recorded crucial victories on Friday to widen the gap on the standings. The three-time African champions, who take on Rwanda at the Victor Attah International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, have struggled for consistency in the qualifiers and now find themselves playing catch-up. In Johannesburg, South Africa turned on the style, thrashing Lesotho 3-0 in a dominant display that underscored their resurgence on the continental stage. The victory lifted Bafana Bafana to…

SUPER Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has underlined the team’s determination to revive their faltering 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, stressing that the players remain fully focused as they prepare for back-to-back fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Nigeria, who have secured just one win in six games of the ongoing qualifying series, will host Rwanda on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, before travelling to Bloemfontein to face the Bafana Bafana three days later. The three-time African champions are fourth in Group C with seven points, six adrift of leaders South Africa…

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially announced ticket prices and tough anti-racketeering measures for Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown between the Super Eagles and Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, News Point Nigeria Sports gathered. According to the federation, fans will gain access to the popular stands for ₦1,000, while the VIP section has been pegged at ₦3,000. Tickets will go on sale at designated centres across Uyo from Friday morning. NFF’s Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Alizor Chuks, while unveiling the details, said the federation has put stringent measures in place to check…

THE Super Eagles’ camp in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, has come alive with the arrival of more players as Nigeria intensifies preparations for its crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that on Tuesday, nine new arrivals; Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Moses Simon, Chidozie Awaziem, Adebayo Adeleye, and Benjamin Fredericks joined the early birds who had checked in on Monday. Those who arrived earlier include team captain William Troost-Ekong, goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Felix Agu, and midfielder Raphael Onyedika. With this, the total number…

AS the 2025/26 European summer transfer window reaches its final hours, two of Nigeria’s brightest football exports, Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman are experiencing sharply contrasting fortunes. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, who just last week saw a dream move to AC Milan collapse over long-standing injury concerns, has now successfully completed his medical tests at Werder Bremen, raising hopes of a last-minute Bundesliga switch. Renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed the development on X, stating: “Victor Boniface has just completed his medical tests at Werder Bremen.” The move offers the 24-year-old a fresh…

TOTTENHAM Hotspur are preparing to strengthen their frontline this summer, with Nigerian international Ademola Lookman emerging as the club’s prime transfer target. The 27-year-old winger, currently at Serie A side Atalanta, has been linked with a move back to the Premier League after a remarkable 2024/25 campaign in Italy. Lookman was instrumental in Atalanta’s attacking play, registering 27 goal contributions across all competitions, a return that has now attracted the attention of Spurs. According to transfer outlet Fichajes, Tottenham now consider Lookman their “main target” after missing out on several other attacking options earlier in the window. And the London…

THE Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief (Hon.) Bukola Olopade, has dismissed reports alleging infighting and power struggles within the commission, describing them as malicious fabrications designed to mislead the public. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that speaking to journalists over the weekend during the ongoing 9th National Youth Games at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium in Asaba, Olopade said the stories making the rounds were nothing but “half-truths, innuendoes, propaganda and outright falsehood” being pushed by “quack and contemptible journalists.” “There was never a time we fought over money, contracts, or positions. My relationship with the…