SUPER Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, tops the list of high-profile Nigerian players whose contracts will expire this June. The 31-year-old winger joined Sivasspor on a two-year deal in September 2022 after terminating his contract with Fatih Karagumruk by mutual consent. His current contract lapses this summer and talks of renewal are yet to commence according to reports in Turkey. Musa, who was included in the Eagles squad for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nation which kicks off in nine days in Ivory Coast, is Nigeria’s most capped player having made 108 appearances for the three-time African Champion since his debut…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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MULTICHOICE, owners of Digital Satellite Television( DStv) have stated that the Africa Cup of Nations tournament will not be broadcast on its sporting channel, SuperSport. According to the company in a statement, SuperSport channels will not transmit the tournament “because the channel has not secured the rights to broadcast the tournament..” “However, AFCON 2023 games will be available through our partner broadcast stations on Free to Air (FTA) channels.” “Multichoice Africa remains committed to ensuring football fans across Africa continue to enjoy unrivalled access to entertainment and football games available on DStv and GOtv platforms including, the Premier League, LaLiga,…
IN the last few years, Nigeria’s goalkeeping crisis has been well documented and Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has brought on South Africa-based shot-stopper, Stanley Nwabali, as the Portuguese aims to solve the problematic area of his squad. Chippa United safe hands Nwabali was a surprise inclusion in the Eagles 25-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, which begins January 13. Since the forced retirement of Carl Ikeme in 2018 after being diagnosed with leukaemia, several goalkeepers have been tested with none possessing the same quality as the former Wolves goalkeeper. Francis Uzoho’s howlers against Saudi…
THE Super Eagles camp for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has opened in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Coach Jose Peseiro has already named 25 players for the competition which begins mid-January in the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire. Barring one home-based player, the other invitees are expected in camp from their different European bases. But Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, William Troost-Ekong, and Sadiq Umar of Real Sociedad have been granted permission to feature for their sides in games later today. They will then hit the camp on Wednesday. Nigeria will be…
FORMER Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, has dropped a cryptic message on Instagram hinting that he could join the technical crew of national team when the camp opens on Tuesday (today) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Enyeama made this known on Monday when he reacted to a post about the team’s AFCON preparationson the official Instagram account of the Super Eagles. They will begin a one-week training camp on Tuesday (today) that will last until January 9. He wrote, “Let’s go, See you in camp. Time for business.” Enyeama unofficial appointment see joins the growing list of ex-goalies Alloy…
CROSS River State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of some passengers around Nde 3 Corners Akparabong Junction in Ikom Local Government Area of the state. The passengers, who were in transit, were said to have been ambushed by gunmen who shot at their vehicles, injuring three, while the gunmen took away an unspecified number. The spokesperson for the command, SP Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the incident, however, declined to give details of the attack but said the incident occurred on Sunday. Ugbo said efforts were on to secure the release of the abducted passengers and also ensure no repeat…
CURRENT all-time highest goal scorer in the Nigeria Premier Football League, Mfon Udoh, has again stated his desire to see his 23-goal record, which he set in 2014, broken this season. Udoh won the NPFL Golden Boot and cemented his name in the history of the league with an unprecedented 23-goal while playing for Enyimba, smashing Jude Aneke’s 20-goal record. Ten years after setting the record, he believes the current leading scorers in the league this season might be able to set a new record. Remo Stars striker, Sikiru Alimi has scored 11 goals this season in 16 games while…
LESS than 24 hours after making the final 25-man AFCON squad, Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, is a major doubt for the Super Eagles for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Iheanacho was not included in Leicester’s matchday squad for the away win at Cardiff City on Friday night after he sustained a muscle injury in the Foxes 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Boxing Day. His manager, Enzo Maresca, revealed after the game that the versatile forward is still being assessed. Maresca admitted that if it proves to be serious, the 27-year-old will not be able…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports of a jersey launch for the Super Eagles as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to be held in Cote d’Ivoire next year. Images of a supposed jersey unveiled by popular American footwear and apparel company Nike made the rounds across social media in the week. Reacting to the trend, the NFF disclosed in a statement via X on Friday which read, “We want to inform the general public that this news is not true. “At the moment we have no jersey being launched for the Super Eagles…
SUPER Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has released his 25-man list for the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with captain Ahmed Musa making the cut while Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo is the only home-based player. The list, which was released on Friday evening, is headlined by Victor Osimhen and also includes the much-criticized Francis Uzoho. The Nigerian side, gunning for its fourth title, have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. The Portuguese manager had in earlier December unveiled a 40-man provisional squad, including three goal-keepers from the local league. However, in the…
REMO Stars striker, Sikiru Alimi has moved one goal clear on top of the Nigeria Premier Football League scorers’ chart, scoring his 11th goal of the season in their 3-1 defeat against Heartland at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Thursday, The PUNCH reports. Alimi restored parity in the 69th-minute for the league leaders but the relegation-threatened hosts came up with two goals in stoppage time courtesy of Onyekachi Okafor and Chinedu Ike to end the game 3-1. Alimi’s closest challenger for the Golden Boot, Robert Mizo, who has 10 goals, fired blanks as Bayelsa United lost 2-1 at home…
SUPER Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has sent goodwill messages to victims of Christmas eve attacks on communities in three local government areas of Plateau State. The winger condemned the attacks and ordered a manhunt for the killers, while calling on Nigerians to stand against violence. On Sunday, gunmen attacked 12 villages — Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat, and Butura Kampani in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos areas of the state, burning houses and shooting at residents. Reacting to the gory incident, Musa, who is poised for his fourth African Cup of Nations appearance…
FORMER Super Eagles midfielder, Friday Ekpo, has tipped quartet Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco as favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The 34th edition of the biennial showpiece will hold from January 13 to February 11, 2024 across five cities on the south coast of West Africa. The Eagles avoided a confrontation against one of the North Africans after being paired in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea. Jose Peseiro’s men were, however, handed a tricky start to their campaign with a game against the National Thunder, as the…
NIGERIA will play two friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Cape Verde in January ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations which holds from January 13 to February 11 in Ivory Coast. The Super Eagles are hoping to win a fourth AFCON title next year and are in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Nigeria’s first game will be against Equatorial Guinea January 14 at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium before facing hosts Ivory Coast January 18 while their last group game will be against Guinea Bissau January 22. Last week, the Nigeria Football Federation…
IN the spirit of the Yuletide season, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has extended his humanitarian gesture to a journalist, gifted a two bedroom flat located in Lugbe, Abuja, to a female sports reporter, Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu. The beneficiary, an Abuja-based journalist who confirmed Musa’s kind gesture to this newspaper said she is still in shock even as she prayed to God to bless the fromer Leicester City of England striker more, saying loyalty pays. “I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it, not until I got called the second time. I am very grateful. God bless him for me. Loyalty…
FORMER Super Eagles forward, Nwankwo Kanu, has revealed that representing Nigeria at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations affected his game time at Arsenal during the Invincible 2003/04 season. Arriving at Arsenal midway through the 1998/99 season, Kanu swiftly became a key figure, contributing significantly to the club’s triumphs. As the Invincible season approached, he boasted an impressive record, having secured three major honours for the Gunners and accumulating more than 150 first-team appearances. In January and February of 2004, Kanu represented Nigeria at the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia, a tournament that would significantly impact the remainder of his…
THE Super Eagles ended 2023 as Africa’s sixth-best team and 42nd in the world according to FIFA’s monthly rankings,The PUNCH reports. The year 2023 has largely been an impressive one for the Eagles, who suffered only one defeat but recorded four wins and three draws. On the African continent, Morocco retained their number one spot and 13th in the world. They are followed by second-place Senegal, who also maintained their 20th place in the world. Tunisia also remained unmoved in the current ranking as they are placed third in Africa and 28th globally. Algeria and Egypt who completes the top…
A HOSTILE reaction from home-based footballers trailed the Super Eagles’ 41-man provisional list submitted to the Confederation of African Football by the Nigeria Football Federation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off January 13 in Ivory Coast. CAF confirmed all provisional squads of the 24 participating teams on Wednesday, putting to rest the rumours that clouded Nigeria’s list. The Super Eagles list only accommodated three NPFL goalkeepers Olorunleke Ojo of Enyimba, Christian Nwoke of Sporting Lagos and Bendel Insurance’s Amas Obasogie. In the wake of the omission of NPFL outfield players, some followers of the league and…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled the provisional squad for the Super Eagles ahead of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON). The list is contained in a document uploaded on the CAF website on Wednesday. The NFF submitted a 40-man list to the continental football governing body within the stipulated December 14 deadline. The list includes Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong, who were previously absent from the recent Super Eagles outings. Others are six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, eight midfielders and 13 forwards. Victor Osimhen, newly crowned African footballer of the year, was included alongside red-hot Victor Boniface, Ademola…
TWO-TIME Africa Cup of Nations bronze medallist, Dele Aiyenugba, has stressed that goalkeepers selected from the Nigeria Premier Football League must give their foreign-based counterparts a run for their money when the Super Eagles camp opens. The 34th edition of the AFCON kicks off January 13 in Ivory Coast. The Kwara United goalkeeper’s charge came in the wake of the leaked Eagles AFCON provisional list which includes Enyimba goalie Olorunleke Ojo, Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie and Sporting Lagos’ Christian Nwoke. Ojo, Obasogie and Nwoke are among the six goalkeepers in the 40-man provisional squad which has been making the…