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.…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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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…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Monimichelle Sports, the contractor handling the FIFA-funded mini stadium project in Ugborodo, Delta State, are locked in a dispute over the alleged abandonment of the project and the termination of their contract. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, maintains that the football body terminated the contract after the contractor failed to resume work at the site within the deadline given, despite receiving about $500,000 in project funding. The twin facility in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State funded under the same FIFA Forward Programme has already been…
SUPER Eagles Coach Eric Chelle is set to meet with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee this week to finalize his squad list and tidy up preparation plans ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff billed to kick off on November 13 in Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports report that Nigeria will lock horns with Gabon in the opening semifinal of the mini-tournament. A victory will see the Super Eagles advance to face the winner between Cameroon and DR Congo in a decisive showdown on November 16, which will determine who progresses to the FIFA intercontinental…
SUPER Eagles striker Victor Boniface continues to struggle in front of goal, after his barren run extended to 13 matches in Werder Bremen’s 1-1 draw against Mainz on Saturday in the Bundesliga. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the 24-year-old forward, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, lasted 64 minutes before being replaced by Keke Topp, as his goalless streak spanning both club and country reaches eight months. Mainz took the lead through Silvan Widmer in the 36th minute, but Jens Stage rescued a late point for Bremen with an 86th-minute equaliser. Boniface’s last goal dates back to March 2025, in…
NIGERIA international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye says he is delighted to be back doing what he loves after returning from a two-month ban over betting irregularities. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the 24-year-old’s comeback continued with a standout performance, even though Udinese suffered a 3-1 defeat to Juventus at the Allianz Stadium. Okoye, making his third appearance since his suspension was lifted, turned heads with an inspired individual display that earned him the highest match rating of 8.2 by statistics platform Sofascore, ahead of every Juventus player on the pitch. “I’ve been out for a while, and it’s always difficult…
CHAIRMAN of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has denied allegations of misappropriation of the $1.2 million FIFA fund meant for the construction of the mini-stadium in Kebbi State. Dikko, who spoke in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria, stated that no one collected the money, insisting that FIFA directly managed the project funds. “That is where people are getting it wrong; no one collected the money. I’m not here to defend the NFF; they can defend themselves. “But as the leader of sports in Nigeria, what happens to the NFF affects…
THE race for Africa’s final ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup will hit full throttle in Rabat next month, with powerhouse nations Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon set for a fierce mini-tournament that offers a last lifeline to reach the United States, Canada and Mexico. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday confirmed that all matches, two semi-finals and a final will take place in the Moroccan capital between November 13 and November 17. Nigeria will take center stage in the opening semi-final when they lock horns with Gabon on November…
FORMER President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has dismissed allegations of misappropriation surrounding the controversial FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi State, insisting that every dollar disbursed for the facility was properly accounted for and audited. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the controversy erupted after FIFA, in a social media post, shared a photograph showing the Kebbi stadium project—in its current, incomplete state—under the FIFA Forward Programme. The image sparked widespread criticism from Nigerians who questioned how the $1.2 million reportedly allocated to the project failed to produce a substantial sporting facility. Responding to the public backlash,…
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to set up a special committee to investigate financial grants advanced to the Nigerian Football Federation by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, totalling $25m. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance during Tuesday’s plenary, co-sponsored by Lagos lawmaker, Adedayo Adesola and his Rivers State counterpart, Felix Nwaeke. Titled “Motion to sport further misuse of FIFA and CAF grants by Nigerian Football Federation,” Adesola noted that the mismanagement of grants by the global football governing body is largely…
FORMER presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of failing to deliver a promised FIFA-funded stadium in Awka, Anambra State, a revelation that comes amid mounting allegations of widespread financial mismanagement within the football governing body. News Point Nigeria Sports reports tht in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Obi said officials from the Sports Federation had informed him during his tenure as governor that Anambra had been selected as one of six locations across Nigeria to host a FIFA-standard stadium, fully funded by FIFA and executed through the…
SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has vowed to guide Nigeria to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging his players to adopt a warrior-like mentality as they prepare for a tense playoff run. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Franco-Malian tactician made the bold declaration whilst speaking to Nigerian legend Segun Odegbami on 90 Minutes with Mathematical on Eagle7FM on Saturday, expressing gratitude to fans for their support. “Thanks to the fans. Thanks to Nigeria. I am so happy that I have brought back the smiles on their faces,” Chelle said. “We beat Benin because the fans pushed the…
FOR the 19th consecutive year, no Nigerian referee has been selected among the officials preparing to officiate at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), further extending the country’s absence from Africa’s premier football showpiece. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the latest shortlist of 94 referees, assistant referees, VAR officials, instructors, and assessors expected to attend a preparatory training programme ahead of the tournament in Morocco. The intensive camp is scheduled to hold from November 8 to 13 in Cairo, Egypt. The training is designed to assess fitness, match interpretation, VAR operation,…