HEAD Coach Eric Chelle, on Thursday, released the final 23-man squad list for the Super Eagles B ahead of the 8th African Nations Championship, which will take place across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from August 2 to 30, 2025. Among those named are team captain Junior Harrison Nduka, defender Sikiru Alimi, and forward Godwin Obaje. Also included are goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena Ani, defenders Sodiq Ismaila and Stephen Mayo Egbe, midfielders Hadi Haruna and Alex Oyowah, and forwards Anas Yusuf, Ijoma Anthony, and Sikiru Alimi. The squad, which has been in training for several weeks at the Remo Stars Sports Institute…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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SOME members of Nigeria’s Super Falcons have visited South African forward Gabriela Salgado in hospital following the serious leg injury she sustained during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final clash between both teams in Morocco. Salgado was stretchered off in the 88th minute of the intense encounter on Tuesday after suffering what was later diagnosed as a mid-shaft fracture of her left leg. According to the South African Football Association, she has since undergone successful surgery at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca. The federation stated that Salgado will be out of action for the remainder of…
THE Super Falcons of Nigeria on Tuesday booked their place in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco after a dramatic 2-1 win over South Africa, sealed by a late goal from defender Michelle Alozie. With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Alozie launched a long ball into the South African box, which evaded everyone, including the goalkeeper and nestled into the net, stunning the Banyana Banyana defence. The goal secured Nigeria’s spot in the final and marked a thrilling end to a closely contested semifinal clash. What was billed as a clash of…
SUPER Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been suspended for two months after being found guilty of illegal betting by Italian football authorities. As reported by Football Italia on Tuesday, the Nigerian international, currently with Serie A club Udinese, avoided a potentially career-threatening four-year ban for sporting fraud. The issue stems from a Serie A encounter between Udinese and Lazio on March 11, 2024. During the game, Okoye received a yellow card in the 64th minute for time-wasting, with his team ahead 2-1. Authorities flagged the incident after detecting a surge in unusual betting patterns, specifically wagers predicting a yellow card…
AT least 1,000 athletes from 31 countries have arrived in Abuja for the 2025 African Karate Championship, which kicks off July 21 and runs through July 28. The President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria, Silas Agara, told newsmen in Abuja on Sunday that 31 countries, alongside host Nigeria, would slug it out in four categories of the sport. Agara listed the categories to include the cadet, which would accommodate athletes between 14 and 15 years, as well as the junior category, which has athletes between the ages of 16 and 17. Other categories are senior and para karate, which…
SOUTH Africa are into the semi-final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Their reward? A date with rivals Nigeria at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca, Morroco. The Banyana Banyana fought hard to beat Senegal 4-1 on penalties after normal, and extra time ended barren in Saturday’s quarter-final match up. Nigeria had a day earlier crushed Zambia’s Copper Queens 5-0, extending their unbeaten record in the tournament. With the last eight games done, attention now shifts to the semi-final, and Nigeria and South Africa headline the fixtures for the semi-final. The last time both sides met was at the…
IN a major gesture recognising sporting excellence, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has rewarded athletes who represented the state at the 2024 National Sports Festival with cash gifts and certificates of recognition, while also settling a long-standing N201 million debt owed to Kwara United Football Club. At a reception held on Friday in Ilorin, Governor AbdulRazaq praised the athletes as “heroes and heroines in their own right,” noting that their six gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze medals won in Abeokuta, Ogun State, had brought pride to the state. Each gold medalist received N1 million, silver medalists were awarded N500,000,…
NIGERIA’s Super Falcons proved too much for their opponents, Zambia, in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 quarter-final at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, beating the Southern Africans 5-0 on Friday. Goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Oluwatosin Demehin, and Folashade Ijamilusi were enough to give the Falcons victory and book their semi-final spot in the tournament. Nigeria were hoping to bury the ghosts of the past when they lost to Zambia 0-1 the last time both sides met in the 3rd place match in WAFCON 2022. A spark was what the Super Falcons needed,…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Nigeria international player and one-time Super Eagles coach, Monday Sinclair, describing his demise as a huge loss to the nation’s football community. Sinclair, popularly known as “Professor” for his exceptional understanding of the game, died on Wednesday evening, leaving behind a legacy that shaped grassroots and elite football development in Nigeria. In a condolence message on Thursday, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said: “We mourn deeply with the immediate family, friends, and relatives of ‘Professor’ Monday Sinclair over his demise. “It is yet another sad day…
NIGERIA’s Super Falcons will lock horns with the Copper Queens of Zambia on Friday in what is shaping up to be one of the fiercest encounters of the ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The quarter-final clash, scheduled for the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, is attracting high anticipation given the history and form of both sides. Nigeria, nine-time champions of the tournament, are seeking to reassert their dominance after recent setbacks, including a semi-final exit to Morocco in 2022 and a loss to Zambia in the bronze medal match the same year. Meanwhile, Zambia, led by star forwards…
SUPER Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has made a remarkable return to full training following a life-threatening abdominal injury that ruled him out of action for nearly two months. The 27-year-old forward suffered a ruptured intestine in May 2025, a condition that required an immediate two-stage surgical procedure and saw him placed in a medically induced coma during the initial phase of his recovery to stabilise his condition and prevent complications. According to sources close to the player, the first phase of the surgery involved emergency intervention to repair the ruptured area. The seriousness of the situation led…
A FORMER Super Eagles defender and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Kadiri Ikhana, is fighting for his life at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Auchi, Edo State, where he was transferred for emergency blood transfusion and intensive medical care. The 68-year-old ex-international, who was a member of the Green Eagles squad that won Nigeria’s first AFCON title in Lagos 44 years ago, is in critical condition and requires urgent medical intervention to save his life. A former Nigerian captain, Segun Odegbami, broke the news on Monday morning, revealing that “Ikhana has been transferred to the specialist hospital after his…
ALGERIA’s Lady Fennecs successfully stifled the Super Falcons to earn a scoreless draw in their final group B match of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Sunday. The result ensured Algeria earned a spot in the tournament’s quarter-finals for the first time ever, to join Nigeria, who had already qualified since Thursday. Head Coach Justine Madugu made a number of changes to the squad that started in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat of Botswana. Defenders Shukurat Oladipo, Miracle Usani and Sikiratu Isah, midfielders Christy Ucheibe and Jennifer Echegini, and forward Francisca Ordega made the starting line-up. The intention…
NIGERIA’s Super Falcons are already assured of $200,000 in prize money following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Botswana on Thursday night in Casablanca, Morocco, at the ongoing 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. By the prevailing exchange rate, the Super Falcons’ current earning is N305m. The slim win, powered by a late strike, ensured that the Falcons became the first team to book a place in the quarter-finals, with one group match still to play. The result also makes Nigeria the only team so far with back-to-back wins in the group stage. Under the newly enhanced prize structure announced by…
AFTER spending four years in the lower Nigerian National League (NNL), Warri Wolves, Friday, joined Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in returning to the elite Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL). Also promoted to the NPFL are Kun Khalifa FC of Owerri, and Barau FC of Kano, which will be playing in the elite league for the first time. At the NNL Super Eight playoff, which ended in Delta State, yesterday, Warri Wolves beat Crown FC 2-1 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba. The Warri side had earlier lost their Group A opening game 1-0 to Osun United before coming back to…
CHINWENDU Ihezuo’s late strike sealed a second consecutive win for the Super Falcons at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Thursday. With the win, the Falcons now have six points which guarantees the team a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Coach Justin Madugu stuck with the same starting eleven against Tunisia. But after a difficult first half with no breakthrough, he introduced Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo to inject fresh energy. The substitutions eventually paid off as The Mares resistance was broken late in the game. Ihezuo ensured that her introduction into the game…
VICTOR Osimhen has reportedly informed Napoli of his desire to complete a permanent move to Galatasaray as soon as possible, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Romano revealed in a post on X late Tuesday night that the Nigerian striker is pushing for the deal to be sealed quickly. “Victor Osimhen has informed Napoli of his desire to get the deal sealed with Galatasaray ASAP. Galatasaray will pay €75m as the release clause value, but is negotiating payment terms for 5 years. Contract ready since Sunday; until June 2028 plus option.” This aligns with a report from News Point…
FORMER Super Eagles captain and newly appointed General-Manager of Kano Pillars FC, Ahmed Musa, has dismissed reports circulating online claiming that he gifted a Sport Utility Vehicles, SUVs, to each member of the squad. The report claimed that Musa made the donation upon resumption as the new general manager of Kano Pillars. But reacting to the news in a statement, the former CSKA Moscow star clarified that no such gifts were made. He described reports as fake and unfounded. “It has come to my attention that false information is being circulated claiming that I distributed cars to players and officials…
RINSOLA Babajide put in an impressive performance as the Super Falcons of Nigeria scored twice in the first half to inflict a 3-0 defeat on Tunisia in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 match at the Larbi Zaouli stadium in Casablanca, Morocco. The lanky forward lit up the Group B opener with a goal and assist, with Asisat Oshola and Chinwendu Ihezuo also getting on the scoresheet as the Super Falcons made light work of their North African opponent. On the first test of their Mission X campaign, Justine Madugu, Falcon’s head coach, handed Oshoala and Ashleigh Plumptre…
A CLIP showing former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai explaining before his death how he became known as Dodo Mayana has gone viral. In an interview with The Popular Side, a podcast, Rufai said the word ‘Dodo’ from the nickname Dodo Mayana was given to him by the late goalkeeper Peter Fregene, while the other half Mayana was picked up during training in Portugal. His words, “While in a room with Peter Fregene, he calls me Dodo, that generation of 1980, 1981, 1982, I joined the camp in 1981. So from that moment, I was lucky to fall into the…