MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s absence from the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, saying Nigerians are unhappy that the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the global football showpiece. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Wike spoke on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada-Kuje Road project in Abuja, where former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, was among the dignitaries in attendance. The minister lamented that despite Nigeria’s rich football pedigree and the number of players of Nigerian heritage currently featuring at the World Cup, it remains difficult…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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THE National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will remain in charge of Nigeria’s senior national team after both parties reached an agreement on a new contract, while also assigning him responsibility for the U-23 side. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko disclosed this on Tuesday following a meeting between officials of the Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja, where broader plans for the future of Nigeria’s national teams were discussed. Chelle’s initial two-year contract, which is set to expire at the end of 2026, had…
GALATASARAY have rejected a €125 million bid for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, reaffirming their determination to retain the Nigerian forward despite mounting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs ahead of the summer transfer window. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Turkish champions turned down the offer, reported by Forza Cimbom, as they continue to resist attempts to lure the prolific striker away from Istanbul. The club had also previously rejected a €120 million proposal from Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Despite strong interest from Manchester United, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray have made it clear that they are…
SOUTH Africa defender Ime Okon has explained why he chose to represent Bafana Bafana ahead of Nigeria, insisting that his loyalty has always been with the country he considers home. The Hannover defender, who was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother, is eligible to represent both nations at international level. However, he has firmly committed his future to South Africa and is currently part of the Bafana Bafana squad competing at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Okon featured prominently for…
SUPER Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has urged his teammates and Nigerians to remain focused on the future despite the disappointment of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that the latest setback has been difficult to accept after Nigeria failed to qualify for football’s biggest tournament for a second consecutive time. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Osimhen made the remarks during a recent social media stream, where the Galatasaray forward broke his silence on Nigeria’s failed qualification campaign and reflected on a journey that began with great promise but ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Super Eagles. “It’s bad,…
SUPER Eagles’ Joe Aribo has been linked with a sensational return to Scottish Premiership giants Rangers following his departure from Southampton, raising the possibility of an emotional reunion with the club where he enjoyed some of the most successful years of his career. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the midfielder recently became a free agent after his contract with Southampton FC expired, bringing an end to his four-year stay at St Mary’s Stadium. His departure has immediately sparked speculation over his next destination, with former club Rangers FC reportedly among those interested in securing his services. Aribo joined Southampton…
FORMER Super Eagles captain Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha has received the special retroactive “Superior Player of the Match” award for his performance in Nigeria’s 3–2 victory over Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Nigeria defeated the La Roja of Spain 3-2 in a classic group stage match at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. The game played on June 13, 1998, in Nantes, saw the Super Eagles overcome deficits twice to secure the historic upset over the European giants. In a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, the 52-year-old Okocha unveiled…
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has described Alex Iwobi as “iconic” after the Fulham midfielder became only the fourth player in history to make 100 appearances for the Super Eagles during Nigeria’s 2-1 international friendly defeat to Portugal on Wednesday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Iwobi reached the landmark at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, where Nigeria faced Portugal in their final warm-up game ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Reacting to a social media post by the Super Eagles celebrating the achievement, CAF paid tribute to the midfielder with a brief but powerful message: “Iwobi?…
FRANCISCO Conceição struck the decisive winner as Portugal extended their unbeaten run to five matches (W4, D1), securing a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Nigeria at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa. The result handed Roberto Martínez’s side an ideal final tune-up ahead of the FIFA World Cup. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the match began at a fast tempo, with Cristiano Ronaldo registering Portugal’s first attempt just two minutes in, although his long-range effort sailed wide. Nigeria’s first real response came through Calvin Bassey, whose shot from the edge of the box was comfortably handled by Diogo Costa, marking the…
PORTUGAL captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, is set to lead a star-studded Seleção das Quinas side against the Nigeria national football team in Leiria on Wednesday in what will be the European side’s final warm-up match ahead of the FIFA World Cup. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the encounter, scheduled to take place at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, is being viewed as more than a routine friendly, with both teams expected to use the fixture as a serious tactical examination ahead of important international engagements. Portugal head coach, Roberto Martínez, has assembled a near full-strength squad that combines experienced stars with…
THE scout credited with discovering Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna has opened up on how he identified the young talent and convinced Swedish club AIK to sign him before he eventually secured a move to the English Premier League. News Point Nigeria Sports reports Herish Sadi, who played a key role in Yohanna’s recruitment, recounted the events that led to the youngster’s arrival in Sweden after the player completed his transfer from AIK to Brighton & Hove Albion. The highly rated 18-year-old winger recently signed a five-year contract with Brighton following a series of impressive performances for AIK, a development that…
ENGLISH Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Nigerian wonderkid Zadok Yohanna from AIK Stockholm in a deal worth £21.5 million. News Point Nigeria Sport reports transfer marks a historic milestone for the Kaduna-born winger, who only turned professional and moved to Europe last year. The move makes Yohanna the most expensive player ever to transfer from a Scandinavian country to one of Europe’s top leagues. At just 18 years old, Yohanna also becomes the most expensive Nigerian teenager in football history, surpassing the fee paid when John Obi Mikel joined Chelsea from Norway’s Lyn…
VISITNG golfers from the neighbouring Katsina Golf Club on Saturday defeated their hosts, Kano Golf Club 1908, in a keenly contested one-day friendly inter-club matchplay held at the Kano Golf Course, finishing with a score of 4½ to 2½. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the match featured a total of 36 golfers—18 from each club—paired in twos and competing across 18 holes each. The players, drawn from various handicap rankings (a numerical measure of a golfer’s demonstrated ability), delivered a competitive outing that reflected both skill and sportsmanship. At the brief but impressive closing ceremony held at the Kano…
VETERAN forward Aishat Oshoala and Everton star Toni Payne were on the scoresheet as Nigeria defeated Senegal 2-1 in a friendly match on Friday as the Super Falcons continue preparations for the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that a solid first-half performance from the Super Falcons saw Nigeria take a two-goal cushion. Payne gave Nigeria the lead in the 32nd minute of the clash, firing into the net from a nicely teed-up ball from right-back Shukurat Oladipo. The Super Falcons then made it two at the Remo Stars Sports Complex,…
PLAYERS and officials of Rivers United sustained minor injuries after their team bus was involved in an accident on Thursday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the team’s Media Officer, Charles Mayuku, said the accident happened while Rivers United were travelling to Awka, Anambra State, for the President Federation Cup Round of 16 fixture against Nasarawa United. “The incident occurred along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road on the outskirts of Port Harcourt shortly after the team departed from the club’s camp,” Mayuku said in a statement. “The club can confirm that some players and officials sustained minor injuries in the accident.…
THE Super Falcons camp in Ikenne, Ogun State, has begun to gather momentum with the arrival of 11 players as of Tuesday evening ahead of the team’s double-header international friendlies against Senegal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. News Point Nigeria Sport report leading the early arrivals are six-time African Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, Serie A Women’s Best Defender Shukurat Oladipo, and Turkey-based Kafayat Shittu, who were among the first players to report to camp on Monday. The camp received a further boost on Tuesday as eight more players checked in to continue preparations for the upcoming encounters. Among those…
SUPER Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi led 15 other players in the team’s first training session in Warsaw on Monday evening as the three-time African champions commenced preparations for Wednesday’s international friendly against Poland. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the highly anticipated encounter will take place at the 58,000-capacity Stadion PGE Narodowy in Warsaw and marks only the second senior-level meeting between Nigeria and Poland. The two nations previously faced each other on March 23, 2018, as part of their preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On that occasion, Nigeria secured a memorable 1-0 victory over the…
SUPER Eagles of Nigeria will be without two of its biggest stars, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, for the upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal, head coach Eric Chelle has confirmed. Speaking ahead of the matches, Chelle revealed that Osimhen has been excused from the squad amid uncertainty surrounding his club future. “Victor Osimhen may have to change clubs, so I prefer that he stays where he is because if you play and you are not at 100 per cent, it is not good,” Chelle said. The Galatasaray forward has been at the centre of transfer speculation in recent…
CAPTAIN Terem Moffi and midfielder Alhassan Yusuf were the driving forces behind Nigeria’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Jamaica national football team in the Unity Cup final at The Valley on Saturday. The victory saw the Nigeria national football team become the first side to win the competition four times and retain the trophy in back-to-back finals against the same opponents. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Yusuf wasted little time in announcing Nigeria’s intentions, firing the Super Eagles into the lead just two minutes after kick-off. Eric Chelle’s side dominated the remainder of the first half, creating a series of…
FIFA has confirmed that Super Eagles legend Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha holds the record for the most successful dribbles in a single FIFA World Cup match, underlining his enduring status as one of the most skilful footballers the game has ever produced, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. News Point Nigeria reports that according to the world football governing body, Okocha completed 15 successful dribbles against Italy during Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States — a feat achieved against one of the most celebrated defensive units of that era, including Paolo Maldini, Alessandro…