Author: Peter Noah KC

THE holy fasting month of Ramadan will also begin in Nigeria on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar has announced. News Point Nigeria reports that the Sultan Abubakar, who doubles as the president of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said this in a broadcast Tuesday night. The announcement followed the sighting of the crescent moon in a multiple locations in Nigeria, according to the National Moonsighting Committee. “The Sultan felicitates with the entire Muslim community on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming 1447AH Ramadan Fast,” a statement by the Sultan added. He prayed…

NIGERIA’s Super Eagles are set to take on Jordan in an international friendly in Amman during the March 23–31 FIFA window. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the match will mark the first-ever senior meeting between the two nations and forms part of Jordan’s preparation for their debut World Cup appearance. Nicknamed “The Chivalrous Ones,” Jordan has been drawn into a challenging World Cup group alongside defending champions Argentina, Algeria, and Austria. Reports also indicate that Iran is exploring a March fixture against the three-time African champions, while a potential June clash with Portugal is under consideration. However, Nigeria’s participation…

NIGERIA’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, have advanced to the final round of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after defeating Senegal 2-1 in the second leg of their tie in Diamniadio on Saturday evening. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the victory secured a 3-1 aggregate triumph for the two-time FIFA World Cup silver medallists, who now face Malawi in the decisive round of the qualification series scheduled for May. Playing at the Annexe Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, the Falconets showed composure and tactical discipline to protect their slim first-leg advantage while extending…

NIGERIA’s hopes of keeping its 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive may rest on a crucial decision expected Monday as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) prepares to rule on a petition filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that barring any last-minute delay, FIFA is scheduled to deliver its verdict on February 16 regarding allegations that several Congolese players were ineligible during last year’s African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. At the centre of the protest are claims that up to nine players fielded by…

ATLETICO Madrid hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman, and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by half-time. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before…

BARCELONA have reignited their pursuit of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, with reports from Spain indicating that the Catalan giants are preparing a renewed summer approach for the prolific Galatasaray forward. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the La Liga powerhouse is believed to have identified Osimhen as the ideal long-term successor to veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, whose role at the club is gradually being reduced as Barcelona plan for the future. According to reports circulating in Spanish media via Haberlisin, Barcelona’s recruitment team considers the Nigerian international a perfect fit for the club’s next phase of rebuilding, citing…

SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Sékou Chelle has reportedly emerged as a potential candidate to take over at French Ligue 1 giants Olympique de Marseille following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that multiple reports in France indicate that Marseille are considering Chelle as part of their shortlist after parting ways with De Zerbi by mutual consent on Wednesday. The Italian tactician left the club after a string of disappointing results, culminating in a heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The loss saw Marseille slip to fourth place in the Ligue 1 standings, while their…

THERE is renewed optimism within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the Super Eagles may yet receive an unexpected lifeline in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the football body awaits a decisive ruling from FIFA over a protest filed against DR Congo. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the expanded 48-team tournament appeared dashed last November after the Super Eagles suffered a painful penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in the final of the African play-offs in Morocco. The defeat left the three-time African champions on the brink of missing…

FORMER Arsenal prodigy Ethan Nwaneri has spoken candidly about his Nigerian heritage, reaffirming a deep personal connection to the country following his loan move to French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Marseille. Nwaneri, an 18-year-old attacking midfielder, joined Marseille during the winter transfer window from Arsenal in search of regular first-team football, after finding limited opportunities at the Emirates Stadium despite his obvious talent and early promise. Since arriving in France, the highly rated youngster has begun to settle quickly, making two appearances for the former European champions and already opening his goal account, an encouraging start that has further raised…

THE proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has said that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, ordered the total cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East, with effect from February 9, 2026. This was disclosed by the IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a press statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Sunday. He added that the directive came directly from Kanu. Recall that the pro-Biafran group declared the sit-at-home in August 2021 as a way of protesting the rendition of Kanu to Nigeria and his subsequent incarceration. During the exercise, markets, schools, banks and offices remained shut. Powerful said that with the…

KINGS Park Football Club has announced the death of its player, Saburi Adeniji, popularly known as “Ola,” who passed away on Friday morning following complications from a severe brain stem injury. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the club confirmed the news in an official statement, describing Adeniji’s death as a devastating loss to the Kings Park family and the wider football community. He wore the number 17 jersey and was widely regarded as both a committed player and a respected teammate. Adeniji had been receiving treatment at Queen’s Hospital, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit on…

SUPER Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that Nigeria is still clinging to a slim but significant hope of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the national team waits on a crucial decision that could reopen the door to football’s biggest stage. News Point Nigeria Sport reports Iwobi, who plays his club football with Fulham in the English Premier League, admitted that the mood within the Super Eagles camp is one of anxious anticipation, following Nigeria’s dramatic and painful exit from the World Cup qualification play-offs. Speaking in a recent interview, the 29-year-old reflected on the emotional toll…

NEWLY signed Atletico Madrid forward Ademola Lookman has been handed the club’s jersey number 22 after completing a high-profile move from Italian side Atalanta on the deadline day of the January transfer window. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Nigerian international sealed a four-year contract with the Spanish giants on Monday, ending months of speculation surrounding his future and bringing his three-and-a-half-year stay in Bergamo to a close. The transfer is reportedly worth €40 million, while Italian outlet La Repubblica disclosed that Lookman will earn €7 million per season at Atletico Madrid—more than triple his previous annual salary of…

FORMER Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed how strict Premier League eligibility rules prevented Manchester United from signing him as a teenager, despite strong interest from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, monitored by PUNCH Online on Tuesday, Mikel disclosed that he was just 16 years old when he spent a month on trial at Old Trafford, training regularly with United’s first team. According to the former Nigerian international, Ferguson was impressed with his performances during the trial and took deliberate steps to protect…

NIGERIA’s Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, has completed a transfer from Atalanta to Atletico Madrid after the two clubs reached an agreement. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the versatile, dynamic, right-footed 28-year-old has signed with the former Spanish champions on a contract running until 30 June 2030. Lookman, who scored a hat-trick as the Italian side beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League in 2024, is expected to cost Atletico around 40 million euros ($47.5 million) according to media reports. The winger has scored three goals in 19 matches across all competitions this season for Atalanta. Born in…

ATLETICO Madrid have taken a decisive step toward signing Nigeria international Ademola Lookman after agreeing a €40m transfer package with Italian side Atalanta, placing the Spanish club firmly in pole position ahead of rivals Fenerbahce. News Point Nigeria Sport reports Atletico have also improved their salary offer to the 28-year-old forward, a move that has significantly strengthened their bid as the January transfer window enters its final days. The development marks a major shift in the race for Lookman’s signature, with the La Liga giants now better placed to conclude the deal after matching the financial proposal previously submitted by…

ATLETICO Madrid have intensified their pursuit of Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman as Turkish giants Fenerbahce edge closer to sealing a blockbuster transfer deal with Italian side Atalanta, News Point Nigeria Sport reports. The Spanish club had attempted to sign the 28-year-old attacker during the last summer transfer window but failed to reach an agreement with Atalanta. However, developments in the January window have forced Atletico to revisit the move as they seek to reinforce their squad ahead of the season’s decisive phase. Atletico’s renewed interest in Lookman follows confirmation from Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka on Friday that he would…

FORMER world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has broken weeks of public silence after a tragic car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two of his closest aides, describing the loss as devastating and emotional while vowing to honour their memories and support their families. News Point Nigeria Sport reports Joshua spoke on camera for the first time since the accident in a heartfelt video posted on his YouTube channel on Thursday, where he struggled to hold back tears while reflecting on the deaths of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, members of his long-standing backroom team whom he described as…

NIGERIAN football has been thrown into fresh mourning following the death of the mother of Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze, deepening a period of grief within the national team family. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the heartbreaking news was confirmed on Thursday by the footballer’s brother, David Chukwueze, who announced the loss through a series of emotional posts on his Instagram page. Struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, David wrote simply, “Can’t even post say RIP mom,” capturing the shock and pain surrounding the family’s loss. In another post, he added, “My forever love just left me…

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) may be forced to review or completely ban the use of towels by goalkeepers following a series of controversial incidents that marred the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that President of the CAF Referees Committee, Olivier Safari, disclosed that the governing body is considering regulatory changes in response to disruptions caused by the handling of goalkeepers’ towels during key matches at the tournament. The controversy first gained widespread attention during Nigeria’s semi-final clash against host nation Morocco, when Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was repeatedly…