THE Super Eagles will face Poland and Portugal in international friendlies in June as part of preparations for upcoming global competitions, the Nigeria Football Federation has said. A statement sent to News Point Nigeria Sport by the NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, on Thursday in Abuja confirmed the high-profile fixtures and described them as crucial tests for the team. FIFA match agent for the NFF, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, said the match against Poland would be played at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3, while the game against Portugal would take place on June 10…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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NIGERIA’s Super Eagles have retained 26th position in the latest FIFA World Ranking following their performances in the March international window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the side, led by Eric Chelle, played two friendly matches, winning against Iran and drawing with Jordan. Nigeria edged Iran 2-1, a result that earned them 5.34 ranking points against a higher-ranked opponent, but a 2-2 draw against Jordan, who are placed significantly lower, resulted in a deduction of 1.81 points. The FIFA ranking operates on the Elo model, which adjusts a team’s points based on match results, the…
FIFA World Cup-bound Jordan had to dig deep to secure a 2-2 draw against the Super Eagles in an international friendly played on Tuesday night at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Nigeria wrapped up their March international window against the Jordan side currently ranked 64th in the world. Jordan stunned the Super Eagles early in the 17th minute, as Mousa Tamari converted a well-rehearsed free-kick routine to give the hosts the lead. Nigeria appeared to equalize six minutes later when Raphael Onyedika finished off a clever cut-back from Moses Simon, but the…
SUPER Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has been ruled out of Nigeria’s international friendly against Jordan after suffering a thigh injury in training. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the development was confirmed on Monday in a statement by the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, who disclosed that the goalkeeper picked up a “thigh knock” during preparations for the encounter. Okoye had only recently returned to the national team setup after missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He featured in Nigeria’s 2–1 victory over Iran in their opening game of the four-nation invitational tournament, marking a strong comeback…
NIGERIA’s Samson Adamu has been named the caretaker general secretary of The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced on Sunday at a press conference in Cairo after a meeting of CAF executives. Adamu replaces the retiring Democratic Republic of Congo’s Veron Mosengo-Omba, who assumed the position in March 2021. The 66-year-old Mosengo-Omba had been criticised for staying on as general secretary past the organisation’s mandatory retirement age of 63. He has also been accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere in the workplace, although an investigation after staff…
THE Super Eagles of Nigeria are back to winning ways! They saw off Iran 1-2 in a friendly international played in Antalya, Turkiye, on Friday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Goals from Simon Moses and Akor Adams were enough to give Nigeria the victory against their Middle East opponent. Nigeria began the game, played on the home turf of Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor, on a good note. They then took the lead just six minutes into the match with Moses cutting in from the left wing to fire past Alireza Beiranvand in goal for the Iranians. Despite a…
THE Super Eagles may not have qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the Americas, but their path to redemption is on the way, and their supporters can watch their favourite team again as they feature in a four-nation tournament. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that featuring Jordan, Iran, and Costa Rica, the tournament provides a great opportunity for Coach Eric Chelle to try new players, rebuild momentum, and test new ideas. These will be the first games for the Super Eagles since they finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Nigeria are already in…
SUPER Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has reportedly been the victim of a daring and violent burglary at his residence in the United Kingdom, with attackers allegedly making away with valuables estimated at £500,000. News Point Nigeria Sport gathered that the Fulham FC star was said to have been confronted by the intruders inside his home, where he was reportedly held at knifepoint during the terrifying incident. According to emerging reports, the burglars gained access to the property unnoticed before coming face-to-face with Iwobi, creating a tense and frightening situation. The attackers allegedly held the Nigerian international hostage while they carried…
SUPER Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen successfully underwent surgery on Monday following an injury sustained during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 away match against Liverpool. The injury occurred in the second-leg match at Anfield on Match 18, when Osimhen clashed aerially with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté. The Nigerian international displayed remarkable resilience by attempting to play on with a bandaged arm, but was substituted at halftime as swelling and pain intensified. Galatasaray ultimately fell to a 4-0 defeat on the night, exiting the competition 1-4 on aggregate. Confirming the operation in a statement on X, the club…
46 years ago today, Nigeria’s Green Eagles united a post-war nation, crushing Algeria 3–0 at Surulere. News Point Nigeria Sport explores the legacy of that first AFCON win and its twenty-two legendary icons The air in Lagos on March 22, 1980, didn’t just carry the salt of the Atlantic; it carried the electric, heavy charge of a nation holding its breath. 46 years later, that charge has not fully dissipated. It lingers in the fading books of grandfathers and in the echoes of Surulere Stadium, a venue that once held 85,000 souls but, for 90 minutes, felt as if it…
VICTOR Osimhen says his relentless work ethic would have made him wealthy even outside football, as he reflected on his tough upbringing and deep connection with Galatasaray. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the 27-year-old is currently in Nigeria recovering from a fractured right forearm sustained during Galatasaray’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 at Anfield. Osimhen collided with Ibrahima Konate early in the game but played on through the first half before the injury was confirmed. Speaking during a livestream with Carter Efe, Osimhen recalled the grind that shaped his mentality. “I get…
A FORMER Nigerian international, Harrison Jalla, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an immediate investigation into the financial activities of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over allegations of mismanaged FIFA development funds. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Jalla, who is also Chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, made the call in reaction to the recent conviction of top officials of the Congo Football Federation over financial crimes. A Congolese court recently sentenced the federation’s president, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, to…
TURKISH champions Galatasaray are anxiously awaiting updates on the fitness of star striker Victor Osimhen, who faces a potential spell on the sidelines of three to five months after sustaining an arm injury in their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 second-leg clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, News Point Nigeria Sport reports. Osimhen was brought down under a challenge from Ibrahima Konaté in the first half, and the club confirmed that the Nigerian fractured his arm in the process. Galatasaray’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg was not enough, as they lost 4-1 on aggregate after conceding four unanswered goals…
SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shaken up his squad ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies, leaving out some of the team’s biggest names, including Victor Osimhen and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Nigeria Football Federation announced a 23-man list on Wednesday for the two matches, with Chelle keeping a number of experienced players while also bringing in new faces. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will lead the team, alongside Alex Iwobi in midfield. Ademola Lookman is expected to spearhead the attack in Osimhen’s absence. Apart from Osimhen and Nwabali, several players who were in…
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title they won in January and declared Morocco champions. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Several Senegalese players had temporarily left the pitch late in the match in protest at a refereeing decision. CAF in a statement on Tuesday said “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match,” a 1-0 victory in the final, “with the result being officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement “its action was never intended…
FORMER Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has called on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to step down following the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but Nigeria will not be part of the global showpiece after crashing out during the African qualifying campaign. Mikel, who captained the Super Eagles and earned 89 international caps, also urged the Federal Government to launch a full investigation into the team’s disappointing campaign, insisting that lessons…
SUPER Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has spoken emotionally about the difficult period he has endured since losing his father just days after leading Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The midfielder revealed that the past few weeks have been among the toughest moments of his life, but credited the support from family, friends, fans, and the football community for helping him remain strong. Ndidi’s father, Sunday Ndidi, a retired military officer, died on January 27 following an accident in Umunede, Delta State. He was rushed to a hospital in Agbor, also in…
NIGERIA’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, opened their campaign at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament with a commanding 33-point victory over Colombia. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that D’Tigress defeated Colombia 70–37 on Wednesday to secure their first win of the tournament, currently taking place in France. Nigeria led 18–12 in the opening quarter with impressive displays, but Colombia responded strongly to edge the second quarter 17–16. D’Tigress dominated the second half, outscoring Colombia 19–5 in the third quarter and 17–3 in the fourth to seal an emphatic victory. The win marked Head Coach Rena Wakama’s 14th…
FOUR Nigerian clubs that participated in this season’s African inter-club competitions are set to receive a major financial boost from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following an increase in prize money and solidarity payments. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the beneficiaries include Rivers United, Remo Stars, Kwara United, and Abia Warriors, who represented Nigeria in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup this season. Reports indicate that the four clubs could receive approximately ₦559 million each from CAF as part of the revised financial rewards structure for African club competitions. The prize money adjustment was announced…
A FORMER Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has died at the age of 88. His family announced the passing on Monday via a message signed by a member of his family, Bolade Adesuyi. The message read, “With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man, a Modakeke High Chief, the first indigenous Nigerian Super Eagles football coach, father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde. “We thank God for the fulfilled life and your contributions to the Nigerian nation and the world as an unequalled football coach.”…