FORMER Super Eagles defender and ex-Enyimba head coach, Khadiri Ikhana, has declared that Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi and Abdu Maikaba are capable hands to lead the new generation of Nigeria’s U-20 Flying Eagles and U-23 Olympic Team, insisting, however, that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must allow them to work independently. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Ikhana, who spoke exclusively to a select journalist, stressed that the trio would only succeed if the NFF refrains from interfering in player invitations to national camp and match selections. The 74-year-old football tactician maintained that the three coaches are tested and proven…
Author: Peter Noah KC
Read More
COACH Abdu Maikaba has dismissed reports suggesting that he has already been appointed head coach of Nigeria’s men’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles. News Point Nigeria reports that Maikaba, who previously handled Wikki Tourists, said although he applied for the position, he has not received any official communication from the Nigeria Football Federation confirming his appointment. Speaking with journalists, the coach stressed that the reports circulating about his appointment were premature. “I have applied but nobody has told me that I have got the job officially,” he said. The clarification comes as the NFF Technical Committee continues to review…
GENOA forward Jeff Ekhator has sparked fresh speculation over a possible international switch to Nigeria after openly discussing his roots and personal connection to the country, despite his current involvement with Italy’s youth teams. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the 19-year-old striker, born in Genoa to Nigerian parents, remains eligible to represent both Italy and Nigeria at senior level, with his recent remarks expected to draw attention from officials of the Nigeria Football Federation. Speaking about his background, Ekhator revealed that both of his parents are Nigerian and that their heritage continues to shape his identity. He added that…
SUPER Eagles forward Victor Osimhen delivered a standout performance in one of Turkey’s fiercest rivalries, finding the net as Galatasaray secured a commanding 2–0 victory over city rivals Fenerbahçe at RAMs Park on Sunday night. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the high-intensity encounter began with early drama as Fenerbahçe were handed a chance to take the lead in the 11th minute. However, Anderson Talisca failed to convert from the penalty spot, a miss that would later prove costly for the visitors. Galatasaray capitalised on that reprieve, with Osimhen breaking the deadlock five minutes before halftime. The striker showed composure…
SUPER Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has acknowledged that financial negotiations remain ongoing between his camp and the Nigeria Football Federation over the terms of his contract, even as he insists that his primary focus remains firmly on managing the national team and preparing for upcoming competitions. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Chelle, whose current contract runs until January 2027, confirmed that discussions surrounding his future are still in progress, but clarified that those engagements are being handled by his representative. He stressed that his attention is fixed on technical responsibilities, particularly in the aftermath of Nigeria’s impressive outing…
FORMER Nigerian international, Mike Eneramo, has passed away after collapsing during a training session in Kaduna on Friday. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning at a primary school in the Ungwan Yelwa area, where Eneramo was said to be carrying out routine training exercise. According to reports, the striker suffered a suspected heart attack and died before he could be taken to the hospital. Eneramo enjoyed a successful career, most notably with Espérance Sportive de Tunis, where he became a prolific goal scorer. During his time in Tunisia, he won…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made a decisive move to bolster the Super Eagles by initiating contact with Newcastle United striker William Osula over a potential switch in international allegiance. News Point Nigeria Sport gathered that the approach is part of ongoing efforts by the football body to attract dual-eligible players with the potential to strengthen the national team ahead of upcoming international engagements. Osula, 22, was born in Copenhagen to a Danish mother and a Nigerian-French father, making him eligible to represent Denmark, France, or Nigeria at senior level. Despite his multiple eligibility options, the forward has previously…
FORMER Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has thrown his support behind Kelechi Iheanacho’s potential return to the Super Eagles, pointing to the striker’s renewed form at Celtic despite a season disrupted by injuries, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Iheanacho, who made the switch to the Scottish club in the summer, has faced a difficult campaign largely due to recurring hamstring injuries that have significantly limited his playing time. Despite these challenges, the 29-year-old forward has still delivered six goals and one assist in 18 appearances for the Hoops, underlining his ability to make an impact whenever…
NIGERIA’s Super Falcons have risen one place to 36th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking and remain the top-ranked team in Africa. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the ranking, released on Tuesday, shows a modest improvement from the 37th position the team occupied in the December 2025 ranking. The ranking also reflects two pre-WAFCON friendlies against Cameroon, in which it first lost 1–0 in February, followed by a 3–1 victory in March 2026. Three days after a narrow 1–0 defeat in the first encounter, the 10-time African champions returned with a sharper, more aggressive display to turn the…
NIGERIAN football has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Galadima, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 78. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Galadima, one of the country’s most respected sports administrators, led the then Nigeria Football Association (now Nigeria Football Federation) between 2002 and 2006, a period that left a lasting imprint on the domestic game and its governance structures. Tributes have poured in from across the football community, with current NFF president Ibrahim Gusau describing his death as a major blow to Nigerian sports. Gusau said Galadima…
THE rejection of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili’s bid to switch allegiance to Turkey has not only halted her plans to compete under a new flag but has also prompted Nigerian sports authorities to embrace her return, even as World Athletics raised concerns over the integrity of international athlete transfers. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the World Athletics, through its Nationality Review Panel, rejected an application by the Turkish Athletics Federation (TAF) to secure a transfer of allegiance for the 23-year-old athlete, effectively ruling her ineligible to represent Turkey in major international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.…
THE President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has pledged to train 10 Nigerian referees in the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology as part of renewed and strategic efforts to strengthen match officiating and enhance professionalism within the country’s football ecosystem. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Gusau made this commitment on Wednesday during a formal meeting with the new executive team of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) at the NFF secretariat in Abuja, in what observers described as a significant step toward modernising officiating standards in Nigeria. The visiting delegation, led by acting president Kelechi…
ON a tense Champions League night where margins were razor-thin and fate hung in the balance, Ademola Lookman delivered a moment that travelled far beyond Madrid. The Nigerian forward didn’t just score—he shifted momentum, silenced doubt, and carried Atletico Madrid into the semi-finals. For a global audience watching Europe’s elite collide, this was more than a quarter-final—it was a reminder that African talent is not just participating at the highest level, but defining it. Atletico progressed 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg, surviving a fierce Barcelona comeback attempt. Lookman’s goal—calm, precise, and timed with instinct—restored…
SUPER Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has thrown open the doors of the national team to standout performers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and uncapped Nigerian players abroad ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup, which will be staged at The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic, in London. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Unity Cup, an invitational tournament played outside the FIFA international window, will see Nigeria defend the title they won last year against India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe when the 2026 edition holds in London from May 26 to 30. With an eye on maintaining momentum…
NIGERIAN forward Ademola Lookman delivered a decisive performance as Atletico Madrid edged past FC Barcelona in a dramatic Champions League quarter-final, while Paris Saint-Germain powered into the semi-finals with a commanding victory over Liverpool FC. At the Metropolitano Stadium, Atletico Madrid progressed 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat, surviving a fierce Barcelona comeback in a pulsating encounter. Barcelona, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, made a dream start when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal pulled one back just five minutes into the match, capitalising on a loose touch from Clement Lenglet to slot past goalkeeper Juan Musso. The visitors…
THE road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has gathered momentum with the release of a 170-member list of centre referees, assistant referees, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials. However, the list has sparked widespread scrutiny—particularly in Africa—following the omission of five high-profile FIFA-badged referees, a decision widely linked to their controversial performances during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the exclusions have drawn attention to a series of contentious officiating decisions that defined key matches at the tournament. From disputed penalties to failure to utilise VAR effectively, the performances of the affected…
NIGERIA Football Federation has announced a 36-player squad for the Flamingos ahead of their second-round qualifying fixture for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the newly appointed head coach Akeem Busari has selected five goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 13 midfielders and eight forwards as preparations begin for the crucial tie against either Niger Republic or Guinea. The two nations will meet in the first round, with the winner advancing to face Nigeria. Niger Republic are scheduled to host the first leg of their tie this weekend, with the return…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has responded to growing concerns raised by members of Nigeria’s men’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, over the non-payment of their outstanding bonuses and allowances. Some members of the 2023 and 2025 squads have called on the federation to settle all unpaid qualification bonuses and pre-tournament camp allowances accrued over the past three years, according to reports. Findings by News Point Nigeria Sport indicate that players and officials from both squads—who participated in the WAFU B Cup, U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the U-20 World Cup in 2023 and 2025are yet to receive…
NIGERIA are set to defend their Unity Cup crown against India, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe when the competition begins this summer. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the fixtures for the four-nation tournament on Wednesday. This year’s edition of the Unity Cup, last won by Nigeria in 2025, will be played at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley stadium in South London from May 26 to 30, 2026. Coach Eric Chelle’s side are to face Zimbabwe in a high-stakes African heavyweight clash on May 26 in the Unity Cup, which celebrates Afrocentric and global diaspora communities. The game…
WREXHAM goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has been cleared to play for Nigeria after FIFA approved his request to change international allegiance from England. News Point Nigeria Sport decision was recorded on April 6, 2026, on FIFA’s official Change of Association register, where his nationality has been updated to the Nigeria Football Federation, replacing his previous affiliation with England’s Football Association. Okonkwo, who was born in Camden to Nigerian parents, previously featured for England across several youth levels during his time at Arsenal, including the Under-18 side. The 24-year-old initially joined Wrexham on loan in 2023, spending the campaign at the Stok…