Author: Peter Noah KC

INTERIM Super Eagles B coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, said he was open to having more Nigeria Premier Football League stars compete for spots in the home-based squad for next year’s African Nations Championship, The PUNCH reports. The tournament will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from February 1 to 28, 2025. Ogunmodede and his Rangers International coach counterpart Fidelis Ilechukwu secured Nigeria’s qualification to the tournament for the first time in six years after beating Ghana 3-1 on aggregate in their final qualifying game. Nigeria and Ghana played a goalless draw in Accra during the first and finished the job…

NINE-TIME Nigerian champions, Enyimba, have announce the signing of 2013 AFCON winner, Brown Ideye, until the end of the current season. The Aba giants confirmed the new addition in a statement it posted on its X handle on Monday. “We are delighted to officially announce the addition of former Super Eagles Striker, Brown Ideye to our fold. “We are expectant of the experience & professionalism he will add to our game/quest in our remaining games, this season especially under the New Gaffer,” the statement read. Since leaving Kuwaiti side Al Yarmouk in 2022, the 36-year-old has been without a club…

THE Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has fulfilled a personal promise of a N10 million donation to the Super Eagles B team for qualifying for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The home-based Eagles defeated Ghana’s Black Galaxies 3-1 on Saturday in Uyo to secure qualification for the CHAN slated for February 2025 in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, had initially expressed the intention to reward the team for a win. However, Dikko interceded, insisting on taking up the gesture himself. “Before the game, I made a personal pledge to reward…

NINE-TIME Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Enyimba International FC, Enyimba have appointed Stanley Eguma, a seasoned tactician and one of the most respected figures in Nigerian football, as their new head coach. This followed the departure of their former head coach, Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju. Eguma, who previously served as part of Enyimba’s coaching staff during their CAF Champions League triumphs in the early 2000s, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. He is best known for his long-standing tenure with Rivers United, where he achieved remarkable success, including league titles. His return to Enyimba…

IT’S been six years since Nigeria last qualified for the African Nations Championship tournament and a new array of home-based stars will hope to end the fruitless run when they take on arch-rivals Ghana in the second leg of the qualifier for the 2024 tournament on Saturday (today) in Uyo. The eighth CHAN tournament will be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, from February 1-28, 2025 and Nigeria and Ghana are still locked in a delicately poised contest for one of the tickets. Both countries played out a goalless draw in the first leg of the encounter in Accra last…

THE renowned Nigerian economist, investmemt banker and philanthropist, and architect of the famous Tony Elumelu Foundation donated 1,800 bags of rice to the seven traditional quarters of Onicha-Uku. The Onicha-Uku royal palace and council of chiefs, elders, faith-based organisations including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as well as various socio-cultural and youth groups also benefited from the Elumelu gesture. Excited leaders of the different groups and elders were at the country home of the Elumelu’s on Sunday to profusely express their appreciation of the donation of the popular but currently expensive cerea I’ll and staple food in the country.…

SUPER Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has brought Christmas cheer to his childhood community Olusosun in Lagos, distributing about 2,000 motor-tricycles and food items to youths and mothers. The 2023 African Footballer of The Year’s gesture follows similar charitable acts by his Super Eagles teammates Alex Iwobi and Tolu Arokodare, who have also embarked on various Christmas giveaways across Europe. According to TVC’s Facebook page, the distribution, which has already commenced in Lagos, will extend to the striker’s hometown in Benin, with plans already in place to reach more beneficiaries. The 25-year-old striker, who has been in scintillating form…

RECENTLY crowned African Footballer of The Year Ademola Lookman marked his return to Atalanta’s starting lineup with a crucial goal in their 3-2 victory over Empoli on Sunday, helping extend La Dea’s lead at the Serie A summit to two points. Lookman, who paraded his CAF award before kick-off at the Gewiss Stadium, netted just before half-time to put Atalanta 2-1 ahead after falling behind to an early Lorenzo Colombo strike. “Hungrier than ever. Big win,” Lookman wrote on social media after the match, which extended Atalanta’s club record winning streak to 11 consecutive Serie A victories. The 27-year-old Nigeria…

SUPER Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi brought Christmas cheer to east London on Sunday as he gave out free food, including turkeys, to struggling families at his temporary shop. The Fulham star, who has been in scintillating form this season with five Premier League goals, opened ‘AleXpress’ in Canning Town, his hometown, where he distributed food items to 100 families as part of Project 17. Speaking about his charitable initiative, Iwobi credited his parents for instilling in him the spirit of giving. “In the house I was raised in, my dad naturally just gave back. To people in Nigeria, to his…

REMO Stars Football Club returned to the apex position in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League on Sunday with a 2-0 home win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenagoa. This newspaper reports that they won their Match Day 18 fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne with two late goals. Jabbar Malik scored in the 84th and 88th minutes for the three points to take them to 33 after 18 games, made up of 10 wins, three draws and five losses. They have scored 21 goals and conceded 11 to be ahead of title rivals Rivers United of Port…

FOR the umpteenth time this year, Nigeria and Ghana will go toe-to-toe on the pitch on Sunday and this time, it’s a doubleheader which sees the Super Eagles B take on the Black Galaxies in the first leg of their CHAN 2024 qualifiers, just as the Flamingos and their U-17 counterparts vie for the inaugural WAFU B U-17 Cup. The first leg encounter of the CHAN qualifiers is slated for the Accra Sports Stadium at 4pm Ghana time and 5pm Nigeria time while the WAFU B U-17 girls’ final will take place at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram.…

KANO Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali, Remo Stars wing-back Sadiq Ismael, Rivers United centre-back Stephen Manyo, and the current Nigeria Premier Football League top scorer Anas Yusuf are in the 18-man roster for the doubleheader 2024 CHAN qualifiers against Ghana. After about three weeks of camping in Ikenne, stand-in head coach Daniel Ogunmodede picked the four players and 14 others for the assignment. Other players in the sqaud include Enyimba goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena as well as Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole. The Super Eagles B arrived in Ghana on Friday night ahead of Sunday’s first leg encounter against the Black Galaxies. Nasarawa…

THE 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games Ogun 2024, slated for January 12th, has been shifted and will now be held next year 2025 from May 16th to 30th, 2025. This was part of Thursday’s communiqué issued at the end of the Joint Technical Meetings held in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital. Reading the communiqué, the Secretary of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Thecla Opara, said that the postponement has become necessary to effect some of the recommendations of the technical committee to have a world-class festival. “The committee agreed that in order to give some time to effect…

SUPER Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are proving their status as Africa’s elite with scintillating performances in Europe this season, as the Nigerian duo continue to justify the country’s back-to-back CAF African Footballer of The Year awards, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The pair have lit up European football this term, contributing 21 goals and 10 assists in just 33 appearances combined, cementing their positions among the continent’s most lethal attackers. Osimhen has transformed Turkish giants Galatasaray into Europe’s only unbeaten team across domestic leagues, cup competitions, and European tournaments among the top eight ranked leagues, netting 10 goals…

THE 2024 edition of the NLNG Golf Classic ended in Bonny, Rivers on Saturday with Oluwaseun Adedipe and Lady Kafayat Bamimore clinching the top prize in the men and ladies categories. The two-day NLNG Golf Classic Invitational sponsored by Nigeria LNG which was the fifth in the series, began on Friday morning with the tee-off ceremony at the Bonny Island Golf Club (BIGC). The MD, Nigeria LNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila, was on ground, along with other dignitaries, including Engr Emmanuel Nnabuife, Production Trains Asset Manager, who represented the GM Production Nnamdi Anowi, Capt. Lawrence Chukwu, Terminal Manger, ⁠Dr. Sam Ekong,…

NIGERIA forward Ademola Lookman, Zambia striker Barbra Banda and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams were the big winners at a star-studded 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday as Africa’s best performers for the year were honoured. The glittering ceremony was attended by football royalty from the continent and beyond in a celebration of the incredible growth and development of the game in Africa, and the astonishing strides that have been made in men’s and women’s football in recent years. See full list of the winners below: 2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN) Ademola Lookman…

AHEAD of Monday’s (today’s) CAF awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation has thrown its weight behind Nigerian stars, Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who are in the run for CAF Player of The Year awards in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, The PUNCH reports. Lookman and Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s contest for honours at this year’s CAF event, as the country is in line for seven awards. The men’s category is locked in a tight race between Lookman and four other contenders. The 27-year-old will vie for the men’s Player of The Year Award…

SUPER Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong and former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr have thrown their weight behind Ademola Lookman to win the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of The Year award in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday. Lookman, who has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for Atalanta this season, is among the final nominees for the prestigious award alongside Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi and Rowen Williams. Speaking with talkSPORT, Troost-Ekong expressed confidence in his international teammate’s chances. “I would say he’s arguably our best player and arguably the best player in Africa right now. On December 16, there will be the…

SUPER Eagles forward Ademola Lookman and Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s contest for honours at this year’s CAF Awards, after making the final shortlist of their awards categories which will be handed out on Monday in Marrakesh, Morocco. Nnadozie will be gunning for two honours as she is in the mix for the Women’s Player of The Year award along with Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda. The Paris FC shot-stopper is also a favourite for a back-to-back win in the Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year category. The men’s category is however still locked in a tight…

THE National Sports Commission has distanced itself from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation into alleged financial impropriety at the Nigeria Football Federation. A top official of the NSC, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “I don’t know anything about any NFF issue with the EFCC. “The issue is with the NFF not the NSC.” The EFF had, in a letter dated November 28, 2024, and signed by Farouk Dogondaji on behalf of the commission’s chairman, requested details of NFF’s financial dealings from the sports commission. The anti-graft agency sought information about sponsorship deals, tournament…