ITALIAN Serie A side Udinese have removed Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from their registered players list amid an ongoing investigation into alleged betting irregularities. The 25-year-old, who is being investigated over suspicious betting patterns surrounding a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 win against Lazio on March 11, 2024, faces a potential five-year ban if found guilty. Investigators raided Okoye’s house following a complaint by betting agency Sisal, whose algorithm detected unusual gambling activities linked to the goalkeeper’s yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute. The Prosecutor’s Office in Udine also searched the premises of Diego Giordano,…
Author: Peter Noah KC
NIGERIAN side Enyimba have crashed out of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup after losing 3-1 to Zamalek on Sunday. The two-time CAF Champions League winners went into the Group D match at the Cairo International Stadium needing victory to reignite their hopes of making the next round. However, the Egyptian giants went ahead in the 29th minute courtesy of Mostafa Shalaby’s header. Seifeddine Jaziri doubled the lead for Zamalek just after half-time. The Nigerian side pulled one back to reawaken hopes of any comeback all thanks to Ifeanyi Ihemekwele’s goal in the 57th minute. But when Jaziri netted a second…
SUPER Eagles and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is looking forward to raising more awareness on young Nigerian footballers by investing and nurturing young talents. Speaking in Lagos, Ndidi who returned to Maracana Sport Complex in December, the second time in six months, announced his intention to prioritise the development of youth football in Nigeria in 2025. Ndidi stated, “I want to focus on academy football in Nigeria. That’s where everyone is missing out based on the fact that you cannot name a 16-year-old who plays competitive football every weekend in Nigeria.” He drew comparisons with European teams, noting, “If…
NEW Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle said he hopes to quickly establish a connection with Nigeria’s top stars, among them strikers Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.o He said “I will come with a lot of humility, but once again, I have a lot of certainties. “It is a dialogue that we will have to establish between us. “I feel ready to lead this great team with great players. So, I’m part of the progression process; the players will help me progress and I will help them progress too.” The 47-year-old coach has maintained that his results with the Super Eagles…
SUPER Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has dismissed the possibility of playing in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) again, instead expressing interest in scouting and developing new talents within the league. The former Chelsea player shared his decision during a live X (formerly Twitter) Space session, co-hosted with fellow Nigerian internationals Wilfred Ndidi and Asisat Oshoala, along with Nigerian journalists. Explaining his stance, Omeruo cited the lack of a top-tier club in his hometown, Abuja. “I don’t think I will come back to play in the NPFL. I grew up in Abuja, and they don’t have a club playing in…
NIGERIA’s Super Eagles B have been drawn in Group D alongside Senegal, Congo, and Sudan for the 2025 African Nations Championship to be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda come August. The CHAN tourney which features 19 teams, with 17 already confirmed will see Nigeria try to emerge champions for the first time since its inception in 2009. The two final spots will be decided in a special qualifying round, the date of which is yet to be announced. The draw which was announced on Wednesday also sees the likes of the defending champions Senegal aiming to make it back-to-back…
AS the Super Eagles begin a new era under Franco-Malian tactician Eric Chelle, a wealth of untapped talent of Nigerian descent continues to emerge across Europe’s top leagues, presenting potential options for the national team’s future. The story of Nigeria losing talented players of Nigerian descent to other countries has become all too familiar. From Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka choosing England over Nigeria to Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala opting for Germany despite his Nigerian roots, the list of ‘what could have been’ continues to grow. Other notable names include Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, and Real Madrid’s David…
DESPITE the postponement of the 2024 African Nations Championship, the Confederation of African Football will go ahead with the draw of the tournament on Wednesday (today) as Nigeria’s home-based Eagles and 18 other countries know their opponents, The PUNCH reports. The Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya will host the draw for the championship which will now be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in August 2024. The tournament was originally supposed to be held in 2024 but was moved to February 1-28, 2025 to allow the three hosts to prepare adequately in terms of facility. However, Africa’s football…
NEW Nigeria coach Eric Chelle promised on Monday that his team will score goals to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after the Super Eagles failed to reach the last edition of the tournament and started slowly in qualification this time around. The 47-year-old has signed a two-year contract that is based on qualifying the country for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Chelle promised at his official unveiling in Abuja that his team will play attacking football to reach next year’s World Cup. “I have always had a love for scoring goals. My teams are…
THE Nigeria Football Federation is set to officially unveil Mr Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles on Monday (Today). The event will take place at the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, at 11am. This was announced in a statement posted on the NFF website on Sunday. Chelle’s appointment was confirmed last Tuesday by the NFF Executive Committee, following a recommendation from its Technical and Development Committee. The 47-year-old Franco-Malian is stepping into one of the most scrutinised roles in world football, but NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence…
IN a bid to improve the fortunes of Nigerian football and sports at all levels, the federal government has earmarked over N31.4 billion for the renovation and upgrade of critical sports facilities across the country. This initiative, under the National Sports Infrastructure Development Plan, is part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the country’s sports sector, elevate athletic performance and restore Nigeria’s capacity to host international sporting events. At the heart of this ambitious project lies the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, alongside other iconic sports facilities, such as the National Stadium in Surulere in Lagos, Ahmadu Bello Stadium,…
THE National Sports Commission has redeployed 57 Secretaries-General and Sports officers to various National Sports Federations, strategically repositioning the sports sector. The Director, of the Federation of Elite Athletes of the NSC, Olumide Bamiduro, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, stated that the 57 Secretaries-General and five officers had already been reassigned. He stated that the decision aligned with the vision of the NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and the NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, which was aimed at revitalising the sector. “The mandate is clear. We are to undertake these changes to achieve the results and position…
DRAMA as new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle expected to terminate his two-year contract with Algerian club MC Oran ahead of his anticipated move to Nigeria but the club won’t decide his fate yet, even while he is expected in Nigeria to formalise his contract. Chelle was announced as the new Super Eagles handler by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday, becoming the third man to be named for the role since the exit of Jose Peseiro in March 2024. According to reports, the 47-year-old is expected in Nigeria anytime soon for his unveiling but he will still be in…
FORMER Nigeria internationals and stakeholders have expressed divergent views over the appointment of Eric Chelle as Super Eagles coach, with some questioning the choice of the Malian tactician while others believe he deserves a chance. Azubuike Egwuekwe, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, expressed disappointment over the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to overlook indigenous coaches for the role. “When I saw his appointment, I was not really happy because I wanted us to turn to our own. Eguavoen has been doing well in the national team, it was just a matter of giving him the chance,” Egwuekwe told our correspondent.…
SUPER Eagles B stand-in coach Daniel Ogunmodede insists Remo Stars duo Sadiq Ismail and Jide Fatokun are both in line to feature for the country at the 2024 African Nations Championship, despite rumours of moves abroad surrounding both players. The 2025 CHAN will be played from February 1 to 28 in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda and the Super Eagles B have opened their training camp in Ikenne on Monday. Ismail has been linked with a move to Albanian side Fk Partizani while midfielder Fatokun is said to be joining Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh SC. While Ismail has flown to Albania for…
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as substantive Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. This was reached at its ”meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, 2nd January 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee had recommended the appointment of the former Coach of the senior men national team of Mali as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.” ”This recommendation was on Tuesday, 7th January endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee,” the federation’s website revealed. His appointment is with immediate effect, and he has the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to…
JOSEPH Atule scored twice as Nigerian club Enyimba finally clicked in the CAF Confederation Cup by hammering Mozambican visitors Black Bulls 4-1 on Sunday. The two-time African champions remain bottom of Group D despite the victory, but they are only one point behind second-placed Al Masry of Egypt with two matchdays remaining. Clubs finishing first and second in the four groups qualify for the knockout stage and Enyimba are hoping to become the first winners from Nigeria. Enyimba host Masry in southeastern city Uyo next Sunday, seeking to atone for a 2-0 loss in north Africa last November. A string…
STAND-IN Head Coach, Daniel Ogunmodede has called up captain Nduka Harrison Junior, goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena, defenders Sadiq Ismail and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielder Saviour Isaac, and forward Sikiru Alimi among a list of 26 players to begin closed-camping exercise at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo on Monday (Today) ahead of the 8th African Nations Championship finals. Goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defenders Imo Obot and Stephen Manyo, midfielders Musa Zayyad, Rabiu Ali and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Adamu Abubakar and Emmanuel Ogbole have also been invited. The Super Eagles B, for the first time in the qualification series, bumped Ghana’s Black…
A FORMER president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick says the Super Eagles will get a substantive head coach “any moment from now”. Pinnick, a FIFA Council member, gave the hint on Friday. “Any moment from now, I am sure they would be announcing a coach, an enterprising coach at that,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sports Tonight monitored by our correspondent. The Super Eagles have been without a coach since the departure of George Finidi in June 2024 after Jose Peseiro left the coach following the three-time African champions second-place finish at the Africa…
A FORMER president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick is confident of the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup even though he admits it would be a “tough” road for the 2013 African champions. The Super Eagles who missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are fifth in Group C of the qualification race to the competition, four points behind leaders Rwanda after four rounds of matches. Despite this, Pinnick a member of the FIFA Executive Committee is optimistic of Nigeria’s chances of making it to the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year.…