EL-KANEMI Warriors, who defeated Abia Warriors 2-0 in the final game of the 2024 President Federation Cup, will face another team from Abia State, Enyimba, in a round-of-32 battle for the trophy this year. Both El-Kanemi and Enyimba are mid-table strugglers in the 2024/25 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), and the President Federation Cup presents the teams with a possible route to return to the continent next year. They participated in the CAF Confederation Cup this year, with El-Kanemi exiting the competition in the first round, while Enyimba were knocked out in the group stage. To qualify for the round…
Author: Peter Noah KC
Read More
STILL reeling from the tepid display by some of his players in the recent 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has started rebuilding his team for better performance when the qualifiers resume in September. The move to re-organise the Super Eagles will start this week with Chelle expected in London to, among other things hold talks with Arsenal star, Ethan Nwaneri. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, who has been making waves under Mikel Arteta, remains eligible to play for both Nigeria and England. Despite representing England at youth levels, Nwaneri has not yet committed to the senior team,…
A NIGERIAN boxer, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, on Saturday, died in Ghana during a boxing bout. Olarenwaju was a former National and West African light-heavyweight champion. He was competing against Ghanaian boxer, Jon Mbanugu, at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena when he suddenly lost consciousness. Reports indicate that he was ahead on points before the unfortunate incident occurred. A widely circulated video on social media captures the moment he collapsed in the ring, further shocking fans and the boxing community. Olanrewaju, a highly respected figure in Nigerian boxing, held both National and West…
VICTOR Osimhen has become Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer after netting a first-half brace in the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda at the Amavubi Stadium on Friday. The Napoli striker, currently on loan at Galatasaray, opened the scoring in the 11th minute before adding his second goal just before halftime. His 25th goal for Nigeria saw him surpass Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record, cementing his place in Nigeria’s football history. Osimhen’s heroics not only propelled him up the goal-scoring charts but also handed Eric Chelle his first win as Nigeria’s coach. The Super Eagles, desperate for a win…
SUPER Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has suggested that Victor Osimhen will finally make the switch to the Premier League next season. Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has been in sensational form in the Turkish Super Lig, netting 20 goals in 22 appearances. The 26-year-old striker has long been linked with a move to England’s top flight, and Troost-Ekong believes the summer transfer window will be the moment it happens. Manchester United have already sent scouts to watch Osimhen, while Chelsea remain long-time admirers. Liverpool and Arsenal are also expected to be in the market for a striker…
NIGERIA took a giant step to qualification for the 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, beating South Africa 2-0 at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State. The Flamingos had last week defeated the Bantwana 3-1 in the first leg of the clash, meaning they soared to the next phase of the qualification race with a whooping 5-1 aggregate victory. The game produced no goal after the early exchanges. But two-goal heroine in the first leg, Harmony Chidi coolly nodded home from an acute angle in the 37th minute on Saturday, to compound the fixture for the visitors. Shakirat…
BELGIUM-BASED defender Jordan Torunarigha has replaced Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella in the Super Eagles’ 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Tella withdrew from the squad due to injury, forcing Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to adjust his final selection. Chelle had initially trimmed his 39-man provisional squad to 23 players; however, with Tella opting out, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the latest squad change via social media. “Jordan Torunarigha has been called to replace injured Nathan Tella. “We wish Nathan a quick recovery,” the Super Eagles posted on their X…
VICTOR Osimhen says Nigeria will be driven by desperation in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month as they look to avoid missing out on a second successive World Cup finals, reports BBC. The Super Eagles have made a winless start in Group C, drawing three of their first four games, with striker Osimhen absent through injury. The West Africans endured what the 26-year-old described as a “heartbreaking disappointment” three years ago when fierce rivals Ghana progressed from a play-off and reached Qatar 2022 at their expense. “It’s a dream of every footballer to play at the World Cup and…
EGYPT has requested the right to host a set of group-stage matches for the 2034 World Cup which will be held in Saudi Arabia, the African country’s football federation president said on Wednesday. “Saudi Arabia will stand up and organise a historic edition of the World Cup, and we wish our Saudi brothers every success,” Hany Abo Rida said during the 14th CAF extraordinary general assembly in Cairo. “But at the same time we hope that (FIFA president) Mr. (Gianni) Infantino will grant us, as Africans and Egyptians, the honour of hosting and organising one of the World Cup groups…
SKIPPER Ahmed Musa, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were among notable absentees as Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle listed his final 23-man squad for the crunch 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Musa was one of the surprise inclusions in Chelle’s 39-player provisional list for the World Cup Qualifiers with fans questioning his call to the team after almost one year of absence. But in the final list for the games billed for next week, the Malian gaffer who will be leading the Super Eagles out for the first time yanked off the Kano Pillars man and Iheanacho of…
THE Super Eagles of Nigeria will open camp on Sunday, March 16, ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali, before facing Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday, March 25. Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has unveiled a 39-man provisional squad for this month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers. The squad includes a blend of experienced stars, such as Stanley Nwabali, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Simon Moses. Read Also: World Cup Qualifiers: Chelle slammed for including Musa, Iheanacho in provisional…
UMAR Sadiq continued his blistering form in front of goal, scoring his third straight goal as Valencia secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid at the Mestalla on Saturday. The Nigerian striker, who has now found the back of the net four times in his last four outings, also claimed the Man of the Match award for his performance. Sadiq’s impact has been undeniable since joining Valencia on loan in January. After breaking his duck against Osasuna, the former Almería man endured a blank against Atlético Madrid before bouncing back with a brace last weekend. His latest goal against…
NIGERIAN football legend Segun Odegbami has thrown his support behind the appointment of Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles head coach, acknowledging the 47-year-old Franco-Malian’s potential contributions to Nigerian football. Odegbami, who earned 46 caps and scored 23 goals for Nigeria—leading the team to its first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980—was initially among those who criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing a non-Nigerian African coach. After meeting Chelle, NFF Secretary-General Muhammed Sanusi, and National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, he changed his mind. Chelle made history in January by becoming the first non-Nigerian African…
FORMER Super Eagles player Odion Ighalo has shared his incredible journey of joining dream club, Manchesters United. Ighalo, a lifelong Manchester United fan, recounted the moment his agent informed him of the club’s interest in an interview with a Nigerian player, Rasheedat Ajibade. According to him, he was willing to accept a pay cut to fulfill his dream of playing for Manchester United. The Nigerian striker anxiously waited to see if Manchester United would select him as their loan striker. He prayed fervently for the opportunity to play for the club. After a two-day wait, Ighalo’s agent informed him that…
NIGERIA’s hope of luring Arsenal star, Ethan Nwaneri, to dump Three Lions for the Super Eagles could be about to go up in smokes with the English gaffer, Thomas Tuchel, set to name his squad for the forthcoming internationals next month. Nwaneri has been fantastic since gaining a regular spot in Arsenal’s lineup following the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka. He dazzled fans once again on Tuesday, scoring one goal in the Gunner’s 7-1 demolition of PSV in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. According to talkSPORT presenter, Adrian Durham, it would be a…
VETERAN forward Ahmed Musa has been called up to the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 must-win World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, returning to the team after almost a year of absence. The Kano Pillars player was named in the 39-man provisional squad which included the familiar, new faces and forgotten. Musa, who is Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the World Cup and the team’s captain, was in the side that featured for the Super Eagles when they clinched silver at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) early last year. He did not, however, play any match. But he…
THE Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Fulham have condemned the racist abuse against Calvin Bassey during Sunday’s FA Cup game against Manchester United. Bassey scored as Fulham played out a 1-1 draw with Man United in both regulation and extra time before going on to win 4-3 on penalties in the FA Cup fourth-round match at Old Trafford. The outstanding performance of the Nigerian defender was, however, marred by racist comments from some supporters on his social media account. This has now sparked a strong reaction from the NFF via a post on its official X account and from Fulham…
THE first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil will take place in Dakar, Senegal, next year. It is the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026, which will run over two weeks from October 31, 2026, bringing together 2,700 of the best young athletes from around the world. The YOG will be held in three host sites (Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly), and are envisioned to serve as a catalyst to transform Senegal through sport, while also aiming to inspire new hope, opportunities and confidence among young people across Africa and become a blueprint for future YOG hosts. This…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu received the Nigerian-born American football player, Moro Ojomo, at the State House in Abuja. Hosting the 23-year-old American football player, Tinubu affirmed that the athlete’s Super Bowl moment and display of the Nigerian flag rekindled national pride. The President praised the athlete’s perseverance and emphasised his administration’s readiness to collaborate with diaspora talents to accelerate human capital development, especially in sports. “With the kind of focus that you have, you can mentor many youths and develop our cutlture” Tinubu told Ojomo during a meeting at the State House, Abuja. The defensive tackle, who recently led the Philadelphia…
EX-SUPER Eagles international, Jay Jay Okocha has dismissed Jamie Carragher’s comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) pedigree, saying no father would want his son to have a football career as the former Liverpool man. Carragher landed himself in controversy after he suggested s that Mohamed Salah is disadvantaged in the yearly debate for the Ballon d’Or over his not being able to win a ‘major’ international tournament – in his eyes, the Euros, Copa America, or the World Cup with the Egyptian National team. “There are some players that will say something; you just overlook it. If you…