Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has insisted that Ahmed Musa remains the captain of the team and is welcome back as such any time. Musa, who is the most capped Super Eagles player of all time with 110 appearances, last featured for Nigeria in January 2024 in a warm-up game ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Guinea, to whom they lost 2-0. “He’s still our captain and he’s welcome back any time. He’s our most capped player, a good role model, and he’s a good leader. I am happy to deputise for him,”…
Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from tennis at the end of this season. The 38-year-old will represent Spain in his final appearance at next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Nadal has barely played over the past two seasons because of injuries and suggested last year he could retire at the end of the 2024 season. In a video message released on Thursday, Nadal said: “I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially. “I don’t think I…
By Kayode John Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has said his birthday wishes are is for the team to win the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco and qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Aina turned 28 in the Super Eagles camp on Tuesday as the team continued to prepare to face Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday in the first leg of their double-header against the North Africans in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. A video posted on the Super Eagles’ X account on Wednesday showed the Nottingham Forest defender being celebrated during the…
By Kayode John Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has confirmed that Inter Milan were genuinely interested in him last summer and would have been a dream if the move had materialised. Okoye has established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Italian Serie A since joining Udinese in 2023. His impressive performances, which were key to the club escaping relegation last season, had put him on the radar of top clubs, including champions Inter. He instead signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him at the Stadio Friuli until 2028. “The interest from Inter was concrete, but…
Super Eagles head coach Austin Eguavoen is looking to wrap up qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by earning the full points in the double-header against Libya. The three-time African champions currently top their AFCON qualifying group with four points from two matches and face bottom side Libya, who have one point, in Uyo on Friday and Benina on Tuesday. Eguavoen has now set himself the objective of winning both games in the double-header to all but guarantee passage to the tournament scheduled for Morocco in December 2025 and January 2026. “We have to be practical about it:…
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine from Cape Verde as the referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Super Eagles and Libya in Benani, near Benghazi. He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso working as the fourth official. Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be the match commissioner, while Malian Dramane Dante is the referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria the security officer. Tuesday’s clash, which follows Friday’s battle between…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles B team are up against bitter rivals Ghana for a spot in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The home-based Nigerian side were drawn against the Ghanaians on Wednesday for the tournament reserved for players featuring in their domestic leagues. The Super Eagles will be gunning for revenge after Ghana prevented them from reaching the 2022 edition, with the Black Stars advancing via a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw on aggregate. Nigeria last qualified for the tournament in 2018, when they reached the final but lost to hosts Morocco. In the other West…
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been appointed global head of soccer at Red Bull. The 57-year-old German will begin the role on January 1, 2025. “After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” said Klopp. “The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.” Energy drinks brand Red Bull owns RB Leipzig in Germany’s Bundesliga, Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg and Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls, as well as Brazilian…
By Kayode John Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke have joined their colleagues the Super Eagles training camp in Uyo ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya. Super Eagles Media shared the video of the Sevilla pair arriving at the team’s hotel on Wednesday morning, with the caption: “It’s a full house at the Super Eagles camp with the arrival of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke.” There was no mention of Bright Osayi-Samuel, who was not listed as one of the 20 players previously in camp. Interim head coach Austin Eguavoen now has the full complement…
By Kayode John Interim coach of the Super Eagles Austin Eguavoen has sent a clear warning to Samuel Chukwueze ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya. Eguavoen, who spoke to NFF TV, stressed the need for his players to stick to the game plan and take the right decisions in every situation during the back-to-back fixtures against the North Africans. The coach specifically referenced Chukwueze’s dribbling ability but cautioned the AC Milan forward against taking on opposition players while helping out in the defence. “You can imagine Chukwueze come to defence to help, he…