Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Corporate partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have offered incentives to motivate the Super Eagles as they host the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Nigerian Breweries, through their brands Goldberg, Life Continental and Zagg Energy drink, are sponsoring the man-of-the-match award for the sum of N1 million. The dummy cheque will be presented to the winner right on the pitch immediately after the final whistle. On their part, Carloha, official automobile company of the NFF and the national teams, will sponsor the Chery Most Valuable Player award, also…
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has declared that it is victory or nothing when they host Zimbabwe in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Tuesday. Nigeria must win against the Warriors of Zimbabwe to keep alive their fading hopes of earning the only automatic ticket available to African qualifying Group C, four days after a key 2-0 victory in Rwanda. Troost-Ekong reiterated on Monday that the three-time African champions will seek to control the game on Tuesday like they did with Rwanda in Kigali on Friday. “We are looking forward to a win. The three points are…
Penalty drama as France, Spain, Portugal, Germany reach UNL semi-finals France, Spain, Portugal and Germany advanced to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals on Sunday night, the first two requiring penalty shootouts and the third needing extra-time in tense second legs. France overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the semi-finals by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise…
By Korede James Rivers United continued to push for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title after edging out Ikorodu City 1-0 in a week 30 clash in Port Harcourt on Sunday. Boluwaji Sholumade struck in stoppage time to secure the three points and a third consecutive victory for Finidi George’s Rivers United. With the win, the Pride of Rivers kept their second spot in the league table and cut Remo Stars’ lead to five points, while Ikorodu City are sixth. Remo Stars were not in action at the weekend after their fixture away to Lobi Stars was postponed. In…
Super Eagles of Nigeria will train behind closed doors on Sunday evening ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Uyo on Tuesday. According to the media officer Promise Efoghe, the team’s Monday training session will, however, be opened for the mandatory 15 minutes, which will be shortly after the official press conference. He added that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has placed restrictions in and around the team’s Four Point Hotel camp in Ikot Ikenne. No visitors or journalists are allowed as Chelle is demanding full concentration from the players ahead of…
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is reportedly on Barcelona’s list of potential targets for the summer transfer window. According to Mundo Deportivo, the 27-year-old Nigeria international is set to leave Atalanta at the end of the season and his ‘greatest dream’ would be to play for Barcelona, The LaLiga giants are said to be keen to bring in a left winger and have already been linked with several players such as Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Rafael Leao of AC Milan. The Nigeria international is not thought to be a top priority but is on the club’s radar. The report claims…
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will begin their quest at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations with a fixture against the Young Pharaohs of Egypt on April 30, at the 20,000-capacity Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Cote d’Ivoire. The encounter is billed to kick off at 5pm Ivorian time (6pm Nigerian time), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed on Sunday. The Flying Eagles will next take on Morocco’s Young Atlas Lions at the same venue, starting at 8pm local time (9pm Nigerian time) on May 3. Seven-time champions Nigeria, who qualified for the tournament following a successful defence of their WAFU B U-20 Championship title in Lome in October, will then wrap up…
By Korede James Amavubi of Rwanda defender Ange Mutsinzi has highlighted what the Super Eagles of Nigeria did to win Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kigali. The Super Eagles recorded their first win in the qualifiers after overcoming the Amavubi 2-0 courtesy of a Victor Osimhen brace. It was the first match in which Rwanda would concede at home in the qualifying series, leaving them dropping to third from first in Group C as the Super Eagles rose one spot to fourth. “I think they(Nigeria) came strong, and they wanted to win, they deserve it, they have a…
By Korede James Players and officials of the Super Eagles have arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe. The Warriors of Zimbabwe are also in the Akwa Ibom State capital for the fixture, having flown in from South Africa, where they were held to a 2-2 draw by Benin Repubic on Friday. Both delegations arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo on Saturday, with Zimbabwe connecting from Lagos, where they had first landed. The Super Eagles will lodge at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ikpene, about 30 kilometres…
By Korede James Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has rated his colleagues Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman highly after the two played major roles in Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali. Atalanta forward Lookman assisted the first of Galatasaray striker Osimhen’s two goals as the Super Eagles secured their first victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series at the Amahoro Stadium. “Victor Osimhen is a fantastic player I think he’s among the world’s best together with Ademola Lookman, Africa’s best player, but I don’t want to single out anyone,” Troost-Ekong said in the post-match press conference. “Today’s…