Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has described the narrow 1-0 win over Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo on Friday as a relief for him and his players. The Libyans deployed defensive and time-wasting tactics in the game to the frustration of Nigerian players, coaches and fans at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, but substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute. “It’s a huge win for me and the boys obviously. Three points was important and we got it, I wanted us to score…
Mohamed Salah was on target to help Egypt maintain their 100% record in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Mauritania, but Tunisia slipped to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Comoros in their fixture on Friday. Salah added to an opener from Trezeguet in Cairo as Egypt toiled for almost 70 minutes before they broke down the Mauritania defence to move six points clear at the top of Group C at the midway point of the qualifiers. Tunisia were heavy favourites after starting their campaign with two wins, but despite 15 goal attempts…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Libya in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on Friday. The visiting Mediterranean Knights frustrated the three-time African champions for 87 minutes until substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru popped up with the backbreaking goal. The Lazio midfielder, who replaced Alex Iwobi on 73 minutes, latched on to a low cross from Simon Moses to find the back of the net, sending the tense Godswill Akpabio Stadium into loud cheering. The Libyans had sought out to limit the Super Eagles with their ultra-defensive tactics, and were largely successful…
By Kayode John Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has described compatriot Victor Boniface as a world-class player. Boniface has been under scrutiny over his inability to score for the national team as he does at Bayer Leverkusen. He has six goals in nine matches for his German club this season but has not found the net in any competitive game for Nigeria as well as in his last six matches, including in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda last month. The Eagles will take on Libya on Matchday 3 of the qualifying campaign…
Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Enzo Maresca have been voted English Premier League Player of the Month and Manager of the Month respectively for September. England international Palmer led the Premier League for both goals and goal involvements in September, scoring five goals and making one assist in four appearances. Four of his goals came in one devastating 21-minute period against Brighton, as he became the first player in history to score four times in the first half of a Premier League match. Palmer has won the Player of the Month award for a second time, with his first coming in April 2024,…
By Kayode John Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has said the team must do everything possible to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco. The three-time African champions are set to face the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in back-to-back fixtures in the 2025 AFCON qualification series. The Super Eagles, who are on top of Group D on four points from two games, will host bottom side Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday in Benina, Benghazi. During a chat with reporters on Thursday at the team’s…
By Kayode John Chidera Ejuke has expressed delight over his return to the Super Eagles. The Sevilla winger last featured for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon. However, he is back into the reckoning once again, following his impressive performances for Sevilla this season, earning a place in Austin Eguavoen’ 23-man squad for the 2025 AFCON qualifying double-header against Libya. “I’m just happy to be here, I’m really excited to be back. It’s always like a good feeling to get the opportunity to represent your country and also to see some of the…
The legendary Segun Odegbami has provided an update on the condition of fellow great Peter Fregene, who has been battling with illness for some time. Fregene, a goalkeeping great with the national team in the 1960s through to the 1980s, is lying critically ill in Sapele, Delta State and Odegbami is soliciting for help for the former footballer, who is in his late 70s. In a heartfelt post shared widely on social media this week, Odegbami, who is a broadcaster and syndicated columnist, provided details of Fregene’s current condition and the efforts to find healing. The post is reproduced below:…
By Kayode John Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, Fatima Bello and Ajoke Ojomu have been listed in a 10-member squad by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for the 2024 ITTF African Championships. The competition is scheduled for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from October 12 to October 19. Joining the seasoned players are promising young talents such as Matthew Kuti, Muiz Adegoke, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Aishat Rabiu, Hope Udoaka, and Aziza Sezuo. Aruna, Omotayo and Bello all represented Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France but none of them made it beyond the first round of the singles categories. Matthew Kuti,…
The sports writers earlier kidnapped on Thursday on their way to cover the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria and Libya in Uyo have been released. The journalists, whose names are withheld, were abducted somewhere in Imo State on their way to the assignment by a yet-to-named group of gunmen. The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) announced on Thursday afternoon that the journalists had been released. In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Ikenna Okonkwo, and made available to SportingTimes.ng, SWAN said: “We want to inform our teeming members across Nigeria and beyond that some of the…