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Category: Sports

U17 Women’s World Cup: Legend Mercy Akide-Udoh Inspires Flamingos

Fola Badmus02 mins

Nigeria legend, FIFA Women’s World Cup star and FIFA’s Ambassador for the women’s game, Mercy Akide-Udoh on Friday had a session with players of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos in Morocco, two days before the Flamingos’ 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup opener against Canada.   Mercy Akide-Udoh is in Morocco as a member of the FIFA Players’ Voice Panel. The 16-strong Players’ Voice Panel brings together former male and female players from diverse ethnic backgrounds and all six confederations. The panel advises and supports FIFA and its 211 Member Associations in the global stand against racism. The panel ensures that lived experience is central to the global stand against racism, with panel members offering critical insights on how racism impacts players both on and off the pitch.   ROLE OF THE PANEL • ADVISE: provide guidance and input on initiatives driving the global stand against racism • EDUCATE: support and lead educational efforts to build awareness and inspire action against racism • MONITOR: track progress and drive reforms for lasting change in the global stand against racism   Mercy will lead educational efforts to raise awareness and inspire action against racism and all forms of discrimination, and took time to advise and encourage the Nigerian girls. She plans to visit them again before their opening match on Sunday.

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How Super Eagles Reached 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF Play-off Tourney

Fola Badmus06 mins

The Super Eagles achieved a universal spread of 10 different scorers in their 15-goal haul in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, with only ace forward Victor Osimhen scoring more than once. The lanky marksman netted six times – in the process taking his Nigerian tally to 29 in 44 matches, only eight shy of legendary Rashidi Yekini’s record.   Defender Semi Ajayi, who will now miss the penultimate game of the CAF Play-off in Morocco next month after bagging two yellow cards in the series, scored Nigeria’s first goal in the series – the equalizer against Lesotho’s Crocodiles on Matchday 1 inside Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium on 16th November 2023.   Considering that Nigeria edged Burkina Faso only on goals’ tally at the end of the campaign to reach the Play-off, it means that Raphael Onyedika’s goal against Bénin Republic in Abidjan on Matchday 4 (even though Nigeria eventually lost 1-2) was as important as Ajayi’s equalizer against the Crocodiles in Uyo, just as Kelechi Iheanacho’s equalizer against Zimbabwe on Matchday 2 in Butare (Rwanda) on 19th November 2023 was as crucial as Calvin Bassey’s leveller against South Africa on Matchday 8 in Bloemfontein on 9th September 2025.   At the end of the qualifying campaign in Group C, the Super Eagles lost only one of its 10 matches, compared to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana that lost two (despite playing seven of its 10 matches on home soil) and Bénin Republic that lost three.   Chadian referee Alhadi Mahamat Allaou took charge of three of Eagles’ matches, viz the home draw with South Africa, the win over Rwanda in Uyo and the win over Lesotho in Polokwane. Gabonese Pierre Atcho took charge of two (the defeat by Bénin Republic in Abidjan on Matchday 4 and the draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Matchday 8.   The three-time African champions played all home games at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, and also played in Rwanda’s Stade Huye, Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium and South African venues Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) and New Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane).   On their way from their Matchday 9 encounter with Lesotho, the team’s chartered ValueJet Airline aircraft suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air, but the professionalism, expertise and diligence of Captain Kamal Marafa saw the airplane safely guided back to the Luanda Airport where it had taken off after a refueling stop.   Now, on to the CAF Play-off Tournament in Morocco next month!     2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Matches: Nigeria’s Group C Campaign Matchday 1: Nigeria 1 (Semi Ajayi, 67) Lesotho 1 (Tabone Mkwanazi, 56) – 16/11/23. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Mehrez Malki (Tunisia) Matchday 2: Zimbabwe 1 (Wisdom Musona, 26) Nigeria 1 (Kelechi Iheanacho, 67) – 19/11/23. Venue: Stade Huye, Butare (Rwanda). Referee – Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti) Matchday 3: Nigeria 1 (Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, 46) South Africa 1 (Mbane Zwane, 29) – 07/06/24. Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Alhadi Mahamat Allaou (Chad) Matchday 4: Benin Republic 2 (Jordan Dossou, 37; Steve Mounié 45+3) Nigeria 1 (Raphael Onyedika, 27) – 10/06/24. Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan (CIV). Referee – Pierre Atcho (Gabon) Matchday 5: Rwanda 0 Nigeria 2 (Victor Osimhen, 11, 45+3) – 21/03/25. Venue: Amahoro Stadium, Kigali. Referee – Jalal Jayed (Morocco) Matchday 6: Nigeria 1 (Victor Osimhen, 74) Zimbabwe 1 (Robert Chirewa, 90) – 25/03/25. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea) Matchday 7: Nigeria 1 (Tolu Arokodare, 51) Rwanda 0 – 06/09/25. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Alhadi Mahamat Allaou (Chad) Matchday 8: South Africa 1 (William Troost-Ekong OG, 25) Nigeria 1 (Calvin Bassey, 44) – 09/09/25. Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein. Referee – Pierre Atcho (Gabon) Matchday 9: Lesotho 1 (Leslie Kalake, 83) Nigeria 2 (William Troost-Ekong, 55; Jerome Akor Adams, 80) – 10/10/25. Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (South Africa). Referee – Alhadi Mahamat Allaou (Chad) Matchday 10: Nigeria 4 (Victor Osimhen 3, 36, 51; Frank Onyeka 90+1) Benin Republic 0 – 14/10/25. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)

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Nigeria Dominates 2025 CAF Awards Nominations As Ajibade, Nnadozie And Super Falcons Take Spotlight

Wale busari04 mins

Nigeria has once again stamped its authority in African women’s football, securing multiple nominations at the 2025 CAF Awards. Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade, star goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and several Nigerian teams and coaches were all named among this year’s top contenders, following a remarkable season of achievements on the continent. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the nominees on Friday, with Nigeria dominating nearly every major women’s category. Ajibade, who captained Nigeria to their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco, was nominated for African Player of the Year alongside her teammate Esther Okoronkwo. Ajibade also earned the Player of the Tournament award at WAFCON after three Woman of the Match performances, one goal, and two assists. Okoronkwo, representing AFC Toronto in Canada, stood out with two goals and four assists, including a match-winning performance in the final, which earned her the Woman of the Match award. In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion is aiming for her third straight win after claiming the award in the last two editions. The Super Falcons themselves were nominated for National Team of the Year after reclaiming the continental crown under head coach Justine Madugu, who was also shortlisted for Coach of the Year. Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, earned a place in the same team category after going unbeaten in their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Their coach, Bankole Olowookere, was also recognized for guiding one of Africa’s most promising youth squads. Flamingos captain Shakirat Moshood made the final list for CAF Young Player of the Year, reflecting the country’s depth of emerging talent. Rounding off Nigeria’s impressive list of nominees, Bayelsa Queens, winners of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, were shortlisted for Club of the Year. They’ll compete against African heavyweights like Mamelodi Sundowns, ASFAR, TP Mazembe, and Gaborone United. With nominations across nearly all categories, Nigeria’s presence at the 2025 CAF Awards reaffirms its reputation as the heartbeat of women’s football on the continent.

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Folashade Oluwafemiayo Breaks World Record, Wins Fourth World Powerlifting Title In Egypt

Wale busari01 mins

Nigeria’s star powerlifter, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, has made history again after breaking her own world record in the women’s 86kg category at the World Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt. Oluwafemiayo delivered a stunning performance, lifting 168kg — one kilogram more than her previous record — to secure the gold medal and reaffirm her dominance on the global stage. The incredible lift stands as the heaviest ever in her category, earning the 38-year-old her fourth World Championship crown to go with her two Paralympic gold medals. Her success in Cairo not only cements her legacy as one of the greatest in the sport but also reinforces Nigeria’s standing as a powerhouse in world powerlifting. Oluwafemiayo’s latest achievement is a testament to her strength, discipline, and unrelenting drive to keep pushing boundaries — proving once again that limits exist only to be broken.

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Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria Secure Spots for London 2026

Wale busari03 mins

Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria Secure Spots for London 2026 By Bunmi Ogunyale African table tennis powerhouses Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Algeria have officially booked their places at the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom, following dominant performances in their respective groups at the ongoing 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis. Egypt was the first men’s team to seal qualification, cruising past Togo and Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria followed with emphatic 3-0 victories over Cameroon and South Africa in Group B. Morocco also advanced from the group after defeating both Cameroon and South Africa, setting up a decisive clash with Nigeria to determine the group leader. Algeria and host nation Tunisia completed the list of qualifiers by topping Groups C and D, respectively. In the women’s category, the pattern mirrored the men’s event, with Egypt, Nigeria, and Algeria securing their tickets to London. Joining them is Uganda’s young and promising squad, marking a significant milestone for the East African nation. From April 28 to May 10, 2026, London will host the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals, a historic edition commemorating 100 years since the founding of both the World Championships and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in the British capital. This centenary celebration will bring together 64 teams per gender. Of these, 52 will qualify through continental championships, 11 through world rankings (as of November 2025), and one automatic spot will be reserved for host nation England. The World Championships remain the pinnacle of global table tennis—a stage where legends are born and history is written. The countdown to London 2026 has begun, and the world’s best are preparing to converge for this once-in-a-century homecoming.

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Super Eagles Soar on FIFA Ranking

Wale busari01 mins

Super Eagles Soar on FIFA Ranking By Bunmi Ogunyale Former African Champions, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved up four places in this month’s World football governing body, FIFA ranking. With a total of 1495.46 points, the Eric Chelle’s lads are 45th best team in the world. In the latest rankings, Nigeria have also overtaken both the African Champions, Ivory Coast and North African giants, Tunisia and trailing Senegal, Egypt and Algeria. The Nigerian side will aim at making further push up the ladder when they file out at the Continental FIFA World Cup playoffs in November. At the summit, Spain have strengthened their grip on top spot thanks to back-to-back victories, shoring up the position they seized in the previous instalment when they ended Argentina’s reign that stretched back to April 2023. The next edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking is slated for 21st of November.

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Cross River Governor Bassey Otu Honours Super Falcons’ Miracle Usani With N50m, Land, and Sports Ambassador Role

Wale busari04 mins

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has honoured Yakurr-born Miracle Usani, a key defender in the Super Falcons squad that won the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with N50 million, a plot of land in Calabar, and the title of the state’s Sports Ambassador. The announcement was made on Wednesday during a reception at the Government House in Calabar, where Governor Otu lauded Usani for her outstanding performance on the continental stage and her role in promoting women’s football. “We are delighted to celebrate you today. Your dedication and spirit are remarkable. You have shown that women can excel just as much as men, and even beyond. You are now a symbol of pride for Cross River, Nigeria, and Africa,” the governor said. Reflecting on his own experience as a youth athlete, Otu praised the resilience of sportsmen and women and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s sports system to nurture future champions. “Our sports infrastructure faces challenges, but stories like yours inspire confidence in the future. Sports is no longer just a pastime but a serious avenue for economic and social development. Your success should motivate young people across the state,” he added. Presenting the rewards, the governor said, “We have set aside N50 million and a plot of land in Calabar for you. You are now on our VVIP protocol list, and as Sports Ambassador, you will represent Cross River at official events.” Usani, who also plays for Edo Queens F.C. and represented Nigeria at the 2022 FIFA Women’s World Cup, thanked the governor for the recognition and recounted her challenging journey to football success. “My journey was not easy. Growing up, people said girls who play football become masculine and won’t get married. There was no female team in Uke, so I played with boys. But I stayed determined. Today, I’m proud to represent Nigeria and Cross River at the highest level,” she said, dedicating her achievement to God, her parents, and the people of Cross River State. Governor Otu urged continued support for young athletes, promising sustained investment in talent development to ensure the emergence of “many more Miracles” from the state.

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FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos Begin New Adventure Against Canada on Sunday

Wale busari03 mins

It is the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) in Moroccan city of Salé that Nigeria’s U17 women national team, the Flamingos, will on Sunday begin their campaign for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup against Canada. This will be the second meeting between these two sides at this level – with the first ending in a 1-1 draw. Now, thirteen years later, the stakes are higher, the teams are more evolved, and the Flamingos are ready to show how far they’ve come under Coach Bankole Olowookere. The Flamingos arrived in Rabat full of confidence after a strong preparation phase that saw them play several high-intensity warm-up matches. They recorded double-digit wins, scored freely, and displayed sharp movement and creativity across the final third — hallmarks of Olowookere’s “high-pressing football” philosophy. The girls showed tenacity, depth, and the capacity to react under pressure when they triumphed 3–2 over Paraguay after narrowly losing to New Zealand in one of their test matches. All eyes will now be on their World Cup opener, where discipline, composure, and efficient finishing will be key against a well-organized Canadian side who come into this fixture known for their tactical structure, physical strength, and compact defensive shape. The North Americans have proven tough customers for African teams in past youth tournaments, and Sunday’s clash will test Nigeria’s ability to handle sustained physical pressure while maintaining their attacking rhythm. Nigeria’s ambitions are much more than just advancing from the group. After their impressive run to third place in India in 2022 and quarterfinals in the last edition in the Dominican Republic, the Flamingos are hungry to push further — and a strong opening result against Canada would send a clear message of intent to the rest of Group D, which also includes France and Samoa.

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