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Category: Soccer

World Cup Qualifier: Super Eagles May Battle Gabon in Semi-Final Play-Off

Fola Badmus04 mins

By Bunmi Ogunyale Three-time African Champions, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been tipped to battle The Panthers of Gabon in the semi-final of FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off in November. Nigeria are among four nations waiting to discover their opponents in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) semi-final. As announced by FIFA earlier in the week, two semi-finals will be held on November 13 and then the final on November 16 at venues still to be confirmed. Furthermore, the four teams will have to wait until the next FIFA rankings is issued on October 23 to discover their opponents with the highest-ranked side taking on the lowest and the second-highest taking on the third-highest. Nigeria (45) are the highest-ranked African nation to have finished second in qualification which means they would face a play-off semi-final against Gabon (79). Nigeria saved their best performance in qualification for the final game, thumping Benin 4-0 in Uyo on Tuesday evening to leapfrog their rivals in Group C. Victor Osimhen was the hero for Eric Chelle’s side as he netted a superb hat-trick in his nation’s hour of need. Although, with time ticking away, the hosts still needed another goal to guarantee a play-off spot. Frank Onyeka, in the first minute of injury time right at the end of the game, scored the decisive goal and one that could be worth its weight in gold over the next few months. The victory was not enough for the Super Eagles to top the group and therefore qualify automatically for next summer’s tournament as that honour went to South Africa instead after they beat Rwanda 3-0. However, Nigeria do have a lifeline thanks to a four-star showing inside the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. At the final whistle, Nigeria joined Cameroon as two of the definite best runners-up from the CAF qualifying section with either Gabon/Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso or DR Congo set to fill the remaining spots. Once the identity of all four teams have been revealed, they will play a mini tournament in Morocco in November to determine a single team that will go on to compete in an inter-continental playoff in March for a place at the 2026 World Cup.  

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Breaking: Osimhen’s Hat-Trick Brightens Super Eagles’ World Cup Hope

Wale busari01 mins

An hat-trick from Victor Osimhen against the Squirrels of Benin Republic on Tuesday has boosted Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Galatasaray of Turkey forward struck after three minutes into the game after connecting with a sublime pass from Samuel Chukwueze. Osimhen doubled the lead for Nigeria with an header in 37th minute of the tie. The red-hot forward completed his hat-trick with another header in the 51st minute. Nigeria finished second place with 17 points in Group C of the qualifiers behind South Africa, who came tops in the group and qualified automatically for the mundial. Brentford of England midfielder Frank Onyeka completed the routing of the Beninoise on the dot 90 minutes to make it four nil. Former African Champions will go through another round of play-off to punch her ticket for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup.

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Oliseh Alleges NFF Withheld $1 Million From 2002 World Cup Qualifiers Players

Wale busari02 mins

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of withholding $1 million from FIFA that was meant to reward players for helping Nigeria qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Oliseh said there had been a clear agreement to split the money evenly, with half going to the players who participated in the qualifying matches. According to him, each of the 30 players was supposed to receive around $18,000. Oliseh claimed the NFF, however, removed him and his assistant captain, Finidi George, from the team to prevent the payout. “We qualified for the World Cup, but the federation disbanded the team and kept the money. The squad that eventually went to the finals largely hadn’t played in the qualifiers, so they were never entitled to that reward,” Oliseh said. He emphasized that the players would only have received their share if he had been present to ensure the arrangement was honored. The former coach’s revelations add to longstanding allegations of mismanagement and lack of transparency within the NFF.  

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Cape Verde Qualify For First Ever World Cup After Historic 3-0 Victory Over Eswatini

Wale busari03 mins

Cape Verde have made history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup after defeating Eswatini 3-0 at home, becoming the second-smallest nation ever to reach the global tournament. The emphatic victory secured the Blue Sharks’ top spot in their qualifying group, edging out African powerhouse Cameroon to book their place at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. After a tense first half in Praia, Dailon Livramento opened the scoring early in the second half, converting a loose ball inside the six-yard box. Moments later, Willy Semedo doubled the lead with a brilliant volley, before veteran defender Stopira sealed the historic win with a third goal in stoppage time. Jubilant scenes erupted at the 15,000-capacity National Stadium as fans celebrated the nation’s greatest football achievement. Cape Verde President Jose Maria Neves, who watched from the stands, joined in the celebrations as players and supporters reveled in the moment. Cape Verde, an island nation of just under 525,000 people off the coast of West Africa, gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Since then, the Blue Sharks have steadily risen in African football, reaching the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2023. They currently rank 70th in the world. Only Iceland, who played at the 2018 World Cup, have a smaller population among countries that have ever qualified for the tournament. The islanders had earlier missed a chance to qualify after a dramatic 3-3 draw against Libya, where a last-minute winner was controversially ruled out for offside. However, they made no mistake this time against winless Eswatini, becoming the sixth African team to secure their ticket to next year’s finals.  

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NPFL Sanctions Kano Pillars With 3-Point Deduction, N9.5m Fine, And Stadium Ban Over Fan Violence

Wale busari04 mins

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has imposed tough penalties on Kano Pillars following violent scenes that marred their Matchday 8 home fixture against Shooting Stars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Sunday. In a Summary Jurisdiction Notice dated October 13 and signed by NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi, the league found the club guilty of several offences, including poor security, fan violence, throwing objects onto the pitch, and assaulting Shooting Stars players and match officials. According to the NPFL, Kano Pillars failed to provide adequate and effective security, which allowed unauthorized persons to invade restricted areas and the field of play. The league also faulted the club for failing to control its supporters, who harassed and physically attacked the visiting team and match officials. As punishment, the NPFL deducted three points and three goals from Kano Pillars’ total and issued fines amounting to N9.5 million. This includes N1 million each for inadequate security, throwing dangerous objects, fan misconduct, and bringing the game into disrepute — totaling N4 million. An additional N2 million fine was placed on the club for the assault on players and officials, while N1.5 million will serve as compensatory damages of N250,000 each to the affected match officials. Another N2 million fine was issued as compensation for medical treatment and damages sustained by Shooting Stars players and the officials. In addition to the financial penalties, the NPFL ordered Kano Pillars to relocate their home matches to Katsina for the remainder of the season — or at least ten matches — until the league is satisfied that proper security measures are in place. The Sani Abacha Stadium has been closed indefinitely to Kano Pillars’ home games. The club has also been directed to identify and produce those responsible for Sunday’s violence, show proof of their prosecution, and submit a detailed matchday security plan within seven days. Kano Pillars have 48 hours to either accept the ruling or appeal it. However, the NPFL warned that any baseless appeal could lead to additional sanctions under Rule E1 of the league’s framework. The decision follows nationwide outrage over the chaotic scenes in Kano, with many football fans and analysts condemning the violence as a stain on the image of Nigerian football.

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World Cup Ticket Final Battle: Eagles Determined to Fight for Decent Win

Fola Badmus06 mins

Coach Eric Sekou Chelle has assured that the Super Eagles will give everything they have to secure a decent win over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic and hope for favour from Nelspruit as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race hits the final matchday on Tuesday.   Group C leaders Benin Republic, on 17 points, have their fate in their hands as a win over Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium will earn them their first-ever FIFA World Cup ticket.   However, Nigeria have not missed two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals since first reaching the finals in 1994, and will throw everything into Tuesday’s battle.   Regardless of their surprising third place in the group going into the final matchday, Nigeria is the only one among the three contenders for the lone ticket from the group that has lost only one match. Both Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, who have 15 points and host Rwanda’s Amavubi, have each lost two matches.   No doubt, the Cheetahs, now coached by former Nigeria gaffer Gernot Rohr, have conducted a campaign to be proud of, as they hunt for their first-ever ticket to the global finals. Their 17 points and two-point cushion at the top means they will live their dream if they secure a point in Uyo on Tuesday evening and South Africa fail to trounce Rwanda at Mbombela.   In contrast, Nigeria is seeking a seventh FIFA World Cup appearance, having made the Round of 16 in three of their previous three, and the spine of the Class of 2025 know this could be their only chance of sitting at world football’s highest podium.   Captain William Ekong and midfielder Alex Iwobi featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals but that was a competition the Super Eagles left at the group stage, and both will surely prefer to experience another tournament with all the glitz and glamour that North America promises next summer.   Ekong, voted Man of the Competition at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations final, is set to win his 83rd cap on Tuesday while Iwobi will earn his 89th.   Top scorer and 2023 Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, defender Calvin Bassey, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman, among others, have not been to the FIFA World Cup finals.   The Cheetahs have been to only four Africa Cup of Nations finals, as against the Super Eagles’ 20 participations, and their all-time high was a quarter-final berth in Egypt six years ago, compared to Nigeria’s three titles, five runner-up positions and eight third-place finishes.   Both teams will miss a number of key players on Tuesday. Benin Republic’s central defender Yohan Roche and defensive midfielder Sessi d’Almeida are suspended, just as Nigeria’s Africa Player of the Year Lookman, with the six-time finalists also missing wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel through injuries.   Gernot Rohr and his army will have the backing of Benin Republic’s 11.5million people, just as Nigeria’s 220 million people, including dozens of thousands who will be in the stands, will be cheering on the Super Eagles.   A two-goal win by the Super Eagles, and failure by South Africa to beat Rwanda in Nelspruit, will earn Nigeria an automatic ticket to the 23rd FIFA World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

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Jack Wilshere Named Luton Town Head Coach In Full-Circle Appointment

Wale busari02 mins

Luton Town have appointed former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere as their new head coach. The decision comes after the club parted ways with Matt Bloomfield during the October international break, following a difficult start to their League One campaign, which saw the Hatters lose five of their opening 11 matches after consecutive relegations. Wilshere, 33, has now secured his first permanent managerial role after a short interim stint with Norwich City at the end of the 2024-25 season, where he collected four points from the final two Championship fixtures, boosting his reputation as an emerging coach. Speaking to the club’s official website, Wilshere called his appointment a “full-circle moment,” recalling his early days with Luton Town as a child. “It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be named Luton Town manager,” he said. “I was eight when I first came to Luton, so it feels fitting that my first full-time managerial role is at this club. I’m excited to get started and can’t wait to lead this team.” He added: “Luton Town’s story inspires me. Built on belief, unity, and hard work, the club has shown incredible character on and off the pitch. I’m honoured to take on the responsibility of guiding this squad forward. There’s still so much of the season to play, and I want to give the fans a team they can be proud of. The work begins today.”  

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Kano Pillars GM Ahmed Musa Issues Apology After Pitch Violence Against Shooting Stars

Wale busari03 mins

Ahmed Musa, General Manager of Kano Pillars Football Club, has issued a formal apology after violent incidents marred his team’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on Sunday. The game, held at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, descended into chaos after Shooting Stars scored a late equaliser, prompting some home fans to invade the pitch and attack players, referees, and match officials. Videos shared online captured shocking scenes of violence and panic. In a statement released on the club’s social media channels, Musa condemned the behaviour and accepted full responsibility on behalf of Kano Pillars. “I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies for the disgraceful and unacceptable incident that occurred during our game against Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday evening,” he said. Describing the events as “heartbreaking and shameful,” Musa emphasised that such conduct does not reflect the values or proud history of Kano Pillars. He apologised to Shooting Stars’ players, coaches, officials, and supporters, as well as referees, league officials, the NPFL board, and football fans nationwide. “I understand how upsetting it must have been to witness such scenes, and I am deeply sorry,” he added. Musa promised the club would work closely with authorities to identify those responsible and ensure they face appropriate consequences. “Violence has no place in football. Kano Pillars FC will take all necessary steps to hold the perpetrators accountable,” he said. He also addressed Kano Pillars supporters directly, urging them to show loyalty through respect and discipline rather than violence. “True support comes from passion and respect, not destruction. This must be a turning point for our club,” Musa said. Concluding his statement, he reiterated Kano Pillars’ commitment to restoring trust and integrity in Nigerian football. “On behalf of Kano Pillars FC, I offer my unreserved apology to everyone affected. We will take the necessary steps to ensure football in Kano and across Nigeria remains safe, fair, and enjoyable,” he said. The NPFL board has yet to announce disciplinary actions following the incident, PUNCH Online reports.  

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