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Morocco 2025: Despite ticket in pocket, Super Eagles go for victory against Amavubi

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago04 mins

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will go all out for victory against Rwanda on Monday, even with leadership of group D and a ticket to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco secured, says Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen. The three-time African champions are determined to sustain their recent form and spirit ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that resume in four months, and Coach Augustine Eguavoen believes the absence of grieving goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defender Olaoluwa Aina and in-form forward Ademola Lookman will not stop their momentum. First-choice goalkeeper Nwabali has been excused from camp to visit family and relations following the demise of his father, and English Premier League side Nottingham Forest begged for wing-back Olaoluwa Aina to be allowed to fly back to the United Kingdom for a crucial tie, with Nigeria already qualified for the AFCON. Rapid-raider Ademola Lookman, with two goals in the qualifiers like team mate Victor Osimhen, suffered a knock in the front end of this window’s double-header, against Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in Abidjan on Thursday, and left camp on Saturday. The Super Eagles are not unaware of the fact that the Amavubi are in the same 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group with them, and that they (Rwanda) are the next opponents when the World Cup qualifying campaign resumes in March 2025. Monday’s encounter will see the return of former number one safe hands Maduka Okoye, and Bright Osayi-Samuel could start at right wing-back in the absence of Aina, with Bruno Onyemaechi at left wing-back, and Captain William Ekong and Calvin Bassey at centre-back. Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika are still the options in the middle. Victor Osimhen, whose goal earned the one point in Abidjan that took Nigeria to the top of the pool, will hope to score against the Amavubi, having come quite close a number of times when he joined the fray as a second-half substitute in Kigali in September. He also has the target of overtaking former captain Olusegun Odegbami on the goals’ tally for Nigeria. The absence of Lookman means so much will be expected from fit-fighting and usually-dependable Moses Simon, with Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Boniface all in the race for slots in the fore.

Gusau charges Edo Queens to win CAF Women’s Champions League title

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago04 mins

An exultant President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Sunday commended the extraordinary fighting spirit of Nigerian champions Edo Queens in overpowering defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Saturday night, to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League competition in Morocco. Edo Queens, who won the Nigerian title for only the first time last season, went ahead to beat all comers to win the WAFU B Women’s Champions League competition (a qualifying tournament for the continental championship) in Cote d’Ivoire, and have now made it to the last four of the dollar-spangled event. “The NFF and the Nigeria football family are very happy at the accomplishments of Edo Queens over the past months, from winning the WAFU B title to reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Women’s Champions League. We congratulate the Edo State Government and all those involved in this remarkable progress of the team. “The ladies exhibited the much-talked-about Nigeria spirit to come from behind and defeat the Cup holders. Theirs is a statement in resilience, determination and ambition. I believe they have been highly inspired by that victory and have the capacity to go all the way and win the title.” Sundowns, who have reached, at least, the Final of every edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League since the competition was inaugurated in 2021, went ahead in the 24th minute through Melinda Kgadiete, and held on to the advantage until the end of regulation time. However, five minutes into added time, Emem Essien drew the Nigerians level when her tenacity in the box paid off after the Sundowns’ goalkeeper dropped the ball from a cross. Five minutes later, Mary Mamudu gave the Queens victory by lashing into the roof of the net after a good run and pass by Super Falcons’ forward Goodness Osigwe. The win handed the Nigerian champions leadership of group B, with the defending champions eliminated. Edo Queens will take on TP Mazembe of DR Congo in the first semi-final on Tuesday, at 4pm Morocco time, before AS FAR of Morocco confront Masar of Egypt in the second semi-final three hours later. In their first two matches of the competition, the Queens defeated Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Masar FC of Egypt.

NFF condoles Stanley Nwabali on father’s demise

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

The Nigeria Football Federation has commiserated with Super Eagles’ number one goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, who lost his father in the morning of Friday, 15th November 2024. The South Africa-based Nwabali announced the sad news on his Instagram page on Friday morning. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the demise of Stanley Nwabali’s father. Coming a day after the player featured in the match that won us the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ticket, it made for a day of low morale as we flew from Abidjan to Uyo. “The death of a parent is always a thing of deep sorrow and sadness. However, we want Stanley to take heart in the fruitful and fulfilled life that his father lived, and we pray that the Almighty will grant him eternal rest, and also grant Stanley and other members of the family the fortitude to bear the big loss.”

Morocco 2025: Eagles, Amavubi arrive Uyo for final group clash

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Group winners Nigeria and final-day opponents Rwanda have both landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo ahead of Monday’s Matchday 6 clash in the concluding round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Deflated but not altogether supine, the Amavubi still have a mathematical chance of qualifying, though the supposition is not actually in their favour. They missed a big opportunity to enhance their chances when losing at home to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights on Thursday, and can only make it to Morocco 2025 if they defeat Nigeria in Uyo and Libya are victorious against Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday. The Super Eagles, confirmed group winners, have nothing to chase other than national pride, and will play a more relaxed game against the visitors than the turgid contest with the Cheetahs at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday night. Nigeria’s delegation flew from the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, to Uyo aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, arriving at 3.50pm. Rwanda’s delegation flew from Kigali to Lagos aboard a regular Rwandair flight, arriving at 1pm, before boarding an Ibom Air flight to Uyo. They landed in Uyo just before 5pm. Uyo’s magnificent Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the venue, and a carnival atmosphere is expected as the Super Eagles celebrate for 90 minutes and afterwards with the AFCON ticket long in the bag. Both countries battled to a scoreless draw in their first confrontation in Kigali in September, though the jury is still out on Ademola Lookman’s first-half headed goal that was inexplicably chalked off by the Moroccan referee. Incidentally, another Moroccan will be in the role of referee on Monday. 44-year-old Samir Guezzaz takes the stage in the centre at the game that kicks off at 5pm. Guezzaz alongside his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi (assistant 1), Abdessamad Abertoune (assistant 2) and Kech Chaf Mustapha (fourth official) are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday, same as Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana (commissioner) and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia (referee assessor).

Morocco 2025: Galatasaray congratulates Osimhen

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Turkish giants, Galatasaray has congratulated Victor Osimhen for securing Nigeria’s passage to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. The reigning African Player of the Year, who plies his trade with Galatasaray, ensured Nigeria’s qualification for the Biennial tournament with an header in the 81st minute of the tie. The Turkish side took to social media to congratulate their star player for his impressive display against the Cheetahs of Benin. “Congratulations to Victor Osimhen who scored the only goal for Nigeria in the 1-1 draw with Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, securing their qualification from the group stage,” Galatasaray wrote on X handle. Osimhen’s goal has also put him at par with the legendary Olusegun Odegbami in goals’ tally for Nigeria. Both are now joint second to the top man, Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) who scored 37 goals in 58 matches. Osimhen’s goal, in which he profited from a pinpoint cross from Moses Simon, and restored parity on the night after Mohamed Tijani’s goal for the Cheetahs in the 16th minute, was his 23rd for the senior team. Odegbami, the former captain of the team who took the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations finals by the scruff, scored his 23 goals in 46 matches.

Super Eagles goalkeeper loses father

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago01 mins

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has lost his father. Nwabali took to Instagram story on Friday to share a post announcing the passing of the father with a tearful emoji. The Chippa United of South Africa goalkeeper did not disclose the cause of the father’s death, but wrote “Rest in peace dad.” Nwabali was in goal on Thursday when Benin Republic held Nigeria to a draw in a qualification game for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Eagles had already qualified for the competition heading into Thursday’s match which was played in Ivory Coast, the 1-1 draw means they will finish the group as leaders.

Super Eagles land in AFCON 2025

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago01 mins

Nigeria’s Super Eagles has qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) without kicking a ball on Thursday. Libya’s 1-0 win in Rwanda guarantees Nigeria a top-two finish in Group D, and means Benin will join the Super Eagles at the tournament if they win their all-West African meeting this evening. Nigeria currently tops the Group with 10 points, Benin Republic placed second with 6 points while Rwanda and Libya are at the rock-bottom of the log with five and four points respectively.

AFCONQ: Osimhen, Lookman lead Eagles assaults against Benin Rep

Prince Odutola1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen and Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman will lead Super Eagles attack in a potentially-explosive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against neighbours Benin Republic later this evening. Both players are expected to replicate their top form in Europe this season when they file out against the Beninoise at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Cote d’Ivoire. Stanley Nwabali kept his place in goal and will be provided cover by Calvin Bassey, newly invitee Gabriel Osho, William Troost-Ekong and OlaOluwa Aina. Wilfred Ndidi will be joined in the midfield by Bruno Onyemaechi, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. The substitutes are; Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Fisayo Dele-Bashirun, Raphael Onyedika, Victor Collins, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Umar Sadiq, Samuel Chukwueze, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Frank Onyeka. Nigeria will qualify for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations final tournament if they overcome the Cheetahs of Benin Republic. Victory will render Monday’s concluding qualifier against Rwanda, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, an academic session. The tie is slated to kick off by 8pm Nigeria time.