Nigeria’s bounce-back-ability credentials on the football field will again be subjected to a stern test when the home-based senior men national team take on Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane in a must-win 8th Africa Nations Championship group D encounter in Zanzibar on Tuesday.
Days after racing to a 10th triumph in the Women Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria will on Tuesday begin another serious quest for a continental title when the home-based senior men’s team, Super Eagles B take on Cup holders Senegal in the opening match of group B of the 8th African Nations Championship. Bronze medal-winners in 2014 and runners-up four years later, Nigeria have blown hot and cold in the 16-year-old tournament that is exclusively reserved for footballers plying their trade with valid contracts in the domestic league of their countries on the continent. Ahead of the inaugural edition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 and won by the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Eagles squandered a two-goal lead over arch-rivals Ghana in Accra to end up losing 2-3, and then failed to find the back of the net in the return encounter in Calabar. Ghana qualified instead. Two years later, Nigeria also failed to reach the finals in Sudan. In 2014, Stephen Keshi (of blessed memory) coached the Eagles to a bronze medal finish in South Africa, overturning a 3-0 deficit at half-time against Morocco en route. It was a year after the great Keshi had led the ‘A’ to lift the Africa Cup of Nations in the same country. Nigeria failed to make it out of the group stage in Rwanda in 2016, but then went all the way to the Final in the following edition, losing to hosts Morocco on a frosty night in Casablanca. The country failed to qualify for the 2021 edition hosted by Cameroon, and also painfully missed out of the finals staged by Algeria two years ago. In essence, Nigeria will be making only her fourth appearance at the competition. Christened Pamoja 2024, this year’s African Nations Championship promises a lot of thrills and excitement across five venues in three host nations – a novel arrangement in hosting of sports events on the African continent. The Confederation of African Football awarded a joint bid by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda the hosting right for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and afterwards opted to grant the three nations the opportunity to use the CHAN as a dress rehearsal. The 19 participating countries have been cast into four groups, with groups A, B, and C having five teams, and group D (where Nigeria will feature) having only four, including Cup holders Senegal, as well as Congo and Sudan. Nigeria’s technical and tactical approach to games will be curated by Eric Sekou Chelle, also the gaffer for the ‘A’ team. Chelle has spoken of belief and self-confidence among his 23-man squad, who spent three weeks at a training camp in Ikenne-Remo and another 10 days in Zanzibar (to which was embedded two drawn matches against the Zanzibar National Team). Chelle still has goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, defenders Sodiq Ismaila and Junior Nduka, midfielder Alex Oyowah and forwards Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi – who were in the squad that turned back Ghana’s Black Galaxies 3-0 on aggregate in the qualifiers. However, there have been excellent additions like Steven Mayo and Leonard Ngenge in the defence, Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna and Michael Tochukwu in the midfield, and Temitope Vincent, Shola Adelani and Godwin Obaje in the attack. At the 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, Chelle will go for the maximum points to underscore Nigeria’s ambition, as well as to diminish anxiety ahead of the clashes with Sudan and Congo. Joint-host Tanzania took the first three points of the tournament on Saturday, beating Burkina Faso 2-0 in their group B encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic GROUP C: Uganda, Niger Republic, Guinea, Algeria, South Africa GROUP D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria SUPER EAGLES B AT 8TH AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC); Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United); Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars) Defenders: Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Bankole Afeez (Kwara United); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City); Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars); Ngengen Leonard (Ikorodu City); Steven Mayo Egbe (Rivers United) Midfielders: Adedayo Olamilekan (Remo Stars); Hadi Haruna (Remo Stars); Otaniyi Taofik (Rivers United); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars); Michael Tochukwu (Remo Stars); Alex Oyowah (Remo Stars) Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors); Godwin Obaje (Rangers International); Jabbar Malik (Remo Stars)
Nigeria’s home-based senior men’s team will seek victory over hosts Zanzibar on Thursday in the second of a two-match programme arranged to put the Super Eagles B in competition mood ahead of the 8th African Nations Championship kicking off on Saturday. The 2018 silver medallists were held to a scoreless draw in the two teams’ first game played at the Mau Stadium – located in the centre of Zanzibar – on Monday. Nigeria, also bronze medal winners in 2014, dominated Monday’s game all-round, with superior ball possession and attempts on goal. They created a plethora of chances but the Zanzibar rearguard worked overtime to keep the scoreline barren. Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna, Sikiru Alimi and Harrison Tochukwu were impressive in a game in which goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, captain Nduka Junior, Leonard Ngenge, Abdulrafiu Taiwo, Sodiq Ismaila, Ijoma Anthony, Harrison Ozondu, Akanni Qudus, Taofeek Otaniyi, Godwin Obaje, Jabbar Malik and Shola Adelani also featured. Thursday’s encounter, also scheduled for the Mau Stadium, comes five days before Nigeria’s first match of the competition – a clash with Cup holders Senegal – at Zanzibar’s 15,000 -capacity Amaan Stadium. The Eagles will then confront Sudan in their second match of the group phase (also at the Amaan Stadium) on Tuesday, 12th August before concluding their group D campaign against Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, 19th August. The four-week, 19-nation finals have encamped five teams in groups A, B and C, with only Nigeria’s group D having only four teams. Other venues for the competition are the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium (both in Nairobi, Kenya), and the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
Tension continues to rise following Nigeria’s dramatic 3-2 victory over host nation Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has officially lodged a protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over alleged officiating errors that they claim influenced the outcome. The FRMF’s petition centers on a pivotal moment in the 82nd minute when Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin was flagged for a handball in the penalty box. The referee initially awarded a penalty to Morocco, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned — a move that Moroccan officials and fans have strongly condemned. “It was a small detail that cost us the game,” lamented Morocco’s head coach Jorge Vilda, who previously led Spain to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup title. While acknowledging that his players were physically drained in the second half, Vilda insisted that the reversal of the penalty was a major turning point. Morocco had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half, stunning fans at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. But the Super Falcons launched a spirited second-half comeback with goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini, who came off the bench to score the winner. Nigeria’s head coach Justine Madugu praised his players’ determination and credited tactical changes at halftime for the turnaround. “The substitutions made all the difference,” Madugu said. “But full credit to Morocco — they played an excellent first half.” The defeat marks a bitter moment for Morocco, making them the first host nation to lose back-to-back WAFCON finals. The FRMF insists CAF must review the officiating and has called for stronger accountability to preserve the tournament’s integrity. In the third-place match, Ghana’s Black Queens edged past South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time, claiming the bronze medal in a fiercely contested fixture.
Members of the victorious Super Falcons have been rewarded with the sum of $100,000 ,00 each, 3-bed room flats and National award for emerging winners of the just concluded Women Africa Nations Cup in Morocco. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made this announcement at the reception held at the banquet hall at the Presidential Villa on Monday. According to the President, each of the players and technical crew will pocket an naira equivalent of $100,000,00 and $50,000,00 respectively. In addition, the President awarded the players with Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), just as they were gifted 3-bed room apartment each the Renewed Hope Agenda Estate at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. In similar vein, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who doubles as the Chairman of the Progressive Governor Forum showered the team with the sum of N10million each.
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and environs will have a rare view of the Women Africa Cup of Nations trophy – the most coveted diadem in African women football – when the Super Falcons arrive in Nigeria on Monday. The victorious contingent is scheduled to touch down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by noon on Monday and the Nigeria Football Federation is making arrangements to have the team move to the Presidential Villa in an open-roof bus along populated districts, with the iconic trophy in view for onlookers. “We are making arrangements to have a trophy parade with the players and their coaches in an open-roof bus, and plying through Airport Road, Berger junction, Maitama and Wuse Market areas all the way to the Presidential Villa. This will afford a good number of people in those areas to have a rare sight of the Women AFCON trophy,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Sunday. The Super Falcons accomplished a record-extending 10th Women AFCON title triumph on Saturday night, with a come-from-behind 3-2 defeat of hosts Morocco at Rabat’s Stade Olympique. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is scheduled to host the team at the Presidential Villa on Monday afternoon.
Nigeria will take the battle to Morocco from the blast of the whistle as they intend to give no inches or allow room for error in Saturday’s 13th Women AFCON Championship Match inside the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. The presence of hosts Morocco guarantees a full house at the magnificent facility in Morocco’s administrative capital, but the Super Falcons will be in no mood to be brow-beat or shouted out of sync as they fight to notch up their superlative numbers, including picking up a record-extending 10th continental title. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade is firmly on track for the Player of the Tournament award, and forward Chinwendu Ihezuo is also in contention for the Top Scorer’s award with her three goals, one behind Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak. Both teams boast title-loving veterans and ambitious young blood, and there is no dearth of motivation or encouragement from both Governments and the football fraternity. Like most championship games of this nature, the match may be decided from the dugout. Morocco’s Spanish coach Jorge Vidal led his country to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Down Under two years ago, and there is hardly a bigger line that can be included in a coach’s resume than a World Cup triumph. He has led the Atlas Lionesses with a firm hand and injected pace and purpose into their game, and they appear even stronger than the team that defeated nine-woman Super Falcons after a penalty shootout in a semi final match in Casablanca three years ago. Yet, the attention of pundits across the globe has been drawn to the person of Coach Justine Madugu, previously seen only as assistant at major competitions, who is now dictating the pace of things at Africa’s flagship women competition. Madugu has brought to enduring reality the tactical philosophy of ‘take it one game at a time’, playing to his team’s strength in each game, and despite loads of cynicism about his capabilities before the commencement of the tournament, four of his five opponents (bar the Lady Fennecs of Algeria who played the Super Falcons when the nine-time champions had already secured passage to the knockout stages) have left for the dressing room with bleary eyes. Surely, he will play to his strength in this final match as well, meaning that all calculations, expectations and projections of the opposition will be blown to smithereens. The Confederation of African Football, on Thursday, appointed Namibian official Antsino Twanyanyukwa as referee for Saturday night’s potentially-explosive encounter.
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (MON) has called on coaches who have successfully completed their Coaching Educators’ Course to continuously enhance their knowledge, given that the laws of the game frequently evolve. The closing ceremony was held at the NFF/FIFA Technical Centre auditorium inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, with the presence of all fifteen participating coaches, their instructors, and a CAF expert, Mr. Michael Amenga. Sanusi emphasised the importance of mastery in specific subject areas related to coaching. “In coaching education, acquiring knowledge, understanding the methods of imparting that knowledge, and effectively communicating it, are vital. To achieve this, one must have a thorough understanding of the subject matter,” he stated. He also noted that feedback received from the technical officer indicated areas that require serious improvement. “I have received plenary reports and engaged in discussions with the CAF expert, who has recognised that while considerable progress has been made, certain challenges still need to be addressed.” In conclusion, Dr. Sanusi advised the coaches to remain committed to keeping themselves updated with the latest innovation, emphasising that continuous learning is essential in their profession. “This type of programme necessitates ongoing engagement. Improvement must be a constant goal. We, as educators, are dedicated to enhancing our knowledge in line with the dynamic nature of football and sports. “There are continual advancements in our field, and without staying abreast of global trends, one risks falling behind. Therefore, I encourage you to internalise, comprehend, and apply what you have learnt. If you have any doubts, always feel free to consult your peers, and when necessary, reach out to the educators for guidance,” he concluded. Also present were NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen; CAF expert Michael Amenga; NFF Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire; Head of Education, Dr. Terry Eguaoje; Consultant on Finance and Administration, Mr. Charity Kadiri and; Deputy Director, Women’s Technical Programme, Mrs Faith Omon Ben-Anuge.
