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Tag: CAF

Super Eagles, Chelsea Celebrate Mikel at 38

Fola Badmus02 mins

Former African champions, Super Eagles and Premier League giants, Chelsea have congratulated erstwhile national team skipper John Obi Mikel on his 38th birthday. Both national team and the European club side took to Twitter handle now X on Tuesday to celebrate the retired midfielder. “Happy birthday to our former captain and legend Mikel John,” Super Eagles wrote. In a similar fashion, Chelsea also wrote; “Mikel Have a wonderful birthday, John Obi Mikel!” Mikel, born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna on 22 April 1987 stayed with Chelsea for 11 years where he won multiple titles, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the 2011–12 Champions League. After leaving Chelsea, he had brief stints at Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, Stoke City and Kuwait SC. In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals. He went to five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (winning in 2013), two World Cups, and won a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2016.

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Sanusi, Other WAFU B General Secretaries Begin Leadership Seminar in Abidjan

Fola Badmus01 mins

The seminar for the General Secretaries of CAF West Zone B, as well as representatives from Cameroon and Liberia, opened on Monday morning at the Zone’s headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. After the welcome address delivered by the Executive Director, Mr. Philippe Tchere, the official opening of the proceedings took place online under the chairmanship of Mr. Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku, President of West Zone B. This two-day seminar is organized around the theme “𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏” and is being facilitated by Mr. Patrick D. Cowden. Its objective is to strengthen the managerial and strategic skills of the participants, in line with CAF’s commitment to professionalize and support the development of West African football. The scheduled discussions and workshops will allow the General Secretaries to deepen their reflection on governance, communication, and leadership, in service of the performance of their respective federations.

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U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles Arrive in Cairo, to play Young Pharaohs in Friendly on Tuesday

Fola Badmus02 mins

Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles have arrived in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo as the seven-time African champions get set for 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals starting in the North African country on Sunday. A delegation of 24 players and nine officials led by Head Coach, Aliyu Zubairu touched down at the Cairo International Airport aboard Egypt Air flight on Sunday evening. The team is lodged at Jewel Sports City and Aqua Resort, and are expected to have their first training session on Monday evening. Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will square up to host nation, the Young Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday evening as part of their build-up to the Africa U20 Cup of Nations billed to take place 27th April – 18th May. The match is slated for 5pm local time (4pm Nigeria time) at the Cairo International Stadium. Nigeria get their campaign underway against Tunisia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Thursday 1st May. The Africa U20 Cup of Nations serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA U20 World Cup finals scheduled for 27th September – 19th October in Chile. All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals.

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Zubairu Picks Bameyi, Jephta, Arierhi, 21 Others for U20 Africa Cup of Nations

Fola Badmus03 mins

Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has selected first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, defender and captain Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi Jojo and forward Kparobo Arierhi among a squad of 24 for this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt. The tournament gets underway in 10 days. Defenders Adamu Maigari and Emmanuel Chukwu (based in Germany), midfielders Caleb Ochedikwu (based in Croatia) and Simon Cletus, and forwards Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh and Precious Benjamin (based in Germany) are also picked. The seven-time African champions and two-time World Cup runners-up will depart the shores of Nigeria for Egypt on Sunday, where they are expected to play a couple of friendly matches before their opening match of the competition against Tunisia in Cairo on Thursday, 1st May. Three days after the clash with the Tunisians, the Flying Eagles will take the pitch against Morocco (also in Cairo) before rounding off their group phase experience against Kenya on Wednesday, 7th May. All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, 27th September – 19th October.   24 FLYING EAGLES FOR EGYPT 2025: Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC); Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia) Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United) Midfielders: Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia); Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC); Sulaiman Alabi Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists) Forwards: Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Ezekiel Anthony Kpangu (Inspire FC); Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy); Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC); Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC); Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Theophilus Mendos Rickson (Niger Tornadoes); Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway); Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC); Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United)

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Gabon Striker Boupendza Dies after 11th Floor Fall

Fola Badmus03 mins

Gabon international striker Aaron Boupendza has died at 28 following a fall from the 11th floor of a building in China, the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) said on Wednesday. Boupendza, who joined Zhejiang FC earlier this year, was in good form with four goals in six matches. “At 28, Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who left a lasting impression at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (in 2022),” FEGAFOOT said in a statement. “Trained at CF Mounana and Bordeaux in France, the Gabonese striker joined the Chinese league after a brief spell in Romania. “FEGAFOOT and the great family of Gabonese soccer offer his biological family their sincere condolences in this difficult time.” Authorities in China have launched an investigation to find out whether the fall was an accident, suicide, or the result of foul play, media reports in Romania said. There was no official confirmation for the cause of death. Born in Moanda, Boupendza joined French side Bordeaux in 2016, spending most of his time on loan at other French clubs. In 2020 he signed for Turkish side Hatayspor, and was top scorer in the Super Lig in 2020-21 before moving on to Al Arabi, with whom he won the Qatar FA Cup, and Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. Spells in the USA with FC Cincinnati and Romania’s Rapid Bucharest followed ahead of his move to China in January. “It is with great sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese soccer,” Gabon President Brice Oligui Nguema said. “I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. May God bless his soul.”

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NFF to Organize Coach Educators’ Programme in June

Fola Badmus02 mins

The Nigeria Football Federation has secured the approval of the Confederation of African Football to organize a CAF Educators’ Course between 16th and 25th June 2025. “This programme is part of our quest to increase the number of CAF-Licensed Coach Educators across the length and breadth of Nigeria. There will be only 20 participants. Applicants must have CAF B-License, be proficient in the English language, have a teaching background, be passionate in helping other coaches and must have competence in computer software such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word. “They must also be 50 years old or younger. They have to submit copies of previous coaching certificates, a recent photograph and data page of their international passport to an email (nffheadofeducation@gmail.com), on or before Friday, 25th April 2025,” NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen explained to thenff.com. Eguavoen also disclosed that a CAF CMS Registration link will be sent to all successful applicants to complete their registration.

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U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles Draw Tunisia, Kenya and Morocco

Fola Badmus02 mins

Nigeria will now have to contend with Morocco, Kenya and Tunisia in the group phase of the 24th Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt, 27th April – 18th May this year. At the redraw conducted in the headquarters of the Egypt Football Association in Cairo on Sunday, Egypt and South Africa, who were originally in Nigeria’s pool before Cote d’Ivoire withdrew as tournament hosts, found themselves in Group A. New hosts Egypt head Group A, which has five teams – with Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania as the other teams. However, just like it was originally, the Flying Eagles will confront two North African teams (this time, Tunisia and Morocco), as well as East Africans Kenya, for a place in the quarter-finals. Cup holders Senegal head Group C, with Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana as opponents. Back in Abuja following their three-week training camp in Katsina, the seven-time African champions are expected to fly to Egypt this week for an eight-day final-phase preparation before the competition commences. All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, 27th September – 19th October. GROUP A: Egypt, Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania GROUP B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Morocco GROUP C: Senegal, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ghana

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