NFF President, Gusau, Becomes President of WAFU B

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) was on Monday installed as President of the West African Football Union (Zone B). Gusau’s instalment followed the resignation of the Mr. Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, the President of the Ghana Football Association, who left the WAFU B number one seat following his election into the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football two months ago. WAFU B headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire reported that Gusau “enjoys strong support among the zone’s members to bring continuity and dynamism to WAFU Zone B.” Gusau has been President of the NFF since 30th September 2022, and was First Vice President of WAFU B before this fresh elevation. The instalment comes less than 24 hours after the Nigeria U20 boys, Flying Eagles, won the bronze medals at the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals in Egypt, with a ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup finals to boot.

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CAF, European Union Conclude Historic Partnership

CAF and the European Union today concluded a historic partnership agreement that will see EU to sponsor the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 and 2027, the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and the CAF African Schools Football Championship. The agreement was signed today by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Mr Jozef Síkela in Cairo, Egypt. Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “Our Partnership reflects the mutual commitment of CAF and the European Union to the development and growth of African Football, schools and Youth Football and the expansion of the cultural, trade and investment relationships between our two continents. “I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the European Union Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Jozef Síkela and the EU for this exciting Partnership.”

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Egypt 2025: Flying Eagles Set Up Quarterfinal Clash Against Senegal

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will on Monday, May 12 slug it out with the defending champions Senegal in the quarter-final stage at the ongoing CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Senegal sealed a tense 2-0 win over DR Congo to finish second in their group and set up a high-stakes clash with Nigeria in the last eight. Goals from Cheikh Thiam and Ibrahima Dieng ensured the Young Teranga Lions edged past DR Congo on goal difference, keeping their title defence alive. Nigeria, who finished second in Group B with five points after drawing 2-2 with Kenya in their final group match, now face one of the tournament’s most formidable teams. Senegal’s win, coupled with Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Central African Republic, confirmed the standings in Group C, with Ghana finishing top on seven points and Senegal second with four. The quarter-final meeting between Nigeria and Senegal promises to be one of the tournament’s standout fixtures. While the Flying Eagles boast a rich history with seven U20 AFCON titles, they now face a team with recent pedigree and strong momentum. Both sides come into the tie unbeaten in their last two matches. Nigeria showed resilience against Kenya, twice coming from behind, while Senegal proved clinical under pressure against a spirited DR Congo side.

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Egypt 2025: Flying Eagles Reach Quarter-Finals

Nigeria reached the quarter finals of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship in Egypt despite having to force Kenya’s Rising Stars to a 2-2 draw in the last match of group B on Wednesday. In the event, the Flying Eagles finished second on the table with five points, two behind group leaders Morocco who drilled Tunisia 3-1 in the other match of the pool and will remain in Cairo for the quarter finals, against the second-placed team in group A. Group A is made up of hosts Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Tanzania. Seven-time champions Nigeria will now have to make the trip to Ismailia for their quarter-final game on Monday, against the second-placed team in group C. Group C is made up of title-holders Senegal, bitter-rivals Ghana, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya’s Rising Stars made the game difficult for the Flying Eagles, as the wards of Aliyu Zubairu had to come from behind twice to salvage the encounter. Kevin Wangaya put the Rising Stars ahead after only five minutes, scoring from the penalty spot after a Nigerian defender stopped the ball with his hand in the box. Nigeria restored parity seven minutes later, after Kparobo Arierhi waltzed his way through the defence to place the ball firmly beyond the reach of the opposition goal-tender. The East Africans were back in front in the 68th minute, as the Flying Eagles’ rearguard ball-watched a freekick from the left and allowed William to blast the ball past goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt from Lawrence’s in-swinger. Five minutes later, Nigeria were level again, with captain Daniel Bameyi sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot after substitute Mendos Rickson was upended in the box. The Flying Eagles’ match on Monday will be the first quarter-final, starting at 3pm Egypt time (1pm Nigeria time) in Ismailia.

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Egypt 2025: Kenya on Firing Line as Flying Eagles Aspire to Celebrate 100th AFCON Match

Kenya’s Rising Stars are right in the firing line as seven-time champions and two-time runners-up Nigeria are determined to celebrate their 100th match of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a win in downtown Cairo on Wednesday evening. The clash, one of the closing games of group B of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship and which is scheduled to kick off 4pm Nigeria time, is on different gradients for both teams, with the Kenyans in need of a handsome win to stand a chance of progressing to the quarter finals while the Flying Eagles only require a draw. Second-placed Nigeria, on four points, will reach the last eight of the competition if they secure a draw (which will take their haul to five, and spring them to the next round irrespective of the result in the clash between first-placed Morocco and third-placed Tunisia). A win for Morocco will take them to seven points, and keep three-pointer Tunisia in third place, while a draw earns Morocco a total of five points from their three matches and keeps Tunisia at four. A win for Tunisia will take the Junior Carthage Eagles to six points and drag the Lion Cubs to third place. With 19 teams involved in the tournament, and teams drawn into three pools, the top two teams in each group, alongside the best two third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter finals. Despite their promise, the Rising Stars have failed to light up Cairo, losing a five-goal thriller to Morocco on the opening day and failing to deliver in the 1-3 loss to Tunisia on Sunday. Getting a win against Nigeria will be huge for the Kenyans, who have struggled badly over the decades against Nigeria opposition on the field of play. Their first three encounters, between 1968 and 1991, were friendly matches, with Nigeria winning twice in Nairobi and the other match (also in Nairobi) ending in a 1-1 draw. In a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Nairobi in April 1985, goals by Fatai Amao and Rashidi Yekini, and a Hussein Khari own goal, gave Nigeria a 3-0 win. In the return leg in Lagos, Yekini and Dr Joe Masiga each scored a magnificent goal, but Dahiru Sadi and Yisa Sofoluwe added to Nigeria’s tally for a 3-1 win. Nigeria won 3-0 and 2-1 in 1988 and 1992 AFCON group phase matches respectively, and in a 1998 World Cup qualifying fixture, both teams drew 1-1 in Nairobi before Nigeria triumphed 3-0 in Lagos to qualify for France 1998. Nigeria won friendly matches in 2002, 2007 and 2011, and also beat the Kenyans home (3-0) and away (3-2) to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. In 2013, a 1-1 draw in Calabar and 1-0 win in Nairobi in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers confirmed Nigeria’s undoubted superiority. In qualifying matches for the 1996 Olympic Games, both teams played a 1-1 draw in Nigeria, but the Dream Team victimised their hosts 3-0 in Mombasa. The Flying Eagles will be determined to underscore this superiority on Wednesday, in order to pop champagne in what will be their 100th match of the tournament and also stand a chance of finishing as group B winners.

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‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu Can Never be Forgotten – Gusau

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has declared that late former Green Eagles’ captain ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu is a man that can never be forgotten. Gusau spoke Friday afternoon in Enugu when a delegation from the NFF and FA Chairmen from the South East zone paid a condolence visit to Chukwu’s family. Gusau, who spoke through the NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, described Chukwu as a diligent and patriotic on-field leader who served the country with all his heart and mind, and every ounce of his energy. “The late Chukwu gave his all for the country. He served Nigeria with all his heart and he is a hero even in death. One thing is clear: Chukwu can never be forgotten given how well he served the country and his achievements both as a player and as a coach,” Gusau stated. The NFF President noted that the visit was not just a condolence visit but one the football-ruling body made in order to be intimated, first-hand, plans being put in place by the family ahead of Chukwu’s burial, and for the family and the soccer house to be on the same page. “We want to be on the same page with the family and know what plans they are putting in place. Chukwu is a hero and the NFF will participate fully in his burial,” Gusau assured. Chukwu’s son, Emeka, while responding on behalf of the family commended the NFF leadership for the visit even as he disclosed that the family will soon make public the programme of the final burial rites for the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team captain and Most Valuable Player. Also on the delegation were Member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the Nigeria National League Mr. George Aluo; Chairman of Enugu State Football Association Barrister Tony Ugwu; Imo State FA Chairman, Barrister Ifeanyi Dike and; Anambra State FA Chairman Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi.

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Egypt 2025: Nigeria to Go Hard on Morocco For Early Ticket into Quarter Finals

Another North African delicacy is served to the Flying Eagles as they confront Morocco in Group B’s top-of-the-table clash at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening. Auwal Ibrahim’s 37th minute strike snatched the maximum points against the Tunisians on Thursday, but Morocco then upstaged a very good Kenyan side 3-2 in the day’s second match to crawl to the top of the table on goals’ difference. For the second time in consecutive games, the Lion Cubs also face the daunting challenge of a sub-Saharan squad weaned on power, pace and clinical delivery, and the night encounter in downtown Cairo promises fireworks and cutting-edge entertainment. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who plays his club football for exciting Lagos ensemble, Sporting Lagos, came up with a big save three minutes to the end against Tunisia, and will surely be called on for more interventions against the Lion Cubs who are not shy to shoot from any distance. Captain Daniel Bameyi, Adamu Maigari, Caleb Ochedikwu and Odinaka Okoro built a tight rearguard on Thursday, and must be even more alert on Sunday to protect Harcourt, and also feed midfielders Divine Oliseh and Clinton Jephta as the Flying Eagles push forward. CAF’s brandishing of forward Kparobo Arierhi (who scored three goals at the WAFU B U20 Championship and netted one of the goals in the 2-1 defeat of hosts Egypt in a friendly last week) as one of the players to watch out for in Egypt, has cast the Norway-based as a goldfish, and the tight marking by Tunisian defenders was surely as a result of the searchlight. Nonetheless, Arierhi must endeavour to prove himself going forward, and Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s desire for an early ticket to the quarter finals means the forward must diligently seek to extricate himself from any contrived mesh. Auwal Ibrahim, hero against Tunisia, showed he is capable of a quick-slip-and-delivery, and will also be relied on to carve the Moroccan defence open and hurt them on the break. Victory will take the Flying Eagles to the top of the pool, and a confirmed spot in the quarter finals, ahead of their last group phase feud with Kenya on Wednesday.

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Egypt 2025: Flying Eagles Pick Three Points Off Carthage Eagles, Set for Atlas Lions

A first-half strike by Auwal Ibrahim off an inch-perfect pass from Odinaka Okoro was the difference as Nigeria maintained their dominance over Tunisia in youth football at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Thursday. The Flying Eagles played with confidence against the aggressive North Africans, and Ibrahim’s goal was well-deserved after Nigeria dominated in the first period. The seven-time champions thought they had secured a penalty kick in the 72nd minute to increase their lead, after Mendos Richson was shoved to the floor, but the Video Assistant Referee ruled otherwise. Goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt came up with a big save three minutes to the end, denying Tunisian forward Ben Ali from close range, and the game ended with the Nigerians on the high and looking forward to their clash with Morocco’s Lion Cubs at the same venue on Sunday evening. Victory meant a fourth victory for Nigeria in six clashes with the Tunisians at U20 level, going back to 1981 when the Flying Eagles defeated their visitors 4-0 in a qualifying fixture for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia. They lost the return leg 1-4 in Tunis but qualified for the final round. In 1985, both teams played a 1-1 draw in Tunis in the title fixture of the African U20 competition, but the Flying Eagles won the return 2-1 in Lagos to collect their second continental title. Two years ago, in the third-place match of the Africa U20 Cup of Nations also held in Egypt, Nigeria mauled Tunisia 4-0 to pick up the bronze medals.

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