Osimhen distributes food items, 2,000 tricycles in Lagos

Galatasaray of Turkey forward and 2023 African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen has distributed 2,000 tricycles and food items to residents of Olusosun in Lagos. Osimhen, who is currently enjoying his holiday in Nigeria, returned to his craddle to identify with his childhood friends and other associates. According to him, “Returning to where my football dream and journey began in Olusosun gives me so much goosebumps. “I am humbled and grateful for the roots that shaped my dreams. This is me once again appreciating their love and support and I will always cherish Olusosun and it’s people. “Thank You!” He instructed that food items be given to mothers while tricycles were allocated to the youth, offering them a means of livelihood. This heartwarming gesture points to Osimhen’s commitment to uplifting his community, even as his star continues to shine on the global stage.

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CHAN Qualifier: Moroccan referee for Nigeria, Ghana clash

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected Moroccan official Hamza El Fariq as referee for Saturday’s African Nations Championship qualifying game against Ghana’s Black. El Fariq will be assited by his compatriots Abdessamad Abertoune, Zakaria Bouchtaoui and Hicham Temsamani to serve as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively. Prince Kai Saquee from Sierra Leone will be the commissioner while Miboti Moise from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be in the role of referee assessor.

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NWFL boss delivers message of hope for Women’s football

Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Nkechi Obi, has delivered an inspiring Christmas message, celebrating the board’s achievements in 2024 while expressing hope and determination for the future of women’s football in Nigeria. Reflecting on the milestones of the past year, Obi extended heartfelt gratitude to players, coaches, fans, and stakeholders for their unwavering dedication to the league’s growth and success. The sports administrator described 2024 as a year of breaking barriers, strengthening structures, and laying the groundwork for even greater accomplishments. “As we celebrate Christmas and reflect on another remarkable year, I want to express my profound gratitude to everyone who has been part of the NWFL’s journey,” Obi said. “To our players, your passion, talent, and resilience are the heart of this league, inspiring us to aim higher. To the coaches, officials, sponsors, and supporters, your commitment to advancing women’s football in Nigeria has been invaluable.” Obi emphasized the values of love, unity, and hope that Christmas embodies, drawing parallels to the collaborative spirit driving the league forward. She encouraged stakeholders to celebrate the progress made and remain optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. “The 2024/2025 season promises to be one of growth, excitement, and greater inclusivity,” she added. “Together, we will continue to push boundaries and ensure women’s football reaches its full potential in Nigeria. I wish you all a joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May the season bring peace, love, and renewed inspiration for us all.” Her message not only celebrates the successes of the past year but also sets a tone of optimism and collaboration for 2025, reaffirming the NWFL board’s commitment to excellence and progress.

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Super Eagles retain spot on FIFA ranking

Former African champions Super Eagles retained her spot in the latest World football governing body (FIFA) monthly ranking. The Nigerian side ended the year in 44th position spot as released by FIFA on Thursday. Nigeria’s global football standing. Eagles however remain fifth in Africa. On the global stage, World Champions, Argentina, signed off for the year in top spot, with France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) joining them on the podium. As for those in the chasing pack, England (4th), Brazil (5th), Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Belgium (8th), Italy (9th) and Germany (10th) all retain their places in the upper echelons of the ranking. Indeed, that lack of movement is mirrored throughout the top 100, where there is not even the slightest bit of jostling for position. The next edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on 3 April 2025. Africa’s Top 10MoroccoSenegalEgyptAlgeriaNigeriaCote d’ IvoireCameroonMaliTunisiaSouth Africa

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Ademola Lookman crowned African King

Nigerian star Ademola Lookman has been crowned as the African Player of the Year at 2024 CAF Awards held at the Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday. The Atalanta of Italy forward succeeded his Nigerian compatriot Victor Osimhen. His three goals and two assists were pivotal to Nigeria reaching their eighth Africa Cup of Nations Final in Cote d’Ivoire in February, and his hat-trick in a 3-0 win handed Italian side, Atalanta FC the UEFA Europa Cup at the expense of hitherto-rampaging German side, Bayer Leverkusen in May. This season, he has notched 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta (including a goal against record winners Real Madrid FC in the UEFA Champions League), and scored two goals as Nigeria qualified for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals, with two other goals controversially chalked off. The Winners Player of the Year (Men)Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta Player of the Year (Women)Barbara Banda (Zambia) Coach of the Year (Men)Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire) Coach of the Year (Women)Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe) Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)Ronwen Williams (S/Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Paris FC) Interclub Player of the Year (Men)Ronwen Williams (S/Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Interclub Player of the Year (Women)Sanaa Massoudy (Morocco/ASFAR) Club of the Year (Men)Al Ahly (Egypt) Club of the Year (Women)TP Mazembe (DR Congo) National Team of the Year (Men)Cote d’Ivoire National Team of the Year (Women)Nigeria Young Player of the Year (Men)Lamine Camara (Senegal/AS Monaco) Young Player of the Year (Women)Doha El Madani Morocco/ASFAR Referee of the Year (Men)Mutaz IbrahimElivis Guy

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International Friendly: Super Falcons, team officials jet into France for big game

Players and officials of nine-time African champions Nigeria have started arriving in the city of Angers, France from Wednesday morning, ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated international friendly game between the Super Falcons and the Les Bleues. It is the second time both teams will engage in a friendly encounter – the first being a forgettable experience for the Falcons as they lost by eight goals in freezing weather inside Le Mans’ Stade Marie-Marvingt on 6th April 2018. Only goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who plays her club football in France, and Mexico- based defender Osinachi Ohale, remain from that squad that was undone by, among other things, a hat-trick from Valérie Gauvin and an own goal by defender Faith Ikidi-Michael. The defeat equalled the Falcons’ biggest-ever defeats – by Norway at the 1995 FIFA World Cup finals in Sweden and by Germany in a friendly in Leverkusen’s Bay Arena on 25th November 2010. However, clashes at the FIFA World Cup finals have been much closer, with the Falcons losing by the odd goal against the Les Bleues in Germany in 2011, and by the same margin at the Roazhon Park when both sides clashed at the 2019 finals hosted by France. The consummation of Saturday’s encounter is further confirmation of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led administration’s commitment to fully blood a new Super Falcons’ squad, by implementing a process of exposure and experience-garnering for the new squad, following an under-par outing at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France this summer. The big game with the Les Bleues comes up only five weeks after the first of two friendly matches with Algeria’s Green Ladies in Nigeria (2-0 and 4-1 wins), and eight days after the Super Falcons learnt they would be playing Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana in the group phase at the 13th Women AFCON in Morocco next summer. Saturday’s match will commence at 9.30pm France time, same time as in Nigeria.  SUPER FALCONS FOR LES BLEUES CHALLENGE: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons) Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lioness, England); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey)  Midfielders: Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Josephine Mathias (Nasarawa Amazons); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons) Forwards: Blessing Nkor (Pyramids FC, Egypt); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens)

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NFF congratulates Felix Owolabi on 70th birthday anniversary

The Nigeria Football Federation has felicitated with former Nigeria captain, Dr. Felix Owolabi Akinloye as the former defender-turned-winger celebrated his 70th birthday anniversary at the weekend. General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said the former wing wizard deserves all the adulation on the occasion of his Platinum Jubilee Anniversary. given his immense contributions to Nigeria football both as a player of immense repute and an administrator. “The NFF congratulates Dr. Felix Owolabi Akinloye on this landmark occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary. It is not everyone who gets to attain the septuagenarian level. We celebrate him for his many wonderful outings for Nigeria and his excellent service as an administrator after his playing days. “As a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, we value his contributions at meetings and advice and suggestions through the telephone on the direction that Nigeria Football and the various National Teams should take each time.” Felix Owolabi Akinloye, who started as a defender, became a fascinating winger for then Green Eagles, and played a key role as Nigeria won her first Africa Cup of Nations title, on home soil, in 1980. Owolabi was captain of the team to the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Libya, where the team got off to a promising start with a 3-0 defeat of Ethiopia in Benghazi, before forfeiting a one-goal lead to lose 1-2 to Algeria and then fell 0-3 to Zambia. The pacy forward retired from international duty afterwards, but continued playing club football, and was in then IICC Shooting Stars FC (now 3SC) that won the inaugural edition of the CAF Cup in 1992.   

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NFF President, Gusau, elected 1st Vice President of WAFU B

The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has been elected as the 1st Vice President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) B zone. The election took place in Niamey, Niger Republic on Friday, on the margin of this year’s CAF African Schools Football Championship (WAFU B qualifying tournament) taking place in that country. President of Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku, was elected President of the zone, while Oumarou Sawadogo, President of the Burkinabe Football Federation, was elected as the 2nd Vice President. The WAFU B zone is made up of seven countries, viz Nigeria, Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Cote d’Ivoire. Gusau, who became President of NFF in September 2022, has served in several high-level capacities in African football, including being on the Organizing Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), and serving as a top security officer of both FIFA and CAF.

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