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Tag: Nigeria

How Super Eagles Reached 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF Play-off Tourney

Fola Badmus06 mins

The Super Eagles achieved a universal spread of 10 different scorers in their 15-goal haul in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, with only ace forward Victor Osimhen scoring more than once. The lanky marksman netted six times – in the process taking his Nigerian tally to 29 in 44 matches, only eight shy of legendary Rashidi Yekini’s record.   Defender Semi Ajayi, who will now miss the penultimate game of the CAF Play-off in Morocco next month after bagging two yellow cards in the series, scored Nigeria’s first goal in the series – the equalizer against Lesotho’s Crocodiles on Matchday 1 inside Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium on 16th November 2023.   Considering that Nigeria edged Burkina Faso only on goals’ tally at the end of the campaign to reach the Play-off, it means that Raphael Onyedika’s goal against Bénin Republic in Abidjan on Matchday 4 (even though Nigeria eventually lost 1-2) was as important as Ajayi’s equalizer against the Crocodiles in Uyo, just as Kelechi Iheanacho’s equalizer against Zimbabwe on Matchday 2 in Butare (Rwanda) on 19th November 2023 was as crucial as Calvin Bassey’s leveller against South Africa on Matchday 8 in Bloemfontein on 9th September 2025.   At the end of the qualifying campaign in Group C, the Super Eagles lost only one of its 10 matches, compared to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana that lost two (despite playing seven of its 10 matches on home soil) and Bénin Republic that lost three.   Chadian referee Alhadi Mahamat Allaou took charge of three of Eagles’ matches, viz the home draw with South Africa, the win over Rwanda in Uyo and the win over Lesotho in Polokwane. Gabonese Pierre Atcho took charge of two (the defeat by Bénin Republic in Abidjan on Matchday 4 and the draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Matchday 8.   The three-time African champions played all home games at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, and also played in Rwanda’s Stade Huye, Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium and South African venues Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) and New Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane).   On their way from their Matchday 9 encounter with Lesotho, the team’s chartered ValueJet Airline aircraft suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air, but the professionalism, expertise and diligence of Captain Kamal Marafa saw the airplane safely guided back to the Luanda Airport where it had taken off after a refueling stop.   Now, on to the CAF Play-off Tournament in Morocco next month!     2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Matches: Nigeria’s Group C Campaign Matchday 1: Nigeria 1 (Semi Ajayi, 67) Lesotho 1 (Tabone Mkwanazi, 56) – 16/11/23. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Mehrez Malki (Tunisia) Matchday 2: Zimbabwe 1 (Wisdom Musona, 26) Nigeria 1 (Kelechi Iheanacho, 67) – 19/11/23. Venue: Stade Huye, Butare (Rwanda). Referee – Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti) Matchday 3: Nigeria 1 (Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, 46) South Africa 1 (Mbane Zwane, 29) – 07/06/24. Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Alhadi Mahamat Allaou (Chad) Matchday 4: Benin Republic 2 (Jordan Dossou, 37; Steve Mounié 45+3) Nigeria 1 (Raphael Onyedika, 27) – 10/06/24. Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan (CIV). Referee – Pierre Atcho (Gabon) Matchday 5: Rwanda 0 Nigeria 2 (Victor Osimhen, 11, 45+3) – 21/03/25. Venue: Amahoro Stadium, Kigali. Referee – Jalal Jayed (Morocco) Matchday 6: Nigeria 1 (Victor Osimhen, 74) Zimbabwe 1 (Robert Chirewa, 90) – 25/03/25. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea) Matchday 7: Nigeria 1 (Tolu Arokodare, 51) Rwanda 0 – 06/09/25. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Alhadi Mahamat Allaou (Chad) Matchday 8: South Africa 1 (William Troost-Ekong OG, 25) Nigeria 1 (Calvin Bassey, 44) – 09/09/25. Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein. Referee – Pierre Atcho (Gabon) Matchday 9: Lesotho 1 (Leslie Kalake, 83) Nigeria 2 (William Troost-Ekong, 55; Jerome Akor Adams, 80) – 10/10/25. Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (South Africa). Referee – Alhadi Mahamat Allaou (Chad) Matchday 10: Nigeria 4 (Victor Osimhen 3, 36, 51; Frank Onyeka 90+1) Benin Republic 0 – 14/10/25. Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Referee – Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)

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Nigeria’s Population Set To Surge By 2050, Raising Urgent Need For Job Creation – World Bank

Wale busari04 mins

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga has called for job creation to be placed at the heart of every development, economic, and national security plan, stressing that employment is key to building sustainable growth. Speaking at the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings Plenary, Banga projected that by 2050, over 85 percent of the world’s population will live in developing countries, with Africa alone expected to account for one in every four people on earth. He warned that about 1.2 billion young people will join the global workforce within the next 10 to 15 years, competing for only 400 million available jobs—just a third of what’s needed. “These young people—with their energy and ideas—will define the next century. With the right investments, we can unlock a powerful engine of global growth,” Banga said. Highlighting the bank’s reforms, he explained that 153 internal performance metrics had been merged into a single corporate scorecard with 22 key indicators. He also disclosed that the bank’s financial capacity had grown by about $100 billion through innovative financing tools and better resource optimization. According to him, the World Bank’s annual financing increased from $107 billion to $119 billion in two years, while private capital mobilisation jumped from $47 billion to $67 billion. Total commitments, including private capital mobilisation, hit $186 billion, with an additional $79 billion raised through bond issuances. These efforts, Banga noted, have translated into real-world impact: 20 million farmers now have better access to technology and markets, 60 million people have been connected to electricity, 70 million have received education or vocational training, and 300 million have benefited from improved health and nutrition services. He also pointed out that the bank is working closely with the Asian Development Bank and developing an IFC2030 strategy to further boost private investment. The multilateral development bank (MDB) co-financing platform has already backed 175 projects globally. On governance, Banga said the World Bank is partnering with governments to fight corruption using digital identification systems, enhanced fraud detection tools, and artificial intelligence that connects tax, property, and identity data. “Over the past decade, we’ve supported 120 governments in this effort and are currently working with 26 more to target corruption and illicit financial flows,” he said.

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Folashade Oluwafemiayo Breaks World Record, Wins Fourth World Powerlifting Title In Egypt

Wale busari01 mins

Nigeria’s star powerlifter, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, has made history again after breaking her own world record in the women’s 86kg category at the World Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt. Oluwafemiayo delivered a stunning performance, lifting 168kg — one kilogram more than her previous record — to secure the gold medal and reaffirm her dominance on the global stage. The incredible lift stands as the heaviest ever in her category, earning the 38-year-old her fourth World Championship crown to go with her two Paralympic gold medals. Her success in Cairo not only cements her legacy as one of the greatest in the sport but also reinforces Nigeria’s standing as a powerhouse in world powerlifting. Oluwafemiayo’s latest achievement is a testament to her strength, discipline, and unrelenting drive to keep pushing boundaries — proving once again that limits exist only to be broken.

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Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria Secure Spots for London 2026

Wale busari03 mins

Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria Secure Spots for London 2026 By Bunmi Ogunyale African table tennis powerhouses Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Algeria have officially booked their places at the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom, following dominant performances in their respective groups at the ongoing 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis. Egypt was the first men’s team to seal qualification, cruising past Togo and Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria followed with emphatic 3-0 victories over Cameroon and South Africa in Group B. Morocco also advanced from the group after defeating both Cameroon and South Africa, setting up a decisive clash with Nigeria to determine the group leader. Algeria and host nation Tunisia completed the list of qualifiers by topping Groups C and D, respectively. In the women’s category, the pattern mirrored the men’s event, with Egypt, Nigeria, and Algeria securing their tickets to London. Joining them is Uganda’s young and promising squad, marking a significant milestone for the East African nation. From April 28 to May 10, 2026, London will host the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals, a historic edition commemorating 100 years since the founding of both the World Championships and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in the British capital. This centenary celebration will bring together 64 teams per gender. Of these, 52 will qualify through continental championships, 11 through world rankings (as of November 2025), and one automatic spot will be reserved for host nation England. The World Championships remain the pinnacle of global table tennis—a stage where legends are born and history is written. The countdown to London 2026 has begun, and the world’s best are preparing to converge for this once-in-a-century homecoming.

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FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos Begin New Adventure Against Canada on Sunday

Wale busari03 mins

It is the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) in Moroccan city of Salé that Nigeria’s U17 women national team, the Flamingos, will on Sunday begin their campaign for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup against Canada. This will be the second meeting between these two sides at this level – with the first ending in a 1-1 draw. Now, thirteen years later, the stakes are higher, the teams are more evolved, and the Flamingos are ready to show how far they’ve come under Coach Bankole Olowookere. The Flamingos arrived in Rabat full of confidence after a strong preparation phase that saw them play several high-intensity warm-up matches. They recorded double-digit wins, scored freely, and displayed sharp movement and creativity across the final third — hallmarks of Olowookere’s “high-pressing football” philosophy. The girls showed tenacity, depth, and the capacity to react under pressure when they triumphed 3–2 over Paraguay after narrowly losing to New Zealand in one of their test matches. All eyes will now be on their World Cup opener, where discipline, composure, and efficient finishing will be key against a well-organized Canadian side who come into this fixture known for their tactical structure, physical strength, and compact defensive shape. The North Americans have proven tough customers for African teams in past youth tournaments, and Sunday’s clash will test Nigeria’s ability to handle sustained physical pressure while maintaining their attacking rhythm. Nigeria’s ambitions are much more than just advancing from the group. After their impressive run to third place in India in 2022 and quarterfinals in the last edition in the Dominican Republic, the Flamingos are hungry to push further — and a strong opening result against Canada would send a clear message of intent to the rest of Group D, which also includes France and Samoa.

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2026 WAFCON Qualifier: Madugu Lists Ajibade, Nnadozie, 19 Other for Bénin

Wale busari04 mins

Days after the senior men’s national team of Nigeria, Super Eagles, dashed Bénin Republic’s dream of a first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, the senior women’s team, Super Falcons, are all set to stop their counterparts from the same country from reaching the Women Africa Cup of Nations. Both West African neighbours clash in a final qualifying fixture for the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations championship to be hosted by Morocco, and which serves as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, to be hosted by Brazil. Ten-time champions Nigeria are the overdogs in this fixture by a country mile. For both encounters, starting with the first leg at the Stade Kegue, Lome (Bénin Republic does not have a CAF-approved venue), Nigeria’s head coach Justine Madugu has called up a total of 21 players, including three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six forwards. They include captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who was voted Player of the Tournament at this year’s Women AFCON in Morocco that Nigeria won, and who only on Thursday night scored for her new club (PSG of France) in their UEFA Women Champions League clash with Real Madrid, as well as goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (Africa’s Goalkeeper of the Year for two years running), defender Michelle Alozie and Ashleigh Plumptre, midfielders Jennifer Echegini and Deborah Abiodun, and forwards Asisat Oshoala, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Folashade Ijamilusi. There are also Mexico-based defender Osinachi Ohale, hard-as-nails midfielder Christy Ucheibe, and forward Esther Okoronkwo. The return leg is slated for the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta on Tuesday, 28th October 2025. SUPER FALCONS FOR WAFCON QUALIFYING FIXTURE VS BÉNIN: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons) Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels) Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal) Forwards: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjorrin FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens)

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Burkina Faso President Traoré Demands Answers After World Cup Playoff Spot Goes to Nigeria

Wale busari02 mins

Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré has called on the nation’s Football Federation and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to explain why his country was denied a World Cup playoff spot, which instead went to Nigeria. The controversy followed Burkina Faso’s 3–1 win over Ethiopia, a result they believed would secure their qualification. However, CAF applied a rule that discounted points earned against the lowest-ranked team in each group — a measure triggered by Eritrea’s withdrawal — which ultimately benefited Nigeria, who had only drawn twice with Zimbabwe, the bottom-ranked team in their group. The decision reportedly left Traoré angered and seeking answers. Reports say Traoré has requested a full breakdown of the qualification process, particularly after Burkina Faso’s strong finish. The Stallions had played early qualifiers away from home while their Stade du 4 Août was being renovated to meet CAF standards. Upon returning to their home stadium, they recorded crucial victories, only to later learn that Nigeria had advanced instead.

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Saudi Arabia Cuts Nigeria’s Hajj Camp Slots For 2026 Over Unused Quota

Wale busari05 mins

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has revealed that Saudi Arabia has significantly reduced the number of camp slots available for Nigerian pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, following the country’s underutilisation of its quota during the 2025 exercise. In a statement released on Thursday by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara, NAHCON said Nigeria, which was allocated 95,000 slots, now has only 66,910 approved spaces on Saudi Arabia’s NUSUK Masar portal for camp accommodation. According to the statement titled “NAHCON, States Discuss Hajj Costing and Other Critical Issues; Ministry Briefs NAHCON on Tour Operators,” the commission warned that the cut would have serious implications for states and licensed tour operators. “The Mashair space reserved for Nigeria’s pilgrims on the NUSUK Masar portal is actually 66,910 slots for the 2026 Hajj. This means that out of the 95,000 slots allocated, only 51,513 are available for state pilgrims and officials, while 15,397 will go to licensed tour operators,” the statement read. The commission explained that the reduction was imposed by Saudi authorities as a penalty after Nigeria failed to fill its full quota in 2025. Although NAHCON had secured 52,544 spaces for state pilgrims in 2025, only 41,218 pilgrims were airlifted under the government quota. An additional 18,000 travelled through private tour operators, leaving more than 35,000 unused slots. During a meeting with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, disclosed that future allocations would be based on each state’s utilisation during the last Hajj. “States that failed to use their full quota in 2025 will be most affected,” Elegushi warned. NAHCON added that it has held discussions with Saudi authorities, who instructed that each group of tour operators should be allocated a minimum of 2,000 slots and registered on the NUSUK platform. The NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman, urged all stakeholders to work in unity to avoid disruptions, saying “unity in this assignment is key to the success of Hajj 2026.” He also stressed the importance of proper medical screening, given Saudi Arabia’s strict health regulations. To reduce the financial burden on intending pilgrims, the commission said negotiations were ongoing to cut some cost components such as cargo handling fees. However, it warned that service providers’ rates would not be arbitrarily reduced to avoid compromising service quality. A board member representing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Adetona Adedeji, promised to relay NAHCON’s appeal for a reduction in the 2% transaction fee charged on pilgrims’ payments. The commission also reminded states of the December 21 remittance deadline and urged them to set earlier internal cut-off dates to avoid delays. It added that a nationwide sensitisation campaign would soon begin to stress the urgency of meeting the deadline. NAHCON confirmed that the 2026 Hajj would adopt the international aviation luggage policy, which allows each pilgrim two 23kg checked-in bags and one backpack as hand luggage. It also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s health restrictions, warning that persons with organ failure, psychiatric disorders, active cancer, pregnancy, tuberculosis, or other communicable diseases will not be allowed entry into the Kingdom.  

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