World Cup qualifier: Eritrean referees for Nigeria, Zimbabwe clash

World football-governing body, FIFA has appointed Eritrean official Teklu Mogos Tsegay as referee, with his compatriots as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official. Ghanaian Prosper Harrison Addo will be the commissioner while Paulin Ilboudo from Burkina Faso will serve as referee assessor. Leaders South Africa, on 10 points, square up to second-placed Benin Republic, on eight points, at the Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan in a match starting simultaneously with that of Uyo. Lesotho, now in fifth place following their defeat by South Africa on Friday, will tackle Rwanda’s Amavubi at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium in the last match of group C.

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2026 World Cup Race: Eagles focused on three points against Warriors

The Super Eagles expect to rise to nine points and be fully back into contention for a 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket after Tuesday’s African Qualification Series Matchday 6 encounter against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Team captain William Ekong reiterated on Monday afternoon that the three-time African champions will seek to control the game the way they did the encounter with Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, and then work hard to get the goals that will give them the three points and fully establish them as one of the contenders for the ticket. “We are looking forward to a win. The three points are important to us. At this stage, we cannot afford to drop any more points. Our aim is to take it one match at a time, collect three points here and there and hope fervently that these will be enough to get us the ticket.” Without a win in their first four games of the series, Nigeria languished in fifth place in the six-team group C and remained in a perilous situation, until Friday’s robust win over Rwanda in Kigali threw them up as a proposition for the ticket to the finals. Nigeria, with six points, moved up to fourth position, while Zimbabwe, on three, prop up the table, and will seek to increase their haul in Tuesday’s encounter. The Warriors’ 45-man contingent, led by the ZIFA Vice President, Kennedy Ndebele, landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo on Friday afternoon, 85 minutes after the arrival of the Super Eagles’ contingent from Kigali. While the Warriors trained at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday morning, the Super Eagles trained at the same venue in the evening, watched by some members of the NFF Executive Committee, the General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, SSA to Mr. President Mr. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Etubom Paul Bassey, former NFF General Secretary Barr. Musa Amadu and some officials of the NSC and the NFF.

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FG flags off Benin–Asaba Expressway

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with Africa Plus Partners, has officially flagged off the 125km Benin–Asaba Expressway Project in Edo State—an ambitious, dual-carriage, solar-lit superhighway that is fully financed by the private sector under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr. Wale Edun described the project as a milestone in infrastructure financing. “What you see on the front page of the pamphlet will be delivered—because the cash is there,” he affirmed. “This is not reliant on direct federal funding. Africa Plus Consortium, backed by credible investors, has put forward the full capital commitment under the enabling policies of President Bola Tinubu.” This flagship initiative is part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, demonstrating how strategic partnerships can unlock long-term value for the economy. Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi described the project as a cashless model. Governor of Edo State Senator Monday Okpebholo, standing in for Mr. President, lauded the financing structure. “This is a legacy project. For private investors to risk their capital, it shows belief in the president’s vision and the future of our economy.” HM Wale Edun reiterated that this model will be replicated nationwide: “This is just one of many projects that will be delivered week after week, month after month, through sustainable financial frameworks that ensure transparency, efficiency, and speed.” The Benin–Asaba Expressway is more than a road. It is a statement—that with innovative financing and investor confidence, world-class infrastructure is not only possible but imminent.

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Journalists, girlfriends barred from Super Eagles camp

Sport reporters, friends and family of Super Eagles players have been barred from the team’s camp in Uyo ahead of their make-or-mar 2026 World Cup qualifying tie against the Brave Warriors of Zimbabwe. Reliable camp source Sulaimon Adebayo popularly known as Pooja Media in post on his Twitter handle on Sunday revealed this new development. “Eric Chelle says the team is not carried away by the Rwanda win and fully focused on the Zimbabwe game. “However, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has barred journalists and visitors at the Super Eagles camp. “And the training session today will be behind closed doors with 0 access for journalists, Pooja reported on social media. Having lost some grounds in the early stages of the qualifying series, the Nigerian side is expected to further extend her standing on the log when they file out against the Zimbabweans in MatchDay 6 on Tuesday.

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Ahmed Musa performs Islamic rites in Saudi Arabia

Super Eagles and Kano Pillars’ striker, Ahmed Musa, has joined other Muslim faithfuls to observe the annual Umrah in Saudi Arabia. Umrah is considered a recommendation, not an obligation, by some branches of Islam. The former Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia star, who was pictured alognsides his other two associates, wrote on Twitter now X; “May Allah accept our prayers. Ameen, Ameen.” Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring another brace against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

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Côte d’Ivoire 2025: Flying Eagles to play group phase matches in Korhogo

Seven-time African champions, Nigeria will commence their participation in the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals with a game against the Young Pharaohs of Egypt on Wednesday, 30th April, at the 20,000-capacity Amadou Gon Coulibaly stadium in Korhogo. The encounter is billed to kick off at 5pm CIV time (6pm Nigeria time). The Flying will next take on Morocco’s Young Atlas Lions at the same venue, starting 8pm local time (9pm Nigeria time) on Saturday, 3rd May. Nigeria, who qualified for the finals following a successful defence of their WAFU B U20 Championship title in Lome in October 2024, will then wrap up their group B campaign with a session against South Africa, also in Korhogo on Tuesday, 6th May, starting from 5pm local time (6pm Nigeria time). The Flying Eagles, quarter-finalists at the last edition of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina in 2023, are currently camping in Katsina, courtesy of the State Government, in the first phase of their final preparations for the continental championship. A semi-final spot in Côte d’Ivoire will guarantee the Eagles a spot in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile, 27th September – 19th October.

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Super Eagles’ll fight for every victory -Chelle

Super Eagles’ handler, Eric Chelle has assured that the senior national team will fight for every victory in the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers. Chelle gave this assurance after leading the former African champions to victory in his first game against Rwanda in MatchDay 5 of the 2026 World Cup qualifier. The gaffer said; “To all Nigerians, I want to sincerely appreciate every single one of you who has supported me in one way or another. Your encouragement, belief, and passion for the Super Eagles have been truly inspiring. Taking charge of my first game as head coach is a great honor, and I do not take this responsibility lightly. “Football is more than just a sport in Nigeria—it is our pride, our passion, and a symbol of our unity. As we begin this journey together, I ask for your unwavering support, prayers, and belief in this team. We will give our all on the pitch, fight for every victory, and work tirelessly to bring success to our great nation. “Thank you for standing with us. Let’s keep pushing forward, believing in our team, and making Nigeria proud. Together, we soar!” The Nigerian side will slug it out the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Tuesdat as they hope to consolidate in their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

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2026 World Cup Race: Ekong says Eagles feel great to be back in contention

Sitting quietly at one corner of the departure hall of the Kigali International Airport on Saturday morning, Super Eagles’ captain William Ekong had a relaxed mien about him, and minced no words in saying that Friday’s victory over Rwanda’s Amavubi was just the statement the Eagles needed to put out as the World Cup race reached halfway mark. “It was important to make the statement that we did, and we’re all happy about it, and the way we did it. Of course, we have not qualified and there’s still a lot of work, but we have started the recovery in a good way and we just have to keep working hard. “I don’t want to go into the circumstances that made the first four matches go the way they went. The good thing is we can still recover and revive the campaign, and we have done that.” Ekong’s firm leadership, and Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Simon Moses’ zest at the fore, were all too evident and impactful as the Eagles coasted to a 2-0 win over hosts Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium, throwing up nostalgia of the strong squad that wowed all and came within 23 minutes of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire early last year. As the chartered ValueJet Airline’s CRJ-900 aircraft touched down at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo at exactly 2pm on Saturday, Ekong told thenff.com that he would be rallying the troops ahead of Tuesday’s Day 6 encounter against the Warriors of Zimbabwe. “We read somewhere that the Zimbabweans are being motivated to come to Uyo and get a result. They should forget it. We are hugely motivated by the ambition to play at the FIFA World Cup. Apart from myself and Alex (Iwobi) and perhaps a couple others, who were part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this generation is hungry to play at the highest level. We want to make Nigeria proud and at the same time, do ourselves proud.” Victor Osimhen, whose brace unscrambled the calculations of the Amavubi and made them disappoint the capacity crowd that included President Paul Kagame, said at the Victor Attah Airport. “We are ready. The remaining matches are wars and we must fight them with all that we have to win.” Victory on Tuesday evening will take Nigeria to nine points, and in firm contention for the ticket, especially if Benin Republic and South Africa cancel themselves out inside Abidjan’s Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny.

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