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Tag: Super Eagles

  • 2026 WCQ: 20 Super Eagles players in camp as team intensify training ahead clash with South Africa

    2026 WCQ: 20 Super Eagles players in camp as team intensify training ahead clash with South Africa

    The atmosphere around the camp of African vice champions Nigeria has livened up even more as five players who were initially stranded in two different parts of the country as a result of the nationwide strike were ferried into Uyo on Tuesday morning.

    Defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, alongside midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo just after noon aboard a private jet arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation, and were driven to the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts to meet up with team mates in time for lunch.

    The arrival of the quintet brought the tally of players in camp to 20, three days to the Day 3 qualifying battle with the Bafana Bafana at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the Akwa Ibom capital.

    Nigeria and South Africa go toe-to-toe in a rematch of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations first semi-final, which the Super Eagles trumped 4-2 after penalty shootout at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

    Three-time African champions Nigeria, who have reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup on three occasions, missed out on the last houseparty in Qatar, and after a sluggish start to the qualifiers, need all three points on offer to be in strong contention for the only ticket from Group C as the campaign drags on.

    Rwanda are surprise leaders of the pool after two matchdays, on four points, with South Africa on three and Nigeria on two.

    The 10-match series will end in October next year, with winners of the nine groups qualifying automatically for the finals in Canada, USA and Mexico. The best four second-placed teams in all nine groups will contest a CAF Play-off Tournament, with the winner going ahead to contest a FIFA Play-off Tournament for another slot.

    President Federation Cup: One of three surviving NPFL teams to bite the dust on Wednesday

    Only two clubs from the country’s elite division can reach the semi-finals of this year’s President Federation Cup competition, with two of the surviving trio, Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars, going headlong against each other in one of the quarter-final duels scheduled for the Federal Capital, Abuja on Wednesday.

    The venue to be is Area 3 Stadium, where one of the NPFL teams must bite the dust, paving way for the other to progress to the last four.

    The other NPFL side, Abia Warriors, are up against giant-killers Sokoto United at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project field inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium Complex. Sokoto United eliminated two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC in the Round of 16.

    El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri will confront surprise packets Inter Lagos at the FCT-Bwari ground, while two surprise qualifiers, EFFC FC and Kebbi United tango at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

     

  • 2026 WCQ: 15 players in camp, Lookman, Maduka, Iwobi expected on Tuesday

    2026 WCQ: 15 players in camp, Lookman, Maduka, Iwobi expected on Tuesday

    The quintet of defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu are already in the country and trying to make their way to Uyo to join the 15 other players already on ground, as the Super Eagles’ preparations for Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana swing into new gear.

    A total of 15 players trained on Monday morning in Uyo, with Head Coach Finidi George telling the players afterwards that the three points at stake in Friday’s encounter must end up in Nigeria’s kitty.

    While the quintet (three in Abuja and two in Lagos) is being expected at the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts, the trio of midfielder Alex Iwobi, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and forward Ademola Lookman are expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday.

    There was no training session on Monday evening, as the players get countenance intensive sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, hopefully with a full house.

    The delegation of Bafana Bafana is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, with the team already booked into Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in Ikot-Ekpene.

  • 2026 WCQ: Super Eagles camp bubbles as 13 players train on Sunday

    2026 WCQ: Super Eagles camp bubbles as 13 players train on Sunday

    13 Super Eagles players have hit training at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo as they intensified preparations for their double decker  2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the squirrels of Benin Republic.

    Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Fisayo Bashiru, Terem Moffi and Victor Boniface were among the players who took part in the training.

    New boys, Ismaila Sodiq and Kenneth Igboke, as well as Ojo Olorunleke, Stanley Nwabili, Benjamin Tanimu, Ibrahim Olawoyin and Raphael Onyedika, also participated in the session.

    Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye should join latest Tuesday as the Serie A season will be ending today, Sunday.

    Others not yet in camp are still being expected latest Tuesday.

    The Super Eagles play Bafana Bafana on Friday June 7th before proceeding to Abidjan for the cracker against the Squirrels of Benin Republic.

  • WCQ 2026: Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos hails Finidi, Super Eagles

    WCQ 2026: Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos hails Finidi, Super Eagles

    The coach of Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Hugo Broos has hailed Super Eagles coach George Finidi  just few weeks after being announced as the manager of the team.

    According to Broos, Super Eagles are a different team under the new head coach, Finidi George.

    It would be recalled that the Portuguese tactician, Jose Peseiro was in charge of the Super Eagles the last time the West Africans confronted South Africa at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Finidi took charge of the Super Eagles in an interim capacity in the friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March.

    Despite being in charge for just few weeks, Broos claimed that he saw a different Super Eagles team from the friendlies compared to the side that played at the AFCON.

    The Belgian claimed he has to work out a way to stop the Super Eagles like he did at the AFCON.

    “We will try to shock them again. It’s a little bit different than the team of AFCON,” Broos told SABC

    “With Finidi George they have a coach who thinks more offensively. Peseiro was a little bit more defensive and I saw that certainly in the game against us, he was always telling the team to go back.

    “Also in the final they didn’t really play offensively, they just tried to be good defensively and then hoping on a counterattack or a situation in front of the goal where they could score.

    “I saw two games against Mali and Ghana, it’s different. They take a little bit more initiative. It’s not the team anymore who went back and waited.

    “They also try to make pressure early in the game and close to the goal of the opponent, so we have to look for something now that we can shock them again like we did for the game in Ivory Coast.”

    Bafana Bafana will be up against the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo next Friday.

  • 2026 WCQ: Super Eagles players, coaching staff to sing new National Anthem

    2026 WCQ: Super Eagles players, coaching staff to sing new National Anthem

    Sources close to the Super Eagles players and coaching staff  say that they are already spending time to practice the newly introduced old National Anthem of Nigeria.

    Recall that President Tinubu signed into law the old National Anthem and it has immediately replaced the one formerly in use.

    However, Nigerians are still battling to familiarize themselves with the newly introduced Anthem and the Super Eagles players are not also let out.

    The Super Eagles players will be hitting training ground as from Monday June 3rd,  the camp is expected to have opened in Uyo.

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles will slug it out with Bafana Bafana of South Africa on June 7 at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo before travelling to Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire  few days later to confront the Squirrels of Benin Republic in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

    Super Eagles sit third on the group C standing  with 2 points after two draws while Rwanda and South Africa occupy the first and second positions respectively.

  • 2026 WCQ: Stanley Nwabali speaks on Maduka Okoye’s return, rivalry

    2026 WCQ: Stanley Nwabali speaks on Maduka Okoye’s return, rivalry

    Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali has reacted to insinuations that there is a big rivalry between him and Udinese of Italy goalie, Stanley Nwabali.

    According to Nwabali  there is no rivalry between them.

    Nwabali was drafted into the Super Eagles squad at the time the team had goalkeeping crisis and pundits said he proved himself at 2023 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire.

    However, Okoye has been recalled to the team by head coach Finidi George after an impressive debut season at Serie A club Udinese.

    It’s believed that Okoye’s return will add competition to the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles.

    Nwabali, however, said there is no rivalry between him and the former Watford shot-stopper

    “There’s no debate. If Maduka can give what he’s giving Udinese to the country, then he should play,” Nwabali told Lagos Talks.

    “It’s not like a club side, where you see a new signing and you talk about fighting, No. This is the country we are playing for, we are representing this green white green, and we want to see everyone happy.”

  • 2026 WCQ: Date, kick-off time for Super Eagles, others released

    2026 WCQ: Date, kick-off time for Super Eagles, others released

    World Cup 2026 Qualifying games, date and time for Africa has been released.
    Match Day 3 and Match Day 4 of the Qualifiers will be played for a period of one week  between 05-11 June 2024.
    Nine African teams are guaranteed to compete at the World Cup. Another set of  four  teams will participate in the Play-off Tournament as the global showpiece will host 48 teams for the first time ever.
    Winners of each Group will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026, while four best runners-up (from the Groups) will play in a CAF Play-Off tournament.
    The winner of the CAF Play-Off Tournament will play in the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
    Below are the fixtures for the matches to be played over the next seven days. (all kick-off times in GMT)
    Match Day 3
    Wednesday – 05 June, 2024
    Sierra Leone v Djibouti (Group A) | 1600 | El Jadida, Morocco
    Togo v South Sudan (Group B) | 1600 | Lome, Togo
    Central African Republic v Chad (Group I) | 1600 | Oujda, Morocco
    Namibia v Liberia (Group H) | 1600 | Johannesburg, South Africa
    Tunisia v Equatorial Guinea (Group H) | 1900 | Rades, Tunisia
    Thursday – 06 June, 2024
    Malawi v Sao Tome e Principe (Group H) | 1300 | Lilongwe, Malawi
    Guinea Bissau v Ethiopia (Group A) | 1600 | Bissau, Guinea Bissau
    Mauritania v Sudan (Group B) | 1600 | Nouakchott, Mauritania
    Libya v Mauritius (Group D) | 1600 | Tripoli, Libya
    Congo v Niger (Group E) | 1600 | Kinshasa, DR Congo
    Egypt v Burkina Faso (Group A) | 1900 | Cairo, Egypt
    Senegal v DR Congo (Group B) | 1900 | Diamniadio, Senegal
    Benin v Rwanda (Group C) | 1900 | Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
    Algeria v Guinea (Group G) | 1900 | Algiers, Algeria
    Mali v Ghana (Group I) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali
    Friday – 07 June, 2024
    Zimbabwe v Lesotho (Group C) | 1300 | Johannesburg, South Africa
    Mozambique v Somalia (Group G) | 1300 | Maputo, Mozambique
    Kenya v Burundi (Group F) | 1300 | Lilongwe, Malawi
    Uganda v Botswana (Group G) | 1600 | Namboole, Uganda
    Madagascar v Comoros (Group I) | 1600 | Johannesburg, South Africa
    Angola v Eswatini (Group D) | 1600 | Luanda, Angola
    *Nigeria v South Africa (Group C) | 1900 | Uyo, Nigeria*
    Morocco v Zambia (Group E) | 1900 | Agadir, Morocco
    Cote d’Ivoire v Gabon (Group F) | 1900 | Korhogo, Cote d’Ivoire
    Saturday – 08 June, 2024
    Cameroon v Cape Verde (Group D) | 1300 | Douala, Cameroon
    Gambia v Seychelles (Group F) | 1600 | Berkane, Morocco
    Match Day 4
    Sunday – 09 June, 2024
    Sao Tome e Principe v Liberia (Group H) | 1300 | Oudja, Morocco
    Djibouti v Ethiopia (Group A) | 1600 | El Jadida, Morocco
    Congo DR v Togo (Group B) | 1600 | Kinshasa, DR Congo
    Mauritania v Senegal (Group B) | 1600 | Nouachott, Mauritania
    Namibia v Tunisia (Group H) | 1600 | Johannesburg, South Africa
    Monday – 10 June, 2024
    Somalia v Botswana (Group G) | 1300 | Maputo, Mozambique
    Equatorial Guinea v Malawi (Group H) | 1300 | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
    Madagascar v Mali (Group I) | 1300 | Johannesburg, South Africa
    Guinea Bissau v Egypt (Group A) | 1600 | Bissau, Guinea Bissau
    *Benin v Nigeria (Group C) | 1600 | Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire*
    Uganda v Algeria (Group G) | 1600 | Namboole, Uganda
    Guinea v Mozambique (Group G) | 1900 | El Jadida, Morocco
    Ghana v Central African Republic (Group I) | 1900 | Kumasi, Ghana
    Burkina Faso v Sierra Leone (Group A) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali
    Tuesday – 11 June, 2024
    South Sudan v Sudan (Group B) | 1300 | Juba, South Sudan
    Mauritius v Eswatini (Group G) | 1300 | St. Pierre, Mauritius
    Zambia v Tanzania (Group E) | 1300 | Ndola, Zambia
    Kenya v Cote d’Ivoire (Group F) | 1300 | Lilongwe, Malawi
    Lesotho v Rwanda (Group C) | 1600 | Durban, South Africa
    Cape Verde v Libya (Group D) | 1600 | Praia, Cape Verde
    South Africa v Zimbabwe (Group C) | 1600 | Bloemfontein, South Africa
    Congo v Morocco (Group E) | 1600 | Kinshasa, DR Congo
    Chad v Comoros (Group I) | 1600 | Oujda, Morocco
    Angola v Cameroon (Group D) | 1900 | Luanda, Angola
    Gabon v Gambia (Group F) | 1900 | Franceville, Gabon
    Seychelles v Burundi (Group F) | 1900 | Berkane, Morocco
  • AFCON 2023: Cross River gov, Otu gifts Terem Moffi N10m

    AFCON 2023: Cross River gov, Otu gifts Terem Moffi N10m

    Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has gifted the Super Eagles forward, Terem Moffi N10million for winning the silver ware with the Super Eagles at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

    Moffi received the gift Thursday night in Calabar alongside his father and younger brother.

    Otu also commended the player for being a good ambassador of Cross River and fot leading an exemplary life for the youths of the State to emulate.

    The governor promised continued support for the Nice of France player, adding that his administration remained committed to youths and sport development as a way of curbing youth restiveness and creating opportunities for them.

    “I am particularly delighted that you represented the State well and the fact that you have been a good ambassador of the youths in the State and beyond.

    “Like you, we have so many talents across the State and we will continue to create opportunities for them to blossom.

    “It is for that reason that we are making a lot of investment on youth and sports development,” Otu stated.

    He also commended the Super Eagles players for his support to sport development in the State.

    Ealier, Moffi had donated N1million to Pelican Stars FC, in addition to the donation of 25 balls each to the team and Calabar Rovers.

    Silver medal winning Eagles player who currently plays for Nice of France.

    He moved to Nice in 2023 after playing for FC Lorient of France and Belgian club, KV Kortrijk.

    Moffi, who is among the players invited for the Eagles world cup qualifying matches with South Africa and Benin Republic in June, debuted for the senior national team in 2021.

  • 2026 WCQ: Headache for Finidi as Super Eagles injury crisis worsens

    2026 WCQ: Headache for Finidi as Super Eagles injury crisis worsens

    Super Eagles duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Frank Onyeka are major injury concerns for Nigeria ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.

    Chukwueze had  missed AC Milan’s last two games due to injury, was not included in the Rooseneri’s squad for the friendly against AS Roma in Australia.

    The 24-year-old winger was a surprise inclusion in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers, despite his recent inactivity at club level.

    It would be recalled that Onyeka also missed Brentford’s last two Premier League games due to injury.

    Super Eagles head coach Finidi George may be forced to name replacements for the duo.

    Already African footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen has pulled out of the June qualifiers after suffering a calf injury and has been replaced with Enugu Rangers’ Kenneth Igboke.

    Also Bayer Leverkusen’s winger, Nathan Tella wouldn’t make the trip to Nigeria due to injury and Rizespor of Turkey, Ibrahim Olawoyin has been called to replace him.

     

  • NFF, Super Eagles players speak on report of unpaid bonuses and allowances

    NFF, Super Eagles players speak on report of unpaid bonuses and allowances

    The Nigeria Football Federation and players of the Super Eagles have lambasted a report in an online publication, which claimed that players of the team have not been paid from monies given by the Presidency to the NFF to offset their bonuses and allowances.

    The Presidency had, late last year, and following a process supported and personally followed-through by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, released monies to the NFF for payment of outstanding bonuses and allowances of players and officials of the various National Teams.

    However, the said online publication on Monday put together what a senior administrative official of the Super Eagles described as “tissues of lies” and challenged the writer to come forward with evidence of his claims.

    “The report is absolutely false, in every ramification, and we challenge the owner of the website and writer to come forward with proof of the claims. We want him to name the players who spoke to him, because these are all tissues of lies.

    “Players and officials of the Super Eagles have been paid for all matches played at the AFCON, yet he claimed the team was paid for only three matches. His outlandish claim of the team being owed for 25 matches is the biggest lie ever concocted by any writer.”

    The writer also falsely claimed that only members of the NFF Board and staff of the Secretariat have been paid their outstanding allowances from the government money.

    “This story is a shame. No player of the Super Eagles spoke to the writer. It is all pure fabrication,” a senior player told thenff.com.

    Another senior official of the Super Eagles added: “The story is absolute bunkum. People should make an effort to verify whatever they hear from anywhere before going to the press. It is clear that this writer did not even hear anything; he simply brought forth something from his own imagination.”