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By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  The Nigeria national football team , the Super Eagles, have officially unveiled their 28-man squad ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to kick off in Morocco on December 21, 2025 . Head coach Eric Chelle has finalised his selections after trimming the initial provisional roster to meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) deadline. Goalkeepers The goalkeeping department includes a mix of experience and emerging talent: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United) retains his place despite recent injury concerns. Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars) adds depth from domestic African football. Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia) returns after a strong spell in European competition. Defenders The defensive unit blends seasoned internationals and new faces: Regular starters like Calvin Bassey , Bright Osayi-Samuel , Bruno Onyemaechi , Zaidu Sanusi and Chidozie Awaziem have been included. Ryan Alebiosu and Igoh Ogbu are among the y...

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  A fresh wave of concern has emerged within the Nigerian football community following allegations that many local coaches may be holding CAF coaching certificates they did not fully qualify for . A reliable Nigerian football insider revealed that for several years, participants in the CAF C and CAF B coaching courses in Nigeria reportedly obtained certificates without completing the required modules or meeting the minimum attendance benchmarks. According to the insider, no candidate in Nigeria reportedly failed the CAF C or B courses for many years , raising red flags at the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “Do you know that in previous years, no one ever failed the CAF C and B coaching courses in Nigeria? Many attended the courses and got a certificate of attendance, but they did not actually complete the modules required or meet the needed attendance levels to pass the exam. CAF frowned on how everyone used to pass the course in Nigeria...

By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Nigeria’s Super Falcons have maintained their status as Africa’s top-ranked women’s national team after climbing to 37th in the world in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking released this week. Remarkably, the nine-time African champions achieved the jump despite not playing any matches during the most recent women’s international window. Their ranking points now stand at 1607.063 , placing them comfortably ahead of their African rivals. African Rankings from the Latest FIFA List Based on the released standings: 1st in Africa / 37th in the world — Nigeria 🇳🇬 — 1607.063 pts South Africa 🇿🇦 — 55th — 1458.733 pts Ghana 🇬🇭 — 62nd — 1412.737 pts Zambia 🇿🇲 — 64th — 1403.415 pts Morocco 🇲🇦 — 66th — 1399.536 pts Cameroon 🇨🇲 — 70th — 1353.123 pts Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 — 72nd — 1339.045 pts Algeria 🇩🇿 — 73rd — 1322.267 pts Senegal 🇸🇳 — 81st — 1289.670 pts Mali 🇲🇱 — 85th — 1260.357 pts Consistency Without Matches Despite mi...

  Reports say Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo has officially pledged to represent the Super Eagles, ending long-standing speculation over whether the 27-year-old would choose Nigeria or England at senior level. The decision marks a major boost for Nigerian football, as Adarabioyo—known for his composure, pace and aerial strength—had been on the radar of England’s Three Lions for several years. Despite being eligible for both nations, the Lagos-born centre-back has now opted to wear the green and white. Adarabioyo’s commitment is being celebrated across the Nigerian football community, with fans and analysts describing it as a significant win for the Super Eagles. His growing influence in Chelsea’s backline and his reputation as a modern, ball-playing defender make him a valuable addition to Nigeria’s squad. The Super Eagles have long courted the former Fulham and Manchester City player, who is widely regarded for his confidence on the ball, intelligent positioning, and abilit...

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Ambassador Sheriff Mulade, Chairman of the Delta State Mini Football Association, has celebrated the outstanding performances of Ighogbadu Professionals and Oyoka Boys FC as the second edition of the Africa For Peace Sports Festival wrapped up on Sunday at the Games Village in Ugolo, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. The senior mini football final delivered a major upset, with underdogs Ighogbadu Professionals defeating Daudu United 3-1 to clinch the top prize of ₦1 million and a gold trophy. In the junior division, Oyoka Boys FC showcased resilience and talent, edging Pipeline Dragons FC 3-2 in a thrilling contest. In the third-place matchups, Ododeho FC secured a walkover victory and ₦300,000 after the late withdrawal of Men2Boys FC in the senior category. Meanwhile, Team Daudu dominated Sokoh Estate with a 4-1 win to take third place in the junior category. The festival also featured a rich blend of indoor games, including table tenni...

By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Surulere, Lagos, came alive on Friday as FRSC teams — Safety Shooters and Safety Babes — emerged champions of the men’s and women’s categories of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2025 . The grand finale was attended by members of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) board and top officials of Ardova PLC. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami , represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Mrs. Abiola Babatunde-Ojo , described the league as highly exciting and a testament to the sport’s growing standard. The season began months ago with the first phase in Benin City before the decisive second phase in Lagos. For Safety Shooters , the victory marked their first men’s title since 2020, topping the table with 57 points from 20 matches. The defending women’s champions, Safety Babes , extended their dominance with a historic fifth consecut...

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has described the recent barrage of criticism aimed at Mohamed Salah from some former England stars as unfair , after the Liverpool forward publicly accused his club of having “thrown [him] under the bus.” Salah’s explosive comments followed a string of benchings and a 3–3 draw with Leeds United that intensified scrutiny of both the player and Liverpool’s management. Speaking in Effurun, Delta State , Sodje said players are often loyal to their clubs but — he added — “when the tables are turned the reverse is usually the case,” arguing media and ex-pro reactions have lacked context. Sodje told reporters that while Salah’s decision to air his feelings publicly may be controversial, the wave of attacks from high-profile figures — including blunt condemnations from some former England internationals — has been disproportionately harsh. Sodje also weighed in on Salah’s future, saying the Egypt international shou...