Sport

2026 WCQ Playoffs: Chelle Names Super Eagles Squad, Recalls Okoye, Ejuke

By Web News 386

By Olaolu Fawole

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has unveiled a 24-man squad including captain, William Troost-Ekong, striker, Victor Osimhen, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali ahead of next week’s decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup African Play-off Tournament in Rabat, Morocco.

Three matches will be played by knock-out system in the format of semi-finals and final.

The semi-finals will take place on Thursday 13 November and the final on Sunday 16 November.

Also making the list are full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, and 89-cap midfielder Alex Iwobi, alongside rising defensive sensation Benjamin Fredericks.

Midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidí also joined Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman in a squad brimming with pace, power, and technical quality.

Nigeria faces Gabon in the first semi-final at the 22,000-capacity Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay Al Hassan, while Cameroon lock horns with DR Congo at the 18,000-seat El-Barid Stadium, both in Rabat.

Chelle has also recalled goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and winger Chidera Ejuke, while midfield Raphael Onyedika, plus forwards Tolu Arokodare, Jerome Akor Adams, and Olusegun Olakunle, strengthen the attacking options.

Defender Semi Ajayi is suspended for the semi-final after accumulating two yellow cards during the qualifiers.

The players are expected to arrive in Morocco from their respective bases across Europe and beyond, converging on Rabat on Monday, November 10 as the Eagles begin their push for World Cup qualification.

Sport

2025: CAF Promises Thrilling Actions

By Web News 500

By Olaolu Fawole

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has a packed 12 months ahead with continental finals across club and national team football that will make 2025 one of the busiest years ever for the governing body.

CAF’s investment in youth and women’s football has added significantly to the calendar and a packed schedule awaits fans, with the start of both the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 and TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 this year.

Interclub competitions, junior tournaments and schools football are all also on the agenda as CAF schedules a diverse range of events to enhance the growth of the game on the continent.

Here is a reminder of the key CAF events in 2025:

TOTALENERGIES CAF AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 1-28 FEBRUARY 2025

The eighth edition of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the first time multiple countries have staged the prestigious event.Senegal are the defending champions and have qualified again to take their place in the 19-team field. The competition is open only to players plying their trade in their home domestic league.

14TH CAF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY 12 MARCH 2025

The 14TH CAF Extraordinary General Assembly will bring together the 54 Member Associations in Egypt, Cairo.The CAF Extraordinary General Assembly will elect the CAF President, some CAF Executive Committee members (those due for elections) and also Members of the FIFA Council from Africa.

TOTALENERGIES CAF U-17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS MOROCCO 2025, 30 MARCH – 19 APRIL 2025

For the first time, 10 African Nations will qualify for the expanded 48-team 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Africa will have one of the largest representative (quota) thanks to the merit allocation by FIFA.Morocco will host the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and Senegal are the defending champions after they beat Morocco 2-1 in the 2023 final.

TOTALENERGIES CAF U-20 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS COTE D’IVOIRE 2025, 26 APRIL – 18 MAY 2025

The best young players from the continent will gather for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2025 in another celebration of youth football that serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.The four semi-finalists at the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire will advance to the global finals. Senegal are the defending African champions after they lifted the trophy for the first time in 2023.

TOTALENERGIES CAF CONFEDERATION CUP 2024-202516 AUGUST 2024 – 25 MAY 2025

The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup season will culminate with the two-legged final that will be staged on 17 and 25 May, 2025.It will be the end of a campaign that started in August 2024 and will have seen the finalists criss-cross the continent in search of glory. Egyptian side Zamalek are the defending champions.

TOTALENERGIES CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-202516 AUGUST 2024 – 1 JUNE 2025

Africa’s elite club cup competition will draw to a close for the 2024-25 season with the two-legged final to be played on 24 May and 1 June, 2025. Egyptian side Al Ahly have lifted the trophy in four of the previous five years, but there are plenty of contenders looking to win the silverware this season. Teams will be vying for a USD 4-million first prize as well as the honour of being named African champions.

CAF AFRICAN SCHOOLS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS 2025

DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

The third edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals will be staged as the best Boys and Girls players to have advanced through their national and zonal qualifiers meet to determine the African champions.

Tanzania are the current Boys holders and South Africa won the last Girls finals played in 2024.   

TOTALENERGIES CAF WOMEN’S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS MOROCCO 2024

5 – 26 JULY 2025

South Africa defend their title at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024, returning to the scene of their maiden triumph in 2022.

They are one of 12 top teams in the finals field, including the hosts, Nigeria and Zambia. It is a star-studded line-up that will showcase the rapid development of the women’s game.   

CAF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 20258 – 23 NOVEMBER 2025

The fifth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League is to be staged in November, when TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo will hope to defend their title.

CAF announced increased prize-money for the 2024 edition that sees the winner take home USD 600,000, with each of the eight finalists earning a minimum USD 150,000 for taking part.

TOTALENERGIES CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS MOROCCO 2025, 21 DECEMBER 2025 – 18 JANUARY 2026

Africa’s greatest show returns as 24 teams from the across the continent battle to be crowned African champions.

The last tournament in Cote d’Ivoire broke several records, including for TV audiences, with 1.4 billion cumulative viewers globally, and the 2025 edition is set to be even bigger and better.

It will be the perfect way to end an incredible year.

CAF

Sport

FULL LIST: Osimhen, Salah, others Get 2023 African Player of the Year Nomination

By Web News 701

The Confederation of African Football on Wednesday listed Nigeria’s forward, Victor Osimhen; Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and 27 others as contenders for the 2023 men’s African Player of the Year awards.

CAF announced the Gala awards billed to be held on December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, on their official website.

According to the statement, “A panel of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends, and selected media representatives from a number of countries put together the preliminary list for the various categories with the performance of the nominees between November 2022 and September 2023 serving as the period under consideration.

“Thirty (30) players made the cut for the top prize; CAF African Player of the Year, whilst 20 players have been nominated for the CAF Interclub Player of the Year. Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year and Club of the Year have ten (10) nominees each just as CAF Young Player of the Year – for players under the age of 21.

“For the first time, CAF has introduced the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year Category (Men and Women) in the prestigious event that seeks to reward and celebrate exceptional Players, Officials and Administrators during the period under review.

“It will be the first time that shot stoppers will be acknowledged for their performances, further expanding the network of winners for the annual event. 10 players have been nominated for the novel award.

CAF maintained that the ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

It further added that the nominees for the Women’s categories will be announced in due course.

Recall that Senegal forward Sadio Mane was crowned CAF African Player of the Year whilst Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala was coronated CAF African Women’s Player of the Year for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.

Full List of Nominees (in alphabetic order by Member Association):

Player of the Year (Men)

1.     Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)

2.     Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)

3.     Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)

4.     Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)

5.     Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)

6.     Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)

7.     Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)

8.     Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)

9.     Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)

10.  Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)

11.  Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)

12.  Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)

13.  Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)

14.  Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)

15.  Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)

16.  Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)

17.  Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)

18.  Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)

19.  Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)

20.  Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)

21.  Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)

22.  Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)

23.  Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)

24.  Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)

25.  Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)

26.  Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)

27.  Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)

28.  Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)

29.  Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)

30.  Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros).

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

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Sport

Nigeria Sports Minister Arrives Egypt over AFCON 2027

By Web News 490

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has arrived with representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation in a bid to host AFCON in 2027.

Recall Nigeria and the Republic of Benin presented a joint bid to host the tournament.

All countries who submitted bids to host the AFCON tournament in 2025 and 2027 respectively are expected to attend the meeting during which the Independent Assessment Committee of CAF will submit their reports for assessment and discussions by CAF EXCO.

The CAF team had previously visited Nigeria to assess facilities at different proposed host venues around the nation.

In a post via Enoh’s official X account on Tuesday, he wrote, “With representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), I have arrived in Cairo, Egypt. We are here to attend the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee meeting, as representatives of the Nigerian Government.

Stating further the reason for his arrival in Egypt, he wrote, “Our attendance is because Nigeria and the Benin Republic submitted a joint bid to host AFCON in 2027. Other Governments and Member Associations bidding to host AFCON in 2027 will also be in attendance.

“Prior to this meeting, all countries bidding to host this tournament were visited by the Independent Assessment Committees of CAF to assess the state of their readiness to host this continental tournament.

“As part of the assessment process, each bidding country is expected to make a 10-minute presentation and will be granted another 15 minutes to respond to questions that may arise.

“Thereafter, a comprehensive report would be submitted for assessment and discussion by the CAF Executive. The meeting is slated for Wednesday, 27th September 2023. We look forward to a positive outcome for the Nigeria-Benin Republic joint bid,” he stated.

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Sport

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Falconets Draw Burundi

By Web News 951

Nigeria’s national under-20 women’s football team, the Falconets has been drawn to face Burundi in the second round of the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The draw was officially conducted by the Confederation of African Football, CAF in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw produced some interesting ties as the pathway to the global showpiece is officially open.

The first six nations with the lowest rankings will take center stage in a round-robin format between September 1 and September 10.

Equatorial Guinea will face Libya, Togo will take on Guinea Bissau, and Mauritius will face off against Chad.

The winners from this round will then move on to the second round of the qualifiers.

In this round, Ethiopia will take on the winners of the Equatorial Guinea and Libya pairing, while Senegal will face off with Mali.

NAN/Maxwell Oyekunle

Sport

Asisat Oshoala Clinches 5th African Best Footballer Award

By Web News 480

Former Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala on Thursday won her record 5th Africa Footballer of the Year Award.

The 27-year old saw off oppositions from Cameroonian captain Ajara Nchout Njoya and newcomer Grace Chanda of Zambia in the Women’s category to become the queen of Africa football for the 5th time.

The FC Barcelona Femini attacker becomes the first woman player to win the coveted award a record 5th time. She was initially tied to 4th with countrywoman Perpetua Nkwocha.

Oshoala won the Golden Boot of the Primera División Femenina in Spain as he exploits helped the Feminin to win the league last season unbeaten.

In other wards, Senegalese superstar, Sadio Mane retained his Africa Footballer of the Year crown which he first won in January 2020. He defeated his national teammate, Edouard Mendy as well as former holder, Mohammed Salah to win the award twice.

Blueprint.ng/Simeon Ugbodovon

Sport

2022 World Cup: Eight Groups in Qatar

By Web News 915

The 2022 World Cup will feature 32 teams in eight groups of four.

Four matches will be played each day during the group stage, which will run over a 12-day period and see winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16.

Matches will only be assigned to particular venues after the finals draw, so organisers can choose optimal kick-off times to suit television audiences in different countries, as well as supporters out in Qatar.

Unlike at Euro 2020, there will be a third-place play-off game on December 17.

Group stage: November 21 – December 2
Round of 16: December 3-6
Quarter-finals: December 9/10
Semi-finals: December 13/14
Final: December 18

Oluwakayode Banjo/Olaolu Fawole

Sport

CAF Officer Dies in Nigerian Stadium During World Cup Qualifier

By Web News 551

A CAF official, Dr. Joseph Kabungo has lost his life following the violence that erupted after the Ghana versus Nigeria World Cup Qualifier in Abuja on Tuesday night.

Dr. Kabungo was CAF’s Doping Officer for the second leg of the World Cup play-off between the West African rivals.

The Black Stars of Ghana drew 1-1 with the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola stadium to qualify for the tournament in Qatar.

Report says his family, the Zambia FA and the government of Zambia have been duly informed.

The Zambian FA, through the federation President Andrew Kamanga, eulogized the 2012 AFCON winner with Zambia as a dedicated and widely loved member of Zambia’s football community but noted that it was still early to make conclusions on the exact cause of death.

“We take note that it is too early to dwell into the nitty-gritty of the cause of his death but will wait for the full report from CAF and FIFA on what exactly transpired.He was a dedicated and widely loved member of our football community and his impact was vast, having also been part of the 2012 AFCON winning team”.

“His death is a huge loss as Dr Kabungo was a friend and confidant to many generations of players and their families.” FAZ president Andrew Kamanga added.

Olaolu Fawole

Sport

Fans vandalise Moshood Abiola Stadium over Nigeria’s loss to Ghana

By Web News 1016

Some angry fans on Tuesday night, vandalised some facilities at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Nigeria had played 1-1 with the Black Stars of Ghana in the second leg world cup qualifier.

Ghana qualified for the World Cup with an away goal.

The Angry fans stormed the football pitch after the players have left the pitch and vandalised the facilities of the stadium.

A viral video of the angry fans has gone round the social media, in which security forces employed the use of tear gas to restore normalcy .

Ahead of the decisive encounter, Nigerians had remained in high hope and optimism that the Nigerian side would secure a victory which would earn them the World Cup ticket.

However, the Eagles failed to put up the brilliance expected from them.

Adedayo Adelowo and Olaolu Fawole

Sport

Super Eagles Vs Black Stars: FG Declares Half Working Day For Civil Servants

By Web News 789

The Federal government has directed all offices to close by 1pm, on Tuesday, March 29.

A circular issued by Permanent Secretary (Service Welfare Office) Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, for Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, says this is to mobilise Nigerians for the 2nd leg World Cup qualifier between Ghana and Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The circular notes that there is need to ensure massive support for the Nigerian Team and consequently all offices will be closed by 1 O clock in the afternoon on Tuesday.

The Circular

It calls on Permanent Secretaries to give the circular wide publicity to achieve the desired result.

Olaolu Fawole

News Yoruba

Àjọ CAF Ti Wọ́gilé Ìdíje Ife ẹ̀yẹ Ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀ Tàwọn ọ̀jẹ̀ Wẹ́wẹ́ Fún Tọdún 2021

By Web News 582

Àjọ CAF, tón ń se kòkárí eré bọ́ọ̀lu aláfẹsẹ̀ gbá nílẹ̀ adúláwọ̀ CAF, ti wọ́gilé ìdíje ife ẹ̀yẹ ilẹ̀ adúláwọ̀ tó jẹ́ tàwọn ọ̀jẹ̀ wẹ́wẹ́ tọ́jọ́ orí wọn wà lábẹ́ ọdún metàdínlógún fún tọdún 2021.

Ìgbésẹ̀ náà ló wáyé nítórí ìtànkálẹ̀ àrùn covid-19, tófimọ́ àwọn ìpèníjà min-in tónbá àjọ náà fínra lẹ́ka eré bọ́ọ̀lu lágbayé.

Ìdíje náà tóyẹ kó bẹ̀rẹ̀ ní ọjọ́ kẹtàlá sí ọjọ́ kọkànlé lọ́gbọ̀n osù kẹ́ta ọdún tawayíì, ni ìgbìmọ̀ tón rísí ìsẹ̀lẹ̀ pàjáwìrì lájọ CAF, tí wọ́gilé báyíì.

Fawọle/Wojuade

Sport

Covid-19 Palliative: SWAN Hails NFF’s Transparency

By Web News 817

The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr Honour Sirawoo has applauded the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on the transparent manner it disbursed the COVID-19 palliative package from FIFA, CAF and other sponsors.

Mr Sirawoo who expressed delight at the 11,580,000, eleven million, five hundred and eighty thousand Naira that was earmarked for SWAN said the NFF was meticulous in ensuring that all the stakeholders in Nigerian football were duly captured.

He further noted that the gesture will in no small way enhance the cordial working relationship between the NFF and other stakeholders especially SWAN, even as he urged all the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant.

“The leadership of the NFF has displayed a very high degree of transparency in the manner it handled the COVID-19 palliatives from its various sponsors by ensuring that all the stakeholders in the football development chain were captured.”

“We in SWAN are particularly happy because this recognition will go a long way in ameliorating the impact of the pandemic which has slowed down the economic activities of the country.”

“We thank the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick and members of his Board for this well-thought and timely gesture; our members have gone through various degrees of pains following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we say thank you NFF” he declared.” 

The SWAN President also assured that he will ensure that all the members of the association in its 37 state chapters were given their due from the amount.”

He also urged the NFF to continue to work assiduously in its quest to enhance the development of football in the country “because football has remained one factor that has over the years held Nigerians together”.

Olaolu Fawole

Sport

CAF Revises Calendar for Interclub Competitions

By Web News 755

The emergency committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, has approved the revised calendar for the interclub competitions which was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the committee, semifinal matches of the Confederation Cup will come up on the 22nd of next month in Morocco while the final match will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco five days later.

All matches will be played behind closed doors.

On the CAF Champions League, the committee decided that following the withdrawal of Cameroon Football Federation from hosting the final four of the competition, and in line with the principle of fairness, the committee decided against hosting a final four in either Egypt or Morocco, whose representatives constitute the semi-finalists, which are Al Ahly & Zamalek both from (Egypt) and Raja Club Athletic & Wydad Athletic Club from (Morocco).

To this end, the semi-final matches will be played on home and away basis, with the first leg matches to be played on 25th & 26th of next month in Morocco, while the second leg matches will be played on 2nd & 3rd October in Egypt.

Also, in the principle of fairness, the final will be played at a neutral venue in the event a team from Egypt and Morocco qualify from the semifinal.

Olaolu Fawole