Sports

AFCON: ‘Be strong, you did your best for Nigeria’ – Sports minister tells Iwobi

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

352 Views

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh recently had a discussion with Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi following cyber bullies against the Fulham star.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Enoh’s media aide, Diana-Mary Tiku Nsan on Monday.

Enoh, who led the Super Eagles of Nigeria back home after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final against Ivory Coast, told Iwobi: “I am aware of what is happening on social media and as a ministry, this is not the first time we are going to make a statement against bullying, not just you but our sportsmen and women in general who are exposed to bullying due to the outcome of competitions.

“We are concerned about how our sportsmen and women are treated.”

The final AFCON 2023 has seen Iwobi experience a routine of unpleasant remarks hurled at him.

Iwobi confirmed leaving social media after the final game.

“For me, I have taken myself out of social media after yesterday’s game,” he said.

Enoh, however, encouraged the former Arsenal star saying:

“You did your best for your country and I am proud of you. The leadership and the rest of the country is proud of you.

“Those who are not are in the far minority and do not speak for the rest of our country, so just be strong.

“You did your best, you are part of a team that brought home a silver medal which the country last won at AFCON 2000, which is 23 years ago. You put in your best, thank you very much.”

Sports

Drake Wins $1 Million After Betting $770,000 on Canada v South Africa Match

Canada sealed the win in stoppage time when Stephen Eustáquio struck the only goal of the game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2026

OCHEFA

31 Views

Canadian rapper Drake has won more than $1 million after Canada beat South Africa 1-0 in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match.

The victory also saw his $770,000 bet return a payout of $1,001,000.

Drake shared a screenshot of the wager on Instagram before kick-off, showing he had backed Canada to qualify.

He said that the bet came after an exchange with South African DJ Black Coffee, writing: ”@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM I had to raise the STAKES.”

Canada sealed the win in stoppage time when Stephen Eustáquio struck the only goal of the game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The result sent the co-hosts into the Round of 16 for the first time in FIFA World Cup history.

For South Africa, the defeat ended a memorable campaign.

Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stage for the first time after finishing second in their group and qualifying for the expanded 2026 tournament ahead of Nigeria.

Sports

FIFA bars Nepal from international competitions

FIFA said in a letter to the All Nepal Football Association that the decision came after “undue interference by a third party”, referring to arguments between ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council, the country’s authority for sports administration, over governance of Nepali football.

Published

5 days ago

June 25, 2026

OCHEFA

78 Views

World football’s governing body FIFA has suspended Nepal’s football association, officials said Thursday, barring the country from all international competitions.

Nepal is currently ranked 175th in FIFA’s world rankings.

The women’s national team ranks 88th.

FIFA holds that a national football association must operate independently of government bodies.

Sports

The World Cup is half over, with 54 of 104 matches complete

“The best is yet to come,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino told SNTV earlier this week.”

Published

5 days ago

June 25, 2026

OCHEFA

76 Views

• United States’ Alex Freeman (16), second left, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — It’s halftime at the World Cup.

Take a break, everyone.Wednesday marked the midpoint of the 104-match tournament — technically, just past the midpoint, with 54 matches now in the books and 50 remaining before a World Cup champion is crowned in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.

The U.S. has reached the Round of 32, which shouldn’t be surprising. Mexico and Canada, the other host nations for this biggest World Cup in history, are also through to the knockout stage. And the stars are positively shining: Argentina’s Lionel Messi has five goals to kick-start what he hopes is a run toward a second consecutive World Cup title. France’s Kylian Mbappé has four, as do Norway’s Erling Haaland and Brazil’s Vinicius Júnior.

Stadiums are mostly filled; FIFA is touting record attendance.

And there have been some feel-good stories, most notably the tale of Cape Verde goalie Vozinha and how his mother was able to come to this World Cup.

“The best is yet to come,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino told SNTV earlier this week.

In other words, the second half of this tournament — just like the second half of matches — is when things might get really good.