Sports
Ahead of FIFA World Cup: First lady Remi Tinubu to host Super Falcons
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, alongside top government functionaries, will attend the send-forth dinner of the Super Falcons ahead of the team’s departure for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place over a period of one month, starting from July 20 to August 20.
In a statement on Thursday, Head of Communications of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, noted that the dinner, organised by the country’s football body, will be held on Saturday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
“We are expecting the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Ismaila Abubakar, as well as other top sports officials.
“A good number of the team as well as technical and administrative officials are expected alongside the rank and file of the NFF led by the President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
“The event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel will also attract corporate chieftains, members of the diplomatic corps, and a range of football stakeholders.
“On Sunday, the nine-time African champions will depart the shores of Nigeria for a 15-day camping programme in Australia, before they enter into camp for the tournament beginning from July 20 to Aug. 20,” Olajire noted.
Nigeria’s first match of the finals is against Canada, at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium, on July 21 before clashing with Australia and the Republic of Ireland on July 27 and July 31, respectively, at Lang Park in Brisbane.
NAN reports that Australia and New Zealand 2023 will be the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in history, as it welcomes 32 teams—the same number as featured in the men’s finals in Qatar last year.
It is also the first to be hosted by two countries as well as the first-ever FIFA senior competition to be hosted by two nations in two different confederations: Australia in the Asian confederation and New Zealand in Oceania.
Nigeria’s captain, Onome Ebi, will be one of the oldest players at the tournament, at 40, alongside Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
The three women will be featured in their sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.
According to the NFF, 24 hours before the Send-Forth at the Transcorp Hilton, the Australian High Commission will host the Falcons to a dinner, courtesy of the Ag. High Commissioner, Her Excellency Leanne Johnston.
NAN reports that the Super Falcons are in Group ‘B’ alongside Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.
Nigeria has previously played the Canadian and Australian women’s national teams at the FIFA World Cup.
The Canadians have been unable to defeat Nigeria at the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in 1995 and losing 1-0 in 2011.
Nigeria’s meeting with Australia at the FIFA World Cup in 2015 ended in a 2-0 victory in favour of the Australians.
(NAN)
Sports
Seven Eritrean players fail to return home after AFCON qualifier
Although the whereabouts of the missing players remain unclear, reports indicate that some may have been seen in South Africa. Among those who failed to return are goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhanie Redie.
Seven players from the Eritrea national football team have failed to return home after their side secured a historic victory over Eswatini national football team.
A source close to the squad told the BBC on Monday that while part of the team travelled back via South Africa after the match, the seven players are believed to have absconded.
The development comes shortly after Eritrea’s 2–1 win in Eswatini, which secured a 4–1 aggregate victory and a return to the qualifying group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years.
Sources said only 10 members of the 24-man squad were based in Eritrea, and just three of those players—including team captain Ablelom Teklezghi—have returned to the country.
Although the whereabouts of the missing players remain unclear, reports indicate that some may have been seen in South Africa. Among those who failed to return are goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhanie Redie.
Sports
CAF confirms 16 teams for U-17 AFCON 2026
However, Nigeria is missing from the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the 16 countries that will compete at the 2026 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 16 teams set to feature at the tournament are :
Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire; DR Congo Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Morocco (hosts); Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The competition is scheduled to take place in Morocco from April 25 to May 15, 2026, and will also serve as Africa’s qualification route for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
With the global tournament expanding to 48 teams, the top 10 finishers at the AFCON finals will secure qualification.
However, Nigeria is missing from the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
Nigeria’s absence follows their elimination in the WAFU Zone B qualifiers, where the Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Ghana in September 2025, ending their hopes of reaching the continental stage.
CAF’s qualification process is organised across six regional zones—UNAF, WAFU A, WAFU B, UNIFFAC, CECAFA, and COSAFA—with each region hosting its own tournament to determine representatives for the AFCON finals.
Sports
FIFA ranks Super Eagles third in Africa, 26th globally
Globally, France has reclaimed the number one spot after wins over Colombia and Brazil, overtaking Spain, which was held to a goalless draw by a ten-man Egypt. Argentina, England, Portugal, and Brazil round out the top six.
The world’s football body , FIFA, has ranked Nigeria’s Super Eagles third in Africa (behind Morocco and Senegal), and 26th globally.
In a post on FIFA’s website on Wednesday, the ranking reflects Nigeria’s strong performances in friendlies, including a 2‑1 win over Iran and a 2‑2 draw with Jordan, as well as their showing at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
In the 2025 AFCON tournament, Nigeria won five matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique, and Algeria, drew with Morocco in the semi-finals, and defeated Egypt in the third-place playoff.
Other nations saw minor adjustments in the rankings.
Iran slipped from 20th to 21st following consecutive defeats, while Jordan moved up to 63rd after draws with Nigeria and Costa Rica.
Globally, France has reclaimed the number one spot after wins over Colombia and Brazil, overtaking Spain, which was held to a goalless draw by a ten-man Egypt. Argentina, England, Portugal, and Brazil round out the top six.
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