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
Anthony Joshua discharged from hospital
Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos Commissioner of Information, and Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Information and Strategy, confirmed the discharge of the boxing champion.
British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, has been discharged from Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos.
Joshua, who survived an accident that led to the loss of the lives of two of his friends, was involved in the accident on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
In a statement on Thursday, Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos Commissioner of Information, and Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Information and Strategy, confirmed the discharge of the boxing champion.
The governments of Lagos and Ogun states once again, commiserate with the families of the two young men Lateef Ayodele and Gami Cina who tragically and unfortunately lost their lives in the road accident involving Anthony Joshua.”
Sports
AFCON 2025: Super Eagles to battle Mozambique January 5
Nigeria cruised through the group stage with maximum points, winning all three matches, scoring eight goals and conceding four.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will clash with Mozambique in one of the Round of 16 fixtures at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès, Nigeria’s home ground throughout their Group C matches, will host the encounter, which kicks off at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5.
Nigeria cruised through the group stage with maximum points, winning all three matches, scoring eight goals and conceding four.
Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika have each scored twice, while Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu have also found the net.
Mozambique, on the other hand, began their campaign with a loss to defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, bounced back with a hard-fought victory over Gabon, and then fell 2–1 to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions on Wednesday evening.
Historically, Nigeria have dominated this fixture, winning four of their five previous meetings. This includes their only AFCON clash, a 3–0 victory in Lubango, Angola, in January 2010.
Sports
Nwabali: I almost quit football when my parents died
On January 1, Nwabali took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the passing of his mother, describing 2025 as “the worst year of my life.
•Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has shared the emotional struggles he has faced after he lost both of his parents within a short span
Nwabali , in an interview with ACL Sports while in camp with the Super Eagles in Morocco, as the team prepares for their Round of 16 tie after qualifying top of Group C with an untainted nine points from three matches, reflected on his journey through grief.
He revealed that the loss of his parents last year was particularly painful and at one point made him consider quitting football.
With the support of his teammates, he found the strength to continue playing despite the immense grief.
“My mom passed away on this day last year around 12 pm. I try to move on and be strong, but sometimes I feel like quitting.
At one point, I even told my captain that I wanted to quit football. But with the support of some of my teammates, I was able to carry on.
My mom and dad were so dear to me. Losing them has been incredibly painful. It’s not something any footballer—or any human—should have to experience: losing both parents.”
Nwabali’s father passed away in November 2025, only hours after he played in the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in the 2025 Nations Cup qualifiers.
On January 1, Nwabali took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the passing of his mother, describing 2025 as “the worst year of my life.”
He wrote: “RIP mom, worst year of my life already,” alongside heartbreak and tear emojis. Before the announcement, he had posted: “A very very crazy world indeed.”
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