Sports
JUST IN: Super Eagles revive World Cup hopes with 2-0 victory over Rwanda
Nigeria boosted their 2026 World Cup qualifying hopes with a 2-0 win over Rwanda on Friday night, marking a successful debut for new head coach, Eric Chelle.
Victor Osimhen, in fine form this season for Galatasaray, delivered a first-half brace to secure the victory.
The prolific striker opened the scoring with a side-footed finish from Ademola Lookman’s well-placed free-kick.
He then doubled Nigeria’s lead after winning the ball at the halfway line and chipping it over the goalkeeper.
The three-time African champions now move up to third place in Group C, following South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho.
Chelle’s men will face Zimbabwe on Monday as they continue their quest for World Cup qualification.
Sports
Shakira announces 2026 World Cup theme song featuring Burna Boy
The announcement has sparked excitement among football and music fans, especially with Burna Boy becoming one of the African artists to feature prominently on a World Cup anthem.
•Shakira on stage
Colombian superstar Shakira has announced the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring Nigerian Grammy-winning star Burna Boy.
The song, titled “Dai Dai,” will be released on May 14.
“From Maracaná Stadium, here is ‘Dai Dai,’ the FIFA World Cup Official Song 2026. Coming 5/14. We’re ready!” Shakira posted on X alongside a teaser for the track.
The announcement has sparked excitement among football and music fans, especially with Burna Boy becoming one of the African artists to feature prominently on a World Cup anthem.
Shakira is no stranger to World Cup songs.
Her 2010 hit Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) became one of the most iconic football anthems in history during the tournament in South Africa.
Recent World Cup theme songs have also featured global stars. In 2014, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte performed We Are One (Ole Ola) for the tournament in Brazil.
Sports
World Cup prize pool nears $900 million as FIFA boosts payouts. Here’s who gets what
Under the new financial distribution structure, participating associations at the 2026 World Cup — set to be held across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada from 11 June — will each receive an additional $2 million, across:
FIFA has increased payments to teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, raising the total distribution to $871 million, making it the most lucrative edition on record.
The 2026 edition of the World Cup is set to be the largest-ever, expanding to 48 teams, up from 32 in 2022.
According to CNBC, the increased financial distributions, announced last Wednesday at the 36th FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, Canada, come as the governing body faces criticism over ticket pricing and its commercial partnerships.
Under the new financial distribution structure, participating associations at the 2026 World Cup — set to be held across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada from 11 June — will each receive an additional $2 million, across:
Preparation money: $2.5 million, up from $1.5 million at the 2022 World Cup, and Qualification money: $10 million, up from $9 million in 2022.
That brings the minimum payout for each team to at least $12.5 million upon qualification, with additional prize money tied to performance in the tournament.
These payments are meant to defray some of the costs associated with qualifying and preparing for the quadrennial sporting tournament, including travel, training facilities and staff remuneration and are expected to be particularly meaningful to teams outside of the sport’s traditional powerhouses, according to Ricardo Fort, founder of sport consultancy Fort Consulting.
“This incremental contribution to the national football associations reinforces FIFA’s role in redistributing the commercial success of the tournament back into the global football ecosystem,” Fort said.
Sports
Ex-Super Eagles striker Michael Eneramo dies after collapsing during match
Eneramo, who had retired from professional football, previously played for several clubs, including Besiktas of Turkey, Tunisian side Esperance, and Nigerian club Lobi Stars.
Former Super Eagles striker, Michael Eneramo, is dead, according to SCORENigeria on Friday.
Eneramo reportedly slumped and died while playing a football match in Kaduna State.
The 40-year-old was said to be featuring at the Angwan Yelwa pitch in the Television area of Kaduna when the incident occurred.
“He slumped and died right on the spot. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful,” a source told SCORENigeria.
The former international came on as a substitute in the second half before collapsing without any contact.
“He was pronounced dead at the hospital.”
Eneramo, who had retired from professional football, previously played for several clubs, including Besiktas of Turkey, Tunisian side Esperance, and Nigerian club Lobi Stars.
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