Sports
Just In: Super Eagles Set for Airlifting From Libya, following Presures from Nigerian Govt
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), on Monday, called on CAF to treat the matter of stranded Super Eagles team in war-torn Libya, with the seriousness it deserves.
This is even as Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the matter is being handled with urgency.
In a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit NiDCOM, Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa condemned the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team by Libya authorities ahead of its AFCON 2025 QUALIFIERS second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country.
Tuggar, said that following the ordeals, the Nigerian government summoned Libya’s chargé d’affaires in an effort to resolve the situation involving the Super Eagles, who were left stranded in Libya after their flight was diverted.
He disclosed that steps are being taken to refuel the plane and ensure the national football team’s swift departure from Libya.
Tuggar added that authorities have been in contact with the team and have sent officials from the Nigerian mission to provide assistance.
Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa noted that travelling by road in Libya is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.
The team which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for its return match had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match.
The implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya , considering the situation of the war-torn country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advice appropriately.
Already, the players, the pilots and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest and other means of communication.
“The team were delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason”
The Super Eagles flight was redirected air borne on Sunday and they were required to travel by road to their destination.
However, there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was frustrated.
Sports
Manchester City lose ground in EPL title race
Defeat is Manchester City’s third consecutive since their seven-match winning run ended at Aston Villa.
Manchester City suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at Nottinghaam Forest in the English Premier League on Saturday night.
Liam Delap’s brace and Jair Cunha’s opener ensured Forest claimed maximum points against the fumbling former EPL champions riddled with defensive lapses.
Forest took the lead on eight minutes through defender Cunha who dispossessed Josko Gvardiol close to the penalty area, before slotting a low shot beyond the goalkeeper from just inside the box.
Delap doubled the lead with a rasping drive on 18 minutes after he stole the ball from City’s hesitant players.
The visitors reduced the deficit on 52 minutes from Ryan Cherki’s half-voley that nestled into the top of the net, but a defiant Forest regained the two-goal lead on 72 minutes through Delap.
The former Chelsea striker completed his brace with a piledriver into the top corner from Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass off a counter attack.
Defeat is Manchester City’s third consecutive since their seven-match winning run ended at Aston Villa.
City also lose three on the bounce for the first time since 2024, and are six points off the pace behind EPL leaders Arsenal.Nottingham Forest however climb out of the relegation waters with a first win in six matches.
Sports
Nigeria Wins First U-17 Women’s World Cup By 2:1 Against Japan
The Japanese side pushed for an equaliser, but Nigeria held on to secure the 2-1 victory.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have defeated Japan 2-1 to win the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Flamingos secured the historic victory on Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, in Rabat, to claim their first title in the competition.
Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 39th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of the Japanese goalkeeper.
Nigeria doubled their advantage shortly after the restart, with Oluebube Umejiaku finding the net in the 47th minute to put the Flamingos in control.
Japan fought back and reduced the deficit through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute.

The Japanese side pushed for an equaliser, but Nigeria held on to secure the 2-1 victory. The Flamingos also came close to extending their lead late in the game, striking the crossbar from a corner kick.
Sports
JUST IN: Ronaldo Ends 23-year Portugal Career, Hangs National Team Boots
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41, bringing an end to a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner confirmed the decision in an emotional Instagram video on Thursday, saying he was ready to “hand back the number seven shirt” of the national team.
Ronaldo leaves the stage as the all-time leading scorer and most-capped player in men’s international football, with 146 goals in 234 appearances. He captained Portugal to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 and later helped the side win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
His final appearance for the Seleção came on 24 September 2026 in a 1-0 Nations League victory over Wales. The announcement follows a public falling-out with head coach Jorge Jesus during the September international break, after which Ronaldo left the team camp and received a 30-day suspension and fine.
In his farewell message, Ronaldo said: “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it… Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone — they are also made with the heart.”
Ronaldo will continue playing at club level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
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