Category: Sports

World Cup Hope: How Play-offs Offer the Super Eagles a Path to Qualification

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With a hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a late goal from Frank Onyeka to secure a play-off position, Nigeria defeated Benin 4-0 in Uyo, preserving their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. OLAMIDE ABE examines how the Super Eagles can secure their spot at the North American global showcase in this explainer. Nigeria’s path to the playoff Nigeria’s hopes of automatic qualification also hinged on the result of the match between South Africa and Rwanda in Mbombela. The Super Eagles needed Bafana Bafana to drop points, but Hugo…

2026 WCQ: Live updates – Nigeria 4-0 Benin Republic

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At Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the Super Eagles and the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic will square off in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match. The Eagles confirmed four changes from their previous victory over Lesotho in a post on Super Eagles X’s handle on Tuesday. Wilfred Ndidi was designated captain for the match. The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that Victor Osimhen will join Akor Adams in attack, and Moses Simon will make his 85th appearance for his country. We made four adjustments after defeating Lesotho. Tonight,…

Do-or-Die Showdown: Three Teams Vie for a Single Spot

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The D-day is today. The Super Eagles’ day of reckoning. As the players try to accomplish the nearly impossible feat of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the country is expected to offer prayers for them on this day. Math, momentum, and madness will all be a part of this day, but there will also be drama, uncertainty, and heartache. The Super Eagles’ final Group C matchup with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup…

Peace Before Play: Gattuso ‘Very Happy’ With Gaza Deal Ahead of Israel World Cup Qualifier

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Ahead of his team’s tense 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Israel, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso praised the “beautiful” Gaza peace agreement on Monday. The Azzurri will host Israel on Tuesday in Udine, a small city that will be the site of a pro-Palestinian demonstration and a massive security operation. Approximately 10,000 people, or about 10% of the city’s population, are expected to demonstrate against the match’s staging. In anticipation of a crucial game for Italy’s attempt to qualify for a World Cup after missing the last two, Gattuso hopes…

Nigeria bids to host F1 Grand Prix

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The sport may make its first appearance on the African continent since 1993 as Nigeria formally submitted a bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abuja. Nigeria’s official representative in the discussions, Opus Racing Promotions, made the proposal to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula 1 Management, according to Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission. “This bid goes beyond simply holding a race. It’s about demonstrating Nigeria’s ability, ingenuity, and dedication to building top-notch athletic facilities’, Dikko said. “This project is historic and will…

Osimhen, Lookman Arrive in South Africa for 2026 World Cup Qualifier

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As Nigeria gets ready for Friday’s pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho, at least 17 Super Eagles players, including star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, have arrived in Polokwane, South Africa. A day after the backroom personnel and technical crew arrived to formally establish the team’s facility, the players arrived at camp on Tuesday. William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Frank Onyeka, and Tolu Arokodare are among those who have already arrived at the camp. Goalkeepers…

FIFA U-20 World Cup: Nigeria Draws Colombia 1−1, Advances to Knockout Stage

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Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have advanced to the Round of 16 of the ongoing 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Colombia in the early hours of Monday. At the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, the seven-time African champions put on a spirited effort, with goalie Ebenezer Harcourt making important saves in the 23rd and 26th minutes to keep the scores level during a tight first half. Despite Colombia’s early pressure, the Nigerians were the more inventive team, with Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi, and Suleman Sani…

EPL: Man Utd ‘broken’, needs new engine — Rooney

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Wayne Rooney, the former captain of Manchester United, claims that the team’s identity and spirit have vanished and that he does not believe manager Ruben Amorim can restore things. United’s all-time top scorer called the team “broken” and said that he now goes to games expecting them to lose in an interview with BBC Sounds’ most recent episode of The Wayne Rooney Show. After Manchester United’s 3-1 loss to Brentford on Saturday, they have 34 points from Amorim’s 33 league games in charge and have yet to win back-to-back games,…

Russia, Belarus Get Relief as IPC Lifts Partial Paralympic Ban

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The partial suspension of Russia and Belarus, which has been in place since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was lifted by the International Paralympic Committee on Saturday. Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete under their own flags at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games next year thanks to this decision, which was made at the IPC’s general assembly meeting in Seoul. However, international federations that oversee competition in the six sports on the list have up until now prohibited athletes from Belarus and Russia. Each athlete must…

Key Players Out: Barcelona Rocked By Injuries Before PSG Match

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Barcelona was dealt a double injury blow on Friday, as both goalkeeper Joan Garcia and winger Raphinha were ruled out of future games, including their Champions League matchup with Paris Saint-Germain the next week. Barcelona said in a statement that Raphinha, a Brazilian international, would be sidelined for three weeks due to a hamstring injury he acquired during the Spanish champions’ 3-1 La Liga victory over Real Oviedo on Thursday. Garcia, a Spanish custodian, will be out “four to six weeks” due to a meniscus damage to his left knee,…