The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Disciplinary Committee has dismissed the case brought by Rivers United over the eligibility of a player, who was featured in the match day 15 of the NPFL game with Shooting Stars Sports Club.

In their case, Rivers United brought before the Committee the eligibility of Player Hadi Mohammed, Jersey No. 4 to play Match Day 15 for 3SC.

In their ruling, the committee decided as follows: “The Committee is constrained to recommend any punishment for an act that was not defined as an offence and punishment prescribed in a written law, in this case, the NPFL Framework.

“The Committee finds it difficult to base its judgement based on morality and presumptions. In line with Art. 9.88 of NPFL Framework and Rules, 2023/2024 which provides that a player shall only be registered and play for one club in the league during a season: except properly transferred to another within the season.

“That the player was duly transferred and issued a license by the NPFL framework.

“The protest by Rivers United FC against the summary jurisdiction of the NPFL regarding the match between Rivers United V. 3SC lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.

“That the above decisions are without prejudice to the right of appeal.”

Similarly, the committee also ruled on the eligibility of players; Adeleke Adekunle, Paschal Durugbor, Muhammad Jamil, Ini Edem Ubom, Ejike Uzoechi and Mike Samuel, who featured in the match day 13 of the NPFL between Rivers United and Sporting Lagos.

The committee also dismissed the case brought by Rivers United saying:

“The Committee is constrained to recommend any punishment for an act that was not defined as an offence and punishment prescribed in a written law, in this case, the NPFL Framework.

“The Committee finds it difficult to base its judgement based on morality and presumptions.

“In line with Art. 9.88 of NPFL Framework and Rules, 2023/2024 which provides that a player shall only be registered and play for one club in the league during a season: except properly transferred to another within the season.

“The protest by Rivers United FC against the summary jurisdiction of the NPFL regarding the match between Rivers United FC V. Sporting Lagos FC lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.

“That the above decisions are without prejudice to the right of appeal.”

Bayer Leverkusen Coach Xabi Alonso has said Victor Boniface is expected to return from injury end of March.

Boniface has been sidelined with an adductor injury since January, which he sustained while on international duty with the Super Eagles.

He had a successful surgery and has commenced rehabilitation for his recovery.

According to an update emanating from BayArena the home of the German Bundesliga side, Boniface should be back in action by the end of this month.

This means he could be fit for the Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim on March 30, the game after the international break.

The 22-year-old returned to running duties last week and is ahead of schedule. If not Hoffenheim, then potentially against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the DFB Pokal on April 3.

Boniface has scored 24 goals contributions (16 goals and eight assists) in 23 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season.

Leverkusen travel to Qarabag on Thursday evening in the Europa League.

Also, they are in the DFB Pokal semi-finals, and sit 10 points clear of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, meaning they are unbeaten under Xabi Alonso this season and are on course for a treble.

The Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) has announced that Nigeria will be sending a contingent of over 358 athletes participating in 25 different sports to the 13th African Games.

In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos, the Public Relations Officer of NOC, Mr Tony Nezianya, disclosed that the games are scheduled to take place from March 8 to 23 in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast.

“Nigeria is competing in 25 sports at the event. Nigerian athletes were accredited at the delegation registration meeting conducted on March 4,” he said.

In terms of individual sports athletes, Team Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Karate lead the pack with 14 athletes each, while Arm Wrestling boasts 15 athletes.

Weightlifting and badminton each field a 12-member team, boxing has 11 pugilists, judo is represented by 10 athletes, and Scrabble has eight members.

They are as follows:

Arm Wrestling – 15 athletes

Athletics – 50

Badminton – 12

Basketball 3 x 3 – 4 female

Beach Volleyball – 4

Boxing – 11

Chess – 4

Cricket – 15

Cycling – 12

Hockey – 32

Football – 40

Handball – 14

Judo – 10

Karate – 14

Mixed Martial Arts – 4

Rugby – 16

Scrabble – 8

Swimming – 4

Table Tennis – 10

Taekwondo – 14

Tennis – 8

Triathlon – 4

Volleyball – 24

Weightlifting – 12

Wrestling – 14

Head Coach Isah Ladan Bosso has picked goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu, captain Daniel Bameyi, Enyimba midfielder Daniel Daga and forwards Charles Agada and Olalekan Ibrahim in his list of 20 players of the Flying Eagles for the men’s football event of the 13th African Games taking place in Ghana.

Bosso has also picked defenders Musa Abdullahi and Godwin Sampson, midfielders Favour Izuogu and Ibrahim Idris, and forwards Nasir Muhammed and Sunday Joseph.

Nigeria will contend with Uganda, South Sudan, Senegal and Tunisia in Group B of the men’s football event starting on Thursday, with the Nigeria squad scheduled to depart from Abuja on Tuesday. Matches will take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Legon.

Meanwhile Ghana, Congo, Benin Republic and The Gambia are the teams in Group A, with the Accra Sports Stadium as venue.

Nigeria emerged runners-up of the men’s football event of the 12th African Games held in Rabat, Morocco in October 2019, losing to Burkina Faso in the final.

20 FLYING EAGLES FOR AFRICAN GAMES:

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu, Clinton Ezekiel, Samuel James.

Defenders: Daniel Bameyi, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Oladapo Akintola, Godwin Sampson, Haruna Aliyu, Rabiu Abdullahi.

Midfielders: Daniel Daga, Favour Izuogu, Auwal Ibrahim, Yinka Oladunjoye, Sulaiman Idris

Forwards: Kehinde Ibrahim, Charles Agada, Nasir Muhammed, Sunday Joseph, Olalekan Ibrahim, Sadiq Isiyaka.

Rivers United staged a comeback to claim a 2-1 victory over Dreams FC in their final group stage fixture of the CAF Confederations Cup.

Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United needed a victory to scale through to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup, but they were faced with a Dreams FC side that defeated them in the first leg.

However, they bounced back in the second half. Deputy Echeta scored the equalizer for Rivers United in the 61st minute to set up a frenetic end to the game.

Dream FC tried different antics to waste time, but Rivers United kept pushing.

They eventually got the winning goal in the 10th minute of stoppages, as Kazie Godswill benefitted from a goalmouth struggle and struck from inside the box to make it 2-1.

Rivers United thus finished second in Group C on 12 points from six matches after group winners Dreams FC enjoyed a better goal difference.

Lobito of Angola pulled off a major surprise in Tunisia where they forced home team Club Africain to a 1-1 draw.

The Tunisians finished in third place on 10 points, while Lobito were bottom with a point.

The win secures NPFL four slots on the continent for next season, two teams in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup for next season.

Nigeria National League, NNL, side Ikorodu City FC has announced the departure of its head coach, Sadiq Dabiri after a meeting with the board by mutual agreement.

Coach Dabiri has been with the club since its inception in 2022. He started as first assistant coach and became the club head coach in 2023.

According to the club, “Dabiri has been a huge part of the club’s success, and the entire management and staff of the club wish him well as he progresses in his career.

However, the Club has announced the appointment of Bright Ozegbagbei, as their new first-team manager.

Bright, who was the first assistant coach to former head coach, Sadiq Dabiri, since 2022, has now been saddled with the responsibilities of handling the team.

The club has also appointed former MFM FC and Gateway United assistant coach, Rasheed Bamgbose, to work with Bright as assistant coach.

Both coaches have resumed their roles immediately, as the team set to complete its journey, in the Nigeria National League (NNL) 2023/24 season, with a trip to Crown FC, Ogbomoso on Saturday 2nd March 2024.

Jose Peseiro has announced his departure as the head coach of the Super Eagles following his contract expiration with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The 63-year-old Portuguese led the Nigerian national team to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but lost to the host nation Cote d’Ivoire with Franck Kessie and Sébastien Haller’s goal after Ekong gave the Super Eagles an early lead.

Peseiro took over as head coach of the Nigerian team in May 2022 after Austin Eguavoen vacated the position.

Peseiro took charge of the Eagles in 22 games, won 11, lost seven and drew four.

A post on his X handle reads: “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfilment.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure.

“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”

Tokyo Olympics 100m finalist, Enoch Adegoke has set a target to break multiple records at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Recall that Adegoke made history in 2021 as the first Nigerian man in 25 years to run in the final of the 100m event at the Olympics after Davidson Ezinwa in 1996.

In an exclusive interview with newsmen the 2019 African U20 100m champion expressed readiness to surpass his Personal Best and eye a record-breaking future.

The Nigerian athlete, who is training at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja ahead of the Games said preparations are in top gear, with the support of his coaches.

He noted that he is dedicated to give his best at the Games through hard work, discipline and paying the ultimate sacrifice where needed.

“The preparation is going fine and being in camp is another opportunity to get focused, get myself prepared having not to think about anything but to come here and train.


“I trust God to have a good performance in either the flats or relays that I will be running. I will try my best, give my own quota to the best of the team.

“On my part, getting myself better in training and also listening to my coaches instructions is something I know, I have to get better on as well. It is just my own part, getting training, more disciplined, more dedicated and of course, sacrifice where I need to.

“My current Personal Best is 9.98s in 100m and 21.0s over 200m and I trust God by the end of the season, I should be able to get far lower than that. By God’s grace, I am targeting a minimum of 9.8s at the end of the season and over 200m, I just want to run a 20.0s to be sincere. I know it is achievable.

“Initially, it was a very bad one for me because I felt getting to the finals and having to get injured. Thinking of it overtime, I just saw it as an opportunity to experience the grace of God. Being the first person in over 25 years to get to the 100m finals in Olympics, it was a great one.”

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye who appears to have fallen down the ladder in the pecking order, has revealed the pain of having to watch the just ended 34th AFCON from home.

Maduka Okoye at one time was seen as the best thing to happen to the Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeping department but suddenly fell off the radar due to inconsistent performance.

Okoye was part of the Super Eagles team in the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon but missed the last edition in Ivory Coast.

The 24-year-old who made his international debut for Nigeria on October 13, 2019, lost his place in the team after the 2021 AFCON in which he made a blunder against Tunisia in the round of 16.

Hence, most football fans from Nigeria blamed the Udinese goalkeeper when the country crashed out of the tournament thanks to the 1-0 defeat in the round of 16.

Since then, he has been in and out of the squad as coach Jose Peseiro preferred to use Omonia keeper, Francis Uzoho ahead of Maduka Okoye.

Ultimately, Coach Jose Peseiro left out Okoye in his 2023 AFCON squad and went with Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali.

The Portuguese tactician depended on Nwabali who gave a very good account of himself as he led the Super of Nigeria to the AFCON final which they lost 2-1 to the hosts, Ivory Coast on February 11, 2024.

“I am very well now. I feel 100 percent. The national team is an important thing for me and I want to return as soon as possible,” Okoye told his club, Udinese, official website.

“It was hard watching the Africa Cup of Nations from home, but this is football.”

Note that Maduka Okoye left English Championship club Watford for Udinese on August 24, 2023. Since then, the German-born goalkeeper has made 10 appearances in all competitions in which he conceded 14 goals and kept three clean sheets.

If he returns to the national team anytime soon, he will have to battle Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali for the first-choice goalkeeper role in the team.

It was a mixed feeling for the Ex-Nigerian International Odion Jude Ighalo as his goal counted for little in Al Wehdah’s defeat.

The Saudi Pro League went down on Monday evening and it was Al Wehdah who played away to Al Ittihad.

It was Ighalo who netted the opening goal just after the half-hour mark to silence the home crowd, his 10th goal of the season.

Former Algerian International Hamdallah scored twice late in the game to hand Al Wehdah a 2-1 defeat.

Ighalo has become a household name in the Saudi Pro League having played for Al Shabbab and Al Hilal in the past.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have progressed into the Paris 2024 final qualifying round after a 1-0 win against Cameroon in Abuja on Monday.

The Falcons went into the second leg of the third round tie needing a win after holding Cameroon to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture in Douala.

The Super Falcons started the game on the front foot and took the lead in the 14th minute through Esther Okoronkwo.

Okoronkwo, who was named ahead of Asisat Oshoala in the starting line-up, hit the target following a goalmouth scramble.

The hosts piled more pressure on the Indomitable Lionesses carving out further chances.

Juventus midfielder, Jennifer Echegini came close to doubling Nigeria’s lead a minute after the hour mark but was denied from close range by the Cameroon goalkeeper.

Okoronkwo wasted a glorious chance to double the Super Falcons lead six minutes before the break.

The forward was set up by a delightful long ball from Ashleigh Plumptre but she blasted over the bar.

Nigeria made a substitution four minutes before the break with Halimat Ayinde replacing Oluwatosin Demehin

No goal was recorded in the second half.

Cameroon star Enganemben Annie was sent off for unsporting conduct late in stoppage time.

However, it was a sweet revenge for the Falcons, The last time the Falcons faced Cameroon in the qualifiers for the Olympics was in the race for the London 2012 games.

After the first leg ended 2-1 in favour of the Falcons, the Cameroonians also won the second leg 2-1 before going on to win on penalty shootout and qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

The Falcons are seeking a first Olympic appearance since Beijing 2008 games.

They will face the winner between South Africa and Tanzania in the final qualifying round.

The South Africans won the first leg 3-0 away and are heavily fancied to go through.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has confirmed the death of his father, Phillip.

The one-time Hapoel Tel Aviv shot-stopper made the announcement via a post he shared on his Instagram account on Saturday.

It would be recalled that Enyeama lost his mother in 2015, two years after helping Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for a third time in South Africa.

Pa Philip Enyeama was a retired coach who played a significant role in nurturing Enyeama into becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated goalkeepers.

The retired goalkeeper made this known in a tribute alongside a video of himself and his late father playing Table Tennis which was shared on his Instagram account on Saturday.

He wrote, “To God be the glory for a life well spent. You were the reason a lot of people achieved what they achieved. You were selfless and generous. You stood in for many, you fought for many to achieve their dreams.

“I am proud to have been fathered by you. It’s a series. Your number was called. Farewell. God rest your soul in peace.

Enyeama was regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in Africa, The 41-year-old lifted three Nigeria Premier League titles and two CAF Champions League honours with Enyimba before leaving the country’s shores in 2005.

He won two Israeli Premier League titles with two clubs – Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel-Aviv – and another two Israel State Cups with the former.

Enyeama is one of the most revered goalkeepers in Lille’s history after his exploits with the French club saw him win the prestigious Prix Marc-Vivien Foé in 2014.

In March 2023, the IFFHS named Enyeama the Greatest African Goalkeeper of all Time.

Former Everton striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has name his premier league African best players, claiming Liverpool winger Mohammed Salah is not world-class.

Yak has Aiyegbeni been fondly called during his playing days ranks fifth on the list of African footballers with the most Premier League goals.

Salah is ahead of the Nigerian with 154 goals in 252 appearances and still counting.

However, Aiyegbeni has listed players like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Sadio Mane as better than Salah.

“Salah is not world-class in my opinion. He is not good with the ball, and the majority of his goals are lucky goals.

“The greatest African players in the Premier League are Okocha, Drogba, Kanu, Yaya Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Sadio Mane,” Yakubu said on Talksport in quotes revealed via Football Factly.

Rivers United Captain Nyima Nwagua has conveyed his unwavering optimism regarding the team’s chances of qualification, ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup match this weekend against Academica Petroleos Clube do Lobito(Angola).

The “Os Estudantes” will host the “Pride of Nigeria” on Sunday February 25 at the Luanda-Estadio 11 de Novemb. Kickoff time is 5pm (local time) and 5pm (Nigeria time).

With the group standings still open, the captain underscored the team’s belief in their capabilities and highlighted the unpredictable nature of football.

Speaking on behalf of the squad, Nwagua expressed their collective commitment to giving their all on the field in pursuit of qualification.

He emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, labelling it as a “must-win” encounter for Rivers United to bolster their chances of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.

“Because right now, it’s a must-win for us. The team is condemned to win in the B2 so that we can have an edge to the next stage.

And by the special grace of God, every player in the team knows what we are expecting, and everybody in the team knows what is at stake. We’ll try to get it right and push it from there.”

In the same vein, The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has appointed Mr Abdulrazg Ahmed from Libya as the Referee for 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup Group C matchday 5 tie between Academica Petroleos Clube do Lobito(Angola) and Rivers United FC(Nigeria).

He will be assisted by compatriots Attia M Essa Amsaaed (Assistant Referee 1) and Alayat Mohammed Munji (Assistant Referee 2), while Elmabrouk Muhammad will serve as the fourth official.
The match will be commissioned by Fernando Alexandre Massave from Mozambique.

The high-profile friendly between the Super Eagles and world champions Argentina will be played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, United States of America, on Tuesday, March 26.

The friendly was earlier scheduled to be held in China but was canceled following discord between Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Chinese authorities.

It will be the Super Eagles’ first outing since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, where they lost 2 goals to 1.

Nigeria and Argentina have met eight times in the past, with the latter recording six wins.

The Super Eagles have defeated La Albiceleste twice.

The 3rd best football nation in Africa Super Eagles will use the game to prepare for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers coming up in June against South Africa and Benin Republic.