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AFCON 2025: Osimhen Becomes New Super Eagles Assistant Captain, Penalty Taker

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has been appointed the Super Eagles’ main assistant captain.

Osimhen, who will deputise for new captain, Wilfred Ndidi is also the Super Eagles’s new penalty taker.

The Super Eagles has went through a new leadership shake up following the retirement of erstwhile captain, William Troost-Ekong.

Troost-Ekong was also the team designated penalty taker before his retirement.

Ndidi was officially named the team’s  new leader last week.

Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon are the two other most senior players in the Super Eagles, having been with the team for almost 10 years.

Iwobi is currently the most capped player in the team, followed by Simon.

According to SCORENigeria, Osimhen was, however, picked because of his whole-hearted commitment to the Super Eagles.

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AFCON 2025: Nwabali Wears New Look Ahead Of Super Eagles vs Tanzania Match

Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has revealed a new look ahead of the team’s opening match against Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Chippa United shot stopper now has a blonde hairstyle.

Nwabali’s new hairstyle has drawn the attention of fans and his teammates.

The new look is a sign of his confidence and readiness for the competition.

The 29-year-old has established himself as a key figure in the Super Eagles since breaking into the team at AFCON 2023.

The former Enyimba and Katsina United goal tender kept four clean sheets in the competition.

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Fuji Legend, KWAM1 Loses Bid To Block Awujale Selection Process

The Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode on Monday declined to grant popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM1, an interim injunction seeking to stop Governor Dapo Abiodun and five others from continuing with the selection and installation of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Ayinde, represented in court by Wahab Shittu (SAN), had sought the injunction pending the hearing of his substantive suit challenging the selection process.

But  Justice A. A. Omoniyi dismissed the application, holding that the interim injunction lacked merit and that there were no strong grounds to justify its grant.

He subsequently ordered the expedited hearing of the substantive matter, fixing 14 January 2026 for proceedings.
KWAM1 had declared his interest in the vacant Awujale stool, claiming lineage from the Jadiara Royal House of the wider Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

However, the Fusengbuwa ruling house rejected his claim, stating that he is not from the royal house.

To challenge what he perceived as injustice, Ayinde filed a suit against the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Governor Abiodun, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and three others.

The other respondents include the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Oke Adebanjo; and the Chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, Dr Olorogun Sunny Kuku.

The suit, HC3/238/2025, was filed ex parte, citing Order 38 Rules 4 and Order 39 Rule 1 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2024, Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction

A copy of the court document dated 16 December 2025 was obtained by our correspondent.

Ayinde urged the court to restrain all respondents from further action on the Awujale selection process to protect his interest and preserve the res from being dissipated or interfered with.

He prayed the court to restrain the respondents, “their agents, or anyone acting on their behalf, from taking any steps in the installation process of the next Awujale of Ijebuland pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The musician said he is an aspirant to the Awujale stool, “and the injunction is necessary to secure his interest and preserve the res from being dissipated or interfered with by the respondents.”

With the interim injunction denied, attention now turns to the substantive hearing

scheduled for 14 January 2026, which will determine the fate of KWAM1’s claim to the Awujale stool.

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Nigerian Man K!lls His Own Cousin Over ₦1,000 Burial Refund In Delta State

A sweet family gathering in Delta State ended in tragedy after a 47-year-old man allegedly killed his first cousin during a heated dispute over the refund of a ₦1,000 contribution.

The incident, which occurred on December 12, 2025, in Ughelli South, was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, in a video shared on X on Monday.

According to Edafe, the family had recently returned from the burial of a relative and convened a meeting.

The atmosphere, however, soured when a dispute broke out regarding a ₦1,000 contribution refund.

“This young man was dragging and bringing all down fire and brimstone that they must give him back his 1,000,” Edafe said.

He continued, “In the process of dragging, he started fighting. Somewhere along the line, according to him, while he was trying to wriggle his way out of the fight, he used his hand to hit one of the brothers, a relative of his, who eventually died.

“Now, N1,000 argument has led to the death of a family member. He was being cautioned even by this very guy who eventually passed.

“The spirit that possessed him, according to him, would not allow him to listen to the voice of wisdom. The man who died is 42 years. Somebody has died just because of N1,000.”

The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Ezekiel, expressed remorse while speaking and claimed that the death was accidental.

He admitted that several relatives, including the deceased, had pleaded with him to calm down.

“It was by mistake. I didn’t know when I hit him,” he said.

Ezekiel explained that the ₦1,000 in question was a contribution made for the burial rites, which is traditionally refunded to the owner after the ceremony.

“After everything, they always shared it. That’s how we return the money to the owner,” he stated.

Edafe used the tragic incident to urge the public to exercise emotional restraint even in the face of minor provocations.

“Mine is to talk to our listeners to understand the importance of controlling your temper. You have to calm down. Any form of fighting could lead to death. It can turn into manslaughter. It could turn to murder. Please, a word they say is enough for the wise. Prevention is better than cure,” Edafe concluded.

Watch the video below:

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How Jay Jay Okocha Reacted After Being Asked To Compare Current Super Eagles Squad To The 1996 Olympic Winning Team (Video)

Legendary Nigerian midfielder Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has delivered a harsh critique of the current Super Eagles squad, insisting they would not measure up to the iconic team that won Olympic gold in 1996.

Okocha, a central figure in that famous side, spoke with unmistakable confidence when asked to compare the present national team with the celebrated Dream Team that conquered the football world at the Atlanta Olympics.

The 1996 squad is widely regarded as one of the finest collections of talent Nigeria has ever assembled. That generation featured a glittering list of stars, including Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu, players whose influence shaped Nigerian football for years.

Their Olympic triumph remains a landmark moment in African football history. Nigeria defeated global giants Brazil and Argentina on their way to winning Africa’s first Olympic gold medal in football. The dramatic semi-final victory over Brazil still lives vividly in the memories of Nigerian fans.

In his recent remarks, Okocha dismissed any suggestion that the current Super Eagles could compete with his generation if both teams were at their peak.

“They stand no chance. It’s the number of goals that they will concede we should be talking about,” Okocha said.

“These are small boys. We are talking about Yekini, Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West I don’t even want to talk about myself. These boys are learners.”

 

The present Super Eagles squad is not short of quality. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen remains one of the most feared forwards in world football, while Ademola Lookman recently claimed the African Player of the Year award organised by the Confederation of African Football. The team also includes established names such as Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze and Ola Aina.

However, Okocha’s criticism goes beyond individual talent and points to achievements on the biggest stages. Members of the 1996 Olympic team were part of Nigeria’s first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 1994 and also lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in the same year.

By comparison, the current Super Eagles have struggled in recent World Cup qualification campaigns and are still chasing continental glory. Despite finishing close on a few occasions, an AFCON title has continued to elude them.

Attention now turns to the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Super Eagles will hope to silence critics and carve out an identity capable of standing alongside Nigeria’s golden generation.

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Entertainment News

Nigerian Singer Flavour Warms Hearts As He Serenades His Daughter During Rehearsal (Video)

Flavour, the popular Nigerian singer, melted hearts during a rehearsal as he stopped to serenade his eldest daughter.

While rehearsing with his dancers, the highlife star performed Ada Bekee from his new album.

In a tender moment, he turned to his daughter and sang directly to her, adding a brief dance as she watched shyly and blushed.

The sweet father-daughter interaction quickly caught attention online, with fans praising the singer for balancing stardom with visible affection and warmth at home.

Watch the video below:

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Nollywood Actress, Doris Ogala Released Two Days After Arrest Amid Pastor Chris Okafor Controversy

Nigerian actress Doris Ogala has been released from police custody.

Doris was released on Monday after spending two days in police detention.

Earlier, 626Blaze reported that Doris was arrested on Saturday evening after calling out a popular Lagos-based pastor, Chris Okafor, on social media for allegedly deceiving her with a marriage promise, among other allegations.

Her arrest sparked diverse reactions from Nigerians, with many online personalities including VeryDarkMan calling for her release.

Celebrating her release, Doris in a post on her Instagram page Monday afternoon, thanked human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore and VeryDarkMan for their efforts.

In the short post, she wrote “Thank you Sowore. Thanks so much to my ratel king.”

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AFCON: What I’ll Do If Nwabali Starts For Nigeria Ahead Of Me – Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Uzoho Speaks

Francis Uzoho, the Super Eagles goalkeeper, has said he will back his teammate Stanley Nwabali if the Chippa United shot-stopper is chosen to start ahead of him again at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Uzoho had been Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper in the past, but lost the position to Nwabali after several errors.

The Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper’s last appearance for the Super Eagles came during the 2023 AFCON Round of 16 tie against Cameroon.

Recall that Uzoho came off the bench for the final 10 minutes of the encounter after Nwabali picked up an injury.

Speaking to Elegbete TV Sports ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON opener against Tanzania on Tuesday, Uzoho said he would support Nwabali if Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle decides to start him.

“I’m at my fourth AFCON, it’s a thing of joy for me, and also, I thank God for giving me the strength to be always fit whenever the time comes, and it’s a good feeling,” Uzoho said.

“In every position on the team, we have two or three great players in that position.

“The competition has to be there, so when he [Nwabali] was chosen, I gave him my support, and if he’s chosen again, it’s the same,” he said.

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Nigeria Retains 38th Spot In Latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking

Nigeria has maintained its spot in the December 2025 FIFA men’s world rankings, remaining 38th globally, according to the latest update released on Monday.

With no competitive matches played since the previous ranking, Super Eagles maintained their November points tally of 1,502.

The country is currently fifth among African nations, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria.

Morocco remains Africa’s highest-ranked team, sitting 11th in the world, while Senegal occupies the 19th spot globally. Algeria and Egypt are ranked 34th and 35th, respectively, with Nigeria following at 38th.

Other African teams in the top 10 continentally include Tunisia,  41st globally, Côte d’Ivoire, 42nd, Mali, 53rd, DR Congo, 56th, and Cameroon, 57th globally.

Globally, Spain continues to lead the rankings, having reclaimed the top spot from Argentina in September 2025.

France completes the podium in third place, while England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia occupy the remaining top 10 positions, all unchanged from the previous ranking.

The December 2025 edition, the last of the year, follows 42 international fixtures, with the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 having taken centre stage.

Morocco’s victory at the tournament brought them close to breaking into the top 10 for the first time since April 1998, trailing Croatia by just 0.54 points.

Standout performers of 2025 include Kosovo, who climbed 19 places to 80th after an impressive year, recording seven wins and two draws in 10 matches.

Norway (29th) and Suriname (123rd) also made significant progress, while Jordan (64th), Vietnam (107th), and Singapore (148th) recorded the largest upward movements in December, climbing two to three spots each.

Nigeria’s retention of its global ranking reflects stability but underscores the need to improve the team’s standing during the ongoing AFCON 2025.

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FG Declares Holidays For Christmas, New Year Celebrations

The Federal Government has announced that Wednesday, December 25, and Thursday, December 26, 2025, will be public holidays in observance of Christmas and Boxing Day.

The government also declared Wednesday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.

The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

According to the statement, the minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.

Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security and national progress.

He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

More to come…

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