Tag: super eagles

Categories
Sport News

Super Eagles Can Still Secure 2026 World Cup Ticket – Mikel Obi Says

John Mikel Obi, a former Super Eagles captain, has expressed confidence that the team still has a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles currently occupy third position in Group C with 11 points from eight games.

Eric Chelle’s side are poised to take on the Crocodiles of Lesotho, and Squirrels of Benin Republic in their last two games in the qualifying series.

They will be guests of Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane on Friday.

The Super Eagles will round up their qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Benin Republic next week Tuesday.

Mikel said the players must take responsibility, and fight for the nation.

“It’s going to be a crime, an absolute crime, if Nigeria doesn’t make it to the World Cup again,” Mikel said on the ObiOne Podcast.

“We love our football too much. Our World Cup fate is in the players’ hands. They have to win these two games—no excuses.”

Categories
Sport News

AFCON: Why Ola Aina Struggled Against Ivory Coast’s Adingra In Final – Iwobi Opens Up

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has explained why his teammate Ola Aina found it difficult to contain Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra in the final of the last Africa Cup of Nations.

On February 11, 2024, Aina, who had been one of the AFCON’s most consistent performers, had a difficult moment playing against Adingra.

The Nottingham Forest defender failed to keep out Adingra as the winger provided the assist for both goals as the Ivory Coast overturned a deficit to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final.

However, Iwobi has now revealed that Aina’s poor display in the AFCON final was because of an injury.

“For those that don’t know, I am sure Ola has already put it out there in many different podcasts and interviews,” Iwobi said on Episode 2 of The Bassey and Iwobi Show.

“He played with a grade 2c hamstring injury — I don’t know how.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria has already qualified for the 2025 AFCON taking place in Morocco and will hope to win it this time around.

Categories
Entertainment News

I Was Kicked Out Of Super Eagles For Not Passing Ball To Yekini – Siasia Opens Up

Former Super Eagles forward, Samson Siasia, has revealed the reasons behind his removal from the national team during a stage of his playing career.

It was one of the most difficult moments of the former striker’s football career.

Siasia said that it was simply because he refused to pass the ball to his teammate, Rashidi Yekini that saw him temporarily dropped from the team.

Siasia, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles, was reflecting on the golden generation of the national team between 1990 and 1998,

Siasia told Emmanuel Babayaro on UTVAfrica that it was normal for him not to pass the ball to Yekini, insisting that the striker failed to utilise earlier chances he had created.

The striker spoke about his on-pitch relationship with the late Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.

It was during a 1994 World Cup qualifier with Nigeria playing against Ivory Coast at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan.

Siasia preferred to shoot instead of passing to the better-positioned Yekini.

Then national team boss, Clemens Westerhof saw this as a selfish display and dropped Siasia from his squad.

“I am a striker. Rashidi Yekini won’t give me that ball if it was him, that’s the truth,” he said.

“Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score. Rashidi has been one of the greatest strikers ever I have played with. May his soul rest in peace.

“My downtimes? First was when I didn’t pass the ball to Rashidi Yekini and they had to kick me out of the team and I had to hustle myself back into the team. Trying times are always there to make you stronger.

“A lot of people talked about why I didn’t pass the ball to Rashidi Yekini. The one I passed to him he couldn’t even score too, so things happen, we don’t take it personal.”

Categories
Sport News

Super Eagles Slip To 45th Position In Latest FIFA Ranking

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have slipped one place in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings released on Thursday.

Previously ranked 44th, the three-time African champions now sit in 45th position in the world.

The Super Eagles also dropped to sixth position in Africa.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco are the highest ranked African team (11th position).

Terangha Lions of Senegal, Pharaohs of Egypt, Desert Foxes of Algeria, and Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire complete the top five African teams on the ranking.

The Super Eagles were in action recently in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.

Eric Chelle’s side defeated the Amavubi 1-0 in Uyo, and held Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein.

European champions, Spain replace Argentina at the top of the ranking, ending the South American’s two-year reign.

Slovakia are the biggest risers, climbing 10 places.

Categories
Sport News

NFF Denies Knowledge Of Press Statement Criticizing Dessers And Troost-Ekong After Bafana vs Super Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disowned a post-match statement that criticized Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong and striker Cyriel Dessers after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in the Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The statement, purportedly issued under the name of NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Troost-Ekong for the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.

It read in part: “Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he was a substitute that was substituted, did not have a better game as he was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack.”

On Troost-Ekong, it added: “The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain William Ekong inadvertently swept the ball into his own net in the 25th minute, wrong-footing Stanley Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus.”

However, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, has stated that the statement did not represent the official position of the Federation.

“I saw the release just like everyone else did. Nobody in the Federation is happy with it; the NFF did not authorise that statement. We have great respect for all the players. Blaming an individual for a team result is unfair.

“When we win, it’s a team victory. When we lose, it’s also collective. No player should be singled out. Ekong’s own goal was unfortunate—his intention was to clear the ball. Anyone who knows football understands that such things happen,” Sanusi said.

He further assured that the Federation remains united and focused on the remaining qualifiers and the upcoming AFCON 2025 in Morocco.

“Our house is in order. We’re preparing for the rest of the qualifiers and the AFCON in Morocco. There’s no problem with our players or coaching crew. The government and the NFF are proud of the players’ efforts,” he added.

Sanusi confirmed that internal disciplinary action would be taken over the unauthorised release.

“I can assure you the NFF will take action on the matter,” he stated.

The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, while South Africa lead with 17 points. Nigeria must win their remaining fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October and hope other results go in their favour to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Categories
Sport News

Why We Got A Draw Against Super Eagles – Bafana Bafana Coach

Hugo Broos, the Bafana Bafana head coach, has commended his players for matching Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash was fiercely contested, with William Troost-Ekong inadvertently turning the ball into his own net in the 25th minute to hand South Africa the lead. Nigeria responded just before half-time through a powerful header from Calvin Bassey.

Broos revealed he had warned his players ahead of the encounter to prepare for a physically demanding contest against the Nigerians.

“It was a match like I expected—very physical, much harder from the opponent. In the second half they tried to win with power football, but we did a very good job also,” Broos told SABC Sport.

“We had the power in our team as well. We fought for it. I told the players before the game, if you can’t win with good football, you have to do it with fighting. That’s exactly what they did. In the second half, they fought for every ball, every metre. Some players were completely exhausted but still sprinted. That shows their determination.”

The Belgian tactician emphasised the importance of the result in their qualification bid.

“This is a group that wants to go to the World Cup. Today was a crucial game. It was a draw—Nigeria stay on six points. Now it’s up to us to win one more game and then we have qualified.”

Broos also highlighted the team’s growth and maturity, contrasting it with their struggles in past years.

“Three, four years ago, when we played this kind of match, we always lost it. But today, we showed maturity. Our football was less, but the team spirit and fighting spirit were there. We were ready for the physical battle, and you can see what you can achieve when you fight together.”

Categories
Sport News

2026 WCQ: Nigeria’s 1-1 Draw With South Africa Good Result – Super Eagles Coach, Chelle

Eric Chelle, Super Eagles coach has reacted to Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier 1-1 draw with South Africa.
Recall that the game was played on Tuesday.
Chelle spoke to reporters at his post-match interview after the game at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Recall that William Troost-Ekong’s own-goal gave Bafana Bafana the lead in the 22nd minute.
But Calvin Bassey equalized for the Super Eagles before half time.
Both teams failed to score in the second half as the match ended in a draw after normal time.
 
“At the beginning in the second half we put alot of pressure on South Africa but missing something maybe the last technical skills, maybe the last pass,” Chelle said.
“So the draw with a good result, to get a draw in South Africa, it’s a good result but for us we wanted to win, so we are a little dissapointed but this is football.”
Chelle’s side are in their position with 11 points with two games left, while South Africa and Benin Republic have 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Categories
Sport News

2026 WCQ: Super Eagles Jet Off To South Africa For Bafana Clash

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have traveled to South Africa for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Bafana Bafana.

The contingent left for South Africa aboard a ValueJet Airline.

22 players made the trip, alongside technical crew members, officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and supporters club members.

Talismanic forward Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of the game due to injury.

Osimhen picked up the injury in the first half of Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday.

South Africa and Nigeria will clash in a matchday eight encounter at the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

The highly anticipated encounter will kick-off at 5pm Nigeria time.

Categories
Sport News

2026 WCQs: Arokodare’s strike helps Super Eagles edge Rwanda 1-0

Nigeria’s Super Eagles picked a crucial 1-0 win over Rwanda’s Amavubi in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Saturday, thanks to Tolu Arokodare.

Arokodare’s lone goal proved decisive, handing Nigeria another three points in Group C and keeping their qualification hopes alive.

Arokodare, starting as a substitute, broke the deadlock in the 50th minute.

The win moves Nigeria to 10 points in seven games, closing the gap on leaders South Africa, who have 16, and Benin Republic with 11. Meanwhile, Rwanda stays on eight.

The Super Eagles will next face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Tuesday, in an away encounter.

Categories
Sport News

2026 WCQ: Chelle Releases Final Super Eagles 23-Man List For Rwanda, S/Africa Showdown

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has unveiled his final 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa scheduled for next month.

While there are the regulars included, there are also notable omissions.

The likes of Bayer Leverkusen duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella have been left out. Also Sadiq Umar of Real Sociedad would not be playing any part.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali makes the final cut, just as defenders Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze and Cyriel Dessers.

The selected 23 include:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium).

About Us

626blaze is an entertainment and lifestyle website that brings you latest gist and scoops from the world of music, fashion, movies, sports and social commentary.

Categories

Subscribe to our Newsletters