The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

Tinubu hails Eagles’ resilience towards W’Cup 2026 qualification

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Super Eagles for their emphatic 4–0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, describing the performance as a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s enduring football spirit and national pride.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the World Cup qualifying match in Uyo.

According to the President, the team’s dominant display rekindled optimism among Nigerians and strengthened belief in the Super Eagles’ qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read Also: NFF to review Chelle’s contract next month

“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” the President said.

“The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host”, he said.

President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of the Federal Government’s full support as they continue their qualification journey.

“As your President, I assure you and the coaching crew of the Federal Government’s support as you strive to secure your place at the tournament. Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too. We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage,” he added.

October 15, 2025
Proud Broos in Cloud Nine over Bafana’s W’Cup 26 qualification

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said South Africa’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the result of all the work over the last three years.

There was a lot riding for Bafana before the match after Friday’s goalless draw against Zimbabwe in Durban put their qualifying hopes in doubt.

However, Bafana turned up and blew the Amavubi away with three unanswered goals to claim top spot in Group C ahead of Nigeria, who thrashed Benin 4-0 in the day’s other clash.

“It feels wonderful. We all knew that we could do it, we believed in ourselves and I think you saw it from the beginning of the game that we wanted to win the game,” Broos told SABC Sport.

“The only thing was what happened in Nigeria so Nigeria did what they had to do and we did what we had to do so we’re going to the World Cup fantastic.”

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The balance, will-power and overall exuberance of the Bafana team stems from three years of work, identifying the right players and didn’t come together overnight.

“You know, the age doesn’t matter, it doesn’t. It’s the talent, mentality and this is something also with the young players today – they have the right mentality and have the talent and then you can make a good team and I think we did that in the last three years,” he added.

“We changed players and every time it was the right choice, so what happened today was work from three years now, I think the future looks very bright for South African football so let’s do a nice and good AFCON in December and then we go to America.”

October 15, 2025
Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire book tickets to W’CUP 2026

Senegal secured a runaway 4-0 victory over neighbours Mauritania to finish top of their qualifying group and reach next year’s World Cup finals.

Senegal were quarter-finalists in 2002 and also competed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.

Read Also: NFF to review Chelle’s contract next month

Elsewhere, Cote d’Ivoire overcame Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifier on Tuesday to finish top of their group and secure a berth at next year’s World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

The Ivorians are reigning African champions and will be competing at a fourth World Cup but first since 2014.

October 15, 2025
SWAN disowns suspended Olatutu, Omotunde over gross misconducts

By Olamilekan Israel

The Sports Writers Association Of Nigerian(SWAN) has disclaimed Ms. Olatutu Oladunni and Mr. Bello Omotunde as members of its Lagos State chapter, following their suspension by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

According to a statement signed by Secretary General of SWAN, Mr Ikenna Okonkwo, the suspension which took immediate effect, was approved under Article 21,section(1) A and C of the Associations statute for acts of gross misconduct. The NEC instructed both individuals in-eligible to act in any capacity on behalf of SWAN

Read Also: NFF to review Chelle’s contract next month

The national body warned security agencies with corporate partners and media organisations not to have anything doing with the suspended duo, describing their recent activities and purported elections illegal and of no consequence.

SWAN reiterates that the Lagos chapter is currently under the co-ordination of the Acting Chairman, Mr. Aaron Akerejola, pending the time of outcome of the Independent Investigation Committee(IIC)inquiry. The Association pledged their continued co-operation with security authorities to uphold discipline and order within its ranks.

October 15, 2025
Inaugural Africa School Games begin in Lagos Friday

The inaugural edition of the privately organised Africa School Games (ASG) is expected to kick off on Friday, 17^th October, at the British International School (BIS) in Lagos, Nigeria.

This landmark event aims to spotlight the talent and potential of young athletes across the continent.

In its maiden outing, ASG will feature competitions in swimming, athletics, and football across three age categories: U-11, U-13, and U-15. The initiative is designed not only to foster competitive spirit but also to connect young athletes with agents and scholarship opportunities in schools abroad.

According to tournament co-founder Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, ASG was born out of a deep conviction that Africa needs its own platform to celebrate and elevate its young sporting talents.

The vision is being championed by Dr. Seun Akinbohun, Dr. Busola Tejumola, and Ope-Ajayi, who together envisioned a bold, continental stage where African children can compete, excel, and be recognized on their own terms.

“For too long, opportunities for our children have been shaped by external systems. It’s time to change that. ASG is more than a competition, it’s about ownership, pride, and building a legacy for the next generation. It’s a structured school sports ecosystem built on three pillars,” Ope-Ajayi explained.

She outlined ASG’s core mission: continental competition, talent identification, and ecosystem building. The goal is to collaborate with schools, sports federations, governments, and the private sector to build capacity by developing coaches, officials, facilities, and sustainable structures.

Read Also: NFF to review Chelle’s contract next month

Ope-Ajayi also emphasized the need to rethink how sports are managed in Nigeria. “Right now, we treat sports like an extracurricular activity, when in reality, it’s a national development tool. We wait until athletes are adults before paying attention to them and by then, many have fallen through the cracks or exited the system. In countries that dominate global sports, the work starts in schools through structured competitions, investment in coaching, facilities, and talent tracking. If Nigeria wants to compete globally, we must begin at the foundation—early, consistently, and intentionally.”

Looking ahead, she shared ASG’s ambitious future: “We aim to become Africa’s premier school sports platform—consistent, respected, and globally recognized. Our plan is to expand to more countries, more sports, and more schools every year. We want to build a strong talent pipeline that feeds into national teams, scholarships, and global sporting opportunities. We envision a future where young African athletes don’t need to leave the continent to be discovered. Ultimately, ASG will redefine sports in Africa not as an after school activity, but as a strategic growth sector.”

October 15, 2025
Ancelotti calls for mental resilience after Brazil’s first loss to Japan

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has urged his players to develop greater mental resilience after they suffered a shock 3-2 defeat by Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday, their first-ever loss to the Asian side.

The Italian emphasized the need to learn from the errors that led to the hosts’ stunning second-half comeback as he prepares his squad for next year’s World Cup in North America.

Ancelotti, who took charge in May following Brazil’s inconsistent World Cup qualifying campaign, has focused on building a team that is both adaptable and mentally robust.

Despite showing signs of progress in recent matches, Tuesday’s defeat highlighted areas requiring improvement and called into question the coach’s decision to field a heavily rotated side from Friday’s commanding 5-0 win over South Korea.

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“No, everything is not fine. When the team loses, we are upset, which is normal. Everyone is upset. I don’t like to lose, and neither do the players. We have to learn from this defeat, as we always do in football,” Ancelotti told a press conference.

“Until (Fabricio) Bruno’s mistake on the first goal, the game was well controlled. After that, the team fell apart mentally. That was the team’s biggest mistake,” he said. “I don’t think the second half was bad overall, but the error had too much of an impact on the players.”

When asked if such mistakes could influence squad selection for the World Cup, Ancelotti dismissed the notion, instead focused on the team’s collective response.

“Individual mistakes do not affect a player’s presence in the team. What we have to evaluate is the team’s reaction after the first mistake, which was not good because we lost a little of our balance on the pitch, our positive thinking. It’s a good lesson for the future,” he said.

Brazil’s next fixtures are friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia in November, to be played in England and France respectively.

“This and the next international break are testing periods, and we will continue testing in November,” Ancelotti said. “The team played very well against Korea, well in the first half today, and very poorly in the second half.

“In the World Cup, we have to strike a balance. We must learn from our mistakes. It was a good lesson tonight. I think we need to find balance in what we do. It’s a process…”

October 15, 2025
Sweden sack manager first time ever over poor WC campaign

Sweden have sacked their manager for the first time ever when Jon Dahl Tomasson was dismissed on Tuesday, following a dismal start to their World Cup qualifying campaign that left them bottom of Group B with one point from four games.

Dane Tomasson’s final game in charge was a 1-0 home defeat by Kosovo, his side’s third successive loss, leaving them on the verge of elimination, and the country’s first foreign manager’s position became untenable.

“The decision made by the association board is based on the fact that the men’s national team has not delivered the results we hoped for,” Swedish Football Association’s chairman Simon Astrom said in a statement.

“There is still a chance of a playoff in March and our responsibility is to ensure that we have as optimal conditions as possible to be able to reach a World Cup playoff. In this, we assess that a new leadership is required in the form of a new coach.”

Tomasson was appointed in February 2024 and after losing three of his first four games in charge, which were all friendlies, he led Sweden to an unbeaten Nations League campaign and promotion to Nations League B.

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This year began in opposite fashion, winning three of four friendly matches, but their World Cup qualifying bid looks doomed.

Sweden drew 2-2 in Slovenia in their opening game, but two defeats by Kosovo and a home loss to Switzerland leave them needing to win their final two matches and hope other results go their way in order to reach the playoffs.

The manager’s position came under extreme pressure from media and fans following recent results, and the Swedish federation have decided to act while qualification still remains a possibility, however slim.

“We have a group of players that we believe in very much and want to create new opportunities for them to deliver,” Sweden’s head of football Kim Kallstrom said.

“We have faith that this team can make it to the World Cup if the chance for the playoffs is there in March. It is always sad to go our separate ways, but football is results-based and we have come to a point where the results are not enough.”

Tomasson had previously managed Dutch clubs Excelsior and Roda JC, Malmo in Sweden, and then left English side Blackburn Rovers to take charge of the Swedish national team.

The 49-year-old made 112 appearances for Denmark, scoring 52 goals, and won a Champions League and Serie A title with AC Milan as a player, having also played with Newcastle United, Feyenoord and Villarreal.

October 15, 2025
Lukaku brothers lament non release of late father’s body in Kinshasa

Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku and former Lazio defender Jordan Lukaku announced they were being ‘extorted’ by people refusing to release their father’s body for his funeral in Belgium.

The brothers grew up in a football family, as their father Roger played as a centre-forward for Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and spent most of his career in Belgium at various clubs until retirement in 2007.

Both his sons went on to represent Belgium at international level, but he died last month in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aged 58.

Romelu and Jordan Lukaku yes released a joint statement on social media revealing their plans for a funeral in Belgium had been ruined by a shocking situation.

“As you may know we planned to have the funeral this Friday but because of certain decisions being made in Kinshasa will the funeral take place over there,” read the statement.

“Our dad passed away on the 28 of September and we as Brothers tried everything to bring his corpse back to Europe but we felt that we were being extorted by some people…

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“If our father was here today he wouldn’t accept it. It breaks our soul for us to not put our father to rest. But some people didn’t want it.

“We understand know why our dad used to keep us away from a lot of people…

“God bless your soul.”

Romelu Lukaku is currently staying in Belgium for treatment to a serious muscular injury, which means he is not expected to be able to play again for Napoli until at least November or December.

Full-back Jordan is a free agent, as the 31-year-old’s contract with Turkish side Adanaspor was terminated in October 2024.

While in Italy, he played for Lazio and Vicenza from 2016 to 2022.

October 15, 2025
Explainer: How Nigeria can qualify for 2026 World Cup

Nigeria has not yet qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but remains firmly in contention. The Super Eagles are among four African teams confirmed for the upcoming African Playoffs, which will produce one team to advance to the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.

African Playoffs Format

The African Playoffs will feature a semi-final and final format involving four teams:

– Gabon

– Cameroon

– Nigeria

– DR Congo (if they win tonight) or Burkina Faso

Matchups will be determined based on FIFA rankings:

–          Highest-ranked vs Lowest-ranked

–          2nd Highest-ranked vs 3rd Highest-ranked

The winner of the final will advance to the Inter-Confederation Playoffs, where teams from five continents will compete for the final two spots at the 2026 World Cup.

Inter-Confederation Playoffs Overview

The Inter-Confederation Playoffs will have two brackets, each consisting of a semi-final and final. Two teams will qualify for the World Cup.

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Confirmed teams so far:

–          Bolivia (South America)

–          New Caledonia (Oceania)

Yet to qualify:

– 1 from Africa (via the African Playoffs)

– 1 from Asia

– 2 from North America

The inter-confederation play-offs will be conducted in March next year, with six teams from five confederations playing for the final two spots at the World Cup.

Nigeria must first win the African Playoffs to reach the Inter-Confederation Playoffs and then win its bracket there to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

October 14, 2025
What to know as Nigeria host Benin in World Cup decider

Nigeria will host Benin Republic in their final Group C fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifiers, aiming to snatch direct qualification for next year’s tournament from the group leaders.

The Super Eagles face a daunting task — Benin currently sit three points ahead and boast a superior goal difference of two, meaning only a convincing win will keep Nigeria’s qualification hopes alive. Victory could see them top the group or, at the very least, contend for one of the playoff spots available to the best runners-up in November’s intercontinental playoffs.

For Benin Republic, the equation is much simpler. A win or draw against the three-time African champions would see them qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in their history. Even in defeat, the Cheetahs could still progress if South Africa drop points in their final fixture.

Here’s everything to know ahead of the high-stakes showdown between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Both teams stand in Group C?

Late last month, Benin Republic drew level with then Group C leaders South Africa after FIFA deducted three points from Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier qualifier. Benin then moved to the top of the standings on Friday after South Africa were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by bottom-placed Zimbabwe on Matchday 9.

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Both Benin and Nigeria claimed victories in their respective fixtures on Friday — Benin edged Rwanda 1-0, while the Super Eagles defeated Lesotho 2-1 — setting up a tense finale in Uyo.

A win for Benin Republic on Tuesday would seal their first-ever World Cup qualification, while anything less could open the door for either Nigeria or South Africa to overtake them.

All Group C Matchday 10 fixtures will kick off simultaneously on Tuesday.

Last Meeting Outcome

Nigeria and Benin Republic last faced each other on June 10, 2024, in a FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles took the lead in the 27th minute through Raphael Onyedika, but Benin Republic fought back with two quick goals before halftime — Jodel Dossou netting the equaliser and Steve Mounié scoring the winner to hand the Cheetahs a memorable 2-1 victory.

Group Standings

Benin: 17 points (+5 GD)

South Africa: 15 points (+3 GD)

Nigeria: 14 points (+3 GD)

Rwanda: 11 points (-1 GD)

Lesotho: 9 points (-4 GD)

Zimbabwe: 5 points (-6 GD)

Nigeria Team News

Nigeria’s interim head coach, Eric Chelle, faces a selection challenge as he prepares to make key changes to his squad, though he still has enough quality at his disposal to field a strong side.

Injuries/Suspensions: Ademola Lookman is suspended after receiving his second yellow card of the qualifiers, while Ola Aina remains sidelined through injury and will miss a second consecutive match.

Returning players: Victor Osimhen is fully fit again and expected to lead the line, with Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi all available for selection.

Tactical outlook: Osimhen is likely to operate as the lone striker, supported by Iwobi in an advanced midfield role. Nigeria are expected to press high from the onset, using the pace of Chukwueze and Simon on the wings to stretch Benin’s defence and create scoring chances.

Predicted lineup: Nwabali; Fredrick, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Iwobi; Chukwueze, Simon; Osimhen, Arokodare.

Benin Team News

Benin Republic coach, Gernot Rohr, will face his former team with a full-strength squad as the Cheetahs chase a historic World Cup qualification.

Injuries/Suspensions: None reported.

Tactical outlook: Rohr is expected to stick with his trusted formation, deploying Steve Mounié as the main attacking threat. The Cheetahs will aim to stay compact defensively while relying on quick counterattacks, using Jodel Dossou’s pace and Mounié’s aerial ability to unsettle the Nigerian backline.

Predicted lineup: Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tijani, Roche; D’Almeida, Imourane; Dossou, Dokou, Hountondji; Mounié.

Who: Nigeria vs Benin

What: CAF qualifiers for FIFA 2026 World Cup

Where: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria

When: Tuesday at 5pm

Match Prediction

Nigeria to Win: The Super Eagles have the edge with home advantage and a more potent attack.

Over 1.5 Goals: Expected, as Nigeria will need to press forward to secure victory.

Score Prediction: Nigeria 2–0 Benin.

October 14, 2025