Afrobeats singer Skales has attributed his career revival to a viral moment involving Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who danced to his 2015 hit “Shake Body”.
The clip, which sparked widespread attention on social media, marked a turning point in Skales’ career, leading to exclusive invites, a new song tribute, and renewed interest in his music.
He made this known while giving his testimony at Harvesters church.
According to Skales, the beginning of 2025 was a spiritually demanding period, marked by intense prayers and fasting, stating that he had written down seven specific prayer points, all of which were answered in a single day.
“Earlier this year [2025], I prayed a lot, I fasted a lot; I’ve never fasted like this year. I told God that he needed to bless me because I’m being laughed at and my career just looked funny. I wrote down seven prayer points, and all of them happened in one day. The one that changed my life was when a kid in Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, did a simple dance step to my song, and it went viral and changed my whole life”, he said.
The viral video was the catalyst for his career revival, propelling him back into the spotlight.
The viral moment, which drew reactions from fans and industry observers alike, led to Skales’ invitation to perform at the Copa del Rey celebration, a prestigious club event.
A new song tribute, “Dance Like Lamine Yamal,” was also released.
The Africa Cup of Nations always finds its true rhythm when the group stage curtain falls and the knockout rounds begin. Morocco 2025 has already delivered drama, goals and shifting narratives but the Round of 16 promises something purer: battles for survival. With the remaining 16 nations , ambition collides with history and there would be little margin for errors since any mistake could be terminal. For Nigeria’s Super Eagles, flawless in the group phase, the test now sharpens against an improving Mozambican side eager to redefine its continental story, write MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN and TUNDE LIADI…
The 35th Africa Cup of Nations has reached the stage where reputations no longer matter and margins disappear. From tomorrow, January 3, to Tuesday, January 6, eight Round of 16 fixtures across Morocco will decide who truly belongs in the title conversation. Traditional heavyweights such as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroun, South Africa and Senegal are joined by ambitious challengers and fearless underdogs- all aware that knockout football rewrites form books overnight.
Two teams emerged from the group stage with perfect records, Nigeria and Algeria, underlining their status as early favourites. Hosts Morocco, despite a less-than-perfect run, remain dangerous with home support behind them, while defending champions Côte d’Ivoire have already shown resilience.
Yet AFCON history teaches that dominance in groups guarantees nothing once the stakes rise as the Super Eagles tasted that humble pie at the 2021 edition in Cameroon when they were shown the exit by Tunisia in the 16th Round despite winning their opening three group matches in convincing style-including the defeat of Mohammed Salah’s Egypt who would later rose from their opening loss to reach the tournament’s final match.
But at Morocco 2025, Nigeria will clash with Mozambique for only the sixth time at senior level when both sides meet in one of the Round of 16 fixtures. The encounter, scheduled for 8pm on Monday, January 5, will take place at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès — a venue that has felt like home for the Super Eagles throughout their Group C campaign.
On paper, this is a mismatch but in reality, it would be a test of maturity and focus for Nigeria as well as a chance for Mozambique’s Mambas to announce themselves on the biggest stage of African football.
Nigeria swept through Group C like the harmattan haze winning all the three matches against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. The Eagles scored eight goals and conceded four, combining attacking fluidity with just enough defensive steel.
Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika each struck twice, while Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu added their names to the score sheet. The spread of goals has been as reassuring as the results themselves.
Mozambique’s journey was far less comfortable but arguably more instructive. The Mambas opened with defeat against defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, rebounded with a vital win over Gabon, and then pushed Cameroon to the limit in a narrow 2–1 loss. That three-point haul was enough to secure progression — a historic first qualification to the AFCON Round of 16 for the Southern Africans.
The head-to-head record heavily favours Nigeria: four wins and one draw from five previous meetings. Their only AFCON clash came in January 2010 in Lubango, Angola, when the Super Eagles ran out 3–0 winners. Nigeria also claimed friendly victories in Maputo in 1999 and Lisbon in 2023, while the sides shared a goalless draw and a dramatic Nigerian win during 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Yet AFCON is not a competition built on history alone. Mozambique’s current generation has shown resilience, tactical discipline and a growing belief that they can compete with Africa’s elite. Their willingness to stand toe-to-toe with bigger nations makes Monday’s clash potentially explosive.
Former African Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke have cautioned the Super Eagles to approach their Round of 16 clash against Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with focus and respect for the opposition, despite Nigeria’s impressive group-stage campaign.
Amuneke praised the Super Eagles for their perfect run in the group phase, describing their progress as well deserved.
“They have done so well. They won their games and they are through to the knockout stage,” Amuneke who scored the brace that helped Nigeria to a 2-1 win over Zambia at the 1994 AFCON Final Match, told NationSports.
But the former Barcelona winger warned that the real test begins in the knockout rounds: “Every team nurses the ambition of progressing but we must be realistic that knockout games are tricky and different. The Eagles have shown that they are eager to win the AFCON for Nigeria and they need our support. We know that the road is still far and the Eagles must brace up.”
Reflecting on past tournaments, Amuneke noted that the current AFCON presents fresh challenges and should not be compared too easily with previous editions.
“The 2021 AFCON is different from the current edition,” he explained.“ Though people will look at previous achievements between both nations, we made it to the final in the last edition and playing up to that extent shows the team has capacity.”
He warned strongly against complacency, adding: “You cannot go into the game assuming that you have won. The Mozambique team have been making progress for quite some time now. They have been able to have players who are competing at top leagues in Europe. They are not a pushover.”
The 1994 African Footballer of the Year stressed that both teams will be equally motivated to secure victory. “Both teams want to win and the Eagles must take their chances and defend very well,” Amuneke concluded.
In the same vein, former youth international Taiwo Enegwea said Nigeria’s performance so far has been encouraging, but insisted that the knockout stage demands a higher level of seriousness. “The performance is not bad based on how they began the competition. They were improving with every game,” he said. “It is not an assurance that we shouldn’t get ourselves prepared for the knockout round. The players must be aware that the knockout stage is a different stage entirely and they must play with all seriousness.”
Enegwea also pointed to the motivation of redemption following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the last World Cup. “If they are trying to atone for the disappointment of missing the World Cup, they should not only prepare for this one but do the same thing for upcoming games too,” he stated.
He concluded by urging the Super Eagles to show maximum respect for Mozambique, saying, “Mozambique won’t have qualified for the AFCON if they were not good and again for them to make it to the Round of 16 showed they are good. The Eagles should not underrate Mozambique but play the game as if it would be their last in the competition.”
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Sani Kaita, has praised Nigeria’s impressive run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the team’s group-stage performances as dominant ahead of their Round of 16 clash with Mozambique.
“Firstly, I would like to highlight the performance of the boys so far. We’ve dominated all the three games. Well done to the boys,” Kaita said, hailing the commitment and quality shown by the Super Eagles in the opening phase of the tournament.
However, the 2013 AFCON winner believes the knockout rounds will present a different challenge, insisting that the real test begins now.
“The tournament starts now,” he noted, urging the technical crew to tighten up defensively as the margin for error narrows in the second round.
Kaita specifically pointed to areas that require improvement, especially without the ball. “I hope the coach will work on our defensive responsibilities. As a team, we need to be more compact out of possession,” he said, while also expressing confidence in Nigeria’s attacking strength. “Going forward, we’ve got the quality to beat any team.”
Turning his attention to Mozambique, Kaita cautioned against complacency, acknowledging the threat posed by the Mambas. “Mozambique is a top team and really aggressive,” he warned, but quickly added his belief in the Super Eagles’ superiority, stressing that Nigeria have enough quality “to beat them or any other opposition team in this tournament.”
In conclusion, Kaita offered his full backing to the squad as they chase continental glory in Morocco. “We are praying for them to go all the way and win the tournament,” he said, echoing the hopes of millions of Nigerians as the Super Eagles prepare for the decisive phase of AFCON 2025.
For Nigeria, the challenge will be to marry attacking ambition with defensive concentration. Victor Osimhen’s presence alone demands attention, while Lookman’s movement and Ndidi’s midfield control give the Eagles multiple routes to dominance. However, the concession of four goals in three games suggests there is still room for defensive tightening.
Mozambique, by contrast, will likely prioritise organisation and transitions. Their success against Gabon and competitiveness against Cameroon were built on compactness and opportunism. If they can frustrate Nigeria early, belief could grow — and AFCON has punished favourites before.
ROUND OF 16: MATCH-BY-MATCH TRAILER
Mali vs. Tunisia (Casablanca): A classic West African versus North African duel. Mali’s athleticism and direct play meet Tunisia’s tactical discipline and tournament know-how. This could be one of the tightest fixtures of the round.
Senegal vs. Sudan (Tangier): Senegal enter as favourites with depth and experience, but Sudan’s qualification itself has been a statement. If Senegal underestimate their opponents, this could become uncomfortable.
Morocco vs. Tanzania (Rabat): The hosts carry expectation and home advantage. Tanzania will aim to stay compact and silence the crowd early, but Morocco’s technical quality should shine if patience is maintained.
South Africa vs. Cameroon (Rabat): A fascinating clash of styles. South Africa’s structured build-up faces Cameroon’s physicality and tradition. Fine margins will decide this one.
Egypt vs. Benin Republic (Agadir): Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, know how to navigate knockout football. Benin’s organisation will be tested against the Pharaohs’ experience and individual brilliance.
Nigeria vs. Mozambique (Fez): The standout narrative tie. Nigeria’s flawless group form meets Mozambique’s historic ambition. Expect intensity, speed and moments of chaos.
Algeria vs. DR Congo (Rabat): Two sides comfortable on the ball. Algeria’s perfect group record makes them favourites, but DR Congo’s physicality and counter-attacking threat loom large.
Côte d’Ivoire vs. Burkina Faso (Marrakech): A repeat of familiar regional rivalry. Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire face a disciplined Burkina Faso side that rarely beats itself.
A star-studded cast led by Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen switch to knockout fare from tomorrow , when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Hakimi was crowned 2025 African player of the year in November. Liverpool attacker Salah and Galatasaray striker Osimhen were the runners-up.
After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days.
Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favourites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique.
AFP Sport looks at the match-ups that will determine which nations advance to the quarter-finals, and move one step closer to a record $10 million (8.5 million euros) first prize.
Senegal vs. Sudan: Veteran Sadio Mane and Paris Saint-Germain’s 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, in two appearances off the bench, have been amongst the stars as 2022 champions Senegal confirmed why they are amongst the favourites by winning Group D. Sudan, representing a country ravaged by civil war since 2023, reached the second round despite their players failing to score. Their only Group F win, against Equatorial Guinea, came via an own goal.
Mali vs. Tunisia: “If we carry on playing like this we will not go much further,” warned Belgium-born Mali coach Tom Saintfiet after three Group A draws, although his team did well to hold Morocco. Tunisia were woeful against Nigeria until they trailed by three goals. The Carthage Eagles then scored twice and came close to equalising.
Morocco vs. Tanzania: A mismatch on paper as Morocco, whose only previous title came 50 years ago, are 101 places above Tanzania in the world rankings. The east Africans ended a 45-year wait to get past the first round thanks to two draws. Morocco boast a potent strike force of Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid and Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos. They have scored three goals each to share the Golden Boot lead with Algerian Riyad Mahrez.
South Africa vs. Cameroon: South Africa debuted in the AFCON 30 years ago by hammering Cameroon 3-0 in Johannesburg. It should be much closer when they meet a second time with only four places separating them in the world rankings. In pursuit of goals, South Africa will look to Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster while 19-year-old Christian Kofane struck a stunning match-winner for Cameroon against Mozambique.
Egypt vs. Benin: Struggling to score for Liverpool this season, Salah has regained his appetite for goals in southern Morocco. He claimed match-winners against Zimbabwe and South Africa as Egypt won Group B. Benin celebrated their first AFCON win 25 years after debuting by edging Botswana. The Cheetahs are a compact, spirited outfit led by veteran striker Steve Mounie, but lack punch up front.
Nigeria vs. Mozambique: Livewire Osimhen is a huge aerial threat and could have scored hat-tricks against Tanzania and Tunisia in Group C, but managed just one goal. Fellow former African player of the year Ademola Lookman has also impressed. Mozambique lost 3-0 in their previous AFCON meeting with the Super Eagles 16 years ago. It is likely to be tighter this time with striker Geny Catamo posing a threat for the Mambas (snakes).
Algeria vs. DR Congo: The clash of two former champions is potentially the match of the round. It is the only tie involving two European coaches – Bosnian Vladimir Petkovic and Frenchman Sebastien Desabre. Algeria and Nigeria were the only teams to win all three group matches. Former Manchester City winger Mahrez has been an inspirational captain while scoring three times.
Cote d’Ivoire vs. Burkina Faso: This is the only match featuring nations from the same region. Burkina Faso and defending champions Cote d’Ivoire share a border in west Africa. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo was the only winner of two player-of-the-match awards in the group stage. The Ivorian now faces impressive Burkinabe defenders Edmond Tapsoba and Issoufou Dayo.
Barrister Churchill Oliseh is certainly one notable Nigerian football investor that is watching the Super Eagles’ run at the on-going 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)in Morocco with a great measure of satisfaction.
Churchill, is the elder brother of Sunday Oliseh, a Nigerian football legend and former Super Eagles’ captain and coach. Theirs is a unique football family because aside ‘Skippo’ Sunday, there is also the duo of Azubuike and Eguatu who were star professional footballers thanks to the steering efforts of Churchill at the outset of their careers.
His foresight and personal football career provided him with a wealth of knowledge and a unique vision for the sport which led to the birth of FC Ebedei, one of Nigeria’s premier football academies in 1998.
Last Tuesday, FC Ebedei celebrated a monumental achievement as its products, Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika, propelled Nigeria to a resounding 3-1 victory over Uganda as the coach Eric Sekou Chelle-led Super Eagles concluded their AFCON 2025 group phase with a perfect record of three wins in as many matches in Fez .
But as the story goes, the foundation of FC Ebedei can be traced back to 1993 when Churchill, a legal practitioner and sports investor , began his career in player representation/management.
Confronted with the declining state of Nigerian football, the eldest Oliseh recognized the reasons behind Nigerian players’ inability to reach the highest levels of the game or to maintain that success.
“Many African players viewed football merely as a pastime, a means to showcase flamboyance, and a temporary source of income without the necessity for commitment, training, or professionalism,” he averred. “Moreover, there was no distinctive brand of football that could be identified as uniquely Nigerian, unlike those of Cameroon, Ghana, Brazil, or South Africa.”
But through his interactions with European football investors and administrators, Barrister Oliseh came to understand that the most influential role in football development was that of a club’s president which partly led him to the dream of
According to him, this position allowed for the propagation and promotion of a specific brand of football and professionalism while influencing the growth of the team, its players and the broader society.
Currently, FC Ebedei competes in the Nationwide League One (NLO), the third-tier of Nigerian football. Oliseh’s vision for the club was to serve as a feeder team for international clubs.
Unlike many domestic clubs of its genre, FC Ebedei is not been positioned to gain promotion to Nigeria’s higher leagues such as the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
This approach, according to knowledgeable football people, helps keep the club’s operational costs at a very manageable level.
Oliseh’s primary objective is straightforward: Identify outstanding raw talents, develop those players at FC Ebedei and then promote them to overseas clubs as opportunities arise, primarily in the Scandinavian countries.
FC Ebedei have grown as an institution and today , it has a state of the art secondary school, the Ebedei Sports College sited in Apele-Sagamu, in Remo Land which incidentally housed NPFL side, Remo Stars.
Yet the Akarigbo of Remo Land, Oba (Dr.) Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Torungbuwa II, on a recent visit to the Ebedei Sports College, along with others notable personalities including the Onipara of Ipara Remo, Alayeluwa Oba Taiwo Taiwo (Amororo II), was pleasantly shocked beyond words.
“I am amazed by what I have seen here at the FC Ebedei Stadium and Ebedei Sports College,” a visibly impressed Oba Ajayi said. “After the tour, I can say that there’s no emerging talent that comes here that won’t strive to be the next Sunday Oliseh, Obafemi Martins and the many others that have become world football stars.
He added: ” I want to also thank the President of FC Ebedei, Barrister Churchill Oliseh for investing in Remo Land.”
For Barrister Oliseh, FC Ebedei aims to provide hope and a future for its members, followers and the community in general as it has done over the years.
Without gain saying, few football colleges or academies in Africa can match phenomenal impact FC Ebedei have made on successive generations of Nigerian players since the 1990s. Many of the academy’s graduates have reached the global stage and are actively contributing to Nigeria’s national teams.
Notably, FC Ebedei has established itself as the African feeder team for FC Midtjylland, a club in the Danish Superliga. This partnership has facilitated the transfer of over 200 players from Nigeria to Denmark, Norway, Austria, Belgium and beyond.
Among these players are Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, as well as Ajilore Oluwafemi, Babajide Collins, Taofeek Salami, Rilwan Hassan, Sylvester Igboun and many others.
FC Ebedei stands out for being the only football academy/club in Nigeria to have three of graduates including Paul Onuachu, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika in the Super Eagles silver medal-winning squad at the last AFCON held in Cote d’Ivoire and the trio are also in the 28-man squad at the ongoing AFCON in Morocco.
It’s also the first club in sub-Saharan Africa to have one of its players nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award in Onuachu – an award honouring layers for outstanding individual goals.
Additionally, Obafemi Martins was transferred from FC Ebedei to AC Reggiana en route to Inter Milan, while strikers Akintola Babajide David, Adeshina Lawal and Justice John Erhenede were sent to Vejle BK in Norway and forward Akeem Agbetu transferred to Kolding FC in Denmark.
Accordingly, FC Ebedei also receives huge support from FC Midtjylland in the form of technical, of training equipment, kits and otherwise, significantly reducing the club’s overhead costs.
According to Barrister Oliseh, the vision of FC Ebedei is inspired by Jeremiah 29:11, which states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. He continued: “The club is dedicated to developing and sustaining a football culture and tradition for Nigeria and Africa. It empowers footballers with values that promote progress, success, family, and the fear of God.
“ Today, graduates from FC Ebedei annually participate in prestigious tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the Nigeria Premiership .
“They have also gone on to play in various leagues across Italy, England, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Greece, Holland, and Serbia, in addition to thriving in Nigeria.”
FC Ebedei has undoubtedly become synonymous with youth, talent and professionalism thanks to the foresight of Barrister Oliseh.
As one of Africa’s most respected football academies, FC Ebedei consistently produces top-quality players and it stands out as one of the best-managed football organizations in Nigeria.
Personally, Barrister Oliseh’s success stories with Nigerian players are extensive, notably with Super Eagles legends including Precious Monye, Amir Angwe and James Obiorah. He has equally played a pivotal role in the careers of the quintent of Sunday Oliseh, Dosu Joseph, Paul Onuachu, Frank Onyeka, and Raphael Onyedika- who are all proud awardees of Members of the Order of the Niger (MON).
To say that FC Ebedei has become synonymous to the pathway of many Nigerian players to stardom is perhaps stating the obvious but as Barrister Oliseh often say , “You ain’t seeing anything yet.”
Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca on Thursday, a dramatic fall from grace for the Italian who was named manager of the month for November before the club won just one of their last seven league games to fall out of the Premier League title race.
The Italian, who joined Chelsea in 2024 after steering Leicester City to Premier League promotion, leaves 18 months to the day since he was tasked with reviving the club’s fortunes after two years of failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Maresca eventually guided the London side to Champions League qualification with a fourth-placed finish, the Conference League trophy and the Club World Cup title in his first season with a young but expensively-built squad.
But a poor run of form in December and an uncharacteristic outburst from the Italian prompted the club hierarchy to take action and part ways with the 45-year-old manager.
“Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company,” the club said in a statement.” With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”
Chelsea were as high as third in November and were among the title contenders, high on confidence after they had also crushed Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
But they have since slipped to fifth in the league to sit 15 points behind leaders Arsenal at the halfway stage of the season.
Last month, Maresca voiced frustration over issues behind the scenes, saying he felt he had a lack of support from the club, describing a period after a 2-0 win over Everton as “the worst 48 hours” of his tenure.
The Italian did not clarify what he meant by the comment but the damage seemed to have been done as Chelsea’s league form nosedived.
Although Chelsea beat Cardiff City to reach the League Cup semi-finals, they picked up only two points in their last three Premier League games.
Off the pitch, there was also the unwelcome distraction of rubbishing links to the Manchester City job as Maresca pointed out that he was committed to Chelsea where he had a contract until 2029.
But Tuesday’s 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth — where fans chanted, “You don’t know what you’re doing,” when he substituted playmaker Cole Palmer while they also booed at the final whistle — proved to be his final match in charge.
The club did not say who would take charge ahead of Sunday’s match against second-placed Manchester City.
The African Table Tennis Players in Diaspora Invitational Tournament in Abeokuta was a success, with praises directed to the organizers and sponsors, and the defending champion, Mathew Kuti, retained his title in a closely contested match.
A total of 25 budding ping-pongers were in the ancient city between December 27th and 29th to compete keenly for honours at the Alake Sports Complex, Ijeja with massive fans turning up to see the young ones exhibit their skills.
A former national player and coach, Waheed Ekun, who was one of the Special guests at the final,
said he was particularly happy that the tournament showed that Nigeria is blessed with many talents that will be of help in the future for the senior national team.
Ekun said: “I came from Ibadan because I saw the event last year and decided to witness it again. I am happy with the standard and I thank the sponsors and organisers for creating good template for the players to show their talents.”
Hon. Allen-Taylor Oluwafemi Wilfred, a senior Legislative Aide to Senate President and other stakeholders showered praises on the sponsors and organisers of the tournament.
In the final, defending champion, Matthew Kuti, defeated Basit Abdulfatai 4-1 in a keenly contested match which kept fans at the edge their seats despite final score.
One of the sponsors, the players in diaspora, Charles Olayinka, said he was elated with the skills exhibited by the young ones which he saw on live stream.
“For us watching the live streaming and seeing smiles on the faces of the players. It gives us joy to do more but we call on corporate bodies to partner with us to take this event to the next level,” Olayinka said.
Coordinator of the tournament, Wale Ajetunmobi, said he was impressed with standard exhibited by the players.
“What we saw was like a national or continental standard and it is evident with the champion who is a West African Champion. It was a delight to see the level of keen contest by these players and I want to thank the sponsors for their consistency,” he said.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is financially settled and motivated after reportedly receiving all his financial entitlements from the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
A source close to the Nigerian camp in Fez, Morocco, revealed that the French tactician has been paid in full, including his January 2026 salary, ensuring financial stability as he focuses on guiding the national team at the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations.
“Eric Chelle is in a good state of mind financially. He has been paid all his entitlements, including his January 2026 salary,” the source disclosed.
According to the insider, Chelle has earned a total of $60,000 so far, calculated at $20,000 per match, in addition to a daily allowance of $400 from the time the team’s camp opened in Egypt.
The source praised the NSC for its efficiency, noting that prompt payment of salaries and allowances has created a positive atmosphere within the camp.
“The NSC has done well. The coaches are happy, the players are not complaining, and the fans are not grumbling because the team is playing well and winning,” the source further added.
With no financial distractions or controversies, Chelle and his players are expected to remain fully focused as the Super Eagles continue their campaign with renewed confidence and unity.
Uganda Cranes attacker, Uche Ikpeazu, has described his encounter against the Super Eagles as the toughest match he has ever played in his career.
Ikpeazu, who is of Nigerian descent, featured for Uganda in their final Group C fixture against Nigeria at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Super Eagles dominated the encounter and eventually secured a convincing 3–1 victory, rounding off the group stage with a flawless record of three wins from three matches.
Reflecting on the game after the final whistle, Ikpeazu admitted that the contest pushed him to his limits, both physically and mentally, against one of Africa’s most formidable sides.
“The game against Nigeria was the hardest of my career. I did the best I could,” the powerful forward said.
Despite Uganda’s defeat, Ikpeazu’s remarks highlight the intensity of the match and underline the quality of the Nigerian team, who have emerged as one of the standout sides at the tournament heading into the knockout stages.
Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael has issued an update on injured Super Eagles defender Ryan Alebiosu at the on-going 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, disclosing that the injury is not “major”.
There was debut delight for Alebiosu, who earned his first cap for Nigeria and featured for the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory against Uganda as Eric Chelle’s charges signed off their group stage campaign with a comfortable victory in Morocco.
Chelle was delighted by what he saw from Alebiosu despite the fact that the Rovers man picked up a gashed leg during the contest.
“This is his first game in Africa, in AFCON and I’m happy with how he did,” Chelle said. “I’m worried, because he has an injury. His leg is open (cut), but I’m happy with how he played today.”
It was later reported that he suffered a deep cut on his favoured right leg that could rule him of the rest of the tournament in Morocco.
However, Ismael has allayed fears on the Super Eagles newly-capped defender, saying: “Ryan Alebiosu played 90 minutes for Nigeria with no problem. He has a cut, but it’s nothing major for us.”
The Super Eagles who swept past their Group C campaign with three wins in as many matches will continue their progression with a Round of 16 fixture against the Mambas of Mozambique on Monday in Fez. But it remains to be seen if the 24-year-old defender would still take part at the AFCON 2025.
