The Super Eagles have begun their preparations for the decisive knockout stages of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, starting from Monday’s 16th Round of tie as they
return to training today despite the New Year holiday.
The Nigerian squad resumed light workout sessions in Fez yesterday following the conclusion of the group stage, as attention shifts fully to the knockout phase of the tournament. Ahead of the post–group stage training, players also took part in a media parley, fielding questions from journalists as they looked forward to the next stage of the competition.
Nigeria booked their place in the Round of 16 as Group C winners after a convincing 3–1 victory over Uganda on Tuesday. The result confirmed the Super Eagles as table toppers and underlined their strong showing in the group phase.
However, three players—captain Victor Osimhen, right-back Ryan Alebiosu, and striker Cyriel Dessers—were absent from the training session. Alebiosu is nursing an injury sustained in the win over Uganda, Dessers is reportedly managing a thigh problem, while Osimhen was rested as a precaution to keep him fresh for the knockout challenge ahead.
In a related development, coach Eric Chelle has admitted facing selection dilemma ahead of Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash after a ‘second string’ Super Eagles eased past Uganda 3-1 on Tuesday.
The Malian tactician made seven changes to his starting XI in Nigeria’s final Group C match against Uganda, retaining only Victor Osimhen, Bruno Onyemaechi and Calvin Bassey.
While Osimhen captained the side, Raphael Onyedika stole the spotlight with two second-half goals, while Samuel Chukwueze provided two assists. Paul Onuachu also impressed with his link-up play alongside Osimhen.
Ryan Alebiosu, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Igoh Ogbu further strengthened their cases with solid displays, highlighting the depth available to the coaching crew.
“I have many options now because everyone can play and make an impact in this team. For me, that is a very good situation,” Chelle said after the match.
Nigeria’s commanding performance underlined their squad strength as they prepare for the knockout phase of the going 35th AFCON in Morocco where they are bidding for a fourth title after previous successes in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Following the conclusion of proceedings in Group F last night, the Super Eagles will clash with the Mambas of Mozambique in Fes on Monday.
Last night, defending champions , the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire , staged a fight back from a 2-0 down to defeat the adventurous Panthères of Gabon 3-2 in an emerging sapping encounter while Cameroon pinned Mozambique 2-1 in the other Group F’s encounter.
Results mean Cote d’Ivoire topped the section with better goal difference ahead of Cameroon as both sides polled seven points. Mozambique came third on three points thanks to their earlier defeat of Gabon who finished pointless after three points.
Renown football stakeholder and Remo Stars’ owner, Mr. Kunle Soname, has voiced serious concerns over poor officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), describing it as a systemic failure that continues to undermine the credibility and integrity of Nigerian football at both continental and global space.
Speaking yesterday at his Remo Stars facilities in Ikenne, Ogun State, Soname said he was addressing the issue as a stakeholder rather than a club owner, warning that the persistent refereeing problems pose a major threat to the growth and future of Nigerian football if left unresolved.
“I am not here today as the owner of a club but as a stakeholder deeply interested in the credibility and future of our game,” Soname said. “Nigerian football is bigger than all of us. But because we love it, we must have the courage to speak when something is fundamentally wrong.”
At the centre of his criticism is the prolonged absence of Nigerian referees from major continental competitions. According to Soname, no Nigerian referee has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) in the last 17 years, a situation he described as both embarrassing and revealing.
“For 17 years, not a single Nigerian referee has been selected for AFCON, while officials from smaller footballing nations continue to get these opportunities,” he said. “The uncomfortable truth is clear: the standard of officiating in our domestic league is fundamentally compromised.”
Soname argued that questionable decisions in the NPFL go beyond human error and have become a recurring pattern that erodes trust in the league. He cited several video-documented incidents to support his claims, insisting the problem is widespread and not targeted at any single club.
“This is not about isolated mistakes,” he said. “It is a pattern that threatens the integrity of the NPFL.”
Among the examples he referenced were two clear penalties denied in a single match involving Remo Stars, as well as a foul on a Remo Stars player that was ignored and directly resulted in a goal for the opposition. He also cited a controversial decision in a match between Rangers International and Rivers United, where a legitimate Rangers goal was wrongly disallowed.
“I deliberately mention Rangers and Rivers United to show that this issue is league-wide, not club-specific,” Soname explained. “These are not 50-50 calls. They are blatant errors, captured on video, that directly change match outcomes.”
Soname further accused the Referees’ Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of failing in its oversight responsibilities, alleging that the body has instead become complicit in sustaining the crisis.
“The committee has a duty to sanction poor performances and reward excellence,” he said. “But the evidence suggests it is enabling this problem rather than solving it.”
He referenced a specific incident involving Insurance FC of Benin, where a clear foul in the penalty area went unpunished. According to Soname, the committee’s explanation for the decision raised further concerns.
“The justification given was that ‘the attacker was in a hot chase and that no offence was committed’, that explanation does not withstand scrutiny.”
Soname further questioned the circumstances surrounding the match, noting that the officiating team was changed just two days before kickoff and that the committee chairperson, Mrs Faith Irabor, had previously served as a director at the Edo State Sports Commission.
“When officiating teams are changed at the last minute and the committee vigorously defends indefensible decisions, serious questions must be asked,” he said.
In another instance, Soname said the committee cited the absence of a pre-season seminar to excuse a clearly incorrect decision, describing the explanation as an admission of deeper structural failure.
“That is not an excuse,” he said. “It is an acknowledgement that the system itself is broken.”
According to Soname, the failure to hold referees accountable for repeated poor performances has emboldened incompetence and damaged the league’s credibility.
“By providing implausible cover for clear errors, the committee is aiding and abetting the disease destroying our football’s integrity,” he said.
He challenged the NFF and league administrators to confront key questions surrounding referee training, assessment and accountability, warning that football cannot thrive without fairness.
“Players train, clubs invest, and fans believe on the assumption that matches are decided by skill, not by error or bias,” Soname said.
As part of the solution, Soname called for urgent reforms, including the establishment of an independent review committee to assess officiating performances weekly.
“A committee should be set up by the NFF to review all 10 NPFL matches every week,” he said. “There should be a Best Referee of the Week, while bad or corrupt officials must be punished.”
He also demanded a complete overhaul of the Referees’ Appointment Committee, insisting that Nigerian football can only progress with transparent, competent and integrity-driven officiating structures.
“There is an urgent and non-negotiable need for a total overhaul of the Referees’ Appointment Committee,” Soname said. “Nigerian football deserves better. Our players deserve fairness, our fans deserve honesty, and our league deserves integrity.”
Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika has explained how preparation and teamwork helped him score twice in Nigeria’s 3–1 win over Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Club Brugge star was the standout performer in the Group C encounter, netting both goals in the second half to secure Nigeria’s perfect group-stage record. His display earned him the Man of the Match award at the Fez Stadium.
Onyedika praised Samuel Chukwueze for his role in both goals, noting that their on-field understanding was built through repeated drills in training.
“We worked on those movements a lot in training,” Onyedika explained, stressing the importance of anticipation and quick decision-making during matches.
He added that his familiarity with Chukwueze’s style—particularly the winger’s ability to beat defenders and cut the ball back—allowed him to arrive in the right positions at the right time.
Reflecting on his Man of the Match award, Onyedika described the moment as emotional, calling it a reward for years of perseverance and hard work.
Nigeria finished top of Group C with nine points from three matches to book a place in the knockout stage.
Nigeria Premier Football League side Barau FC have directed head coach Ladan Bosso to step aside following a disappointing run of results this season.
The decision was taken by the club’s management after the Maliya Boys slipped into relegation danger. Barau FC currently sit 17th on the NPFL table with 21 points from 19 matches.
In a statement released by the club, Bosso was instructed to hand over duties to his assistant, who will assume responsibility on an interim basis while management reviews the situation.
Barau FC also assured that all outstanding entitlements owed to the experienced tactician will be fully settled, stressing that the move was made in the best interest of the club as they battle to preserve their top-flight status.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has begun preliminary discussions on the hosting rights for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), signalling a possible shift in how host nations are selected.
According to BSNSports, a high-ranking CAF source disclosed that the issue will be a key item on the agenda of the CAF Executive Committee meeting scheduled for mid-next month.
The discussions come in the wake of changes to AFCON scheduling and the cancellation of bid processes for the 2029, 2031, 2033, and 2035 editions.
According to information from within CAF, members of the Executive Committee are backing a proposal to invite bids for three consecutive AFCON tournaments beginning with 2028 and extending through 2036 rather than selecting hosts on a single-edition basis.
Amid speculation that Morocco could be awarded a future edition, a prominent member of the CAF Executive Office shared his personal view, stressing the need for fairness in the geographical distribution of hosting rights. He argued that CAF should consider regions outside North and East Africa for upcoming tournaments.
The source noted that North Africa hosted AFCON 2019 in Egypt and will host the 2025 edition in Morocco, while East Africa is set to stage the 2027 tournament in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. West Africa, through Cote d’Ivoire and Central Africa, through Cameroon, hosted the 2021 and 2023 editions respectively.
Based on this rotation, the source suggested that Southern Africa deserves consideration to host the 2028 AFCON, provided national federations from the region submit formal bids.
Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Daniel Igali, has issued a firm directive to the Chairman and Management Board of Bayelsa United FC to immediately reset the club’s competitive objectives and deliver significantly improved results in the second stanza of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Igali delivered the charge during a closed-door meeting with the Chairman of the club, Tarelaye Nwakwe and members of his management board on Wednesday at his office in Yenagoa, following what he described as an unacceptable first-half showing.
The Commissioner expressed deep dissatisfaction with the club’s current league position, noting that Bayelsa United are 15th on the NPFL table with 23 points—dangerously close to the relegation zone
Stating that the team’s inconsistency and the recent home defeat to El-Kanemi Warriors clearly fall short of expectations.
“We are already late in addressing our shortcomings. This is no longer a period for gradual adjustments. The second stanza must be approached with urgency, precision, and clear targets,” Igali stated.
He emphasized that the state government has made massive investments in football development and the welfare of Bayelsa United, and such commitment must now be matched by performance and results.
According to the Commissioner, the directive to the club is clear and non-negotiable, stressing Bayelsa United must move decisively into the top half of the NPFL table and mount a credible challenge for continental qualification places.
“Survival is not the objective. Our target is to finish in the top half of the league and compete for continental tickets. Anything less will not justify the level of support and resources committed to this club,” he said.
Igali further challenged the board to be deliberate and uncompromising in the transfer window, insisting on quality recruitment that directly strengthens weak areas of the squad and aligns with the club’s competitive ambitions.
He also reaffirmed the Prosperity government’s continued backing of the team, citing sustained welfare support and logistical arrangements such as air travel for away fixtures, particularly to northern states, to ensure optimal performance.
The meeting was attended by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Menidin Nicolas Digha, as well as the Chairman of Bayelsa United FC, Tarelaye Nwakwe, members of the management board, and other football stakeholders
Algeria kept up their winning run at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, making it three out of three in Group E as they beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to affirm their status among the tournament favourites.
Goals in the first half from Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza saw a second-string side register a comfortable victory at the Stade Moula El Hassan, with veteran Emilio Nsue pulling one back for Equatorial Guinea after the break.
Algeria were already confirmed as group winners after beating Burkina Faso on Sunday to set up a last-16 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo, enabling them to make nine changes for Wednesday’s game.
In spite of key players rested, the depth at Algeria’s disposal looked impressive as Belaid had them ahead in the 18th minute with a glancing header from Anis Hadj Moussa’s corner.
Maza was the provider six minutes later with a pass from deep to Chaibi who cut inside and rifled home from close range.
The 20-year-old Maza netted Algeria’s third in the 32nd minute to popular acclaim as he got a head to Hadj Moussa’s cross.
Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono made a superb stop on the stroke of halftime to deny Moncef Bakrar and then a minute later another difficult save at the base of the post.
The 36-year-old Nsue, who had been top scorer at the last Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire two years ago, scored from long range in the 50th minute to pull one goal back for Equatorial Guinea. They finished last in the group without any points, unable to reprise their giant-killing heroics of the last Cup of Nations.
Equatorial Guinea were without three suspended players on Wednesday – Basilio Ndong after a red card in their first game and Carlos Akapo and Josete Miranda banned for swearing at the referee after their last outing.
Wednesday’s result helped expunge a bitter memory for Algeria, who as defending champions at the 2021 edition in Cameroon had suffered a shock loss to Equatorial Guinea and went on to finish last in their group.
Burkina Faso secured second place in the group at the same time by beating Sudan 2-0 in Casablanca. Sudan also advanced to the last-16 as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
Two Equatorial Guinea players have been banned for insulting a referee at the Africa Cup of Nations and Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore was fined for post-match remarks, according to the respective football federations.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akakpo and midfielder Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for swearing at referee Messie Nkounou of Congo after their 1-0 loss to Sudan in Casablanca on Sunday which left them bottom of Group E. Two of the matches have been suspended for the period of a year, the federation said.
The suspensions began yesterday when Equatorial Guinea face Algeria in their last group match in Rabat.
Traore, who plays for Sunderland, was fined $10,000 for “offensive remarks” he made in an interview after Algeria’s 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Rabat on Sunday.
“It’s a shame, we lost 1-0 to a penalty. I think there was a penalty on me in the very first action of the match,” Traore said. “The referees are ruining the game. And then, at the end, the referee (swear word) me.”
Traore expressed regret after being charged by the Confederation of African Football, the Burkinabe federation said.
Uganda head coach Paul Put has admitted that playing Nigeria at AFCON 2025 proved too difficult for his side following their 3–1 defeat to the Super Eagles.
The loss ended Uganda’s hopes of reaching the Round of 16, with Put acknowledging that qualification should not have depended on facing the three-time African champions.
“I think we shouldn’t have come looking for qualification facing Nigeria,” Put said.
“We had the opportunity against Tanzania to qualify for the round of 16.”
The Belgian tactician also pointed to his team’s lack of experience, noting that the pressure of facing a heavyweight like Nigeria affected his players.
“They don’t have the experience at this level, so they were under pressure,” he explained.
Put praised Nigeria’s quality, describing them as one of the strongest teams in the competition, while insisting Uganda’s elimination stemmed from earlier results rather than the defeat to the Super Eagles.
Nigeria finished the group with a flawless record, while Uganda exited at the group stage.
