The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Super Eagles jumps to 43rd  globally  in latest FIFA Rankings

    Super Eagles jumps to 43rd  globally  in latest FIFA Rankings

    The Super Eagles  have moved to 43rd  spot in the latest FIFA Rankings released yesterday but the  national team dropped to the sixth position in Africa.

    The latest spot shows a slight improvement for the Super Eagles who ended 2024 in 44th  position, their lowest ranking in six years, marking a significant drop from their 28th  place standing at the start of last year.

    Having played two World Cup qualifiers  this year against Rwanda which ended 2-0 in Kigali  and the pulsating 1-1  draw  against Zimbabwe in  Uyo, the Super Eagles moved up to fourth place in their 2026 World Cup qualification group with seven points from six games.

    In Africa, Morocco maintained their spot as the highest-ranked team, moving up to 12th  globally. Senegal (19th ), Egypt (32nd ), Algeria (36th ), and Cote d’Ivoire  (41st ) rounded off Africa’s top five, while Nigeria, ranked fifth in December, fell to sixth.

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    The first FIFA Rankings for 2025 reflected no changes among the top 10 teams from December. Argentina maintained their spot as the world’s number one team while Spain climbed above France to claim the second position. England, Brazil, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Germany completed the top 10.

    Myanmar were the biggest climbers, moving up seven places to 162nd  while Guinea-Bissau had the biggest drop, falling to 128th . Bosnia and Herzegovina scored the most points (+24.16) while Iraq lost the most (-29.46).

    Super Eagles will hope to improve massively before the next FIFA rankings with series of friendlies games lined up against Russia on June 6th . Before then,  they will also take part in the 2025 Unity Cup scheduled to hold in London  between May 27-31 where they are projected to play two games.

    The next FIFA World rankings will be released on July 10th .

  • Super Eagles: Organisers  unveil  details  for Unity Cup in London

    Super Eagles: Organisers  unveil  details  for Unity Cup in London

    The Super Eagles will compete with Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago for the Unity Cup scheduled to hold in London between  May 27 and 31.

    According to Ghana Football Association, the tournament, dubbed “The Best in the West – The Afro Classico Contest,” promises thrilling matches, including two semi-finals featuring local derbies that will captivate fans.

    The first semi-final on May 27 will witness a historic clash between Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors and Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, as they vie for supremacy in the West Indies.

    The following day, the Super Eagles will face off against their West African rivals, Black Stars in a highly-anticipated clash as both teams fight for bragging rights.

    The tournament will conclude on May 31 with a double-header, featuring two matches that will decide the bronze medallist and the ultimate winner of The Unity Cup 2025.

    The tournament will serve as an opportunity for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to train with and assess his squad ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier games and the upcoming AFCON in December.

    Read Also: Super Eagles’ dreams suffer setback in World Cup’ 26 race

    Nigeria are two-time champions of the Unity Cup, as such, winning the competition once again will give the team much-needed confidence to tackle the tougher tasks on the way.

    Ahead of the tournament, Rotimi Pedro of AfroSport, the organizers of the event, stated: “I am proud to announce that The Unity Cup is back. It has been a long road to revive this important community event, and we are happy that fans of African and Caribbean football will get to see international football of the highest calibre at The Unity Cup 2025.”

    Andy Howes, Co-Director of AfroSport, added: “The Unity Cup is a tournament that really does evoke the often-used phrase ‘an event that goes beyond sport.’ But with the array of elite stars and the profile of the teams involved, this event is not only important in terms of its cultural significance but also reflects the growing commercial importance of African and Caribbean football, as well as the growing demographic of black football fans within English football.”

  • Chelle seeks improvement of Super Eagles’ defence

    Chelle seeks improvement of Super Eagles’ defence

    Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles coach has identified the defence of the team as one of the key areas he wishes to fortify before the next World Cup qualifying window in September.

    A close associate of the coach,  who pleaded to be anonymous,  said the biggest headache for Chelle is the defence and he is determined to make it more reliable in subsequent games.

    He said that Chelle is impressed with the attack and he has a bit reservation for the midfield, but the defence is a great concern.

    “We are disappointed by the outcome of the 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe. There are so many good options for Nigeria in the attack and the midfield, but the defence gives you little and that is where the problem lies.

    “The focus now is to strengthen the team defensively. Chelle has to find solution to that aspect of the team and i think he is already working on it.

    “Hopefully, he will use the friendly games in June to field some defenders who are relatively new to the team,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Chelle has spoken highly of 22-year-old Noah Atubolu, who recently set a new record of going 577 minutes without conceding a goal in the Bundesliga and has represented Germany at various age levels.

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    Chelle looks to rejig the Super Eagles in all departments and he sees Atubolu as a good competition for Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye and other Nigerian Goalkeepers.

    The Franco Malian is scouring Europe in  an attempt to get eligible Nigerian players who can help him actualise his dreams with the Eagles hence his resolve to have a compendium of players from where he can call on when the chips are down.

     Chelle has reportedly said  he has  a long list of players who are eligible to play for Nigeria and he hopes he will soon get some of them to play for the team.

    His list of prospects include midfielders Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka, who have both been loaned out by Chelsea this season, as well as Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.

  • Aina to get two-year contract extension at Forest

    Aina to get two-year contract extension at Forest

    Nottingham Forest and Super Eagles full-back, Ola Aina, is to get a two-year contract extension at the City Ground, Soccernet.ng reports.

    The 28-year-old has been one of the best defenders in the English top-flight this season, and his performances have seen Manchester City and AC Milan keen on his services.

    Aina’s current deal at the City Ground runs out this summer, and the former Chelsea man is keen on continuing his career with the two-time UEFA Champions League winners.

    Read Also: ValueJet, NFF partnership for  Super Eagles excites Majekodunmi

    As per Sports Witness, Ola Aina’s future at the City Ground will go beyond this season as the club are set to offer the Super Eagles star a two-year deal.

    According to the report, the proposed contract includes the option to extend for another year and will see him improve his salary. The figures, however, aren’t mentioned in the report.

    Negotiations between the two parties are expected to hasten in the coming weeks, with a deal expected to be struck by the early days of next month.

  • Super Eagles to play four-nation tourney in England

    Super Eagles to play four-nation tourney in England

    The Super Eagles will feature in a four-nation tournament in England that will also involve arch-rivals Ghana and Jamaica, officials have specially informed SCORENigeria

    The Super Eagles will use this mini-tournament during the June international break to prepare crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda at home and South Africa away in September.

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    Nigeria are fourth in its qualifying group with seven points from six matches, but they are mathematically not yet ruled out of securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

    Officials told SCORENigeria that the Eagles would fly into England for the tournament after a historic first-ever clash against Russia in Moscow.

  • Nigeria, Russia friendly gets date, venue

    Nigeria, Russia friendly gets date, venue

    The Super Eagles will take on Russia in a historic yet controversial friendly during the international break in June.

    This will be the first-ever meeting between Nigeria and Russia at the full international level.

    SCORENigeria has now scooped that the friendly will be played in the Russian capital city of Moscow, and the date is May 31.

    Read Also: NFF partners Nigerian Breweries,  Carloha boost Super Eagles

    The 2018 World Cup hosts are under a FIFA ban following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but that has partially been relaxed after the Russian U17 team were allowed to play in international competitions.

    Officials told SCORENigeria that it is after this engagement that the Super Eagles will fly out to England.

  • Super Eagles can qualify for 2026 World Cup If…

    Super Eagles can qualify for 2026 World Cup If…

    Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup took a serious hit after they were held to a disappointing home draw by Zimbabwe.

    A sluggish start to their qualifying campaign, where they managed just three points from a possible 12, left them with little margin for error. To keep their qualification hopes alive, they needed to secure all 12 points available during this international window.

    They began positively with a 2-0 victory over Rwanda, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the draw against Zimbabwe represents a setback, leaving them six points adrift of the automatic qualification spot.

    Despite the growing challenge, all hope is not lost. Key factors, including improved consistency and favorable results elsewhere, could still revive Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions.

    Current Qualification Structure:

    For the 2026 World Cup, Africa has been allocated nine direct qualification spots, with an additional opportunity for a tenth team through an intercontinental playoff. Each group winner secures direct qualification, while the four best runners-up will compete for the playoff spot.

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    Nigeria’s position:

    After six matches, Nigeria has accumulated seven points, placing them fourth in Group C. South Africa leads the group with 13 points. The Super Eagles’ recent 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe further complicated their qualification prospects.

    Path to qualification:

    Maximize Points in Remaining Matches: Nigeria must aim to win all their remaining fixtures to accumulate a total of 28 points. This aggressive approach is essential to challenge South Africa for the top spot or to position themselves as one of the best runners-up.

    Capitalize on South Africa’s Potential Point Deduction: Reports indicate that South Africa may face a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two prior yellow cards. If enforced, this could reduce their lead and provide Nigeria with an opportunity to close the gap.

    The Super Eagles’ path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains uncertain, even with the possibility of South Africa facing a point deduction. Beating South Africa alone will not be enough if Nigeria continues to drop points unnecessarily.

    Currently, Nigeria trails behind South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, and potentially Lesotho, should they be awarded the three points from South Africa’s penalty. To secure qualification, the Super Eagles must win all their remaining matches. Victories against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho, and Benin Republic would guarantee that Nigeria finishes above at least three of these teams.

    Only South Africa currently holds a lead of 3 or more points over Nigeria. A clean sweep in the remaining fixtures would ensure that Nigeria finishes in at least second place, regardless of how other results unfold.

    If South Africa is docked three points and wins all their other matches except against Nigeria, the Super Eagles would top the group with a flawless run. However, if South Africa retains their current total and secures maximum points in every other game except the one against Nigeria, the Super Eagles would likely finish second and rely on being one of the best second-placed teams to qualify.

    The CAF qualifying format for the 2026 World Cup features nine groups, with the winners of each group securing automatic qualification. The four best second-placed teams will proceed to a playoff to compete for a spot in the tournament.

    As of now, the four teams holding the playoff positions are Gabon (15 points), Namibia (12 points), Mozambique (12 points), and Burkina Faso (11 points). Nigeria, currently on seven points, could still secure 12 more, potentially ending the group stage with 19 points. Depending on how results unfold in other groups, this could position the Super Eagles for a playoff spot.

    The road to the 2026 World Cup remains challenging for the Super Eagles. A combination of consistent victories, capitalizing on opponents’ missteps, and building a cohesive and resilient squad will be key to their qualification hopes. With the stakes high, maintaining focus and determination in the remaining matches will be crucial to securing a place on football’s biggest stage.

  • Obi lauds Super Eagles’ resilience despite draw against Zimbabwe

    Obi lauds Super Eagles’ resilience despite draw against Zimbabwe

    Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed admiration for the Super Eagles’ performance in their recent FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe.

    Despite the team’s 1-1 draw, Obi commended the players for demonstrating the “true Nigerian spirit of strength, resilience, and dedication” on the field.

    Obi, who attended the match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, acknowledged that the team didn’t secure a win but emphasised that their sportsmanship had won the hearts of Nigerians.

    He appreciated the team’s efforts and sacrifices, stating that “our labours were not in vain”.

    Read Also: Super Eagles’ dreams suffer setback in World Cup’ 26 race

    Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, where I joined a host of other sport-enthusiastic Nigerians to support The Super Eagles as they played the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their sixth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

    “As usual, our team demonstrated the true Nigerian spirit of strength, resilience and dedication on the field of play. Football, and indeed sports, has remained a strong unifying factor for our nation battling with disunity.

    “While we may not have clinched the victory on the field of play, our dear players have, again, won our hearts with their obvious display of sportsmanship.

    “I sincerely appreciate our dear national football team and, indeed, everyone whose efforts and sacrifices got us far in this journey. Our labours were not in vain.”

  • Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe:  Super Eagles’  dreams suffer setback in World Cup 26 race  

    Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe:  Super Eagles’  dreams suffer setback in World Cup 26 race  

    Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals suffered a setback yesterday  after the Warriors of Zimbabwe scored a last-minute equalizer in their Matchday 6 encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    The result meant the Super Eagles are still stuck in fourth place in group C, as leaders South Africa put daylight between themselves and the rest of the pack with a matured 2-0 win over Benin Republic in Abidjan that took them to 13 points.

    Benin Republic’s Cheetahs and Rwanda’s Amavubi are both on eight points, one more than the Super Eagles, with four rounds of matches left, to be played over the months of September and October.

    Usual suspect Victor James Osimhen, playing his 40th match for the Nigeria senior team, scored to put Nigeria in front after 73 minutes, making hay from Olaoluwa Aina’s cross from the left that escaped every Zimbabwean player in the defence.

    Read Also: NFF unveils Éric Chelle as Super Eagles’ 37th coach

    With robust confidence and a positive spirit from their win over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, Nigeria launched onslaught after onslaught particularly through the left side of the Zimbabwean defence, with Simon Moses always in good flow, but goalkeeper Washington Arubi thwarted their forays and kept his team in the game.

    Three minutes after Osimhen’s goal, the visitors could have scored as Khama Billiat broke from the left and the Super Eagles were only saved by the crossbar.

    Substitute Tawanda Chireda would eventually find the leveller on the dot of 90 minutes, as the Warriors swept past the Nigeria rear-guard and he cleverly poked past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from close range. 

  • Super Eagles’ dreams suffer setback in World Cup’ 26 race

    Super Eagles’ dreams suffer setback in World Cup’ 26 race

    Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals suffered a setback yesterday  after the Warriors of Zimbabwe scored a last-minute equalizer in their Matchday 6 encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    The result meant the Super Eagles are still stuck in fourth place in group C, as leaders South Africa put daylight between themselves and the rest of the pack with a matured 2-0 win over Benin Republic in Abidjan that took them to 13 points.

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    Benin Republic’s Cheetahs and Rwanda’s Amavubi are both on eight points, one more than the Super Eagles, with four rounds of matches left, to be played over the months of September and October.

    Usual suspect Victor James Osimhen, playing his 40th match for the Nigeria senior team, scored to put Nigeria in front after 73 minutes, making hay from Olaoluwa Aina’s cross from the left that escaped every Zimbabwean player in the defence.