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Tag: World Cup qualifiers

  • FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Falconets set up Senegal clash

    FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Falconets set up Senegal clash

    Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team will face Senegal in the third round of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

    Senegal sealed their place after a commanding 4-0 win over Algeria in the return leg on Saturday, completing a 6-0 aggregate victory.

    Sokhna Nogaye Pene opened scoring after just two minutes, before an own goal by Melissa Rekibi doubled the lead in the 18th  minute.

    Second-half strikes from Aïssatou Sagna (79’) and Khadija Badio (81’) wrapped up the emphatic result.

    Read Also: Veteran journalist decries NFF’s flawed electoral system   

    The Falconets had earlier confirmed their spot with a 4-0 triumph over Rwanda in Ibadan, giving them a 5-0 aggregate win.

    Precious Oscar, Fatimah Tunmininu, Janet Akekerowei, and Taiwo Afolabi all got on the score sheet in the second leg.

    The much-anticipated third-round tie between Nigeria and Senegal will be played between February 6 and 14, 2026.

  • Asamoah Gyan accuses Osimhen of faking injury in World Cup qualifiers

    Asamoah Gyan accuses Osimhen of faking injury in World Cup qualifiers

    Former Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan has accused Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen of faking injury to miss the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa.

    Osimhen returned to Galatasaray after picking up a leg injury in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda last weekend, ruling him out of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana at the Free State Stadium.

    Galatasaray later confirmed the 26-year-old had suffered an ankle ligament injury. However, Gyan questioned the legitimacy of the claim, suggesting it was a cover to keep the striker fresh for club duties.

    Read Also: Osimhen begins treatment for sprained ankle ligament

    “I know these tricks. Someone said to Osimhen, ‘Look, we spent a lot of money on you. The Champions League is coming up. 

    “We don’t like you going to Africa but go there and play a bit, then get injured and lie on the ground and act like it’s serious. The next day you’ll be in Türkiye,’” Gyan was quoted by habersarikirmizi.

  • Police in A’Ibom assure adequate security for Nig./Rwanda World Cup qualifiers

    Police in A’Ibom assure adequate security for Nig./Rwanda World Cup qualifiers

    The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, has assured football fans and visitors of adequate security during the World Cup Qualifiers between Nigeria and Rwanda.

    Azare gave the assurance while addressing a news conference on Thursday in Uyo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match was slated for Sept. 6 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo by 5 p.m.

    Azare said that the police were fully prepared to host the match and ensure that it was hitch-free security-wise.

    “On Saturday, by God’s grace, we have an international match between Nigeria and Rwanda here in Akwa Ibom.

    “I want to inform you that our men are going to use their total strength in policing the game”, he said.

    Read Also: Many injuried as police destroy insurgents’ camp in five-hour gun duel

    The CP guaranteed the safety of all visitors coming in and going out of the state during and after the match, assuring that it would be peaceful.

    Azare, however, warned hoodlums who might be planning to foment trouble to steer clear of the state, saying that the command was ready to prevent any form of violence.

    “All intending criminals who may have plans to foment trouble during the match should have a rethink because our tactical team will not tolerate any form of violence,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Congo to resume World Cup qualifiers after missing their matches

    Congo to resume World Cup qualifiers after missing their matches

    Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when they were banned, world football’s governing body FIFA  has said.

    Congo were suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of their football association (FECOFOOT) but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to their headquarters and technical training centre.

    Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes.

    During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant they did not honour 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March.

    A FIFA spokesman told Reuters the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to their opponents.

    Read Also: 2025  AFCON: NFF unveils ‘Mission X’ campaign for Super Falcons

    But they will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying.

    Congo are scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude their fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco.

    Congo have no points in the group, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place.

    The group winner qualifies for next year’s World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups.

    FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years.

    Congo were African champions in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup.

  • World Cup qualifiers: Nigeria vs Benin Republic starting XI

    World Cup qualifiers: Nigeria vs Benin Republic starting XI

    Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George, has named his starting line-up for this evening’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cheetahs of Benin Republic.

    The Super Eagles will start the game with the 4-3-3 formation just like the South Africa game.

    Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali will start in goal again ahead of the duo of Maduka Okoye and Olorunleke Ojo.

    Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface will remain on the bench.

    Here is the starting lineup for tonight’s match:

    Stanley Nwabali

    Semi Ajayi

    Calvin Bassey

    Benjamin Taminu

    Bright Osayi

    Read Also: Ekong insists he’s fit for World Cup qualifiers

    Alex Iwobi

    Wilfred Ndidi

    Frank Onyeka

    Ademola Lookman

    Terem Moffi

    Samuel Chukwueze

  • Lewandowski Defeats Ronaldo on FIFA Top Scorer’s Table

    Lewandowski Defeats Ronaldo on FIFA Top Scorer’s Table

    Robert Lewandowski scored 16 goals to lead the top scorer’s table for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Matches. Two strikers who also have 16 goals to their credit aside Lewandowski are; Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and  Ahmed Khalil.

    The three players are leading Ballon D’or favourite and Portugal Striker Christiano Ronaldo on the table with a goal difference.

    The Real Madrid ace has 15 goals to his credit from the 10 qualifying matches Portugal played to book their ticket for the Russia 2018 tournament.

    Ronaldo leads Tim Cahill, Romelu Lukaku and Sardar Azmoun with four goals difference as the trio occupy the fourth, fifth and sixth spot of top goal scorer table with 11 goals each to their credit.

    Sardar Azmoun also has 11 goals in his purfew to occupy spot number seven on the World Cup Qualifiers Top Scorers Table.

    Running a count-down to ten on the top scorers table, Omar Kharbin and Edinson Cavani have scored 10 goals each and they occupy spot number eight and nine respectively.

    The last but not the least on the World Cup Qualifiers Top Scorers Table, Carlos Ruiz,   scored nine goals so far as the qualifiers move closer to climax.

    Worthy to note that Lionel Messi who scired scored three goals in Argentina last qualifying match has a total of  seven goals during the qualifiers, Alex Sanchez is also on the same gial Margin also with Felipe Calcireo.

    See below the table of the top 10 scorers and other FIFA’s statistics from the qualifying matches so far.

    WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS TOP 10 SCORERS

    PLAYER                                          GOALS SCORED

    1. Robert Lewandowski –                               16
    2. Mohammad Al-Sahlawi –                          16
    3. Ahmed Khalil –                                            16
    4. Cristiano Ronaldo –                                    15
    5. Tim Cahill –                                                   11
    6. Romelu Lukaku –                                        11
    7. Sardar Azmoun –                                         11
    8. Omar Kharbin –                                          10
    9. Edinson Cavani –                                        10
    10. Carlos Ruiz –                                              9

    TEAMS THROUGH TO RUSSIA 2018 WORLD CUP

    ??Russia
    ??Brazil
    ??Iran
    ??Japan
    ??Mexico
    ??Belgium
    ??Korea Republic
    ??Saudi Arabia
    ??Germany
    ??England
    ??Spain
    ??Nigeria
    ??Costa Rica
    ??Poland
    ??Egypt
    ??Iceland
    ??Serbia
    ??France
    ??Portugal
    ??Uruguay
    ??Colombia
    ??Argentina
    ??Panama

    TOTAL = 23

    *EUROPEAN PLAY OFF*

    TEAMS:

    Sweden??
    Switzerland??
    Denmark??
    Italy??
    Croatia??
    Greece??
    Republic of Ireland
    Northern Ireland

    NB: ONLY 4 OUT OF THE 8 ABOVE TO QUALIFY.

    EUROPEAN PLAY OFFS DRAW DATE: 17th October 2017*

    EUROPEAN PLAY OFFS FIXTURE DATE: 9th and 14th November 2017*

    TEAMS MISSING OUT OF RUSSIA WORLD CUP

    Chile
    Netherlands
    Ghana
    Algeria
    USA
    Wales
    Gabon
    Mali
    Cameroon

  • Tuesday World Cup Qualifying Matches Result

    Tuesday World Cup Qualifying Matches Result

    It was goal thrillers in all the nine matches played Tuesday in the bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    Pasted below is the result of the nine matches.

    France and Portugal have qualified after today’s match.
    FULL-TIME: Holland 2-0 Sweden

    Not enough for Holland who won’t feature at Russia 2018. Sweden into the play-offs.

     

    FULL- TIME: Belgium 4 – 0 Cyprus

    FULL-TIME: Estonia 1 – 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    FULL-TIME: France 2-1 Belarus

    France qualify for the World Cup finals.

    FULL-TIME: Portugal 2-0 Switzerland

    Portugal qualify for Russia 2018. Switzerland head to the play-offs.

    FULL – TIME: Hungary 1 – 0 Faroe Islands
    FULL-TIME: Greece 4-0 Gibralter

    Greece also head to the play-offs.

    FULL TIME: Latvia 4 – 0 Andorra
    FULL – TIME: Luxembourg 1 – 1 Bulgaria

     

     

  • World Cup qualifiers: We are now in better position to beat Cameroon – Eguavoen

    World Cup qualifiers: We are now in better position to beat Cameroon – Eguavoen

     

    Former Super Eagles Coach Austin Eguavoen, has  said that the Eagles are now in a better position to beat the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the current African champions, in their World Cup qualifiers in August.

    Like Eguavoen, another ex-player of the Super Eagles, Edema Fuludu, shared similar opinion, when they spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday.

    The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Sunday defeated the Pharaohs of Egypt 2-1 to record its fifth AFCON title, after triumphs in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002.

    The victory, however, seemed to pose a nightmare to soccer fans as the Eagles would confront the Lions in a double-header, for Russia 2018 qualifiers in August.

    Currently Nigeria is leading Cameroon with four points.

    Both ex-internationals said the Lions, being the African champions, would make the Nigeria national team to be better prepared for the August clash.

    Eguavoen said he remained upbeat about Eagles chances in the August clash in spite of Cameroon’s emergence as African champion, adding that Nigerians have nothing to worry about.

    He, however, said that he was not surprised at the victory of the Indomitable Lions that lifted the AFCON trophy in Gabon.

    “The victory will give them serious boost no doubt, but it will also make our players not to relax, but be better prepared for the August match.

    “Cameroon will be coming here with all their arsenals, including those who didn’t participate in Gabon, but we have a good team with a blend of young and experienced players that will beat the African champion.

    “The worst case scenario is for us to beat them here and get an away draw, ” Eguavoen said.

    On his part, Fuludu, who said no doubt that the Lions are a good team, stressed that the Eagles were capable of getting a good result from them.

    According to him, “It would have been better that the match is played next month as Cameroon will still be basking in the euphoria of the AFCON victory to take us for granted.

    “But this notwithstanding, we still have time to prepare and we will be better prepared now that our opponent are champions of Africa.

    “We have the players and experienced coaching crew to get a better result from the matches; both home and away with Cameroon.’’

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles top the group with six points, followed by Cameroon with two points from two matches.

  • Eagles’ defeat won’t diminish our value – Algeria’s captain

    Eagles’ defeat won’t diminish our value – Algeria’s captain

    As former Africa’s highest rated team to becoming the third’s best, Algeria’s captain, Carl Medjani believes the 3-1 loss to Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers would diminish their rating as a top team in the continent.

    Medjani told Lebuteur.com after the encounter described the Nigerian side as a talented team. “We played against a very large team, composed of very talented players, and playing in very big clubs in Europe. Otherwise, we are very disappointed with this defeat, but that does not diminish our value, because in the second half we showed what we were able with a first-class performance,” Medjani said.

    He, however, ruled out giving excuses for their defeat, “I’m not looking for excuses, only in parallel, we do not have the right to miss so many opportunities to score, that’s why I say that efficiency has failed us. I repeat, we played against very good Nigerian players who knew how to put us in difficulty.

    “When we play Nigeria, it is not easy, with all due respect to the other teams we go or have faced. I say that in this kind of game we measure and we see the progress that remains to be made. We have been considered a great team for a long time, but I say that we are not yet, we still have to work very hard to reach the level we are trying to reach,” he added.

    The player is not giving up on their chances of making it to Russia 2018, “No, I do not agree, because nothing is lost yet, there are still games, and we will fight until the last minute, although we know it will be very complicated. We must not lie, we came across a very high group, but in football everything is possible, we must not lose hope but we must remain realistic,” Medjani said.

    Meanwhile, President of the Algerian Football Federation, Mohamed Raouraoua, was very disappointed with the defeat but said: “It is true that there was a very good reaction in the second half, only it was not enough to be able to score goals. We lost the match that we should not lose, because of this inefficiency in front. But we did not succeed on the decisive occasions. Our players have made a lot of effort, but the result has not. There are still points to be taken, but it will be very difficult”

  • Mikel ‘may feature’ in Kenya, Namibia ties

    Mikel ‘may feature’ in Kenya, Namibia ties

    There is a possibility that Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, will feature in next month World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia.

    The African champions will confront their group B opponents in crucial 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Nairobi and Windhoek next month. The team will play the Kenyan Harambee Stars on June 5 in Nairobi, before squaring up with the Brave Warriors of Namibia on June 12 in Windhoek.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, had earlier in the week expressed doubt over the availability of the Chelsea midfielder for the team busy schedule in June.

    “Our agreement before with Chelsea was for them to drop off both Mikel and Victor Moses after their own game. But now he is pursuing a visa to Brazil. We’re also not sure about his condition, if he is fit or not. And so, Mikel might not be there with us,” Keshi was quoted as saying from the Eagles training camp in Germany.

    However, Mikel played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea 4-3 defeat to their Premier League rivals Manchester City in United States on Thursday.

    The match was his first appearance for the Europa League Cup winners since he cropped a hip injury during the closing stages of 2012/2013 season.

    He was paired in central midfield by Chelsea U-18 player, Ruben Loftus-Cheek.