SPORTS
2025 AFCON Draw: Nigeria to Battle Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Nigeria will battle Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in the group phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Report says that this was confirmed at the end of a colourful ceremony at the Mohamed V Theatre in Rabat on Monday.
With the draw concluded, the Super Eagles now have just 11 months to prepare for the 35th AFCON finals, with the tournament scheduled to hold between Dec.
21 to Jan. 18, 2026.The three-time champions must navigate Group C that also houses Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, the Cranes of Uganda and the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
The Eagles are expected to open their campaign with a game against the Taifa Stars.
As hosts of the AFCON for the first time ever, in 1980, the Eagles battled the Taifa Stars in the tournament opening match.
The Tanzanian team was complete with their highly-rated team captain Leodegar Tenga and the enigmatic goalkeeper Jona Pondamali.
Nigeria won 3-1 and went ahead to win their first continental title.
Then, 20 years later, as co-hosts (with Ghana), Nigeria played Tunisia in their first match of the tournament, beating the Carthage Eagles 4-2 in Lagos.
The Eagles went all the way to the final, losing to Cameroon only after a penalty shootout.
The Carthage Eagles pipped the Super Eagles by a lone goal in the Round of 16 at the finals in Cameroon, three years ago, to end the sweet run of the three-time champions.
Uganda have always proved a tough nut to crack for Nigeria, including a 2-1 win over the Eagles at the 1978 finals in Ghana that condemned Nigeria to the third-place match.
Nigeria won that third-place match after Tunisia abandoned the match in the 42nd minute.
Hosts and 1976 winners Morocco are drawn in Group A alongside 2012 champions Zambia, 1972 runners-up Mali and Comoros that will be playing in only their second championship.
Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire are in Group F and must negotiate a tricky pool that also has five-time champions Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique
Seven-time winners Egypt are at war with 1996 hosts and champions South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B, which somewhat looks like the “group of death”.
Senegal who are the 2021 winners are at loggerheads with two-time winners Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin Republic and Botswana in Group D, while 1990 and 2019 winners Algeria will confront Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan in Group E.
Full Draw
GROUP A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
GROUP B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
GROUP C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
GROUP D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin Republic, Botswana
GROUP E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
GROUP F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique. (NAN)
SPORTS
Results of Match Day 20 Fixtures in 2024/2025 NPFL Encounters
The following are the results of Match Day 20 fixtures in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) played on Sunday:
Akwa United FC 1-2 Remo Stars FC
Heartland FC 1-0 Lobi Stars FC
Plateau United FC 2-1 River United FC
Kwara United FC Vs Shooting Stars FC (postponed)
Kano pillars FC Vs El kanemi Warriors FC (Postponed)
Bendel Insurance FC Vs Enyimba International FC (postponed) (NAN)
SPORTS
NPFL: Three Matchday 20 Fixtures Postponed
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced the postponement of three fixtures from matchday 20 of the 2024-25 season.
Report says that this decision was disclosed by Davidson Owunmi, the Chief Operating Officer of NPFL, in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Owunmi slated the six affected teams and matches by the postponement .
“The six teams affected by the postponement are: Bendel Insurance FC, Enyimba International FC, Kwara United FC, Shooting Stars FC Sports Club (3SC), Kano Pillars FC and El Kanemi Warriors FC.
“The postponed matches are: Kwara United FC vs Shooting Stars FC Sports Club (3SC) which was initially scheduled for Jan.
25 at 4 p.m.“Kano Pillars FC vs El Kanemi Warriors FC scheduled for Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. and Bendel Insurance FC vs Enyimba International FC for Jan. 27 at 4 p.m.,” he said.
According to Owunmi, the new rescheduled dates for the postponed matches will be communicated to the affected teams and match officials in due course.
Report says that although the NPFL did not provide specific reasons for the postponement, it is understood that the decision was made due to unforeseen circumstances.
The remaining matchday 20 fixtures will proceed as scheduled:
On Jan. 25: Abia Warriors FC vs Bayelsa United FC – Umuahia Township Stadium; Rangers International FC vs Niger Tornadoes FC – Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Others are Nasarawa United FC vs Katsina United FC – Lafia City Stadium;Sunshine Stars FC vs Ikorodu City FC – Remo Stars Stadium.
On Jan. 26: Plateau United FC vs Rivers United FC – New Jos Stadium; Akwa United FC vs Remo Stars FC – Godswill Akpabio International Stadium and Heartland FC vs Lobi Stars FC – Dan Anyiam Stadium.
Report says that the NPFL 2024-25 season is currently on a three-week mid-season break, which began on Jan. 6. after completing the first round of matches on Matchday 19.
The break includes a transfer window open until Feb. 25, allowing teams to strengthen their squads.
The League matches are expected to resume on Jan. 25, marking the start of the second round.
Remo Stars are currently sitting at the top of the table with 36 points, followed closely by Rivers United in second place. (NAN)
SPORTS
CHAN 2024: CAF Picks Nigeria’s Abdulsallam as Centre Referee
Nigeria’s Qassim Abdulsallam has been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as one of the centre referees expected to officiate at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Report says that CHAN is a biennial continental tournament meant solely for African players plying their trade in their countries’ various local national leagues.
Abdulsallam was the only Nigerian referee listed in the 65-man roaster of officials released by CAF on its website on Friday.
The tournament, the eighth in the series, is scheduled to hold in three countries: Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28.
This would be the first edition co-hosted by three different countries.
According to the statement on the CAF official website, Abdulsallam will join 25 other centre referees officiating at the championship.
The list also has 25 assistant referees and 14 Video Assistant Referees (VAR) officials for the tournament.
Abdulsallam distinguished himself in the second leg of the CHAN qualifier between Niger and Cote d’ivoire at the Bamako Stade, 26 Mars on Saturday.
The Zamfara State Referees’ Council member, was among the referees who went to the CHAN course preparations exercise in Cairo in late 2024.
Abdulsallam was also on the list of match officials invited for the WAFU U-20 qualifiers held earlier in Togo.
The Super Eagles B team qualified for the 2024 CHAN
Interestingly, this latest feat is coming six years after the Super Eagles last appeared at the biennial continental tournament.
Nigeria thrashed Ghana 3-1 in a second-leg final qualifying fixture at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, after playing out a goalless draw in the first leg in Ghana a week earlier, to book a berth to the eighth edition of the championship. (NAN)