SPORTS
Chelle Missing as FIFA Releases 2025 Awards Voters
Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle was notably absent as FIFA released the official list of voters for the 2025 Best FIFA Football Awards, despite extensive Nigerian involvement across voting and expert panels.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was Nigeria’s sole nominee across the 11 award categories, earning recognition for her performances with Brighton, Paris FC, and the Super Falcons.
Nigerians, however, featured prominently in the decision-making process as captains, coaches, media representatives and members of FIFA’s expert panels.
Nnadozie was shortlisted for the best FIFA Women’s goalkeeper and the best FIFA Women’s 11 following a standout season.
She played a decisive role as Paris FC stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France final, keeping a clean sheet before saving two penalties in the shootout. At the international level, she recorded four clean sheets in six matches as Nigeria defeated Morocco in Rabat to reclaim the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
Despite those heroics, Nnadozie finished joint-last in voting for The Best FIFA Women’s 11, with her and 17 other goalkeepers failing to receive a vote in a category won by England’s Hannah Hampton. Hampton also claimed the best FIFA Women’s goalkeeper award, finishing ahead of Spain’s Cata Coll.
In the men’s best player category, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong voted for Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi and Lamine Yamal, while Nigeria’s media representative Oluwashina Okeleji selected Dembélé, Hakimi and Mohamed Salah.
For the women’s best player award, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade voted for Temwa Chawinga, Aitana Bonmatí, and Melchie Dumornay. Nigeria’s women’s head coach, Justine Madugu, chose Aitana Bonmatí, Alessia Russo, and Lucy Bronze, while Okeleji voted for Bonmatí, Russo and Chawinga.
In the men’s goalkeeper category, Troost-Ekong voted for Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manuel Neuer, and Alisson Becker, while Okeleji selected Donnarumma, Raya, and Thibaut Courtois.
For the women’s goalkeeper award, Ajibade voted for Nnadozie and Hampton, with Madugu and Okeleji also naming Nnadozie and Hampton in their ballots.
Beyond Nigeria, Nnadozie received votes from captains, coaches, and media representatives in 238 countries worldwide that placed her fourth behind Hampton, Spain’s Cata Coll, and Chile’s Christiane Endler.
In the women’s coach category, Ajibade and Madugu voted for Renée Slegers, Sonia Bompastor and Sarina Wiegman, while Okeleji voted for Wiegman, Bompastor and Seb Hines.
For the men’s coach award, Troost-Ekong and Okeleji both voted for Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick and Arne Slot. Across all categories, Chelle was the only Nigerian voter missing, leaving Troost-Ekong and Okeleji as Nigeria’s sole representatives in the men’s sections.
Beyond voting, Nigerians were also involved in FIFA’s expert panels responsible for shortlisting nominees.
Cinthya Uwak served on the panel for the women’s player, coach and goalkeeper awards, Yewande Balogun was part of the panel for the FIFA Marta Award for best women’s goal, Perpetua Nkwocha contributed to the selection of the best FIFA Women’s 11, Sunday Oliseh was involved in shortlisting The Best FIFA Men’s 11, while Mercy Akide served on the panel for the FIFA Fair Play Award.
The best FIFA Football Awards was held on Tuesday and covered performances between August 11, 2024 and August 2, 2025. Voting opened on November 6, 2025 and closed on November 28, 2025.
Winners included Bonmatí as the best FIFA Women’s Player, Dembélé as the best FIFA Men’s Player, Hampton as the best FIFA Women’s goalkeeper and Gianluigi Donnarumma as the best FIFA Men’s goalkeeper.
The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) president Samuel Eto’o believes Senegal star Sadio Mane has done enough to win the Africa Footballer of the Year Award.
Recall that in 2021, the Senegal forward was crowned African Player of the Year after helping his country win the first AFCON title.
He repeated the same feat again in 2025 by leading the Teranga Lions to win the AFCON title after defeating Morocco 1-0 in the final on Sunday in Rabat.
In a chat with FRANCE24, the former Barcelona forward backed Mane as a strong contender for the African Footballer of the Year award.
He also praised Mané’s influence both on and off the field, most especially in a tense moment when his teammates threatened to walk off the pitch following a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco after Brahim Diaz was fouled in the 18-yard box.
“Sadio Mane not only contributed to winning the tournament but also to saving the image of the national team, because leaving the pitch would have had very serious consequences for Senegal.
“Sadio is one of the greatest heroes of our continent, and I send him special respect for his morals and leadership qualities. I am honoured to consider him a friend, and his role in leading his teammates to victory was exceptional.
“I hope he achieves another African Footballer Of The Year because what he did, especially his behaviour yesterday, is the act of a great leader.”
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has apologized following a controversial incident during his team’s 1-0 win over hosts Morocco on Sunday.
Thiaw briefly ordered his players to leave the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco’s Brahim Diaz, who had been pulled by Malick Diouf in the box.
According to Sky Sports on Monday, speaking after the match, Thiaw said: “I don’t want to go over the incidents.
I apologise for the football. After reflecting on it, I made them come back on the pitch. You can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn’t have done it, but it is done, and we present our apologies to football.”The Senegal coach acknowledged the emotional intensity of the moment and stressed the importance of professionalism and accountability, urging players and fans to focus on moving forward.
Reacting to the incident, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui described his Senegal counterpart, Pape Thiaw, as ‘shameful,’ after his side won the Africa Cup of Nations in dramatic circumstances.
The Confederation of African Football condemned behaviour by some players and officials during the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final between hosts Morocco and Senegal in Rabat on Sunday night.
Dutch giants Ajax have announced the appointment of Jordi Cruyff, son of club legend Johan Cruyff, as the team’s technical director.
Cruyff, 51, will start his new role on February 1 on a contract that runs until June 2028.
“It goes without saying how much this means to my family and me,” Cruyff said on the club’s website.
“In the stadium named after my father and at the club that has been important to me since I was young.
“Ajax is a unique club with a rich history, and I will do everything I can to add a new successful chapter together.”
Cruyff will notably need to find a new coach for the Amsterdam team after the dismissal of John Heitinga in November.
Ajax are 18 points behind the league leaders, PSV Eindhoven, in the Dutch league, which they last won in 2022.
In the Champions League, they are 34th out of 36 teams and suffered a record 6-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Cup last Wednesday.
Club great Johan Cruyff led Ajax to three consecutive European Cup titles in the early 1970s.
An attacking midfielder, Jordi Cruyff was born in Amsterdam and played in the Ajax youth side, but never professionally for the club.
During his career, he played for teams including Barcelona and Manchester United and won nine caps for the Netherlands.
After retiring as a player, he managed teams including Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ecuador and in China.
False claim against Tinubu: DSS tenders Sowore’s post, plays video evidence in court
ShareThe Department of State Services (DSS), on Thursday, tendered a generated copy of the message posted by Omoyele Sowore on...
Kaduna council boss pays WAEC fees for 250 indigent students
Share The Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr Peter Tanko, has paid the 2026 West Africa Examination...
Imo records over $1m from non-oil exports in 2025 – NEPC
ShareThe Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says exporters in Imo generated a total of 1,244,095 dollars as proceeds from export...
NSCDC decorates 265 newly promoted officers in Kano
ShareThe Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, on Thursday decorated 265 newly promoted officers of the...
EFCC implicates banks, Fintechs in N162bn financial scams
ShareThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has implicated a new generation bank, six Fintechs and microfinance banks in major...
Replacing Shettima will Jeopardize Tinubu’s Reelection – APC Chieftain Warns
ShareA chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abayomi Mumuni, has warned against any attempt to replace Vice President Kashim...
Why We Suspended Investment in Oil Exploration in Senegal – Oranto Petroleum
Share…Says it Has Committed Over US$45 Million in Expenditures in Senegal By Mike Odiakose, Abuja The management of Oranto Petroleum,...
NAFDAC begins enforcement of ban on sachet alcohol
Share The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has began enforcement on the ban of...
PDP will soon Return to its Winning Days Says Turaki
ShareSpeaking to newsmen after the closed-door meeting, Turaki said that the party was being repositioned to reclaim its status as...
Police Arrest Bus Driver over Girlfriend’s Death in Edo
ShareThe Edo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old commercial bus driver, Osabohien Ogieva, in connection with the death of...