Sports
AFCON qualifiers: Osimhen out as Eguavoen names squad for Libya double-header clash
Super Eagles caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has revealed a 23-man squad ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying doubleheader against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
The list, released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Saturday, features some familiar faces, but key absences include Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen and Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah, both ruled out due to injuries.
Osimhen, who has been in sensational form, suffered a muscle injury during Galatasaray’s Super Lig clash against Kasımpaşa on September 28.
The Turkish club confirmed that the 25-year-old striker sustained a strain in his upper left posterior muscle group, sidelining him for a few weeks.
Similarly, Ndah, who has been pivotal for Orlando Pirates, also misses out due to injury concerns.
Despite the notable omissions, Eguavoen’s squad includes seasoned campaigners like Captain William Troost-Ekong, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi, and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi.
The team also welcomes back Chidera Ejuke, who returns to the Super Eagles fold for the first time since 2022 after a string of impressive performances at Sevilla.
The Super Eagles will first take on the Mediterranean Knights at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11, before heading to Benghazi for the return leg at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium on Tuesday, October 15.
Both matches are critical as Nigeria looks to secure its place in the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Eguavoen has also called up in-form players like Ademola Lookman, currently plying his trade at Atalanta, and Moses Simon, who has been a key figure at FC Nantes.
Bright Osayi-Samuel of Fenerbahce makes his return after missing the last set of qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
With Osimhen out, much of the attacking burden will fall on Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest) and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, both of whom have been in good form for their respective clubs.
Kelechi Iheanacho also makes the squad, alongside other midfield options like Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Augsburg’s Frank Onyeka.
All players are expected to report in Uyo by Monday, October 7, to begin preparations for the crucial fixtures.
Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders:
William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey)
Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA)
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy)
Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany)
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
As the Super Eagles aim to maintain their unbeaten run in the qualifiers, all eyes will be on how Eguavoen manages the squad in the absence of key players like Osimhen and Ndah.
Nonetheless, the team remains strong and is expected to give a solid performance in both encounters.
Sports
Get ready for Libya rematch – Obi Tells Super Eagles
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the Super Eagles to gear up for a rematch against Libya, following the team’s harrowing experience at a Libyan airport last Sunday.
The Nigerian players and officials were stranded for hours, denied food and internet access, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.
In a statement on his X handle, Obi expressed sympathy for the team’s ordeal and commended their patriotism and patience in the face of unfair treatment.
He encouraged the players not to let the experience dampen their spirits, but rather recharge their determination to win the match and qualify for the Morocco 2025 AFCON.
The statement reads: Like every other patriotic Nigerian, I sincerely sympathize with our dear Super Eagles over their ordeal in Libya on their way to play the Morocco 2025 AFCON Qualifier return leg match, which was later delisted by CAF following the players’ decision not to play the match.
The neglect and abandonment they and their officials suffered at a remote Libyan airport is highly regrettable and justifies their alternative decision of returning home.
While we await the outcome of an investigation ordered by CAF, I wish to use this opportunity to commend the players for their patriotism, patience, and forbearance in the face of the unfair treatment by our Libyan brothers.
I appeal to them not to allow this sad experience dampen their zeal or break their spirit.
On the other hand, it should recharge their determination to fight to win the match whenever it takes place, to qualify for the Morocco 2025 AFCON, and, to win the championship.
In times like this, when Nigerians are left dejected by the sorry state of affairs in the country, every victory by the Super Eagles would not only serve to unite the country but also give Nigerians something to celebrate.
The sad experience of our national team in Libya should encourage all of us to work hard to bring more respect and dignity to our nation.
With the right leadership in place, Nigeria surely will rise again. Indeed, a new Nigeria is POssible.
Sports
CAF confirms Morocco host of 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Morocco to host the 2024 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League Finals.
The CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024 will be played between November 9 and 23.
Morocco hosted the 2022 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League – the premium women’s club football competition in Africa.
Eight clubs including Edo Queens will contest the top prize. Winners will get USD 400 000 in prize money with runners-up walking away with USD 250 000.
Mamelodi Sundowns are the current holders – having won the competition twice in three years.
Morocco’s ASFAR is the other team that has won the Competition – back in 2022 when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns.
Since its inception, the CAF Women’s Champions League played a key role in shaping women’s football in Africa.
Morocco’s hosting of the CAF Women’s Champions League follows the nation’s successful hosting of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022 which also enjoyed unparalleled success.
Six Zonal tournaments took place to qualify six teams in addition to the host and the holder of 2023 title to the FT of CAF WCL 2024.
Apart from holders Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and host team ASFAR (Morocco), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal) will represent WAFU A while Edo Queens (Nigeria) will represent WAFU B .
Others are
University of Western Cape (South Africa) for COSAFA , Tutankhamun (Egypt) for UNAF , CBE FC (Ethiopia) for CECAFA and TP Mazembe (DR Congo) for UNIFFAC.
Sports
NPFL: Kano Pillars shock Rangers in seven-goal thriller
Kano Pillars bagged their first away win of the season at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu against Rangers International and have thrown a spanner in the Nigeria Premier Football League reigning champions title challenge.
It was a Matchday 7 tie that came barely three days after Kano Pillars were pinned 2-0 in Uyo by Akwa United. But they were at their best against the Flying Antelopes and raced to a 4-0 first half lead to the bewilderment of Rangers’ head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu.
Rabiu Ali scored the game’s first goal for the visitors in the 19th minute from the spot kick while Rabiu Muhammed Zulkifilu made it two 10 minutes later. Ali got his brace in the 41st v minute from the penalty spot again before Ahmed Musa’s icing on the cake in the 45th minute.
But Isaac Saviour scored a quick-fire double in the 46th and 59th minutes for the home side to raise the hope of a comeback but they could only add one more in the 90th minute. The game finished 4-3 with Sai Masu Gida having the last laugh on the Flying Antelopes’ stomping ground.
Rangers slipped to the fifth spot with 10 points but Kano Pillars moved to the fourth spot with 10 points. The arrival of Super Eagles Skipper Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi is helping to provide the necessary stability at Kano Pillars.
In the remaining games played yesterday, Lobi Stars were held to a 2-2 draw by unbeaten El Kanemi Warriors at the Lafia City Stadium.
Lobi Stars went 2-0 up through the goals of Ossy Martins in the 17th and 53rd minutes. It was Martins’ third goal in his last two games for the Pride of Benue.
El Kanemi Warriors began their comeback in the 57th minute through Ibrahim Mustapha’s goal before Mukhtar Mohammed’s equaliser four minutes from full time. It was the Borno Army’s fifth draw of the season after six games. They are still with a game at hand against Kwara United in Maiduguri.
In another game played in Lafia, Nasarawa United’s Anas Yusuf notched his second hat trick of the season in their 3-0 whiplash of Abia Warriors. Yusuf has seven goals from the seven games played thus far.
In Aba, Enyimba had to comeback from behind to avoid a first home defeat of the season against Niger Tornadoes. The People’s Elephant had held Shooting Stars to a goalless draw in Ibadan last weekend but they went behind to God’s time Joseph’s 42nd minute stunner.
Enyimba’s Chinedu Ufere got the leveller in the 76th minute to ensure it was a draw.
At the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin Wasiu Alalade was the star man for Kwara United who whipped Sunshine Stars 3-0.
Alalade scored twice in the 30th and 38th minutes while Shola Abdulraheem hit the target for the third goal of the game in the 73rd minute.
The remaining Matchday Seven games slated for today are: Bendel Insurance versus Bayelsa United; Rivers United versus Shooting Stars; Heartland versus Ikorodu City; Plateau United versus Remo Stars and Katsina United versus Akwa United.
NPFL Matchday 7 Results
Lobi Stars 2-2 El Kanemi
Nasarawa United 3-0 Abia Warriors
Enyimba 1-1 Niger Tornadoes
Kwara United 3-0 Sunshine Stars
Rangers FC 3-4 Kano Pillars
-
Sports17 hours ago
Get ready for Libya rematch – Obi Tells Super Eagles
-
Entertainment24 hours ago
Actress Bimbo Akintola reveals why she can never date an actor
-
News15 hours ago
20 seconds after prayer my father suddenly died- Senator Zwingina’s son
-
News13 hours ago
Reps Pass For Second Reading Bill to create Ogoja state
-
News13 hours ago
Reps Seek Upward Review Of Budgetary Allocation For BPE
-
News12 hours ago
Operation Delta Sanity: Why Nigerians must support CNS Ogalla in fight against Oil thefts -Agbese
-
News23 hours ago
Oil magnate sues EFCC for unlawfully declaring him wanted
-
News15 hours ago
Just in: Bill to create additional state passes second reading in HoR