Sport

The Super Eagles have booked their place in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup after a thrilling 4-1 victory over Gabon in Rabat on Thursday. Victor Osimhen led the charge with a brilliant brace, while Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams added a goal each as Nigeria found their rhythm late into extra time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. The win moves Osimhen closer to Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, with the Napoli forward now on 31 goals—just six behind Yekini’s 37. Read Also: Super Eagles Resume Training After Boycott Over Unpaid Allowances Despite a disrupted buildup marked by players’ protests over unpaid allowances, the Eagles maintained focus once the whistle blew. Osimhen had several chances early in the game but was denied by Gabon’s impressive goalkeeper, Loyce Mbaba. Nigeria finally broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when Akor Adams capitalized on a defensive error to slot home his second goal for the national team. However, Gabon equalized through Mario Lemina in the 89th minute, forcing the game into extra time. In the extra period, Nigeria’s attacking prowess came alive. Ejuke netted his first goal for the Eagles, before Osimhen’s double sealed a comfortable victory for the three-time African champions. The Super Eagles will now face either Congo DR or Cameroon in Sunday’s final of the African playoffs. The winner will claim Africa’s sole ticket to the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced that the Matchday 9 fixture between Barau FC and Kano Pillars will be played behind closed doors on Sunday. In a letter dated Tuesday, 14th October 2025, and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body stated that the decision was taken for safety reasons. According to the statement, “The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has directed that the Matchday 9 fixture between Barau FC and Kano Pillars be played behind closed doors in accordance with established safety and security protocols.” Read Also: Barau FC Record First NPFL Triumph, Outclass Kun Khalifat The statement further added that only the following categories of personnel will be granted access to the stadium: referees’ council members, state football association officials, accredited members of the press, and security personnel. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) persons only are expected to be present within the match arena. No spectators, supporters, or unauthorized individuals shall be admitted into the stadium under any circumstances. Furthermore, the NPFL Secretariat will continue to deploy two (2) officials for subsequent Barau FC home matches to conduct on-the-spot assessments and provide detailed reports on compliance, organization, and security standards. Barau FC has accepted the NPFL’s decision, despite earlier efforts to allow fans entry into the stadium. The NPFL Matchday 9 fixture between Barau FC and Kano Pillars is scheduled for Sunday, 19th October 2025, at 4:00 PM, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata. Signed: Ahmad Hamisu Gwale Media Director, Barau FC

Barau Football Club has recorded its first away victory of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, defeating Kun Khalifat FC 3-1. This was conveyed in a statement signed by the club’s Media Director, Ahmad Hamisu Gwale, on Sunday and made available to newsmen in Kano. The NPFL Matchday 6 encounter was held at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, Abia State, in the presence of both clubs’ officials. The triumph also marked Barau FC’s first win of the current NPFL campaign. Read Also: Barau FC Appoints Ladan Bosso as New Technical Adviser The Maliya Boys’ forward, Yahya Ibrahim, equalised in the 16th minute with a fine finish off Sai’du Salisu’s brilliant assist, after Kun Khalifat FC had taken the lead in the 14th minute. Midfielder Hilary Ekawu then put the Maliya Boys ahead in the 64th minute, converting from Bismark’s precise cross, before Yahya Ibrahim doubled the lead with his second goal of the match, following an excellent pass from Sugau Aliyu. The brace took Yahya Ibrahim’s tally to three goals in the 2025/2026 NPFL season. Speaking after the match, Barau FC’s Technical Adviser, Ladan Bosso, praised his players for their resilience despite playing away from home. “Actually, I am so happy with the result. Our club proprietor, the general manager, my coaching staff, officials, and players all did well to secure this victory,” Bosso told newsmen. He further emphasized that the team would build on this performance, remain focused, and prepare strongly for their next home fixture against Warri Wolves. Yahya Ibrahim also expressed his delight at scoring twice, dedicating the goals to his parents for their prayers and support. With this victory, Barau FC has moved up to 18th position on the NPFL table, with five points from five matches. The Maliya Boys will host Warri Wolves on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, on NPFL Matchday Seven.

It was a dramatic round of UEFA Champions League fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 16–17, with Arsenal and Real Madrid picking up crucial victories while Juventus and Borussia Dortmund played out a pulsating 4-4 draw. Arsenal continued their strong campaign with a 2-0 away win over Athletic Bilbao, keeping them in firm contention for top spot in their group. Union Saint-Gilloise pulled off one of the shocks of the night, beating Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven 3-1 to boost their chances of qualification. In Lisbon, Qarabag FK stunned Benfica with a late equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw, leaving Group C wide open. The clash of the night came in Turin, where Juventus and Borussia Dortmund produced an eight-goal classic, ending 4-4. The result leaves both teams neck-and-neck in their group standings, though Dortmund remain slightly ahead on goal difference. Read Also: FCT Minister Bunkure Urges Easter Pilgrims to Pray for Nigeria’s Peace, Unity On Wednesday, September 17, Real Madrid edged Marseille 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu to maintain their lead at the top of Group F. In London, Tottenham Hotspur claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Villarreal, pushing them into second place in their group and keeping their knockout stage hopes alive. Group Standings (after Matchday results): – Arsenal’s win keeps them level on points with Union Saint-Gilloise, both battling for top spot. – Real Madrid sit comfortably at the summit of their group, with Marseille slipping further behind. – Juventus and Dortmund remain locked in a fight for qualification, with little separating them. – Tottenham’s victory lifts them above Villarreal in the race for the second qualifying position. The results have set up an exciting final stretch in the group stage, with several groups still wide open and qualification hanging in the balance.

Six-time African women’s player of the year, Asisat Oshoala, has joined Al-Hilal on a two-year contract. The Super Falcons forward leaves Bay FC, where she played since January 2024, following a successful stint with FC Barcelona. Oshoala, 30, brings a wealth of experience to Al-Hilal, having won the UEFA Women’s Champions League three times with Barcelona and multiple domestic titles. Her recent WAFCON victory with the Super Falcons in Morocco solidifies her legacy in African football. She’ll join international stars like Ashleigh Plumptre and Francisca Ordega in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, boosting Al-Hilal’s ambitions and adding firepower to their squad. This move highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in women’s football, attracting top talent to elevate the league. Read Also: Super Falcons Insist on Dollar Payment of Tinubu’s $100,000 Gift Oshoala’s distinguished career spans England, China, Spain, and the United States, and this latest move marks another chapter. Her arrival is set to make an impact in the Saudi Women’s Premier League.

The Super Falcons have reportedly rejected an attempt by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay President Bola Tinubu’s $100,000 reward in Naira, demanding instead that the funds be settled in dollars. Sports analyst Aron Akerejola, speaking on the matter, explained that the delay in disbursing the funds was not due to negligence by the NFF, but because the players turned down the local currency option. “The part of the story they are not telling is that these girls were given the money,” Akerejola said. “The NFF proposed paying their allowances in Naira at the rate of N1,530 to a dollar. The players refused, saying, ‘We don’t live in Nigeria. What will we do with Naira?’ Read Also: Tinubu Hails Students’ Global Feat, Silent on Cash Reward Demands He disclosed that following the players’ refusal, the NFF returned the money to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars, a process that further delayed payment. “It’s not the fault of the NFF. The government released the money, but the players rejected Naira. That’s why it dragged on,” he added. Confirming the situation, team captain Rasheedat Ajibade recently told reporters that the squad had yet to receive Tinubu’s promised bonus. “We have not received our money, but hopefully, it will be paid,” she said. President Tinubu had announced the $100,000 cash reward, alongside national honours and housing allocations, for the Super Falcons following their triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) claimed their first-ever UEFA Super Cup title in dramatic fashion, coming from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties at the Bluenergy Stadium. Tottenham, led by new manager Thomas Frank, appeared on course for victory after Micky van de Ven tapped in from close range in the 39th minute and Cristian Romero headed home Pedro Porro’s free-kick early in the second half. Read Also: Tinubu Rewards Super Falcons with Cash, National Honours, and Housing After AWCON Victory PSG’s attack, spearheaded by Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, struggled to break through Spurs’ disciplined defence. The game turned in the final 10 minutes, with Lee Kang-in firing in from a tight angle in the 80th minute and Gonçalo Ramos heading in Dembélé’s cross to level at 2-2. With no extra time in the competition, the match went straight to penalties. Spurs led after PSG’s Vitinha missed, but Lucas Chevalier, standing in for the departed Gianluigi Donnarumma, saved Van de Ven’s spot kick before Mathys Tel missed for Tottenham. Ramos, Dembélé, and Lee converted for PSG, and Nuno Mendes scored the decisive penalty to secure the historic win.