Editorial Opinion Sports

Certainly, Nigeria will not botch this World Cup!

Ihesiulo Grace 19 February 2018 0

After Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was sewn up, the most important issue was hearing about the Super Eagles preparation. What friendlies would they be involved in? Where will the pre – World Cup camp be located? Have they settled their World Cup bonuses (only

Sports

FIFA ranking: Nigeria slip as Germany stay top

Ihesiulo Grace 15 February 2018 0

Nigeria went down one notch in the latest FIFA Coca Cola World ranking of national teams announced today. The Super Eagles who will be playing in the Russian World Cup, were ranked 52nd, one place down from their position last month. Cameroon slid six points to displace Nigeria at 51st. Tunisia were the first African […]

Sports

Morocco launches 2026 World Cup campaign and logo

Ihesiulo Grace 23 January 2018 0

Morocco launched its campaign to host the 2026 World Cup in Casablanca on Tuesday. Bidding for their fifth finals, the Moroccans are up against a joint bid from Canada, Mexico and the United States. “Morocco 2026 will showcase the best of football, at the heart of the world,” said bid chairman Moulay Hafid Elalamy. The […]

Sports

Onyekuru ruled out of world cup by Coach

Ihesiulo Grace 27 December 2017 0

Anderlecht coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck does not think Henry Onyekuru would have sufficiently recovered before Nigeria play their first game at the 2018 World Cup against Croatia. The Everton loanee damaged the medial ligament during Anderlecht’s 1-0 win over his former club Eupen on December 22, and Vanhaezebrouck has suggested that the striker faces a minimum […]

Sports

NFF in talks with Egypt over friendly

Ihesiulo Grace 14 December 2017 0

The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF is holding talks with its Egyptian counterparts over the possibility of playing a pre-World Cup friendly in Abuja before the Super Eagles travel to Russia for the World Cup. Secretary General of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, said one of the countries Nigeria would face is Egypt but no decision has […]

Sports

Rohr keeps door open for Enyeama

Ihesiulo Grace 12 December 2017 0

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr still wants to have Vincent Enyeama in his 2018 FIFA World Cup squad and has opened the doors for the experienced goalkeeper. Media reports suggest that the former Super Eagles skipper, who announced his retirement from international football in October 2015, had ruled out a return. However, Rohr says Enyeama could […]

Sports

Rohr confirms Poland friendly for Super Eagles

Ihesiulo Grace 10 December 2017 0

The Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has revealed Nigeria’s next opponent in a friendly match ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Rohr said Nigeria will face Poland in a pre-World Cup friendly match on March 23, 2018. The match will hold in Wroclaw or the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów. The Super Eagles have […]

Sports

Russia 2018 – FG to support Eagles with N3b, arrange England friendly

Ihesiulo Grace 7 December 2017 0

The Federal Government will spend about N3 billion on Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup tournament holding in Russia next year, Sports Minister Solomon Dalung disclosed this yesterday. Addressing State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, the minister said the budget for the competition had been sent to the president for a special […]

Sports

Nigeria budgets N3bn for Super Eagles World Cup outing

Ihesiulo Grace 5 December 2017 0

The Federal Government has budgeted N3bn to enable the Super Eagles to have a successful outing at the 2018 World Cup 2018 which starts on June 14 in Russia. The Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at […]

Sports

Brazil’s Neymer ‘delighted’ to avoid Nigeria at World Cup

Ihesiulo Grace 5 December 2017 0

The Brazilian superstar expressed delight after they were handed a group bereft of an African side, most importantly the Super Eagles. Neymar has revealed that he his ‘happy’ Brazil avoided all five African teams, especially Nigeria in the Russia 2018 World Cup group stages. The Selecao will slug it out with Serbia, Costa Rica and […]

Sports

Eagles to surprise teams of group D in Russia 2018 WC, says Rohr

Ihesiulo Grace 3 December 2017 0

Gernot Rohr has acknowledged that his team face a difficult task in Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, following the Draw on Friday, but he has assured that the Eagles will surprise their opponents. “This is a difficult group, but I think we can spring a surprise.” “This is the youngest team in […]

Sports

Rohr eyeing Obafemi Martins for World Cup

Ihesiulo Grace 30 November 2017 0

Obafemi Martins could have a chance to play at another World Cup if he keeps maintains his scoring form, Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has told KweséESPN. The 33-year-old, who plays in China for Shanghai Shenhua, has scored 16 goals in 39 appearances, with his last goal coming in Sunday’s 3-2 second leg win over SIPG […]

Sports

Serie A: Buffon Wins Best Player of the Year Award

Ihesiulo Grace 28 November 2017 0

Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon eased some of his World Cup heartache by winning the Serie A Best Player of the Year award at the Gran Gala del Calcio Awards in Milan. “The failure to participate in the World is the biggest disappointment in my career together with some (lost) Champions league finals,” said the 39-year-old […]

Sports

Nigeria to pay players, officials $2.4m World Cup bonus

Ihesiulo Grace 22 November 2017 0

The Nigeria Football Federation will pay players and officials a total of $2.4 million as a bonus for securing qualification for the World Cup in Russia, a spokesman said Wednesday. “The NFF have agreed to give the team $2.4 million out of the $8 million we are expecting from FIFA,” said Ademola Olajire. The NFF […]

Football Opinion Sports

Is the law of gravity at play in football or is it simple negligence?

Ihesiulo Grace 16 October 2017 0

Last week, Argentina finally qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and it was great. A hat-trick from arguably the World’s best footballer, Lionel Messi against Ecuador coupled with a 3-0 loss by Chile to Brazil guaranteed this. All that would be talked about may be the heroics of Messi, the relief that Argentina […]

Sports

Nigeria’s Gernot Rohr satisfied with draw outcome against Cameroon

Ihesiulo Grace 5 September 2017 0

The German tactician was satisfied to collect a point from his side’s World Cup qualifying game against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has expressed his contentment despite his side’s 1-1 draw against Cameroon on Monday. The Super Eagles travelled to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium for a game billed as a potential decider, with […]

Sports

Ghana’s World Cup hopes suffer blow in Kumasi

Ihesiulo Grace 2 September 2017 0

A late goal from Thomas Partey was not enough to ease Ghana’s woes as they remain on the cusp of seeing their 2018 FIFA World Cup hopes go up in smoke following a 1-1 draw to Congo at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday. The Black Stars have qualified for three successive World […]

Sports

Wilmots wary of ‘terrific’ Gabon

Ihesiulo Grace 2 September 2017 0

IVORY Coast Head CoachM Marc WilmotsM says he respects Gabon even without their captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Borussia Dortmund forward was left out of the Gabon squad that will face Ivory Coast in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifiers. The Panthers of Gabon will host Ivory Coast’s Elephants at the Stade de Franceville […]

Sports

Super Eagles put one foot in Russia with Cameroon demolition

Ihesiulo Grace 1 September 2017 0

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have just beaten Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to go seven points clear at the top of Africa Group B of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia. Goals from Odion Ighalo, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho sealed the win in a wildly entertaining game in which a […]

Sports Top Stories

#WCQ: Mikel, Moses plot Lions’ fall in Uyo

Ihesiulo Grace 1 September 2017 0

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has urged his troops to be focused when they face Cameroon in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Super Eagles will face off with the reigning Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Cameroon in back to back World Cup qualification Group B matches. Nigeria will play host to the […]