The clash between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African qualification pathway for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has grown into one of the most complex and controversial football stories of 2025. What began as a high-stakes playoff match has since evolved into a dispute involving eligibility rules, national citizenship laws, and…
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reacted to reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) petitioned FIFA over the alleged use of ineligible players by the Leopards during the 2026 World Cup playoffs in Morocco. Responding to the development, the Congolese team, through a post on its official Instagram page on Tuesday night, warned…
By Nsan Ndoma-Neji Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Lawrence Itanya has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for supporting young sports men and women in the region through the Niger Delta Games. Itanya applauded the initiative while receiving the representative of Dunamis Icon Limited, the Project Consultants, and expressed the…
Nigeria will face DR Congo in a high-stakes World Cup play-off final on Sunday after overcoming Gabon 4-1 in extra time, keeping their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup alive. But as the celebrations continue, a key question remains: how many matches are left before Nigeria can actually qualify for 2026 World Cup? The…
By Kelvin Obambon The serenity of the Calabar Golf Course was on Saturday transformed into a bustling hub of athleticism and high-stakes networking as approximately 80 amateur golfers converged for the Governor’s Golf and Business Tournament, proudly sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria. The event saw golfers from no fewer than 10 states across…
By Kingsley Agim and Achiane Adams In a show of camaraderie, teamwork, and inter-agency friendship, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Wednesday hosted the Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS) to a novelty football match as part of activities marking its 2025 Customer Service Week, themed “Mission: Possible.” The historic encounter, which kicked off…
By Our Reporter The Bayelsa State Netball Association with the financial support of the Bayelsa State Government recently organised a two-day basic netball seminar for secondary schools P.E. teachers in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The training event which was packaged by CSED ((Community Sports and Educational Development) Initiative was held at sports…
By David Ogar Rayfield Gardens City Estate emerged victorious as the best footballing community in the 2024 Gate Africa Estate Cup, defeating Olubadan Estate 2-0 in the Oyo State capital last weekend. The two-day tournament, featuring eight top estates in Ibadan, was organised by Gate Africa Technology, a platform that regulates access control, management, and…
By Ben Nsemo French Ligue 1 side Lille earned just €7m from Victor Osimhen’s high-profile transfer to Napoli in 2020, despite the deal being valued at over €70m, club President Olivier Letang has revealed. The Super Eagles striker’s move to the Italian side included four Napoli players who never featured for the French club, raising…
By Ben Nsemo The interim president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Azania Omo-Agege, has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of discriminating against African nations through recent changes to Olympic boxing weight categories. Speaking to The PUNCH, Omo-Agege argued that the IOC’s decision to reduce boxing categories has adversely impacted African medal prospects at…