By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH NIGERIA has emerged as the most potent attacking force at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, topping the goal-scoring chart as they prepare for their Round of 16 clash with Mozambique. Official group-stage statistics from the Confederation of African Football show the Super Eagles finished the opening phase […]
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI The 1996 ghost and rivalry economicsFOOTBALL rivalries at AFCON are rarely just emotional—they are structural, psychological and numerical. When South Africa beat Cameroon 3-0 in 1996, it symbolised a generational inversion. Bafana were the disruptors, Cameroon the established power. Thirty years later, the narrative has not reversed: South Africa have not lost […]
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE NIGERIA’S long-distance running ecosystem may soon gain a new international-grade road race, as organisers of the 10-kilometre Owan Marathon push for global recognition. The 5th edition, scheduled for Saturday, has recorded over 500 athlete registrations, according to race convener Chris Ojo. The marathon already hosts runners from Abia, Ondo, […]
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH Rankings, Realities and African Football’s Competitive Depth THE conclusion of AFCON 2025’s group stage in Morocco has provided a critical lens into the competitive depth and unpredictability of African football. Eight teams have already seen their campaigns end, some through expected struggles, others through narrow misses that demonstrate how crowded the […]
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI The Cost of Greatness in a Country That Doesn’t Plan for It Big Spending, Small Planning NIGERIA entered 2025 with increased government investment through the National Sports Commission. But by year-end, the results showed a nation still struggling with an old contradiction: we fund tournaments, […]
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH Rotation Pays OffNIGERIA closed out their Group C campaign at AFCON 2025 with authority, beating Uganda 3–1 in Fès to finish the group stage unbeaten. Head coach Eric Chelle made eight changes from the side that triumphed over Tunisia, yet the result was unchanged: dominant, fluid football. […]
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE AFCON 2025 is now counting down to knockout football, with eight nations already discovering their Round of 16 opponents ahead of matches set to kick off from 3 January 2026. Morocco will take on Tanzania, a fixture that puts the hosts’ attacking depth against East African resistance. Mali face […]
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH THE Super Eagles of Nigeria were among the most active national teams globally in 2025, featuring prominently on the international stage throughout the year. Nigeria recorded a total of 18 international matches, placing them in the same category as DR Congo, Oman, Tunisia, Uganda, and the United States. The heavy schedule […]
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI THE Uganda national team faces a must-win showdown against Nigeria as they seek progression to the knockout stage of AFCON 2025 in Morocco. Team captain Ivan Ahimbisbwe has urged his squad to approach the game with belief and determination. Uganda started their Group campaign with a 3-1 loss to Tunisia before bouncing […]
Super Eagles, the Team Nobody Wants to DrawWITH two wins from two and a near-certain Group C crown, Nigeria have become the opponent third-placed teams silently hope to avoid — not because they are unbeatable, but because their structure punishes indiscipline, their attack balances flair with control, and their defence has shown it can survive […]