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  Former Super Eagles defender, Sam Sodje, has thrown his weight behind Wilfred Ndidi as a strong candidate to captain the Nigerian national team following the retirement of Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong from international football. Sodje made this known during a radio interview on the Crown FM Sports Show on Thursday, as Nigeria prepares for the fast-approaching Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). According to him, the leadership vacuum created by the exit of the two senior players presents an opportunity for a calm, disciplined and tactically intelligent figure to take charge of the squad. While acknowledging Victor Osimhen’s passion, intensity and winning mentality, Sodje stressed that captaincy goes beyond energy and goalscoring prowess. “Osimhen brings fire and hunger to the team, which is very important,” Sodje said. “But being captain of the Super Eagles requires more than that. You need someone who can manage the dressing room, communicate effectively with teammates an...

By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Former Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa , has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to an illustrious career that spanned nearly 15 years with the Nigerian national team. In a heartfelt message addressed to Nigerians and the Super Eagles family, Musa revealed that the decision came after deep reflection, marking the close of a journey that began from his youth and grew into one of the most significant careers in Nigerian football history. Musa recalled his early days with the national setup, noting that he was called up simultaneously to the U-20, U-23 and Super Eagles teams at a young age. Despite the demands and constant travel, he said representing Nigeria was never something he questioned, stressing that whenever the country called, he answered without hesitation. The former Leicester City forward described Nigeria as “always home,” even though football took him across different parts of the world. He lea...

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  The Super Eagles of Nigeria have begun their build-up in Cairo, with 11 players already in camp ahead of their first official training session scheduled for 8:00pm local time. Those who have reported include goalkeepers Francis Izobo, Stanley Nwabali and Amas Obasogie, as well as outfield players Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igho Ogbu, Tochukwu Nnadi and Zaidu Sanusi. Team officials confirmed that 12 more players are expected to arrive later today, which will bring the squad close to full strength as preparations intensify. The inaugural training session will take place inside the main bowl of the Cairo International Stadium, giving the players an early chance to adapt to the pitch and surroundings. The coaching crew is expected to use the session to assess player fitness, begin tactical work and lay the foundation for team cohesion as Nigeria steps up its preparations in Cairo.

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Ebenezer Akinsanmiro played his final club match for FC Pisa before linking up with the Super Eagles for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, featuring for 59 minutes in the Italian Serie A clash against Lecce. The midfielder is expected to join Nigeria’s camp following the fixture as preparations intensify ahead of the continental showpiece. In his last outing for Pisa prior to international duty, Akinsanmiro recorded a mixed performance in a tightly contested encounter. He registered 28 touches and maintained a 77 per cent pass accuracy, although he struggled offensively, failing to complete any of his four attempted dribbles under intense pressure from the opposition. Despite limited attacking influence, the Nigerian international showed grit and determination in midfield, winning 12 duels and contributing defensively throughout his time on the pitch. His overall effort earned him a match rating of 6.6 before he was substituted in the second half. ...

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Victor Osimhen delivered another commanding performance as Galatasaray recorded a resounding 4–1 away victory over Antalyaspor in a Turkish Super Lig encounter on Saturday. The reigning champions dominated proceedings to round off the year on a high, extending their strong run of form in the league. The Nigerian striker capped an impressive display by getting on the scoresheet in the 56th minute, powering home a clinical finish that underlined his predatory instincts in front of goal. The strike marked Osimhen’s sixth league goal of the season and his 12th in all competitions, further cementing his status as one of Galatasaray’s most influential players. Osimhen’s latest goal came in what is expected to be his final club appearance before departing to join the Super Eagles ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The masked forward has been in scintillating form, consistently delivering decisive contributions for the Istanbul giants. Galatasaray’...

By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Football fans in Warri, Delta State, have thrown their weight behind Super Eagles head coach for naming Stanley Nwabali as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Maduka Okoye. The fans made their views known during a lively phone-in segment on the Crown FM sports show on Saturday, describing the decision as “spot on” and reflective of recent performances. Several callers, including Okeke, Comrade Udemba, Stanley, Friday and Shola, praised Nwabali’s composure, shot-stopping ability and commanding presence in goal, noting that his performances for Nigeria in recent competitive matches justified the coach’s trust. They argued that Nwabali has shown greater consistency under pressure and inspires more confidence in the Super Eagles’ defence. According to the fans, the goalkeeper’s calm distribution and decisive interventions in crucial moments have given him a clear edge over his rivals. Many insisted that form, not reputation, should determine selection, s...

  By Chimaobi J Nzoromobi  Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has sharply criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and head coach Eric Chelle for releasing a 28-man AFCON 2025 squad without a single Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) player, describing the omission as “disturbing and a reflection of how low Nigerian football has dropped.” Speaking during a phone interview on the Crown 89.9FM Sports Show, Sodje did not hold back. He argued that excluding all home-based players from a major tournament roster sends a dangerous message about the credibility of the domestic league and the country’s development system. “This is disturbing… it shows the state of our football” The former Brendford FC of England defense anchor man,said the decision by Chelle and the NFF exposes a deep lack of trust in local talent. > “It is disturbing that Nigeria can’t find even one player in the NPFL good enough to sit on the bench,” Sodje fumed during the interview. “It tells you...