Category: Sports

ABS FC have embarked on a two-week mid-season break following the conclusion of the first stanza of the Nigeria National League (NNL) 2025/2026 season.

The players and officials will resume training on January 13, 2026, for the continuation of the league season.

ABS FC recorded three wins and four defeats in seven matches.

The Ilorin-based side occupy seventh position on the Conference C league table with nine points.

ABS FC reassured supporters of its unwavering commitment to ensuring the club’s set objectives are achieved.

They will take on Mighty Jets in their game of the second stanza in Ilorin.

ABS FC embark on mid-season break, to resume in January

Eric Chelle, head coach of Super Eagles, has addressed Victor Osimhen’s reaction after substituting the Galatasaray attacker during Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Tanzania on Tuesday.

Chelle made the change in the 86th minute of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, opener which visibly affected Osimhen and led to questions during the post-match press conference.

Speaking on the matter, Chelle disclosed that he had already talked with the former Napoli striker.

“We talked and it will stay between him and me,” Chelle said.

“If you want more information, you’ve to tell Osimhen to ask me,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman scored the goals for Chelle’s side against the Taifa Stars.

AFCON: ‘It’ll stay between us’ – Chelle speaks on Osimhen’s reaction after being substituted

Sporting Supreme have been expelled from the Nigeria National League, NNL, DAILY POST reports.

The league body confirmed Sporting Supreme expulsion in a statement on its official website.

According to the statement, the disqualification was necessitated after Sporting Supreme failed to honour two consecutive matches against Jigawa Golden Stars and Ranchers Bees respectively.

Sporting Supreme breached the NNL rules with consequences of expulsion and a fine of N10m.

All the matches involving Sporting Supreme has been cancelled, points for and against are also annulled with a 5-year ban for its management from NNL activities.

It would be recalled that Sporting Supreme are the second team to be expelled from the league after Dakkada FC.

NNL expels Sporting Supreme, bans officials

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has disclosed that the team’s ‘big name’ players are not happy when they sit on the bench.

Chelle spoke while explaining his decision to take off winger Samuel Chukwueze during Nigeria’s 2–1 victory over Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Commenting on Chukwueze’s clear frustration upon leaving the field, Chelle noted that the substitution was a tactical decision.

“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.

“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we’ve to protect the wing.”

Chelle’s men will take on Tunisia in their upcoming AFCON match on Saturday night.

‘Super Eagle’s big names not happy to sit on bench’ – Chelle

Super Eagles midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, has revealed the mistake Eric Chelle’s men made against Tanzania on Tuesday.

Dele-Bashiru came off the bench as Nigeria defeated the Taifa Stars 2-1 in the 2025 Africa Cup Nations, AFCON, tie at the Fez Stadium in Morocco.

However, according to the Lazio star, the Super Eagles made a mistake by conceding a goal due to a defensive lapse.

Charles M’Mombwa scored for Tanzania, while Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman scored for Nigeria.

Speaking at his post-match interview after the game, Dele-Bashiru said, “We played well against Tanzania. For the goal we conceded, it was a lapse of concentration, but we created a lot of chances today.

“I think in another game we finish those chances, and the game would have been dead earlier on.

“We will analyze what we didn’t do well, and then from there we will analyze Tunisia.”

AFCON: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru reveals mistake Super Eagles made against Tanzania

The head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has admitted he made some poor decisions, despite a 2–1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday.

Nigeria began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with three points as they chase a fourth continental title.

Semi Ajayi opened the scoring for Chelle’s men before Charles M’Mombwa levelled for Tanzania.

Ademola Lookman then struck the winning goal two minutes later.

Speaking after the game, Chelle said: “I made a lot of choices; some were good, some were not good.

“I told the journalists that I have my vision and I’m the coach.”

AFCON 2025: I made some bad choices – Chelle reacts as Super Eagles beat Tanzania

Smart City FC head coach, Olayiwola Dabiri, has vowed that his team will bounce back from their recent run of poor results.

The Lagos-based side have suffered defeats in their last two fixtures against Edel FC and Crown FC, respectively.

Smart City FC sit in seventh position on the Nigeria National League (NNL) Conference table with seven points.

Dabiri urged his players to put the setbacks behind them and focus on their target for the season.

“Tough losses, but we are not broken, heads up team,” Dabiri told the club’s media.

“We will bounce back as a team.”
Smart City will be in action in the NNL this season.

NNL: Smart City will bounce back from poor run — Dabiri

Semi Ajayi was named Man of the Match following Nigeria’s victory over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on Tuesday night.

The Super Eagles began their campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2–1 win over the East Africans.

Ajayi opened the scoring for Eric Chelle’s side with a superb header from Alex Iwobi’s cross in the 36th minute. It was Ajayi’s second international goal for Nigeria.

Aside from his goal, the West Bromwich Albion star also delivered a resolute display at the back.

The 31-year-old played for the entire duration of the game.

AFCON 2025: Ajayi scoops MOTM award in Super Eagles’ slim win over Tanzania 

Ademola Lookman scored what proved to be the decisive goal as Nigeria beat Tanzania 2-1 in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles came into the match as heavy favourites to win and dominated the opening exchanges.

After coming close a few times, the three-time champions took the lead through Semi Ajayi.

The ball was recycled following a corner-kick, before Alex Iwobi crossed it into the area for Ajayi to head home.

Tanzania equalized after Charles M’Mombwa found himself unmarked inside the area.

But two minutes later, Nigeria struck the winner through Lookman, who took a few touches and finished with his left foot.

AFCON 2025: Lookman scores winner as Super Eagles start campaign with 2–1 victory over Tanzania

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled his starting line-up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Group C clash with Taifa Stars of Tanzania, DAILY POST reports.

Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali will be in goal, cementing his status as the team’s first choice goalkeeper.

Chelle picked Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi as full-backs.

Regulars Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi will feature as centre-backs.

Newly appointed captain Wilfred Ndidi will pair Alex Iwobi in midfield.

Victor Osimhen will lead a four-man attack that includes Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Adams Akor.

Super Eagles X1 Vs Tanzania

Nwabali

Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi

Ndidi, Iwobi, Chukwueze , Lookman

Akor, Osimhen

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles starting X1 vs Tanzania