Sports

2026WCQ: Zimbabwe Shatter Nigeria’s Dreams, South Africa Beat Benin

Published

8 months ago

March 25, 2025

Zimbabwe held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, shattering the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching the competition.

Victor Osimhen scored in the 74th minute before Zimbabwe pegged Nigeria back in the 90th minute.

Coming off the back of a 0-2 win over Rwanda on Friday, the Super Eagles were hopeful of reviving their World Cup dreams after faltering in their first four matches in the qualification race.

Against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria began the match with a wave of chances to take the lead. But some brave defending and wastefulness from the visitors prevented Eric Chelle’s side from finding the net.

Nigeria intensified their quest for a goal but found it hard to break down the Zimbabwean defense. However, in the 74th minute, the Super Eagles had a breakthrough! Expectedly, Osimhen connected neatly to a Simon Moses low cross to nod home in the far post. 1-0 to the Super Eagles!

However, Zimbabwe almost levelled things up just immediately after Nigeria’s defence was cut nabbing. Only the crossbar saved the Super Eagles from conceding.

Nigerian looked like scoring another one, but Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi could not place his shot well when through on goal. The Super Eagles later paid for it as the defenders failed to snuff out a late Zimbabwean attack. Tawanda Chirewa beat goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in his near post in the 90th minute to break Nigerian hearts.

With the draw, Nigeria are still rooted in fourth place with seven points from six games.

Meanwhile, South Africa cruised to a 0-2 win over the Benin Republic in another Group C match in the qualification race, a victory that take them closer to reaching the World Cup. The Bafana Bafana have a comfortable lead at the summit of the group, having gotten 13 points from six games. They are five points ahead of second-place Rwanda, who drew against Lesotho.

Only one team is guaranteed an automatic slot from the nine groups in the African qualification series. The four best losers go for a play-off, a prerequisite for an inter-continental playoff.

Sports

Nigeria Coach Blames ‘Voodoo’ After World Cup Hopes Crushed

Published

2 days ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

Nigeria’s football coach has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of practising “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ended in a penalty shootout loss.

DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the African play-offs final in Rabat on Sunday and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.

In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time”.

“That is why I was a bit nervous,” said former Mali international Chelle, who boasts four wins and two draws in competitive matches since taking charge of the Super Eagles.

Chelle had admitted prior to the match that it was going to “be very difficult in Morocco”.

Using hand gestures, he said he saw a DR Congo member waving his hand as if sprinkling or shaking something. “I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”

In a nervy shootout in which four spot-kicks were saved and another missed, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba defied a bottle thrown toward him and torrential rain to convert the winning penalty as his country seek a return to the global showpiece after a lengthy absence.

Nigeria, an African football giant, lie 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and were pre-match favourites.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the second World Cup in a row. They had not missed back-to-back editions since their debut in 1994.

While Nigeria have been regular participants at the World Cup, the sole appearance by the Congolese came in 1974 when the mineral-rich central African country was called Zaire.

Frank Onyeka opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 3rd minute before Mechak Elia equalised in the 32nd minute for the Leopards.

Nigeria and the DRC created scoring chances, with Tolu Arokodare’s header for Nigeria and Nwabali making a crucial save from the Leopards free kick.

Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon had missed their chances early in the match and Nwabali was at his best when he denied the leoprads their two penalty kicks.

Nwabali’s two saves in the shootout was not enough to cancel out misses from Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi.

Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty kick to send the Leopards into the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup.

Sports

Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup Dream Ends In Penalty Shoot-out Loss To DR Congo

Published

3 days ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

Nigeria will not be at the 2026 World Cup after they lost the CAF playoff final to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday night.

The Super Eagles took an early lead in the first half after Frank Onyeka’s shot was deflected in.

But the Leopards were level after Mechak Elia pounced on a defensive error to finish past Stanley Nwabali.

The game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes and was decided on penalties.

Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all missed their kicks as DR Congo clinched the ticket to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoffs.

They will now play in a six-team intercontinental qualifier, which will be staged from March 23 to 31 in 2026 to decide the final two sides for next year’s World Cup.

Sports

NPFL26: Bendel Insurance Beat Kano Pillars 3-2

Published

4 days ago

November 15, 2025

Editor

Bendel Insurance jinx of inconsistent and goal drought in the current Nigeria Premier Football League season were on Saturday evening broken at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin as they defeated Kano Pillars 3-2 to move a step out of the deep.
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‎The Benin Arsenals returned to winning ways with a remarkable 3-2 comeback
‎victory over the sai Masu Gida side with goals from Kayode Oke, Emmanuel Dung and Akpan Emmanuel who handed
‎ Kennedy Boboye his first maximum points since joining Insurance over a month ago.
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‎Kayode Oke opened scoring for Insurance in the 17th minute, but veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali got an equalizer for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 34th minute.

READ ALSO:Bendel Insurance Head Coach Suspended
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‎Four minutes later, Chiedozie Okorie gave Pillars the lead in the halftime of the match day 13 encounter under the rain.
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‎Insurance returned for the second half with double substitution and mounted much pressure on the visitors and got rewarded for their efforts with a spirited comeback when Emmanuel Dung powered an equalising goal for Insurance in the 77th minute with a rocket strike from the edge of the box to send the already agitated home fans into wild jubilation.
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‎As time drifted away from the regulation mark, Emmanuel Akpan sealed the victory with a stoppage-time strike in the 88 minutes.

‎It was Insurance second victory and first for coach Kennedy Boboye in the current football season.

The Benin Arsenals now move up to 17th on the table with 12 points.

READ ALSO:Enabulele Congratulates Bendel Insurance For Pre-Season Tournament Performance
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‎Speaking during a post match media conference, coach Kennedy Boboye said that he was relieved to have his first maximum points as Vendel Insurance Manager after five matches -one loss, one win and three draws so far.
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‎He said that he remains focused and determined to get out of the red zone.

‎”I am relieved and happy we got the victory we have been looking for and I must give it to my players,fans and the supporters club who are always there for us irrespective of the results we posted.
‎I dedicate the victory to them,” he said.
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