SportsNews

Rwanda vs Nigeria: Chelle revives Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup hopes in Kigali

Published

9 months ago

March 22, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Eric Chelle officially became the first non-Nigerian coach from Africa to manage the Super Eagles on Friday.

The Malian took charge of his first game – a 2-0 win in Rwanda in a 2026 World Cup qualifying fixture.

Chelle was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on January 7 as permanent replacement for Finidi George and took over from the interim, Augustine Eguavoen.

Since then, he has spent three months travelling around Nigeria, watching domestic league matches, and communicating with his Europe-based players.

But his first team sheet was still confusing.

Chelle picked a heavily attacking line-up in Kigali, that seemed imbalanced on paper.

Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon all started in attack, while Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi manned the midfield.

“Well, I had two feelings. First, knowing that Eric Chelle managed Mali with a 4-3-1-2 set-up, I was very surprised with the team selection,” Ope Adebari, a sports analyst, reporter and producer with News Central tells Ekwutosblog.

“However, it is well known that some of our best players are wingers, so them playing is inevitable.

“Nevertheless, I did not agree with the team selection or formation as it has been tried in the past under Jose Peseiro and it did not work.”

That 4-3-1-2 at times morphed into a 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 formation depending on the state of play.

Although the Eagles showed their unfamiliarity with Chelle’s new ideas, they managed to outplay their hosts and go two goals up in the first, thanks to the in-form Victor Osimhen.

“This is the best I have seen this current squad play in a while,” Adebari admitted.

“It is clear that the players tried their best to execute the tactics of the manager while making sure that they secured the vital three points needed.”

One of the tasks Chelle has been saddled with, is to dig Nigeria out of the 2026 World Cup qualifying hole they find themselves in.

After four games and two coaches, the three-time African champions had recorded three draws and one loss, sitting in fifth spot in Group C.

“Mathematically, it is safe to say that the World Cup qualification is back on track,” Adebari said.

“Also, judging by the team spirit shown by the Super Eagles, it is clear that the boys are motivated to secure a ticket to be at the 2026 World Cup.”

This victory took them one position up into fourth, ahead of Tuesday’s home fixture against Zimbabwe.

Although the early signs were good, Chelle still has a lot of work to do with the squad, as he continues to mould them in his image.

“I’m sure he saw how flat and non-existent the midfield looked many times before the introduction of Raphael Onyedika.

“Also, Samuel Chukwueze clearly could not make an impact with the new role he was given.

“I believe Eric Chelle knows that we need to improve in the midfield aspect if we want to win convincingly against Zimbabwe and any other opponent going forward,” Adebari added.

SportsNews

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

3 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

SportsNews

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

3 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

SportsNews

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.