Eintracht Frankfurt put up a commanding display in a 5-1 humiliating defeat of reigning Turkey Super Lig king, Galatasaray, in their Champions League return at the Commerzbank Arena.
Visiting Galatasaray honored the encounter without their injured talisman striker, Victor Osimhen, and paid dearly in the Nigerian’s absence.
Thursday’s dominating win over Galatasaray took Frankfurt to the summit of the standings. Dino Toppmöller’s Eagles toppled PSG at the table top following their 4-0 thrashing of Atalanta 4-0 on penultimate evening. Atlanta and Galatasaray now share spots at the bottom of the league.
Yet, it was Galatasaray who shot into the lead in the eighth minute. Leroy Sané picked up an assist on a fast counterattacking foray, by connecting Gala Captain, Yunus Akgün, on his left.
Akgün then meandered his way around Nnamdi Collins, totally wrong footing the Germany international, before ramming the ball home beyond Michael Zetterer’s lunging frame, to put the Turkish giants ahead.
Then, Can Uzun, Jonathan Burkardt and Ansgar Knauff all scored for Frankfurt. Galatasaray centre-backs, Davinson Sánchez and Wilfried Singo also added their share of the goals to the home side’s spoils with unfortunate defensive errors that would ultimately lead to painful own goals.
But the visitors would spurn chances to take a commanding lead. Barış Alper Yılmaz came to scoring a second for the Galatasaray in the twenty-second minute. In another counterattack, Yılmaz dashed into the right side of Frankfurt’s box before firing a low shot towards the bottom-centre, but Zetterer was timely in grabbing the ball.
From a Collins handball incident at the edge of the box two minutes later, Yılmaz was presented another opportunity to score from the resultant free kick which Gündoğan cleverly directed to his left, and with Yılmaz well clear to score. The Turkish international failed to take the opportunity either, booting the ball into the sky.
In the twenty-eighth minute, Cim-Bom created another chance to go ahead. From the right side of the Frankfurt half, a through pass from Roland Sallai eluded the inattentive Frankfurt center-back Arthur Theate, but Zetterer clawed it to safety. Yet, Galatasaray reassembled, and Lucas Torreira’s followup right-footed rocket flew out for an Eagles’ goal kick.
At the half-hour mark, it was the chance of Frankfurt to put the visitors on edge. A free kick cross was directed by Robin Koch towering header into the centre of the goal area. Eren Elmalı redirected the ball with his chest, bouncing it towards the goal line; both left-back and Uğurcan Çakır lunged full length to stop it from slipping in, and the Aslan (Lion) held on to their lone-goal advantage.
However, Ritsu Dōan finally brought the hosts to parity with the visitors with seven minutes of the first half left to be played. Snatching a Cim-Bom pass gone awry at the edge of the box from Akgün, Dōan lifted the ball above Çakır, past Sánchez, and into the centre of the goal. Akgün protest of a Dōan handball while bringing down the intercepted ball, was ruled by officials to have deflected off his shoulder.
Yılmaz felt that he had gotten Galatasaray 2-1 ahead in the forty-second minute when his free header nestled into the bottom-right corner; but, he was judged to be offside in the buildup to the play, and thus the goal did not stand.
Uzun then connected with a right-footed cross into the centre of the Galatasaray penalty area from Jonathan Burkardt; executed a turn and directed a left-foot effort past İlkay Gündoğan, into the top-left corner.
Frankfurt had shown they were frightening from set-pieces. This was demonstrated from Farès Chaibi’s splendid play into the 18-yard box. Galatasaray Ivorian defender, Wilfried Singo, made an unlucky touch with the ball as it clattered past Uğurcan Çakir.
The pulse was extremely charged at the Deutsche Bank Park, with the Eagles now fully committed to holding on to their lead in the second half.
Things began to fall for the home side atmosphere as Burkardt’s header, from a Nathaniel Brown pullout, struck Sanchez yet again to put the match to beyond reach in the 66th minute.
It was yet again, a defensive miscalculation from Cim-Bom, following Elye Wahi pressing Gabriel Sara, leading the ball to Ansgar Knauff, to score the fifth goal with 15 minutes remaining.
1:01 2005 – 1:18:35 Jefferson Pérez (ECU), 1:19:36 Francisco Javier Fernández (ESP) 0:45 1999 – 1:23:34 Ilya Markov (RUS), 1:24:19 Jefferson Pérez (ECU) 0:39 2003 – 1:17:31 Jefferson Pérez (ECU), 1:18:00 Francisco Javier Fernández (ESP)
Friday (19) marks day seven of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. And this time five different athletes will be crowed world champion inside the Japan National Stadium, reports Matt Majendiefor World Athletics.
Lyles eyes Bolt
On the evidence of Thursday night’s semifinals, Noah Lyles looks the man to beat in the men’s 200m after a blistering run of 19.51 to eclipse his world lead set at the US Trials. It is the fastest ever semifinal performances in the history of any championships.
Lyles is bidding to emulate Usain Bolt with a fourth straight world title in that particular event, but there are a variety of challengers in that quest.
Jamaica’s Bryan Levell impressed with a 19.78 semifinal win, while Kenny Bednarek, who had an under par 100m final, was third quickest of the semifinalists in 19.88. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, disqualified in the 100m for a false start, and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes were next best.
Jackson targets hat-trick
A mere hundredth of a second separated the top two going into the final of the women’s 200m, with defending champion Shericka Jackson just a whisker ahead of Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Jamaican Jackson is bidding to match Allyson Felix’s record of a third straight world title over the distance, while US athlete Jefferson-Wooden is targeting the sprint double after her 100m success.
Others impressing in the semifinals included Amy Hunt of Great Britain and US runner Anavia Battle, who both clocked the same time: 22.09.
Big three do battle
The big three of the men’s 400m hurdles again converge for another final, on the track where all three of them dipped under Kevin Young’s previous world record mark in a blistering Olympic final four years ago.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos didn’t look at his best in his semifinal, so one could argue he is a little off the pace of Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin.
Norway’s Warholm is the quickest man in the world this year, his 46.28 ran so recently in Silesia, and he backed that up with victory in Zurich. But Benjamin’s season’s best of 46.54 is not a million miles away.
Bol on course for defence
Femke Bol has looked imperious all season long, extending that dominance to the women’s 400m hurdles rounds in Tokyo. It begs asking the question if anyone can stop the Dutch athlete in her stride.
The 25-year-old had won eight straight races this season before coming to Tokyo and, with USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone focusing on the 400m flat at this championships, it’s hard to see who might push Bol.
Olympic and world gold medallist Dalilah Muhammad is among those hoping to pull off a big shock at the age of 35, while her fellow US athlete Anna Cockrell is ranked No.2 in the world this year behind Bol.
Diaz targets 2025 world double
If the form book is anything to go by, Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez is the favourite for men’s triple jump gold. He won the world indoor title with a leap of 17.80m, a career best and the world lead this year, and could complete the double in 2025 by winning the outdoor crown.
In addition, the 29-year-old Italian clinched his third Diamond League Final win this season, but there are no shortage of candidates lining up to topple him.
Portugal’s 2022 world champion Pedro Pichardo won Olympic gold at this same venue, while Jamaican Jordan Scott has got into the winning habit with a quartet of victories in the Diamond League in 2025.
SAFA’s use of Bloemfontein Stadium has new implications for CAF, FIFA
By Ed Emeanua
Chronic state of the cracks and pot holes littered turf of the Free State Stadium, South Africa. Credit: Tasneem Alsultan for The New York Times
South Africa Football Association (SAFA) use of Bloemfontein Stadium has new implications for CAF and FIFA, as both bodies face close scrutiny over suspicion for weaponizing the ongoing 2026 Africa FIFA World cup qualifiers in favor of Bafana.
Current Confederation of African Football (CAF) blueprint since 2021 is culpable for the ongoing weaponization of the African world cup qualifiers to actualize SAFA’s World Cup ambition.
SAFA’s, recent use of the Bloemfontein Stadium, with both CAF and FIFA approval, is directly at odds with the Confederation’s public pronunciations and actions. This contradiction unfurls new and dire implications for CAF and FIFA in the ongoing 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ).
The use of what is arguably one of the continent’s worst stadiums, now challenges the sincerity in CAF’s current austere guideline to drive the building and restoration of standard stadiums accross Africa.
Since the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) also gave their blessing to last week’s use of the substandard infrastructure in Bloemfontein, the global football governing body is also complicit in the clear design to favor Bafana for World Cup qualification.
Tuesday September 9, 2025 South Africa versus Nigeria FIFA CAF 2026 WCQ: The appalling state of the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, is evident
The continental and world footballing governments can be accused of weaponizing the ongoing FIFA, CAF, Africa World Cup qualifying play to favor South Africa’s qualification for next year’s tournament in Mexico, Canada, and United States of America (USA), seemingly at all cost.
From 2021, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has adopted a strict policy that directs the building and restoration of standard arenas in the continent. At startup, the plan compelled 17 of CAF’s 53 African national teams to host their FIFA and CAF Africa WCQ home games on neutral grounds over unavailability of good stadiums in those countries.
The approach was intended to force affected nations to target and hasten sports infrastructure construction and revamping, in exchange for avoiding country shaming. Culpability thereof, has attracted automatic forfeiture of hosting right for home WCQ games.
Guilty federations have been subjected to host international games on foreign soil. The plan has FIFA’a acquiescence and it’s being sternly enforced in what is now proving to be against vulnerable countries in the ongoing FIFA, CAF Africa WCQ.
Dark blueprint and love of mammon
Nigeria’s Christantus Uche in pain on the turf of Bloemfontein during action with South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena and Mbekezeli Mbokazi at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa on Sept 9, 2025 [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] Image credit: Aljazeera
However, as archaic as this practice sounds, it is mind boggling that it has the full support of FIFA. Also, arguably the rawest paradigm of a reverse transactional compliance that follows an already confirmed international humiliation in real time, the draconian policy appears to be on steroids.
As shocking as it may sound, while victimized African football federations appear to be sheepishly falling in line in adherence to the harsh policy, the poorest among them are openly being led to slaughter. This is the very essence of the dark blueprint, if at all there is one.
The norm for decency and international respect seems to have been overruled, and it seems as if the considerations for these principles are not worth a dime anymore in the ongoing FIFA, CAF Africa WCQ.
Ironically, this is all happening before world purview of football. With FIFA’s okaying this draconian policy, weak African football federations are being strong armed as they strive to continue providing their citizens a healthy dose of international games in a football crazy continent.
For them to actualize an already arduous responsibility with their meager resources, poor federations have now been further pressured into sheepish acquiescence, under present bullying and international humiliation.
Football, how addictive thou art? Why do people love and die you so? Why do they act as if drunk with stupidity in the sight of thou? They have been known to kill, destroy, and ruin theirs and others, and peoples’ families for the sake of you. And, all these, for what? Over the in the name of loving you so? What power thou possess o football!
Now, who was it that said football is not an opium for the people? Who was it that said that the Beautiful Game doesn’t have the magical efficacy to make people forget their pains in a moment of sheer ecstatic euphoria? Who said football doesn’t help people find their elusive panacea for their existential hopelessness, even if for just the moment?
It’s not a trifling matter to say to the school of naysayers that they are dead wrong. If you are still a skeptic, take a hard look at the ongoing FIFA, CAF Africa 2026 WCQ to see how football has made real people in the continent to agree to roll down and die when asked by CAF and FIFA to do so.
Rather than speak out and be heard, just because they don’t want to suffer football deprivation, the continent’s poorest football federations are openly demonstrating that they would rather accept to drink wine mixed with gall than show that they indeed have sturdy backbones.
Pray, what does it profit a man if he gained the whole wide world but lost his football? And, we have be forever told that we aren’t required to serve both God and a mammon like football, or haven’t we?
However, herein lie the truth. On paper, CAF’s scheme is shockingly strange, crass, and draconian. However, in practice, the dark blueprint has gradually evolved into a deliberate systemic weaponization of CAF to achieve the footballing progression and interests of some favored African federations.
It is now notable that, as draconian as the CAF policy appears to be, even on paper, it’s enforcement by the continental body with FIFA’s support, is apparently overtly selective and out-rightly biased.
Union of convenience
Gianni Infantino congratulates CAF President Motsepe on re-election Image credit: Inside FIFA
Lately, CAF and FIFA seem to have been very busy and mired in a union of convenience for allies with common interest in the ongoing FIFA/CAF African WCQ. There is the appearance of an understanding for forging a mini-me of football association of South Africa out of a sinister CAF policy in cahoots with the federation of world football. FIFA.
The shocking evidence of this union of minds with ominous plans and deeds, though with years of drive, is sadly, slowly beginning to take shape before global audience. as the African qualifiers screeches to its close.
It is pertinent to point out this CAF and FIFA’s public approaches to weaponize the continent’s 2026 WCQ for SAFA’s gains at all cost, due to the need for making fair play in international football nonnegotiable.
This is because CAF’s openly public unfairness in African football, in connivance with FIFA especially in the ongoing WCQ rounds, is now overtly brazen and clearly very ugly. It is obvious that highly biased trend and appalling treachery wouldn’t have gained the level of traction and success it has recently attained, had FIFA not aided and abetted the African Confederation in effecting its public favoritism for SAFA.
Before the June 2024 rounds of the 2026 WCQ, an unsuspecting world audience had been told that almost half of CAF national affiliates that were publicly affirmed by CAF and FIFA to be playing their games at home, were in reality, being forced under the body’s new scheme to host their opponents under foreign skies.
The targets in this mode so far, have been the weaker federations of the continent. With the conspicuous benefactors being few selected stronger national associations here and there, the euphoria associated with international football, made us all to dismiss this appearance of bias with a wave of hand.
But with hindsight and a closer scrutiny, is now clear to all that almost all groups in the Africa FIFA, CAF 2026 WCQ the qualifiers, seem to have some form of this unfair arrangement.
However, in no other group has FIFA and CAF been very visible to force through their biases and preferences than in Group C of the continent’s qualifying play for next year’s three-nation World Cup fiesta. A focus on Group C of the FIFA/CAF Africa WCQ is therefore very revealing.
The strategy appears to have surreptitiously adopted a plan to promote South Africa’s World Cup qualification interests. In the scheme, FIFA mysteriously lumped Bafana, with Benin, Nigeria, Lesotho (which is also founded inside South African), Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. This is the precarious FIFA/CAF African World Cup Qualification class, with the designation of Group C for you.
Even at its conception, the group’s composition of teams, should have drawn suspicion to keen observations, with immediate condemnation. That this obvious and deliberate unfairness was lost to most, is indeed telling.
But as the African WCQ games progressed, the obvious anomalies and unfairness in the composition of the group slowly began to unravel for keener observers.
Today, it is now clear that the new CAF policy to speed up standard stadium construction and renovations in the continent, have been skillfully skewed by CAF with the help of FIFA, to benefit SAFA’s World Cup Qualification ambitions, above all else.
Under the disguise of using its policy to promote stadium constructions and renovations all over the continent, (note, also that the draconian plan is yet to yield the proposed dividend over four years on), Benin, Lesotho (a landlocked nation inside South Africa itself, for that matter), and Zimbabwe, were all adjudicated by CAF Stadium inspectors to be bereft of a single standard stadium within their borders.
That arrangement set the stage for the greatest manipulation of the outcome of groups known in the history of FIFA WCQ.
Banishment
The hash reality of CAF’s ongoing plan of international embarrassment and banishment to neighboring nations to play home games for perceived infringement of the mundane policy to ensure fast, paced stadium construction and renovation in the continent is not ubiquitous.
Thus, CAF’s strange policy rules out the notion of populism for a quirky working principle that atypically mandates affected national federations found wanting, are automatically stripped of their rights to legally host their games in their own countries.
As if that humiliation is not enough, the crass policy that is also non-appealable, is then followed by preprogrammed banishment to other countries to host home games. That such an obnoxious design enjoys FIFA imprimatur, is equally startling.
Thus, while Benin was compelled to move their base in the Group C qualifiers to Cote d’Ivoire, the rest of the affected nations in that group, were surprisingly allowed by FIFA and CAF to relocate their home venues to South Africa, an opponent in the same FIFA, CAF Africa WCQ Group C.
Though the likely reason for Zimbabwe and Lesotho for doing so might be for the sake of the simplicity of proximity, but global consternation for such a bizarre choice also grew exponentially when both CAF and FIFA gave their blessing to the unfair switch of venues by these two southern African countries to South Africa Republic.
The obvious fact that in such an arrangement neither CAF nor FIFA seemed to have not foreseen the disadvantage in the choice of venue to other federations in the group with the same ambition as South Africa to go to the World Cup, is perplexing.
Fifa seemed to have forgotten that nations like Benin, Rwanda, and Nigeria, are also competing with South Africa in Group C for the same qualification ticket, even if South African countries like Zimbabwe and Lesotho feel they are merely in the group to make up the numbers.
However, Nigeria’s former boss, Jose Paseiro did bring the attention of the world to these obvious implications. Paseiro was the first known person to openly complain against the egregious decision by CAF and FIFA to okay Lesotho and Zimbabwe to play their home games in the WCQ inside South Africa.
Paseiro also protested against the Group C schedule, which unfairly gave SAFA huge advantage over other Federations. The scheduled allowed Bafana to play almost all their matches after others in the group had concluded theirs during the various rounds. Still, Paseiro’s complaints fell on deaf ears.
Notably, elsewhere in Group E, Zambia, a nation within the same Southern zone of the continent, was green lighted by CAF for the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) to host their 2026 WCQ games at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, in Ndola.
While in Group D, Angola’s national team, Palancas Negras (Black Sable antelopes) was allowed to host their 2026 WCQ at Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Angola. If CAF and FIFA feel the sporting structures in Zambia and Angola are in good shape to host international games, why not move the games of Lesotho and Zimbabwe there to promote fairness?
Especially, when Zambia and Angola are also in the same region in Africa as Zimbabwe and Lesotho, should that be so difficult for CAF and FIFA to effect, if truly “Fair play” is the ultimate mantra for CAF and FIFA?
In the interest of fair play, conventional wisdom would demand that FIFA and CAF compel Zimbabwe and Lesotho to move their home games to neighboring Zambia or Angola, instead of allowing The Warriors and Likuena (Crocodiles) to go ahead and play crucial WCQ games in South Africa who are in the same group with them.
This arrangement would still preserve the demand of proximity for both federations while enshrining the highly important sporting principle of fair play.
Here is another irony, Eswatini and Angola play in Group D. Eswatini was forced by CAF to play their WCQ at the Mbombela Stadium in neighboring Nelspruit, South Africa, because their local stadiums did not merit CAF approval.
However, as of September 2025, the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, Eswatini, has been re-approved, giving Eswatini the right to host their remaining 2026 WCQ home games inside the country. This is the right thing to do. Eswatini should not be allowed to play their games in any of the countries competing with Sihlangu Semnikati (King’s Shield) in the same group.
Shroud of hypocrisy unveiled
South Africa’s Mbekezeli Mbokazi in action with Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru on the pot holed pitch of the Bloemfontein Stadium, South Africa on September 9, 2025 [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] Image credit: Aljazeera
Given the above scenarios, CAF’s system purporting to push the building and renovation of stadiums all over Africa, is only a smokescreen to pick on lesser nations with obvious fiscal instability, and force them to host their home games abroad, thereby denying them the advantage of familiarity.
If this unfair policy is not being used as excuse to favor certain teams within the confederation, how come, on Tuesday, September 9, the same CAF, in connivance of FIFA, okayed South Africa’s decision to host their crucial WCQ against Nigeria at the crumbling structures of the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein?
If CAF and FIFA truly abide by their own principles, the proper decision was for the football governing bodies to demand that SAFA move that particular game to a suitable arena, even if within South Africa. That they didn’t do so, completely removed the veil over their dark motives.
Also known as the Free State Stadium, the venue of the now contentious event accommodates 46,000 spectators. However, its playing turf serves the purpose of hosting routine Rugby games. But, the rugged arena is also occasionally used to host local football matches including the PSL of South Africa.
Even at that, the structures of the Bloemfontein Stadium is without question, in severe dilapidation. While its playing surface is a grave yard for footballing injuries to occur, CAF and FIFA still saw fit to okay it to host such a major WCQ involving South Africa and Nigeria on such a gruesome arena, notwithstanding the huge impact of the game.
This begs the question of the relevance of CAF’s policy against the use of substandard venues for international games if the body and FIFA can give the go ahead for the appaling stadium to host the crucial game between Bafana and Super Eagles there.
“We did something bad, but there was no complaint and the rule says if there's no complaint, there's nothing.”
South Africa coach Hugo Broos on a possible FIFA sanction for using an ineligible player in 2016 World Cup qualifier vs Lesotho.🎥@Diskifanspic.twitter.com/laR2fxVEEh
Even South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos, publicly decried the poor state of the turf at the Toyota arena ahead of the critical encounter with Nigeria there.
Despite the obvious fact that last Tuesday’s clash in Bloemfontein between Bafana and Super Eagles had the potential to determine the eventual winner of Group C if South Africa had come out victorious, CAF and FIFA still allowed the game to go ahead there as planned.
As usual, FIFA and CAF turned deaf ears on Broos’ lamentations. So, too did the protests of Nigerian players who, before their clash with South Africa in Bloemfontein, questioned the rationale for playing such a big game on the appaling surface, go unheeded.
Major travesty
At the time of last week’s game in Bloemfontein, virtually all of South Africa’s stadiums were in a dire state of disrepair. The country used to boast of world famous stadiums with lush playing surfaces such as, FNB Stadium (94,736 capacity) in Johannesburg, Ellis Park Stadium (62,567) in Johannesburg, Odi Stadium (60,000) in Mabopane, and Mmabatho Stadium (60,000) in Mahikeng. Today, they are all shadows of their relative past.
Presently, there is a concerted effort to renovate the stadiums of South Africa, meaning that even the stadiums of the Southern African country should also be forced to host their own home game abroad, since even South Africa’s local authority feel the nation’s stadiums are in bad shape.
Yet, FIFA and CAF are twisting the arms of smaller nations, like Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, to host their games on these obviously bad playing turfs. What a travesty.
It is therefore a transgression for CAF to allow South Africa to host home games within their borders, and a shame for FIFA to support such an unfair decision, when others with similar problems are being openly punished and shamed.
Importantly, the sanctioning of last Tuesday’s game in Bloemfontein’s rustic stadium, when lesser African nations with similar problems are being bullied into taking their WCQ games abroad, is a major travesty that should be condemned. The practice is unfair and a gross abuse of authority by both FIFA and CAF.
It is also lamentable that a nation like South Africa, which hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010, (which was only fifteen years ago), has a difficulty with providing even a decent stadium within its borders before today. But for FIFA to treat the rustic arenas in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as if they represent the best that can be found in the continent, is very misleading and insulting.
There are standard playing surfaces all over Africa today, including the newly renovated FNB Stadium in South Africa, which began hosting major events again in September 2025, following completion of its renovations.
So, if the option of a better suited stadium within South Africa to host major international could not be found in the country before last Tuesday’s game in Bloemfontein, this begs the question of FIFA and CAF not moving Tuesday’s crucial game between South Africa and Nigeria to the more safer FNB Stadium, or outside South Africa.
Also, should the defence be that just the stadium was available at the time of Tuesday’s game, SAFA should equally be compelled by CAF and FIFA to take their home games abroad like other smaller nations are being forced to do by both governing bodies.
However, this is not even the case. FIFA and CAF have decided to turn the other eye on an obvious infringement of their own mode by SAFA. The FNB stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, was available to host Tuesday’s game and both FIFA and SAFA knew that, but chose for reasons best known to them, to allow the crucial game to go on at the graveyard at the Bloemfontein stadium.
Status of FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, 13th August 2025. credit Image: Sunday World
With that said, let us delve into the actual reason for taking Tuesday’s game between South Africa and Nigeria with its huge implication, to the Free State Stadium in South Africa. The obvious rationale is to deprive Super Eagles players the opportunity of playing Bafana on a good turf.
This decision to allow the game in Bloemfontein however begs the question that, if SAFA can enjoy the right to use the advantage of familiarity of its arena with the use of such a dilapidated structure and its pot holed turf to fortify its home advantage against Nigeria, so should others in the continent be allowed to play all their games at home.
The sole purpose for SAFA hosting Nigeria in Bloemfontein was to make the experience of playing against local South African players who were already used to playing on such a bad surface in the PSL, very arduous for the visitors. It is not lost anybody that Super Eagles players who ply their trade weekly on good, and famous turfs all over Europe, will find it very herculean to acclimatize quickly to such a hideous playing turf.
Also, a game between Bafana and Nigeria say, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, would bring to fore the best from both teams and showcase the utmost performance from two of Africa’s best national teams. However, it is not against conventional expectation of the outcome of such a huge clash, that allowing the game to hold at the newly refurbished playing surface of the FNB between the two nations, would leave the South African national side greatly disadvantaged against Nigeria even on home soil, leaving poor Bafana ready for taking to the cleaners by the Super Eagles before South Africans.
Again, knowing that Bafana, whose majority of players play in the PSL weekly, and were already used to playing their league games on the notorious Bloemfontein arena, was advantageous to Bafana, for CAF to allow the event to take place in Bloemfontein for that same reason, is a major travesty. The consideration of such an undue advantage to Bafana, is eneough for the two football governing bodies to have a rethink of their decision, going by CAF’s current policy which openly forbids lesser African nations the luxury of same advantage over their bigger opponents.
However, Bafana was allowed by CAF and FIFA to enjoy days of uninterrupted preparations weeks ahead of the clash going by the fixtures. Bafana was afforded the luxury of extensive practice sessions at the same arena ahead of games against Lesotho and Nigeria weeks before their encounters with them at the Bloemfontein Stadium.
As well as having faced the Likuena of Lesotho there days earlier in Bloemfontein, (a team that were sadly forced by CAF to play their home games at a substandard stadium because Likuena’s turf was adjudged by the same body to be below standard for hosting international games, this is glaringly a biased decision, and is intended to give South Africa undue advantage against all teams in Group C.
Thus, these were obviously calculated intentions by SAFA, CAF, and FIFA, to hand a huge advantage to Bafana at all cost. The point remains that while Bafana can enjoy such an advantage, Benin, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, should also be allowed by FIFA and CAF to the same right.
All African federations should be allowed by CAF and FIFA to also play all their home games under the confine of their nations, notwithstanding the state of their stadiums as currently applies South Africa. It is unfair to deny others a particular right while jocularly allowing another participant the same privilege. What’s good for the geese should be equally dandy for the gander.
Wary epitaph
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are on the verge of missing out on the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Charlé Lombard. Source: Getty Images. Image credit: Legit/MSN
Bafana truly enjoyed that right against Nigeria. That they didn’t win the match in Bloemfontein was shocking, and this attests to their true caliber or worth. This is because the South players were truly well prepared to take on the best teams of the planet on their famous slaughter ground and easily come out with a win. That they failed to defeat Nigeria in that ill fated game shows that they are not good enough to fly Africa’s flag at the World Cup tournament next year. However, this is the same team that FIFA and CAF appears to be hell bent to help them force their way through to Mexico, Canada, and USA next year.
Also, the famous statement by FIFA before the ill fated match over the state of the Group C standings begins to make much sense to ardent observers. The statement appeared to be a sinister celebration of FIFA’s expectations of the outcome of its crooked intentions to force down their poisonous broth down the throats of Africans, ahead of time. It was apparent that Zurich had already written the epitaph for other teams in Group C, like Benin, Rwanda, and Nigeria, who still had decent chance of qualification given a fair leverage by FIFA. The statement form FIFA ahead of South Africa vs. Nigeria in Bloemfontein leaves a bad taste in the mouth. This is very ugly of FIFA and a shame and Zurich should cover their face in ignominy.
According to MSN: “Hours before the kick-off of the match involving South Africa and Nigeria at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9, FIFA, via its official X handle, posted that Bafana Bafana could pick the ticket to the World Cup.
“Two more teams could secure @fifaworldcup26 qualification today.
“Egypt 🇪🇬 will qualify if they beat Burkina Faso, while South Africa will qualify if they beat Nigeria, and Benin fail to beat Lesotho.”
Note also that this statement was made by FIFA pending the outcome of their purported ongoing investigation over Bafana’s fielding of suspended midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Likuena on Match 25. SAFA has publicly admitted to wrong doing in the saga, but FIFA’s hands appears to be tied by unseen ghosts perhaps, in taking a just decision over the issue.
South Africa risk a 3-point deduction in the World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Charlé Lombard. Source: Getty Images. Image credit: Legit/MSN
Still, we must not take away the irony of CAF and FIFA allowing a game of the magnitude between Bafana and Super Eagles to be played in Bloemfontein last week. The trenchancy? Lesotho, who were compelled by CAF to play their home games in a neutral venue, has already been humiliated by the same Confederation in cahoot with FIFA to host their penultimate game in the 2026 WCQ series, in this case, against Bafana, on one of the World’s worst stadium and turf, and with FIFA standing with arms akimbo to make certain it happened. This is an irony.
For allowing itself to be a major pawn in South Africa and CAF’s open favoritism for Bafana’s WCQ goals, FIFA’s fervent call for fairness in its games has now been forever impugned. There is this apparition of a clandestine business going on between CAF and FIFA in African football, and whatever its outcome is going to be, it is certain to be a shame.
It’s pertinent to call out CAF and point out FIFA’s complicity in such gross hypocrisy because this can only be allowed to go so far. If condoned, this despicable assault on African football would cause lasting damage to international games in the continent. In that, CAF and FIFA continue to foment their nefarious intentions of bias at the chagrin of the safety concerns of even South African fans by signing off for Bafana to host such a huge game against the Super Eagles under the appaling and crumbling structure of the Bloemfontein Stadium before such a huge crowd, is bad judgment.
Also, that Nigeria, Nottingham Forest, and Beşiktaş have collectively lost the services of their players in Ola Aina and Wilfred Ndidi-to horrific injuries in that game is lamentable. By forcing players worth millions of British Pound Sterling to their club sides to play on such a poor turf at the peril of the careers is strange practice by FIFA and CAF. To force any player onto such a horrendous turf is equally a travesty.
Though Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stalwarts have not completely ruled out Super Eagles’ hope for qualifying for the FIFA 2026 World Cup in three countries, they are nonetheless relying on FIFA’s grace to see them through.
Nigeria huffed and puffed to a 1 all stalemate away to South Africa on Tuesday in Bloemfontein, almost erasing the last glimmer of hope for qualification for the 2026 World Cup event.
The failure to take all points on offer against Bafana in Bloemfontein all but dashed Super Eagles chances for a berth at next year’s World Cup finals. While Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Bafana guaranteed South Africa of maintaining their 6 points lead over Nigeria, it reduced their 5 points edge over second placed Benin Republic in Group C to 3.
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team coordinator, Dayo Enebi, insists that Super Eagles can still sweep through to next year’s World Cup event with convincing wins in their remaining two FIFA/CAF African World Cup qualifying games in Group C.
However, it is almost certain that for Nigeria to stand a chance of progressing, FIFA must deduct points from Bafana for fielding the ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho’s Likuena in their March 25, 2025 qualifying game. Nigeria must also hope on other qualification intricacies to line up for them to make it to the 2026 World Cup.
“We are now down to Mathematical projections and staying strong in our belief that we can still make it,” Enebi said.
“Whatever happens from now on, we cannot afford to drop any more points. We have to go out there and win the remaining games.
“A draw is no longer an option for us, and a defeat is definitely the end of the road for the team. We also need FIFA to do the needful in the lingering protest against South Africa for playing a midfielder that was already suspended against Lesotho.”
But Nigeria is not begging FIFA to deduct points from South Africa, NFF is almost demanding the World Football governing body to do so because it is the right thing to do.
Nigeria feels there is no good reason for FIFA to spare South Africa from points deduction for fielding a player they have admitted they played in error.
And if FIFA grants Nigeria’s wish to deduct points from South Africa, then Super Eagles must beat both Lesotho away and Benin Republic at home convincingly in October, while hoping South Africa drops points at the same time away to Zimbabwe and at home to Rwanda.
However, Bafana’s remaining 2026 WCQ games against Warriors of Zimbabwe and Wasps of Rwanda will both take place in South Africa, handing Bafana two games home advantage.
Super Eagles coordinator says Nigeria has plans to force Fifa to “do the needful”
Nigeria’s players look baffled by their 1-1 draw against South Africa, which has put them on the brink of not reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup. PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images
By Ed Emeanua
Nigeria will take the case of Bafana’s illegal use of midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Likuena above the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), if the world body fails to act on the issue at the end of the 2026 FIFA CAF African World Cup qualifying play.
Super Eagles team coordinator, Dayo Enebi insists that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will have no other choice than to force the issue with FIFA, if, the world body still remained uninterested in taking a decision on the matter at the end of the qualifiers.
“Since the qualification process for the World Cup is ongoing, we remain hopeful that FIFA is busy reviewing this matter concerning the illegal use of a player by South Africa,” Enebi said.
“Our hope is that FIFA will eventually take a decision on the issue before the completion of the qualifiers and will also do the needful.
“However, if the qualifiers end, and FIFA hadn’t taken a just decision on the matter, the NFF will be forced to review the issue in its entirety to see where our team (Super Eagles), stand. Following that revaluation, we may have to proceed to force the issue with FIFA, and this includes going above even the world body itself (FIFA), to find justice if necessary.
“As it is, we can only watch to see what FIFA will do concerning the various protests that have been lodged with it (FIFA) over the issue.”
This means that the contentious matter could end up at the Court of Arbitration for Sport if all parties involved fail to abide by FIFA’s decision whenever it happens, or, if the seeming insouciance of the world organization over the lingering protests on the matter persists.
Mokoena was yellow carded in South Africa’s 2-1 victory against Benin Republic in November 2023, and Bafana’s 3-1 win over Zimbabwe in November 2024, effectively ruling him for the Lesotho match on March 25, 2026.
However, South Africa failed to honor the PSL Mamelodi Sundowns star’s suspension for the next game, fielding the ineligible player in the game nonetheless. Bafana’s decision to field the illegal midfielder against Likuena in the crucial 2026 world cup qualifier has remained contentious.
The South African Football Association (SAFA), and Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, have both variously admitted wrong doing in playing the midfielder who had already accumulated maximum yellow cards that forced Mokoena to be automatically suspended for the eventful game.
But, both coach and Federation now cite a portion of the same FIFA law governing the qualifiers that stipulates a designated time frame for the aggrieved opposition to file its protest, as their excuse.
FIFA’s Legal handbook states: “Protests must reach the Disciplinary Committee in writing, indicating the relevant grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in question.”
It further states: “The 24-hour time limit cannot be extended. For the sake of the smooth running of the competition, the corresponding competition regulations may shorten the deadline accordingly.”
However, the same FIFA Legal Handbook published in September 2024, hands the world body the right to award the aggrieved team (in this case Lesotho) a delayed win via forfeit.
Indeed, precedence has shown FIFA with the right of retrograde punishment for erring teams caught fielding suspended players during its qualifiers in previous instances.
In 2013, Zurich stripped Ethiopia of three points in their World Cup qualifying run for playing an ineligible player against Botswana. FIFA ruled against Ethiopia’s 2-1 win over Botswana on June 8, 2013, for fielding Minyahile Beyene who was suspended for receiving two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers. The ruling saw FIFA awarding the match to Botswana with a 3-0 scoreline.
Also, FIFA’s disciplinary committee hammered the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) with a $6,348 USD fine. The federation opted against appealing the ruling, rather admitting that Minyahile was ineligible for the Botswana game. EFF’s explanation for playing Minyahile was blamed an administrative error where officials “forgot” about his suspension.
Importantly, FIFA disciplinary actions against Ethiopia regarding Minyahile was not preceded by a Botswana protest over the matter.
Again, in November 2017, FIFA hammered Nigeria for playing an ineligible player against Algeria in their last World Cup qualifying match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The encounter in Constantine which ended in a 1-1 stalemate, was repealed, with Algeria rewarded with a 3-0 win.
The punishment failed to deter Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, having earlier booked its place in Russia before the Algeria match. Abdullahi Shehu featured in the entire game against the Desert Foxes despite being suspended for accumulating yellow cards in two previous qualifiers.
The Nigeria wing back was cited during the Super Eagles’ 1-0 defeat of Zambia, which ensured Super Eagles’ World Cup place in Russia. Shehu was also cautioned in the first leg of their second-round game with Swaziland in November 2015.
South Africa 1-1 Nigeria Image credit: Thenff
The Nigerian Football Federation was equally imposed a $6,000 USD penalty for this negligence. However, FIFA took these decisions against Nigeria without a prior protest by Algeria. Nigeria blamed miscommunication via official email for the error.
In the instances above, it is obvious that FIFA did not support ignorance for it’s rule being used by the offenders as a reason to evade punishment. It also took its decision without the prior protests of the victims.
South African Football Association (SAFA) and Bafana’s illegal use of midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their March 25 home fixture against Lesotho in the ongoing qualifiers is a gross violation of the rule, which calls for an automatic three points deduction and three goals awarded against Bafana for this bridge of the qualifying rules.
Should FIFA decide to uphold its own rule, this could hand Likuena three points and three goals in the six team FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C, while Bafana will be docked three points and suffer additional three goals deduction, likely altering South Africa’s lead at the top of the table.
Group C
Pos
Team
Pts
1
South Africa
17
2
Benin
14
3
Nigeria
11
4
Rwanda
11
5
Lesotho
6
6
Zimbabwe
4
Nigeria was not beaten away to South Africa Tuesday in Bloemfontein and is not shy of qualifying for the 2026 world cup mathematically, while on 11 points in Group C. Bafana also did not lose Tuesday on at home, thereby, fortifying their six points lead over Nigeria on 17 points.
Benin Republic is however placed second in the group on 14 points, 3 points adrift of the group leader. South Africa’s decision to field Mokoena against Lesotho in March 2025 qualifiers, continues to haunt the Bafana. A FIFA decision to dock Bafana points will see Benin Republic level on 14 points with Bafana, who will however enjoy a 1 goal difference advantage over the the Cheetahs going into the last two games of the series.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana need vital win against Lesotho as Teboho Mokoena punishment looms Image credit: ESPN
‘If Bafana Bafana dare play Teboho Mokoena…’: Lesotho FA warns SA
‘If Bafana Bafana dare play Teboho Mokoena…’: Lesotho FA warns SA Image Credit: The South African
Likuena has vowed to lodge a protest with FIFA should Bafana Bafana field Teboho Mokoena in their squad on Friday, a Lesotho Football Association official has warned, Eliot Mahlase reports for The South African.
Lesotho hosts South Africa in a scheduled FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Free State Stadium. Mokoena has haunted South Africa since Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 defeat of Likuena on March 25.
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder should not have been allowed to participate in March’s rounds of crucial World Cup qualifiers in CAF FIFA Group C having received two previous yellow cards.
That effectually made the South African midfielder ineligible to play in the match against Lesotho, but, he was still given the green light to participate.
According to FIFA rules for participation, should an ineligible player play in a qualifying game, his team can be penalized by losing three points, provided the other team submits a protest within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.
Mokhosi Mohapi, Secretary General of the Lesotho FA has been reported to say that Likuena will lodge a protest within a minute into Friday’s encounter if Mokoena is part of the 18-man Bafana squad on Friday.
“If South Africa dare play Teboho Mokoena, we will lodge a protest and will tell you why…We will lodge a protest which goes back to the other match, because he has never served the suspension that he was meant to have served,” he said on Soccer Beat.
“The suspension was supposed to be automatic during the match against Lesotho. Against Benin, he did not serve the suspension; he was not picked for that match.
Against Bafana, we are going to wait three minutes into the match and then protest,” Mohapi warned.
FIFA has not made a decision on Mokoena. Bafana Bafana engages Lesotho on Friday, with all group participants unsure whether the South African association will be stripped of points eventually.
African qualifying restarts on Wednesday with decisive stakes and places at the 2026 World Cup on the line, CAFonline reports.
The equation is simple enough: the nine group winners qualify automatically for 2026 in Canada, Mexico and USA.
The four best runners-up head to CAF play-offs for a route to the inter-confederation tournament.
Here’s the state of play — group by group, the current tables — plus the fixtures to come.
Group A
Egypt have set a fierce pace and can all but seal top spot with another strong window. Burkina Faso remain the only realistic challengers and will fancy a late push if they take care of business before a potential decider against the Pharaohs. Below them, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Guinea-Bissau are fighting for position and outside hopes of the runners-up race. Djibouti need a result simply to reset momentum.
Fixtures
4 Sept: Guinea-Bissau v Sierra Leone
5 Sept: Djibouti v Burkina Faso; Egypt v Ethiopia
8 Sept: Guinea-Bissau v Djibouti
9 Sept: Burkina Faso v Egypt; Sierra Leone v Ethiopia
Standings
Egypt 18 pts;
Burkina Faso 11;
Sierra Leone 8;
Ethiopia 6;
Guinea-Bissau 6;
Djibouti 1
Group B
It’s a heavyweight scrap. DR Congo, Senegal and Sudan are separated by a single point, and this window delivers a potential group-definer when DR Congo meet Senegal again. Sudan’s surge keeps the pressure on both giants and sets up a three-way chase that could run to the final day. Togo, South Sudan and Mauritania are hunting wins that might yet influence the top.
Fixtures
5 Sept: South Sudan v DR Congo; Mauritania v Togo; Senegal v Sudan
9 Sept: DR Congo v Senegal; Mauritania v South Sudan; Togo v Sudan
Standings
DR Congo 13 pts;
Senegal 12;
Sudan 12;
Togo 4;
South Sudan 3;
Mauritania 2
Group C
South Africa have created daylight, but the section remains volatile because the pack behind—Rwanda, Benin and Nigeria—are tightly bunched. Nigeria’s meeting with Rwanda is pivotal for both, while Lesotho and Zimbabwe must turn stubborn displays into wins to re-enter the argument. If Bafana Bafana manage their away day and then withstand Nigeria at home, they’ll be hard to catch.
Fixtures
5 Sept: Benin v Zimbabwe; Lesotho v South Africa
6 Sept: Nigeria v Rwanda
9 Sept: Zimbabwe v Rwanda; South Africa v Nigeria; Benin v Lesotho
Standings
South Africa 13 pts;
Rwanda 8;
Benin 8;
Nigeria 7;
Lesotho 6;
Zimbabwe 4
Group D
Cabo Verde’s excellent campaign faces two tricky assignments: a banana-skin trip to Mauritius before a potential first-place shoot-out at home to Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions will expect to beat Eswatini to keep the squeeze on, while Libya and Angola lurk as spoilers if either of the top two stumbles. The margins are small enough to flip with one bad night.
Fixtures
4 Sept: Angola v Libya; Mauritius v Cabo Verde; Cameroon v Eswatini
8 Sept: Libya v Eswatini
9 Sept: Cabo Verde v Cameroon; Angola v Mauritius
Standings
Cabo Verde 13 pts;
Cameroon 12;
Libya 8;
Angola 7;
Mauritius 5;
Eswatini 2
Group E
Morocco are perfect and cruising towards North America, but the contest for second is alive with Tanzania, Zambia and Niger trading places almost weekly. With Eritrea withdrawn, there’s one fewer variable; that puts premium value on head-to-head results among the chasing trio. Morocco’s double-header—home to Niger then away in Zambia—could indirectly decide who emerges best of the rest.
Fixtures
5 Sept: Congo v Tanzania; Morocco v Niger
8 Sept: Zambia v Morocco
9 Sept: Tanzania v Niger
Standings
Morocco 15 pts;
Tanzania 9;
Zambia 6;
Niger 6;
Congo 0 (Five-team group following Eritrea’s withdrawal.)
Group F
This is shaping into a showpiece duel. Côte d’Ivoire lead, but Gabon are within touching distance and host the Elephants in a game that could define the section. Burundi’s steady work keeps them mathematically alive; Kenya and Gambia need a perfect window to revive hopes. Seychelles are chasing their first point but can still tilt the title race by frustrating the chasers.
Fixtures
3 Sept: Seychelles v Gabon
5 Sept: Kenya v Gambia; Côte d’Ivoire v Burundi
9 Sept: Kenya v Seychelles; Gabon v Côte d’Ivoire; Gambia v Burundi
Standings
Côte d’Ivoire 16 pts;
Gabon 15;
Burundi 10;
Kenya 6;
Gambia 4;
Seychelles 0
Group G
Algeria have reasserted control, but Mozambique remain close enough to keep pressure high. Botswana and Uganda are level and dangerous, while Guinea need a statement win to re-join the top-two conversation. With Algeria facing Botswana before traveling to Conakry, the leaders cannot afford any dip in intensity.
Fixtures
4 Sept: Algeria v Botswana
5 Sept: Uganda v Mozambique; Somalia v Guinea
8 Sept: Mozambique v Botswana; Guinea v Algeria; Uganda v Somalia
Standings
Algeria 15 pts;
Mozambique 12;
Botswana 9;
Uganda 9;
Guinea 7;
Somalia 1
Group H
Tunisia are in command and can take a giant step if they manage Liberia at home and navigate a tricky trip to Equatorial Guinea. Namibia, four points back, must beat Malawi and then take care of São Tomé and Príncipe to keep the pressure on. Liberia’s outside chance hinges on upsetting one of the front-runners; Malawi have proved awkward customers and can still shape the race.
Fixtures
4 Sept: São Tomé and Príncipe v Equatorial Guinea; Tunisia v Liberia
5 Sept: Namibia v Malawi
8 Sept: Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia; Malawi v Liberia
9 Sept: Namibia v São Tomé and Príncipe
Standings
Tunisia 16 pts;
Namibia 12;
Liberia 10;
Equatorial Guinea 7;
Malawi 6;
São Tomé and Príncipe 0
Group I
Ghana lead a fiercely competitive pool but still have work to do with Mali at home in the window’s standout fixture. Comoros continue to over-deliver and can tighten the race if they ride their momentum; Madagascar remain in touch but cannot afford a slip against direct rivals. With six points on offer, this group could swing dramatically over four days.
Fixtures
4 Sept: Chad v Ghana; Madagascar v Central African Republic; Mali v Comoros
Arokodare, Uche, Chukwueze, Boniface, others make stealthy career switches
By Ed Emeanua
Victor Boniface was an AC Milan target for his-style-of-play which has been-likened to that of Victor Osimhen
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface’s over hyped, but failed move to AC Milan must have compelled his countrymen into choosing stealthier pathway to pasture new.
Two weeks ago, player and Italian giants, AC Milan, pulled out kleig lights, rolled out the drumbeats, unpacked the glow, plus a lavish touch of love here and and a generous online selfies there, in an ostentatious glamorous announcement of the Nigeria forward’s likely move from the Bundesliga to Serie A.
But the move was ditched by the Rossoneri at the last minute. AC Milan has blamed their decision not to sign the Nigerian on failed medical examination due to his past medical history of a problematic knee. But conventional wisdom believe that the Italian giants’ developed a last minute cold feet to bring the Nigerian aboard.
Boniface returned from his Milan ditching to Leverkusen though saddened by his experience but now the wiser. But his countrymen appeared to have become even smarter by their compatriot’s shoddy treatment in Milan.
To avoid falling into the same bad public spectacle, Nigerian footballers in their rank and file chose more serene roadways to make their moves especially on deadline day football transfer for summer 2025.
Crystal Palace announces Christantus Uche’s arrival at Selhurst Park, Image credit CPFC
Christantus Uche’s career continues a quiet development, steadily growing with leaps and bounds. With even much more stealth, the pacy, skillful, and highly lethal attacking midfielder has been lined up to flourish with Crystal Palace. His deadline day move to South London on Monday took many by surprise.
Yet, it was the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ den that he was initially billed to call his new home amidst a calculated, but softened howling beckoning from the receptive pack at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium over his anticipated landing. But the deal fell through forging a change in plan.
Uche’s quiet deadline day departure from Madrid, Spain, to Selhurst, South London, England, is even more notable as the Nigerian may have been directly lined up to replace former Crystal Palace and England electrifying play maker, Eberechi Eze.
The Nigerian joins the Eagles nest on loan from Getafe in a deal worth €20 million.
Eze, now with Arsenal, made his summer transfer up north to Islington, London, few days ago. The England play maker has already debuted for the Gunners against EPL defending champions Liverpool, in what became manager Mikel Arteta’s first loss of the season, a 0-1 away defeat to the Merseyside giants on Sunday.
Somto Boniface will join up with Ipswich Town’s Under-21 side. (Image: ITFC)
Equally on the tranquil side is Somtochukwu Alan Udochukwu Boniface’s deadline day move from Chelsea to Ipswich Town. The 18-year-old England U17 arrives Portman Road, Suffolk, England, on Monday as a development signing.
Boniface has chosen to join the Ipswich U23s instead of Kieran McKenna’s first team. The full back is eligible to play for Nigeria.
Image credit: Fulham FC
Perhaps, no 2025 summer deadline day move for a Nigerian is stealthier than Samuel Chukwueze’s shock loan move from AC Milan to Fulham on Monday.
The deal on a full season loan has a caveat to buy, that could see Samu eventually settling in permanently in Craven Cottage for a total of €25 to €26 million next summer.
Image credit: www.wolves.co.uk
Tolu Arokodare continues to be in the news for the right reasons. He has equally surreptitiously completed his shock 2025 summer deadline day transfer from Limburg, in the Belgian City of Genk, to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium, in West Midlands, England.
The Super Eagles forward joins on a four year contract, with the rider of a year opportunity within easy reach. Arokodare’s deal with Wolves comes with a fee of €27 million, earmarking his move as one of the most costly transfer in KRC Genk’s existence.
The Nigerian ended his final season with De Smurfen with a haul of 21 goals to his kitty in the 2024-2025 Belgian Pro League term with seven assists to booth. The 24-year-old’s goal count for the entire season was 23.
In yet another clandestine 2025 summer transfer moment, Crystal Palace and Ireland youth international Franco Umeh-Chibueze joined Portsmouth for around £500,000.
Image credit: Getty Images
The transfer of the Ireland left wing-back comes after two and a half years stay at The Eagles nest.
Umeh-Chibueze transferred from Cork City, Ireland, to Crystal Palace in January 2023. An outright attacker, he was transformed into a left wing-back at Selhurst Park.
The 20-year-old was on several occasion in Palace’s first-team selection, even making the bench in the Premier League, but could not break into the main team. He was eventually deemed surplus to needs at Selhurst Park.
Victor Boniface joined SVW on loan on deadline day (Photo: Bundesliga.com)
Top of the pick of Nigerians in the catalog of Summer 2025 eventual quiet movers has turned out to be none other than Victor Boniface Okoh himself. The Bayer Leverkusen forward’s move on Monday’s transfer deadline day to Werder Bremen shows that the Super Eagles forward learns from his mistakes.
Most were gripped with surprise when Werder Bremen announced the shocking signing of the Nigeria striker on a season-long loan until June 2026. The announcement begs the question whether the result of AC Milan’s medical assessment of the Nigerian was correct.
The agreement compels Die Werderaner to pay a portion of the Boniface ’s salary for the entire season.
The Bundesliga side is taking Boniface into their fold as an important recruitment because of a visible lack of attacking options in the side, as Marco Grüll and Justin Njinmah are the only available center-forwards in Bremen’s arsenal.
Boniface made 42 league games in his two full spells at Leverkusen. He finished off 22 goals, while contributing 11 times to other scorers’ success.
Following a dragging start to the ongoing season however, Bremen was under pressure to hire a new forward to fortify their attack line.
The Green-Whites have already been ousted from the DFB-Pokal, and were pounded 4-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt in their first Bundesliga game of the current season. Bremen were then held to a 3-3 draw before heading into the international break.
The engagement of Éric Chelle as coach of Nigeria’s national football team has ignited discussions about his dormant sway on the team’s success.
Chelle became Super Eagles’ nascent non-native African coach upon hiring by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), thereby establishing a notable life event.
Fans initially reaction to the announcement of his employment was marked with disbelief and doubt. Believing it was a presage for events ahead, Super Eagles faithfuls could only come to terms with their federation’s decision for the Super Eagles with reservation.
Despite the team’s new coach’s low-key managerial background, NFF said they based their decision to hire the Malian for his qualities for being a highly driven and unswerving to achieve coach.
Chelle’s football philosophy is also known to highlight the preference for constructive football, another quality that could evoke a positive response with the current Nigeria national team setup.
The collective outlook for hiring Chelle is enshrined in the Malian’s adroitness to inspire and strategize his adjustments during games. The hope is that these qualities would galvanize the desired reawakening in the current lackadaisical Super Eagles’ future performances.
Nigeria is presently encumbering major oppositions in World Cup qualifying play. Super Eagles is with a win in six 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games, with four draws and a loss.
The team has scored only seven goals while letting in six, collectively placing them in fourth place in Group C of the CAF African World Cup qualification rounds.
Therefore, the Super Eagles is not presently proficient in attack, lacks imagination and compactness in the team’s midpoint, is definitively jangled and abysmally less formidable in its rear formation. Nigeria’s men senior side of today is just a disorganized bunch with poor disposition and marginal productivity.
Group C
POS
TEAM
MP
WON
DRAWN
LOST
GF
GA
PTS
1
South Africa
6
4
1
1
10
5
13
2
Rwanda
6
2
2
2
4
4
8
3
Benin
6
2
2
2
6
7
8
4
Nigeria
6
1
4
1
7
6
7
5
Lesotho
6
1
3
2
4
5
6
6
Zimbabwe
6
0
4
2
5
9
4
They do not elicit fear from opponents anymore and are six points adrift from group leaders, South Africa in a group where Rwanda and Benin Republic are atop them and Lesotho is just a point behind.
The Super Eagles could not even defeat Zimbabwe, the bottom team of the group despite hosting The Warriors in Uyo in their last outing in the series. Nigeria currently face a shameful elimination from world cup qualification, an occurrence that would be quite scandalous whenever it happens.
That eventuality is largely anticipated at the next rounds of games in the qualifiers in September when Nigeria takes on Rwanda at home before facing South Africa away few days later.
Whimsical showing and unproductive guidance are to blame for the Nigeria’s ding-dong showing in World Cup qualifying play. The quality of coaching has been fingered in Super Eagles’ current dip in form. So too has administrative ineptitude been cited.
Notwithstanding Nigeria’s star loaded national football side that features high profile footballers from major European leagues, yet scoring goals continue to be a problem for the Super Eagles. Defending same even against teams that are on paper, seen to be lesser equals, has been daunting.
Chelle’s physicality and tough-love coaching repertoire are the chief backing for his hiring. It’s hoped these latency may help liberate Nigeria players’ current goal scoring inhibition, toughen, and sharpen the team’s cutting edge in midfield, defense, and attack.
Past landmarks which attest that famous gaffers usually flaunt average playing careers, also fell for Chelle’s consideration for the job. He is seen as very hungry for success. It’s These qualities drove his new employers in their selection. It signifies a gamble by the NFF that Chelle could still emerge a top coach with the Super Eagles if and only if his inherent qualities mesh with his players’ potentials. So far, that has not been the case.
The mindset informing the choice of the former Les Aigles (The Eagles) of Mali’s manager by the NFF is that Chelle and the Super Eagles would draw strengths from each other to flourish.
However conventional wisdom suggests that the lasting bad coaching conditions now hampering Nigeria’s senior national team’s fortunes is due to years of similar wayward gambles that have stubbornly failed to payoff. Past mismanagement by the country’s federation has been blamed for the current dwindling performance of the national team.
Super Eagles’ latest struggles are no thanks to the poor decisions of the NFF, a body that has faced opprobrium for its style of employing coaches and managing the national team. NFF’s search for a “world-class coach” has been perennially constrained by cunctation in action and pecuniary impediments.
Since the dismissal of Gernot Rohr in December 2021, NFF has rummaged through the services of José Peseiro (Portugal) – 2022–2024, Finidi George (Nigeria) – 2024, Bruno Labbadia (Germany) – 2024, and Chelle – President. Before each audition for its employments, NFF announced their intention as the mission to get onboard a world class coach for the Super Eagles.
When all is said and done, the eventual selection has always been no where near world class. Mostly, the least qualified of the listed coaches have always emerged top pick.
Former winger Finidi George was not even among the listed coaches that were interviewed before he was hired. Yet he was hired as a frugal recourse following José Peseiro’s resignation, regardless of his employers’ numerous demonstration of a public lack of confidence in his abilities.
The Federation’s rudderless leadership has over the years, fawned a sense of inefficiency in directing the Super Eagles. Their present calculations in hiring Chelle, a Comme-ci comme-ça ca foreman, to lead one of the most successful senior national sides of the continent, is just mind blowing.
NFF the utopian gambler, whose survival rests only on the mercy of chance can but throw another crap. The side on which the dice rests, is out of their control. It is down to luck and luck alone. But who cares? This is the only way the Nigeria Federation know to escape their reality of paucity of vision and nous.
The NFF has speculated on yet another cheap coach in hiring Chelle. Will their current risk-taking payoff or will the continuing gaffe remain the same? September is just a month away. Time will tell.
It remains to be seen if Chelle will still be around before the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship, or NFF will ensue on another wild goose chase for a phony world class coach.
WCH Tokyo 25 brushstroke (© World Athletics)
Image credit: Getty Images
