Nigerian Football
PLAYERS’ MUTINY GREETED WESTERHOF’S DEBUT WITH SUPER EAGLES
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
There was a rebellion in camp on the day Clemens Westerhof was to take the Super Eagles out for the first time.
That was on 26 August 1989 as the team prepared to take off for their crucial World Cup qualifying match against Cameroon in Yaoundé.
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) officials as well as journalists waited at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for the players’ arrival from their Durbar Hotel (now Golden Tulip) abode to board the Hercules C-130 aircraft of the Nigerian Airforce, it soon dawned that something had gone amiss.
After nearly two hours of waiting for the players, Samson Siasia and two other players of the Super Eagles arrived in a car.
They had been sent by their colleagues to inform the other members of the delegation that the players would not travel except their allowances were paid upfront.
It was a crucial match for Nigeria, as the team needed at least a draw in the away match to progress to the final knockout stage for Italia ’90 qualification.
The players probably sensed it was an impossible mission and a loss might see them going back empty handed.
Before then, the morale-boosting message was that the rest of the team should play hard and see that the death of Samuel Okwaraji earlier in the month was not in vein.
After much persuasions and possibly granting of concessions, the players decided to leave their hotel for the airport.
A flight that was planned for 10am did not take off until late in the afternoon. After that problem was solved, another emerged when the players eventually arrived.
Clemens Westerhof, the new coach going for his first outing with the team insisted that Peter Rufai must not board the plane.
He was adamant that should Rufai be taken along, he would opt out of the delegation to Yaoundé.
Truly, since Nigeria’s first leg match with Cameroon at Super Eagles’ only match at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Rufai had not featured in Nigeria’s next four matches.
Eventually, Rufai was dropped. At the match in Yaounde, the following day, first choice goalkeeper, David Ngodigha passed out after a collision with a Cameroonian attacker in the 12th minute.
He had to be replaced by Alloy Agwu. Francois Omam-Biyik eventually scored in the 31st minute to earn Cameroon a 1-0 win.
For 31 years on, it remains Cameroon’s last win over Nigeria in regulation time.
Nigerian Football
Tiger Street Football Tournament Heads for Grand Finale in Awka After Electrifying Weekend
The maiden Nigerian edition of the Tiger Street Football Tournament is nearing its climax in Awka, following an action-packed weekend that blended grassroots football with music, street culture, and celebration.
The atmosphere around the venue was electric as DJs and hype men kept the energy high between matches, while food vendors, entertainers, and Tiger Beer enthusiasts turned the event into a full-blown street festival — a vibrant showcase of football, rhythm, and camaraderie.
From 16 teams that began the competition, only four now remain in contention for the ₦5 million grand prize, after thrilling quarterfinal fixtures held on Sunday, October 19.
In a day filled with goals and grit, Sunday Sparks, Peace Warriors, Peace Dominion, and Peace Ambassadors booked their places in the semi-finals.
- Sunday Sparks continued their dominant run with a 3–0 victory over Young Stars. Peace Warriors edged Star Boys 2–1 in a tense contest.
- Peace Dominion narrowly defeated Super Strikers 1–0, while Peace Ambassadors overcame Mgbakwu Pillars 2–1 to complete the semi-final lineup.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, October 25, where Sunday Sparks will face Peace Warriors, and Peace Dominion will take on Peace Ambassadors. The winners will advance to the grand finale later that same day at the highly anticipated “Tiger Uncaged” celebration.
Football fans in Awka have hailed the tournament as a breath of fresh air for local talent.
“The energy here is unbelievable. It feels like the real spirit of Nigerian football — no big names, just passion,” said Ifeanyi Okeke, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
“Kudos to Tiger Beer for bringing something this exciting to Awka. It’s giving young players real hope.”
Another fan, Chisom Udeh, described the event as “a refreshing celebration of local talent.” She added: “You can see the joy on the players’ faces — this is football in its purest form. Tiger Beer really deserves credit for supporting the streets and turning it into something this big.”
The grand finale will take place at Newberries Lounge, Awka, featuring a lively mix of football, music, and street culture. The event will be hosted by Uzor and headlined by Jeriq, with DJ sets from DJ SkyBlisz, DJ Snow, and DJ Kay-Y, alongside performances from Wanni & Handi. Hype men Twix da Jims and Slymshady will keep the crowd charged throughout the evening.
Fans will also have the chance to win exciting prizes in raffle draws during the finale. Organisers have reminded attendees that the event is strictly for persons aged 18 and above and encouraged everyone to enjoy responsibly.
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Nigerian Football
Brazil-Based Nigerian Star Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa Tipped for Super Eagles Call-Up
By Bolaji Okunola
Emerging Nigerian football prodigy Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa, popularly known as Fash11, is being closely monitored for a potential Super Eagles call-up following his dazzling performances in the Brazilian U-20 league.
The Fortaleza FC forward has taken the Brazilian youth scene by storm, scoring seven goals and providing two assists to power his club to victory in the league — a feat that has thrust his name into Nigeria’s senior national team conversation.
Before his move to Brazil, Fashanu honed his skills at Dynamic Plus Soccer Academy, a Nigerian grassroots club renowned for grooming young talents who have represented the country on the global stage.
His exploits at the academy caught the eye of international scouts during a scouting programme jointly organised by ATJ Sports and Trivella Brazil seven months ago — a move that ultimately secured his transfer to Fortaleza.
With Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle currently assembling his provisional squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier playoff and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Fashanu’s form has sparked excitement among Nigerian fans and analysts who see him as part of the nation’s next generation of attacking talents.
Speaking on his recent success, the young forward expressed pride in his achievement and eagerness to represent Nigeria at the highest level.
“Winning a tournament like this in a football country like Brazil is a dream come true,” he said. “I never imagined it could happen so quickly in my short spell with the club. This success motivates me to push harder, and I look forward to wearing the green and white jersey to make my country proud if given the opportunity.”
With his pace, flair, and goal-scoring instinct, Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa could soon join the growing list of Nigerian stars making waves from South America to the global stage — a bright prospect for the future of Nigerian football.
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Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, became an unexpected star attraction at the just-concluded World Football Summit in Madrid, thanks to a spontaneous late-night call to Nigerian football legend, Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha.
Narrating his experience in Madrid, Elegbeleye revealed how what started as a casual conversation during the summit’s gala dinner turned into a moment of surprise and excitement for global football executives.
According to him, the gala night—attended by top football administrators, investors, and professionals—had barely begun when some guests at his table became curious about Nigerian football. One Japanese delegate from the J-League leaned in and asked, “Do you know Jay-Jay Okocha?”
Elegbeleye smiled and replied confidently, “Jay-Jay? That’s my close friend.”
That statement immediately captured everyone’s attention. Though it was already past 11 p.m. in Nigeria, a Turkish delegate urged him to place a call to the former Super Eagles captain. Amid cheers and laughter, Elegbeleye obliged—and the atmosphere changed instantly.
“The moment they saw Jay-Jay’s WhatsApp display picture, the whole table went agog,” Elegbeleye recounted. “When he answered the call, the excitement in the room was unbelievable. People from nearby tables came over just to say hello to him.”
The NPFL boss joked that for several minutes, he and his phone became the “beautiful bride” of the evening, as guests lined up to exchange brief greetings with Okocha.
But the story didn’t end there. A Portuguese investor involved in ParaSoccer, visibly thrilled after speaking with the Nigerian icon, decided to express his admiration in a most unusual way — by upgrading Elegbeleye’s hotel room from a standard single to a deluxe executive suite.
“All because I’m friends with Jay-Jay Okocha,” Elegbeleye said humorously. “Next time I check in at my regular Eurostars Madrid hotel, they’ll probably wonder why I’m not in the super deluxe suite.”
The NPFL chairman concluded the tale with a touch of gratitude and amusement: “So, thanks, Jay-Jay, for making me a temporary big man in Madrid. But no thanks — because now I have a reputation to maintain.”
The incident has since become one of the lighthearted highlights of the World Football Summit, underscoring Okocha’s enduring global appeal and Nigeria’s rich football heritage.
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