Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, will take on their Australian counterparts in a friendly game on Tuesday. The encounter is part of both teams’ preparations for the 24^th FIFA U20 World Cup finals starting in Chile on Saturday.

The match, which will be played at the Complejo Deportivo Ruca Mapu in the city of Santiago, will kick off at 5pm Chile time (1pm in Nigeria).

On Saturday, Chile’s U20 boys forced the Flying Eagles to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Rancagua, with Ahmed Akinyele scoring for Nigeria in the 18^th minute, before a 36^th minute equalizer by Felipe Faúndez.

Australia will play in Group D alongside Italy, Cuba and Argentina, while Nigeria will contend with Norway, Saudi Arabia and Colombia in Group F.

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Some consequential adjustments have been made to the Matchday 6 fixtures of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) due to the continental engagement of four of the teams.

Remo Stars, Rivers United are playing in the CAF Champions League while Abia Warriors and Kwara United are involved in the CAF Confederation Cup this weekend.

The NPFL has through a memo signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi shifted the affected fixtures to new dates.

Abia Warriors will now host fellow continental challenger, Remo Stars on October 1, same day Rivers United has been scheduled to host Niger Tornadoes.

The Kano Pillars versus Kwara United tie will be played at the Sani Abacha Stadium on October 8.

In a related development, Plateau United have joined Bendel Insurance to play their home fixtures on Saturdays and no longer on Sundays. Therefore, Insurance will host Bayelsa United on Saturday, September 27 and Plateau United would host El-Kanemi Warriors on the same date at the New Jos Road Stadium.

All other fixtures remain as originally scheduled.

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Nigeria’s longest-serving Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi, has officially retired from professional football, closing the curtain on an illustrious career that spanned more than two decades and set multiple records on the African and global stage.

The 41-year-old announced her decision on Tuesday through her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, writing:

“Today, I officially retire from professional football. The journey has been filled with challenges, victories, and lessons that shaped me into who I am today. Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in the game continues — to give back, to guide, and to be a voice for players.”

Ebi’s career is one of history-making consistency. She became the first African footballer — male or female — to feature in six FIFA World Cup tournaments, appearing at the 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 editions.

She also represented Nigeria at multiple Olympic Games and was a cornerstone of the Super Falcons’ defensive setup across generations.

At the continental level, Ebi lifted four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles with Nigeria (2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018) and appeared in a record-equalling six editions of the tournament.

Her leadership and composure at the backline made her one of the most respected figures in African women’s football.

Beyond national team duty, Ebi enjoyed a rich club career across several continents, featuring for teams in Nigeria, Sweden, Turkey, Belarus, China, and Spain.

She won league titles in Belarus with FC Minsk and became one of Nigeria’s most-travelled female professionals, helping pave the way for younger players to pursue careers abroad.

In addition to her longevity, Ebi reached the milestone of 100 international caps for Nigeria, cementing her status among the country’s centurions.

Her retirement announcement has sparked an outpouring of tributes from teammates, fans, and football authorities, who hailed her as a trailblazer and role model.

Although stepping away from the pitch, Ebi has signaled her intention to remain active in football. She said her next chapter will focus on mentorship, advocacy, and amplifying the voices of players across Africa.

Ebi’s exit marks the end of an era for the Super Falcons, but her legacy as a pioneer, leader, and champion of Nigerian football will endure.

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