Author: Abdulgafar Oladimeji

SWAN confers fellowship award on sahel sports news editor, Abdulgafar Oladimeji The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN  has honored the  news editor, sahel sports news, Abdulgafar Olawale Oladimeji with the  professional status of the  Fellow of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, FSWAN. The association in a letter dated October 13, 2025, signed by the secretary general of the association, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo said the recognition is given to Abdulgafar Oladimeji , for  his outstanding professionalism  and enduring service to the growth  and strength of sports journalism in Nigeria. Amb. Ikenna said   “ as a valued pioneer and pillar in…

Ahead FIFA World Cup draws in US: Spain, Argentina and Germany top  FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking By Abdulgafar Oladimeji Reigning world champions Argentina surge back into second spot Germany return to the top 10 after a brief absence Niger, Faroe Islands and Lesotho among biggest climbers Following a thrilling round of 173 national-team outings that included FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers across five continents, and a flurry of friendlies, the October 2025 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking serves up several eye-catching changes. Spain (1st) have strengthened their grip on top spot thanks to back-to-back victories, shoring up the…

US, Canada, Mexico FIFA world cup  26: Over one million  tickets sold With 28 teams having already secured a spot at the FIFA World Cup 26™ and the whole world gearing up for what promises to be a watershed edition of FIFA’s flagship tournament, fans from 212 countries and territories of residence have already purchased over one million tickets following the closure of the Visa Presale Draw sales phase, which was launched in mid-September. Residents of the three host countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico, in that order – have been at the front of the queue, snapping…

2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup:  Football ambassador   Mercy Akide-Udoh visit’s   Flamingos Nigeria legend, FIFA Women’s World Cup star and FIFA’s Ambassador for the women’s game, Mercy Akide-Udoh o Friday had a session with players of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos in Morocco, two days before the Flamingos’ 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup opener against Canada. Mercy Akide-Udoh is in Morocco as a member of the FIFA Players’ Voice Panel. The 16-strong Players’ Voice Panel brings together former male and female players from diverse ethnic backgrounds and all six confederations. The panel advises and supports FIFA and its 211 Member Associations in the global stand against…

How Super Eagles reached 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF Play-off Tourney- NFF The Super Eagles achieved a universal spread of 10 different scorers in their 15-goal haul in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, with only ace forward Victor Osimhen scoring more than once. The lanky marksman netted six times – in the process taking his Nigerian tally to 29 in 44 matches, only eight shy of legendary Rashidi Yekini’s record. Defender Semi Ajayi, who will now miss the penultimate game of the CAF Play-off in Morocco next month after bagging two yellow cards in the…

FIFA World Cup 26: Burkina Faso cries foul over Nigeria’s  playoff qualification By Abdulgafar Oladimeji The president of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré has   decried  over how     the Super Eagles of Nigeria bagged the FIFA world cup 26 ticket at the expense of his country. Traore has asked  FIFA and the Confederation of African football ,  CAF to provide answers to how Nigeria could have qualified for the play off at the expense of the Stallions of Burkina Faso. The aggrieved Burkinabe football boss  has faulted  CAF’s decision to reduce points from the  lowly ranked team in each group, in the…

2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup:  Nigeria’s Flamingos   to face Canada in opener It is the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) in Moroccan city of Salé that Nigeria’s U17 women national team, the Flamingos, will on Sunday begin their campaign for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup against Canada. This will be the second meeting between these two sides at this level – with the first ending in a 1-1 draw. Now, thirteen years later, the stakes are higher, the teams are more evolved, and the Flamingos are ready to show how far they’ve come under Coach Bankole Olowookere. The…

2026 Women’s AFCON Qualifying Race: coach  Madugu  invites Ajibade, Nnadozie, 19 others for Bénin Days after the senior men’s national team of Nigeria, Super Eagles, dashed Bénin Republic’s dream of a first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, the senior women’s team, Super Falcons. are all set to stop their counterparts from the same country from reaching the Women Africa Cup of Nations. Both West African neighbours clash in a final qualifying fixture for the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations championship to be hosted by Morocco, and which serves as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals,…

FIFA World Cup 26 ticket :  Super Eagles express confidence   Captain William Troost-Ekong said on Wednesday morning that the Super Eagles will give the CAF Play-Off Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Morocco next month their very best shot, as the group continues to quietly delight in the 4-0 win over Bénin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday that sent Nigeria to the play-off tournament, which precedes the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for Mexico in March next year. “We are quite happy to have that opportunity. It is a long route but it is a route afterall. We would…

FIFA World Cup 26 draws to take place 5 December in Washington DC By Abdulgafar Oladmeji The FIFA World Cup 26 draw will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on 5 December, 2025. The draws to be held in the capital will feature 48 teams, in the largest world cup in history. On Friday, 5 December 2025, the world will discover the group-stage matches to be contested at the FIFA World Cup 26 with all eyes set to converge on the Kennedy Center in Washington DC for the final draw. The centre will…