AFCON
VIDEO: FOOTBALL STAKEHOLDERS HAIL NEW BOOK ON SUPER EAGLES
BY FOLAKE OKEGBENLE
The
new book on Super Eagles has started to get acclaims even before it hits the
shelves. The book is aptly titled “Super Eagles @ 70…Soaring On the Wings”. It
captures the evolution of the team, which will hit a major milestone on June
26, the 70th anniversary of when Nigeria first composed a national
football team.
Coincidentally,
www.sportsvillagesquare.com
recalls, it is on that date that Nigeria will play its most challenging 2019
Africa Cup of Nations’ most challenging group match against Guinea.
The NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, whose regime also has the honour of marking the country’s football governing body’s 60th anniversary of affiliation to FIFA on April 22, is excited at the unfolding events.
He has asked Nigerians and citizens of the world to join in celebrating the NFF and the Super Eagles as they mark major milestones.
In a video trailer heralding the coming of the book, he looked back at the days of the bare-footed and famed UK Tourists to the era of the ‘Red Devils’ and that of the glorious ‘Green Eagles’ to that of soul-lifting ‘Super Eagles’ and summed up that “we have reasons to celebrate.”
“Written in lucid and infographic manner, virtually all that is needed about the Super Eagles is encapsulated in one package
“It is written by Kunle Solaja, the only journalist in Africa to have covered eight consecutive World Cup finals from 1990 to 2018, and with great prospects of covering more – A 28-year adventure at the zenith of global football.
“He is consequently the most imbued with the depth of information regarding the Super Eagles’ adventures at the six World Cup finals that the team has featured in.
“He watched every minute of the 21 World Cup matches the
Super Eagles played from USA ’94 to Russia 2018. A multiple award winner,
Solaja had written two other books on related subject matter – Super Eagles…Through the Ages (2010)
and Going For Goals (2014)”
Consequently, the NFF partnered with the Nigeria’s foremost football diarist, Kunle Solaja, to produce a compendium on the Super Eagles. The milestone book is due for public unveiling later this June, before the Africa Cup of Nations’ kick-off.
Stakeholders in Nigerian football have been very generous in their preview of the book. Seyi Akinwunmi, a lawyer and 1st Vice President of the NFF remarked:
“Kunle Solaja, a foremost Nigerian football historian has given me the privilege of having a preview of his latest piece of work titled “Super Eagles@70…Soaring On The Wings”
“I have never doubted the quality of his research nor the authenticity of his assertions on our football history, but from my sneak preview I can confidently say that the quality of this current work surpassed my high expectations.”
Akinwunmi
is not alone. Patrick Ekeji, the only Nigerian sports personality to have had
roles in all sphere of football as a player for both clubs and national teams,
as a coach for both clubs and national team, as a teacher of coaches at the
National Institute of Sports and as an administrator who rose from stat sports
council and climbed through the rungs to become Nigeria’s Director General of
Sports, also commented on the latest work of the author.
“Kunle Solaja has obsession for record keeping. He is a human data bank on Nigerian sports. No one else can better chronicle the Nigeria national team which I also played roles in.”
His words are further corroborated by easily Nigeria’s most
charismatic footballer of all time, Segun Odegbami. “If
anyone can do justice to the delicate subject of chronicling the Super Eagles,
Kunle Solaja’s name would pop up first. His eyes for detail and authenticity
are unequalled in our ‘football planet’.
Sports and Communication entrepreneur,
Dr. Larry Izamoje who established Africa’s first all-sports radio station, the
famous Brila Radio remarked:
“With decades of successful media practice, the author stands out as a first grade sports statistician .A meticulous researcher, he presents a riveting excursion on Nigeria’s most celebrated team in his uniquely captivating way.”
Another football legend,
Dr. Felix Owolabi whose solitary goal against Morocco paved the way for
Nigeria’s first ever qualification for an Africa Cup of Nations’ final match
and the attendant eventual victory, prayed that the author’s sacrificial effortsin the front burner of reportage in Nigeria football coverage
will not go unnoticed.
Journalist and marketing
expert, Muyiwa Akintunde remarked in similar way. “KS (King of Soccer-journalism) is
at it again! The serial author of historical accounts of Nigerian football is
set to launch his new work.
“Excellence is his watchword. And this particular one to mark an epoch for Nigerian football and its administration is not going to be different.”
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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