International Football
Live updates on Nigeria 1-1 Ghana
79th minute, as it stands, it is advantage Ghana.
62 minute: Moses Simon in for Lookman.
Ghana gets their first corner of the game.
2nd Half: GHANA: Ayew out Owusu. NIGERIA: Onyeka out for Abdulahi Shehu
Captains of both Nigeria and Ghana are the ones to have scored so far.
Its half time. Scores 1-1.
Meanwhile in Dakar, Senegal lead 1-0 from a third minute goal against Egypt. Like in Abuja, aggregate scores are 1-1.
Calvin Bassey has been very clumsy and will probably be replaced later in the match.
37th minute VAR disallowed Goal for Nigeria by Osimhen
Ekong
22 minute. VAR awards penalty kick for Nigeria.
Ghana’s first attempt at goal has yielded fruit.
Thomas Partey scores for Ghana in the 11th minute,
First corner to Nigeria after five minutes.
Free kick conceded by Frank Onyeka of Nigeria.
Now the kick-off by Nigeria
A minute silent being observed for the victims of Kaduna Railway incident.
Exchange of penants going on. Waiting for the kick-off.
The crowd joined in the rendantion of the Nigerian anthem. The moment we have been waiting for. The starting XI of both teams are out. The anthems are on.
The referee for the match will be Tunisia’s Sadok Selmi. This means that the Nigeria-Ghana duels are officiated by North Africans.
The last time both teams met in a World Cup qualifier in Nigeria, the Super Eagles won 3-0 in Port Harcourt. Coincidentally, it was on a 29th date like the one of today. Will history repeat itself?
This is the first international match involving the Super Eagles since their 2-2 draw with Guinea in the qualifying match for 2012 Africa Nations Cup. The game was played on 8 October 2011.
Players are already on the field doing the traditional warm up. The Nigerians and the Ghanaians are warming up now. The stadium is jam-packed.
This is the match many have been looking forward to. One of the greatest and longest running rivalry of national football teams. Both also belong the the top echelon of football nations in the continent.
Unfortunately, one of them will drop out in the qualification for the World Cup. Follow the Live play-by-play of this World Cup play-off as Nigeria host Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Sports Stadium in Abuja.
Eguavoen makes five changes to Nigeria’s XI to play Ghana tonight.
NIGERIA: Francis Uzoho – Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Leone Balogun Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka, Oghenekaro Etebo, Joe Aribo, Emmanuel Dennis, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
What this means is that Etebo is having his first start in 298 days for the Super Eagles. For Bassey, Lookman and Dennis this is their first full debut
International Football
Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been named new coach of the United States men’s team, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.
Pochettino, who parted ways with Premier League side Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The Argentine, a former Paris St Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager, said his decision to join U.S. soccer was not just about football, but about the journey the country was on and he could not pass up the opportunity.
“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” he said in a statement.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said Pochettino was a “serial winner with a deep passion for developing players”.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
The U.S. have been without a permanent coach since a humiliating early exit from the Copa America on home soil in July led to the sacking of Gregg Berhalter after his second stint as head coach.
The 51-year-old boss was first appointed in 2018 and led the Americans to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, but just weeks later found himself embroiled in a bitter public row with one of the team’s brightest emerging talents, Gio Reyna.
U.S. Soccer’s search for a new coach when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 included names such as Canada coach Jesse Marsch, but they ultimately rehired Berhalter in June last year with the full support of the players.
However, it proved unsuccessful as the U.S. failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Copa America after a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama and a crushing 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
Pochettino will take over after Mikey Varas, who has been appointed interim coach, oversaw friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.
The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati after Christian Pulisic’s goal was cancelled out by Ben Waine’s late equaliser.
The U.S. will next play friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 and Mexico three days later.
-Reuters
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
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