Featured
Breaking! Coach Who Led Nigeria To Win First Global Honour In Football, Sebastine Broderick Is Dead –
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Sebastine Broderick-Imasuen who led the Golden Eaglets to the milestone win of the inaugural U16 World Cup in China has died this Wednesday morning.
One of the players he handled at the 1989 U17 World Cup in Scotland, Babajide Oguntuashe first broke the news before another confirmation came from Harrison Jalla, the Chairman, Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force through a WhatsApp post.
Jalla quoted family sources for the death of the iconic coach who had been bed-ridden for some months now. He reportedly suffered from stroke and diabetes.
The late coach was one of the players that represented Nigerian football team at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968 and famously scored from a free kick to win the then Challenge Cup for Bendel Insurance in 1972.
As a coach, he was the head of a three-man crew that included Bala Shamaki and Christian Chukwu when the Nigerian team shocked the world in China in 1985. He led the team again in 1987 to Canada and got to the final before losing through penalty shoot-out to the then Soviet Union.
At the third attempt in the competition, his team lost to Saudi Arabia by penalty kick in the quarter finals.
At another time, he was the assistant to Clemens Westerhof in the Super Eagles.
He began his football career in 1956 when as a student, he featured for the Onitsha team in the Challenge Cup.
In 1962, he joined the then ECN and was part of the Challenge Cup winning side of 1965. He was invited to the national team in 1962 but only became a regular in the build-up to the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.
He was noted for his curving shots, especially from free kick situations.
Popularly called ‘Sabara’, his biggest moment as a club player was when he scored the winning goal in the 3-2 victory for Bendel Insurance in the replay of the 1972 Challenge Cup with Mighty Jets of Jos at the Liberty Stadium – the first time the national cup final was held outside Lagos.
He later became a coach and handled the Midwest junior side to win the gold medal at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973.
As the countdown to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco gathers pace, Tunisia’s head coach Samy Trabelsi has set his sights on nothing less than a semi-final finish — a target that could put him on a collision course with Nigeria’s Super Eagles, one of their group opponents.
The Carthage Eagles have arrived at the tournament with a fearsome record: 22 goals scored and none conceded during their World Cup qualifying campaign.
That run has made Tunisia one of the continent’s form teams — and, on paper, one of the toughest nuts for Nigeria to crack in Group C, which also features Uganda and Tanzania.
Trabelsi, who previously led Tunisia at the 2013 AFCON and was a losing finalist as a player in 1996, says his team is no longer content with just participating.
“We’re not here to send messages to anyone,” he told CAFOnline.com. “We respect all our opponents, including Nigeria, but our goal is to compete seriously and aim for a top-four finish — and, if possible, more.”
The 56-year-old coach, who once guided Tunisia to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) title in 2011, has built his side around defensive organisation and swift, structured counterattacks. His approach has earned Tunisia the nickname “the Italians of Africa”, a reputation they intend to reinforce in Morocco.
Nigeria, on the other hand, are expected to test that famed Tunisian discipline with their wealth of attacking options, from Victor Osimhen to Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze. For Trabelsi, however, the Super Eagles’ pedigree only adds to the motivation.
“Nigeria remains a continental powerhouse, with a vast pool of talent in top European clubs,” he said. “But AFCON is unpredictable. You can never take anything for granted.”
The Tunisian tactician is counting on experience and cohesion to make the difference. Veterans like Youssef Msakni, Ellyes Skhiri, and goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said are expected to anchor a squad blending youth and experience.
“To win trophies, you need something extra,” Trabelsi admitted. “Tunisia has been consistent — qualifying for almost every AFCON and several World Cups — but consistency must now translate into success.”
For Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who are seeking to reclaim the continental crown last won in 2013, Tunisia’s resurgence is both a warning and a challenge.
The two nations have developed a fierce rivalry over the years, with Tunisia famously knocking Nigeria out of the 2004 AFCON on penalties in Rades, before Nigeria exacted revenge in later editions.
This time, both teams meet again in Morocco — in a group that could easily produce surprises. Yet, for Trabelsi, the message remains clear: Tunisia are in Morocco not just to compete, but to win.
“I’d love to see the headline, ‘Congratulations to Tunisia — a strong campaign rewarded,’” he said confidently.
Whether that headline comes to pass may depend on how his “Italians of Africa” handle the pace, flair, and firepower of Nigeria’s Super Eagles — a team equally determined to soar back to the top of African football.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
No fewer than five clubs in the Nigeria Premier League will be eliminated this week from the President Federation Cup.
At the moment, 11 of the 17 premier league clubs are on course as the knock-out competition gets to the Round of 32.
Undoubtedly, the non-application of seeding has seen five fixtures pitching the top clubs together while another five pitched lower division clubs against one another.
The remaining six pairings have premier league clubs facing lower ranked teams. These include: relegation-threatened Akwa United facing Zamfara United in Abuja and Gombe United facing former top division sides, El-Kanemi Warriors in Kaduna.
Another ‘mixed fixture’ will see Premier sides, Kwara United facing Warri Wolves while Abia Warriors will face Sporting Supreme of the FCT.
Premier sides, Bendel Insurance will face Wikki Tourists of Bauchi as Enyimba are pitched against Akwa Ibom’s FC Rockets.
But nothing is guaranteed to the Premier League sides as knockout competitions are replete with underdogs upstaging power houses.
No matter the situations, five of the Premier League are doomed for elimination. Former champions Lobi Stars and Shooting Stars in a “Star War” in Awka.
Plateau United and Sunshine Stars are meeting in Abuja just as Rivers United will face fellow Premier League sides, Niger Tornadoes in Auchi.
Katsina United and Bayelsa United will play in Abuja while Doma United face Kano Pillars in Bauchi.
MEN’S ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Abuja Area 3 – 22/05/24 – 4pm
EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Ilorin – 22/05/24 – 4pm
ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi) – Abuja Goal Project – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) – Abuja Bwari – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Awka – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu) – Benin City – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Hammola Int’l (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Ibadan – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Enugu – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT) – Benin City – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto) – Kano – 22/05/24 – 4pm
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia) – Yenagoa – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Abuja Goal Project – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger) – Auchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Abuja Bwari – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Bauchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Banyana Banyana game plan was to either beat the Super Falcons at home as they did two years ago in Lagos or earn a draw in Friday’s first leg match of Olympic qualifier in Abuja.
That did not happen as Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty kick earned Nigeria an outright 1-0 win over South Africa – a first win since the Super Falcons’ 1-0 win in Limbe, Cameroon in 2016.
But according to an account in the South African Football Association website, “Banyana Banyana will have to give it all in the second leg.”
It reported that Banyana Banyana came back from the first half break a much more improved side but failed to convert the few chances that came their way.
“Outstanding goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to work overtime to deny the hosts from extending their lead.
“Despite creating numerous chances for an equaliser, the game ended 1-0 for the Super Falcons.”
The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on Tuesday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where coach Desiree Ellis’ charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit.
Coach Ellis believes they are still in the game and can turn things around in the second leg on Tuesday.
“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.”
“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over.
“I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalized.
“Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria,” said Ellis.
- WAFCON4 days ago
BREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
- OBITUARY5 days ago
Nigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
- MLS1 week ago
Trump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
- World Cup5 days ago
‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
- World Cup4 days ago
Iraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
- FA Cup2 days ago
Eze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals
- WAFCON1 week ago
Ahead of WAFCON 2026, CAF Celebrates Super Falcons’ Enduring Legacy from Trailblazers to Torchbearers
- MLS3 days ago
Trump celebrates Messi