The Nigeria Football Federation has warned that clubs that fail to honour matches during the national preliminary stage of this year’s President’s Federation Cup will face a fine of ₦1 million.

The directive was announced on Monday by the NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, as preparations gather momentum for the country’s oldest football tournament.

According to the NFF, the state preliminary rounds of the competition will be held from March 22 to April 26 across the country.

The state qualifiers will begin on Sunday, March 22, with clubs required to honour all fixtures once they have completed registration for the competition at the state level.

David explained that any club that fails to appear for a scheduled match after registration during the state preliminaries will be sanctioned with a fine of ₦500,000.

However, clubs that default at the national preliminary stage will face a stiffer penalty of ₦1 million.

She also directed that the final matches in the various state competitions must be played either on Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26.

Following the conclusion of the state finals, each State Football Association and the Federal Capital Territory will be required to submit two representatives to compete in the national phase of the tournament.

The President’s Federation Cup, formerly known as the FA Cup, remains Nigeria’s oldest domestic football competition and traditionally provides clubs from across the country an opportunity to compete for national honours.

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As the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League gets underway, Heineken is bringing fans together in Nigeria through its global “Fans Have More Friends” campaign.

The initiative will see premium match-viewing experiences hosted in Lagos at select venues, including GreenHouse on Olu Holloway Road, Ikoyi, and Hunger Games on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, during match days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to organisers, the events are designed to offer more than just live football coverage. Fans attending the viewing parties will enjoy live music performances, interactive “predict and win” games, branded merchandise giveaways and a steady supply of Heineken throughout the night.

The programme aims to transform match nights into full entertainment experiences that blend football, music and social interaction among supporters.

Every goal comes with excitement!

Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager for Premium Beer at Nigerian Breweries Plc, said the campaign reflects the deep connection between football and social life in Nigeria.

“In Nigeria, Champions League nights are about connection,” Shadeko said. “Friends come together, strangers become friends, and everyone shares the same emotions from kick-off to the final whistle. Through Heineken’s ‘Fans Have More Friends’ platform, we are celebrating that spirit of togetherness.”

While the festivities unfold off the pitch, attention will also turn to the action across Europe as the knockout stage produces several high-profile encounters.

Among the headline ties is the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea FC, while Newcastle United face FC Barcelona. Elsewhere, Galatasaray SK will meet Liverpool FC, and Atlético Madrid will battle Tottenham Hotspur.

Heineken rewards a loyal fan in ‘Predict and Win’ contest at one of the viewing experiences on a match night

Another standout fixture pits Real Madrid against Manchester City, a contest many fans consider worthy of a final. Bayern Munich will take on Atalanta BC, Bayer Leverkusen face Arsenal FC, while Sporting CP meet Bodø/Glimt.

Nigerian fans will also have a strong interest in the tournament through local stars playing key roles for their clubs. Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the attack for Galatasaray against Liverpool, while Ademola Lookman will aim to shine for Atlético Madrid in their tie against Tottenham.

Across Lagos and other Nigerian cities, Champions League match nights have become social gatherings where supporters of different clubs watch together, debate tactics and celebrate goals.

Shadeko said Heineken’s campaign is designed to capture and amplify that shared passion.

“Fandom has a unique way of bringing people closer,” she said. “When you watch a big match with others, the experience becomes bigger and more memorable. That is what we are creating with these match-day experiences.”

As the Champions League anthem echoes across Europe and the Round of 16 drama begins, fans in Nigeria will gather once again to share the excitement, with Heineken adding its own flavour to the match-night experience

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Iraq coach Graham Arnold has called for the team’s inter-confederation World Cup playoff in Mexico later this month to be postponed amidst the travel chaos triggered by the conflict in neighbouring ​Iran.

The Iraqis are concerned they might not be able to get their players and ‌staff over to Mexico for their scheduled clash with either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31 because of the travel lockdown in the Middle East.

Arnold said putting together a team solely with players based outside ​Iraq would hinder the country’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first ​time since 1986.

“It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best ⁠team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” the Australian told the Australian Associated ​Press from his home in the United Arab Emirates.

“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game ​of football that it is insane. The fact that they haven’t qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.

“But at this stage, with the airport being shut down, we are working hard to ​try and find another alternative.”

Iraqi airspace has been closed since the United States and Israel launched air ​attacks on Iran on February 28, and the Islamic Republic responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf ‌states ⁠and other nearby countries.

– United Arab Emirates v Iraq – Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 13, 2025 Iraq players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo 

Bolivia and Suriname are scheduled to meet in the inter-confederation playoff semi-final in Monterrey on March 26 to decide which team meets Iraq in the final five days later.

“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it would give us time to prepare properly,” Arnold added.

“Let ​Bolivia play Suriname this month ​, and then a week ⁠before the World Cup, we play the winner in the US – the winner of that game stays on, and the loser goes home.

“Our federation’s ​president, Adnan Dirjal, is working around the clock trying to plan and prepare ​to make ⁠everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”

The finals take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

There was no immediate response to a ⁠request ​for comment on Arnold’s suggestion from FIFA, global soccer’s governing ​body.

New Caledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo will travel to Guadalajara later this month to compete in the other ​three-way playoff for a ticket to the World Cup finals.

-Reuters

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