Boniface Back In Leverkusen Squad For German Cup Semi-final –
Nigeria and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface who missed the last Africa Cup of Nations in January and February, will be back in the squad for Wednesday’s German Cup semi-final against Fortuna Dusseldorf following a three-month injury absence, coach Xabi Alonso said on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old underwent surgery on an adductor muscle injury in January after being injured while preparing with Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We are in a super situation. We have no injuries and a full squad. Boni (Boniface) is also back in the squad,” Alonso told a press conference, with the Bundesliga leaders in the hunt for three trophies this season.
Asked how long Boniface could play in the game, Alonso said: “Not 90 minutes. 45 maybe not. But maybe 30. He has done a good recovery and has trained well. He has a strong mentality to come back. He can’t wait to get back.”
Boniface had scored 10 goals and set up another seven in the Bundesliga before his injury.
Leverkusen are on course for a first ever Bundesliga title with a 13-point lead over second-placed Bayern Munich and seven games remaining.
They are also through to the Europa League quarter-finals having gone 39 matches unbeaten across all competitions this season.
“We have to take it one game at a time. That’s the way we have done it until now and we will not change that,” said the Spaniard, who confirmed last week he would be staying at Leverkusen despite interest from major European clubs.
“We have done a lot but have won nothing so far. We still have a lot of work to do. We have done a few things well to get here but we should not speak too early.”
“We have to remain focused and that is the message I give my players and they know it,” he said.
Saarbruecken face Kaiserslautern in the other semi-final on Tuesday.
-Reuters
By Kunle Solaja.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Nigeria Football Federation appears to have quietly introduced a seeding arrangement into the President Federation Cup, a move that could restore some of the glamour, suspense and commercial appeal that once made the competition Nigeria’s most exciting domestic football tournament.
The Round of 64 fixtures released on Friday in Abuja showed a deliberate pattern in which Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs were largely shielded from facing one another in the opening round, a significant departure from recent editions where top-flight teams often eliminated themselves early in the competition.
The development immediately sparked discussions among followers of Nigerian football, especially as the world’s biggest football tournaments — including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations — rely on seeding systems to preserve competitive balance and sustain fan interest deep into the competition.
Defending champions Kwara United appear to have benefited from the arrangement, drawing relatively unknown Sporting Supreme U19 in what looks a favourable opening fixture.
Record cup winners Rangers International, who are chasing a seventh Federation Cup title, were paired against Godswill Akpabio FC, while title-chasing Rivers United will confront Lagos-based G12 FC as they continue their search for a first-ever national cup triumph.
The pattern is repeated across the draw, with most NPFL clubs avoiding direct confrontation against fellow elite sides.
Shooting Stars, still battling for a continental ticket through the league, will face Kebbi United. The Ibadan club are currently pursuing CAF Confederation Cup qualification from two fronts — through their strong NPFL campaign and the longer Federation Cup route.
The Oluyole Warriors have not won a major national title since lifting the league crown in 1998, and the cup competition may yet provide a realistic path back to continental football.
Another club with continental ambitions, Ikorodu City, were drawn against Gaa Akanbi FC in a fixture many observers believe favours the Lagos side.
Ikorodu City’s season, however, could be defined by two crucial matches within days — the Federation Cup tie and their decisive NPFL clash against title contenders Rangers International, a game already generating huge anticipation because of its implications at both ends of the table.
The apparent seeding arrangement could also help preserve the presence of crowd-pulling clubs into the latter stages of the tournament, potentially reviving television interest, gate takings and nationwide attention that the competition once commanded in the eras of Bendel Insurance, Stationery Stores, Enugu Rangers and Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
In previous seasons, random draws frequently produced all-NPFL clashes in the early rounds, leading to premature exits for some of the competition’s biggest clubs and reducing the intensity of later stages.
This time, however, traditional heavyweights such as Enyimba FC, Bendel Insurance, El-Kanemi Warriors and Niger Tornadoes all begin against lower-ranked or lesser-known opponents.
Whether the NFF formally acknowledges the use of seeding or not, the structure of the draw has already created optimism that the Federation Cup may once again regain the unpredictability, drama and nationwide fascination that historically distinguished it from the league competition.
Among standout fixtures in the Round of 64 are:
- Kwara United vs Sporting Supreme U19
- G12 FC vs Rivers United
- Godswill Akpabio FC vs Rangers International
- Kebbi United vs Shooting Stars
- Ikorodu City vs Gaa Akanbi FC
- El Sharma FC vs Enyimba FC
- Sunshine Stars vs Niger Tornadoes
- Bendel Insurance vs Katsina United Jnr.
Women’s Competition:
- Rivers Angels Vs NAF Queens
- Abia Angels Vs Ikukuoma Queens
- FC Robo Queens Vs Rangers Women
- Remo Stars Ladies Vs Onimarg FC
- Ahudiannem Queens Vs Moje Queens
- Heartland Queens Vs Dragon Fury Ladies
- Ibom Angels Vs Fortress Ladies
- Pacesetter Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens
- Osun Babes Vs Plateau United Queens
- Sunshine Queens Vs Solo Wonders
- Confluence Queens Vs Gallant Queens
- Fuoye Queens Vs Esthington FC
- Delta Queens Vs Royal Queens
- Edo Queens Vs Ghetto Tiger Queens
- Naija Ratels Vs Mighty Jets Mata
- Osklean FC Vs Nasarawa Amazons
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New Head Coach Abdu Maikaba has begun the rebuilding process of Nigeria’s U20 national team after inviting 35 players to camp ahead of the WAFU B U20 Championship scheduled for Côte d’Ivoire in July.
The invited players are expected to report to camp in Abuja on Saturday as preparations begin for the regional competition, which also serves as a major platform for talent discovery and qualification battles in West African youth football.
Maikaba’s first provisional squad reflects a blend of home-based talents and a handful of Europe-based youngsters, suggesting an attempt to balance local league development with foreign exposure.
The list includes players drawn from Nigeria Premier Football League clubs, lower-division sides, academies and overseas teams in Croatia, Spain, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
Among the notable inclusions are Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Clinton Lawani, Croatia-based Abubakar Rufai of NK-Istra 1961, and Akwa United’s Uchechukwu Aloysius.
In defence, Maikaba called up Spain-based Wahab Bolanle Musa of FC Malaga, alongside home-based prospects such as Ayinla Olayomi of Warri Wolves and Abubakar Aliyu of Wikki Tourists.
The midfield department features a mix of creativity and physical presence, including Imran Ahmad of Kano Pillars, Sale Abdulrashid from Kryubar FC in Ukraine, and Simon Karshe Cletus of FC Rijeka in Croatia.
Up front, Maikaba appears to have focused heavily on pace and attacking depth, with invitations extended to Katsina United striker Abba Dalli, Spain-based Imrana Mohammed of FC Alaves, and Sporting Lagos duo Seun Akanji and Alex Leme.
The inclusion of several academy products also underlines the continuing role grassroots football is playing in Nigeria’s youth-team structure.
Observers will be keen to see the style and identity Maikaba introduces to the Flying Eagles after taking over the team, especially with Nigeria seeking to reassert its dominance in the WAFU B region and build another generation capable of competing strongly at continental and global levels.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles remain one of Africa’s most successful youth teams, having won the Africa U20 Cup of Nations multiple times and finishing runners-up twice at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
The WAFU B Championship in Côte d’Ivoire is expected to provide the first real test of Maikaba’s new squad and technical direction.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s Falconets have been handed a challenging but promising draw for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after they were placed in Group F alongside former champions Spain, China PR and debutants New Caledonia.
The draw for the 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup was conducted in Lodz on Thursday, setting the stage for the tournament scheduled to run from 5 to 27 September across four Polish cities.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s most successful teams at the competition, will face a stern opening-round test against European powerhouse Spain, which won the title in Costa Rica in 2022. China PR also brings a considerable pedigree to the group, while New Caledonia will be making their maiden appearance at the global finals.
The Falconets will be hoping to improve on their performance at the last edition and rekindle memories of their best outings, when they reached the final in 2010 and 2014.
Hosts Poland headline Group A alongside Argentina, Benin and Mexico, while defending champions Korea DPR begin their title defence in Group E against Colombia, Costa Rica and Portugal.
Other intriguing group-stage fixtures include Brazil, England, Canada and Tanzania in Group B, while France, Korea Republic, Ghana and Ecuador make up Group C. Group D features former champions Japan and USA alongside New Zealand and Italy.
The full draw is as follows:
- Group A: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin
- Group B: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania
- Group C: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador
- Group D: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy
- Group E: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal
- Group F: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia
The tournament will mark Poland’s first major global women’s football event, with matches to be played in Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Lodz and Sosnowiec.
Six nations — Benin, Ecuador, New Caledonia, Poland, Portugal and Tanzania — will make their debut appearances, while Korea DPR and the USA are both chasing a record fourth title.
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https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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