In a condolence message, Motsepe, on behalf of CAF and its 54 Member Associations, extended sympathies to the Nigeria Football Federation and its President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, as well as to the family of the late striker and the entire Nigerian nation.

Motsepe described Eneramo’s passing as a painful loss to African football, acknowledging his contributions to the game both in Nigeria and abroad.

Eneramo featured for several clubs during his career, including Lobi Stars, Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis, and Turkish side Beşiktaş J.K.

CAF prayed for the repose of his soul and comfort for all those affected by the loss.

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Enakhena, who also serves as chairman of Sporting Lagos, is due to step down from his role as president of the National League Clubs Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA) following his club’s successful elevation to the top flight.

In earlier disposition, when his club was in the top-flight league, he was General Secretary of the NPFL Club Owners Association

In a statement, the outgoing NALCOMA boss praised the resilience and determination of the promoted sides, noting that their achievements came despite systemic challenges encountered during the just-concluded Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

“The promotion of these clubs is a testament to hard work, resilience, and belief. However, the real task begins now,” Enakhena said. “They must prepare adequately to compete at the highest level and validate the strength and relevance of the NNL as a breeding ground for top-flight football.”

He urged the newly promoted teams to begin early preparations for the 2026/2027 NPFL season to ensure competitiveness in the elite division.

NALCOMA also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting clubs and stakeholders to enhance professionalism and competitiveness across Nigerian football.

In the same vein, the association commended teams relegated at the end of the season for their fighting spirit and contribution to the league’s quality and excitement.

“Every season comes with its highs and lows, and while some teams celebrate promotion or survival, others face the disappointment of relegation,” Enakhena added. “What matters most is the ability to learn, rebuild, and come back stronger.”

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The chairman of Sporting Lagos, Godwin Enakhena, has delivered a searing account of intimidation, alleged match manipulation, and administrative breakdown that marred his club’s decisive promotion clash against Osun United.

It was an experience that can be likened to raw gold passing through fire to be refined.

In a detailed statement shared on the WhatsApp platform Family United by Sport, Enakhena described a harrowing sequence of events in Ileogbo, Osun State, where Sporting Lagos secured promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) despite what he portrayed as a hostile and unsafe environment.

A Match Overshadowed by Fear

Heading into the fixture, Sporting Lagos’ path appeared straightforward. With victories already secured against First Bank and Rovers of Calabar, Enakhena believed promotion was within reach, especially against an Osun United side already relegated to the Nationwide League.

But warnings from insiders hinted at trouble.

Upon arrival in Ileogbo, those fears quickly materialised. Enakhena alleged that threats were issued even before kickoff, including restrictions on media coverage and warnings that recording equipment would be destroyed. At the match venue, he encountered what he described as “area boys” openly smoking cannabis and intimidating officials and visitors.

Supporters of Sporting Lagos were reportedly barred from entering the stadium and threatened with violence. Some were later smuggled in through a back entrance, only to face further attempts to eject them.

Shut out but not silenced—fans of Sporting Lagos watch from afar as their team faces Osun United after being denied entry into the stadium.

Allegations of Intimidation and Bias

Enakhena painted an even darker picture on the pitch. According to him, match officials “were on a mission” to prevent Sporting Lagos from gaining promotion, turning the encounter into what he called “a horror movie.”

He also recounted direct threats allegedly issued in person:

“You’ve come here to qualify? We will kill you here today… We know who we’re giving the ticket to.”

Efforts to reach Osun United chairman Gbenga Ololade reportedly yielded little reassurance. After calling through an unfamiliar telephone number, Enakhena claimed Ololade bluntly told him: “You can’t win here” and that he would not guarantee the safety of visiting Sporting Lagos fans.

The statement and those reportedly made at the pre-match meeting call for serious review if football is to retain sanity in Nigeria. Similarly, a review of the match commissioner’s report may also through lights.

Despite the reported intimidating conditions, Sporting Lagos held firm to secure the result that confirmed their return to the NPFL.

Leadership, Contrast, and a Systemic Problem

Enakhena contrasted his experience in Osun with an earlier fixture in Abeokuta, where he commended Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission, for demonstrating integrity by not influencing a crucial game involving Stormers FC, a club he owns.

That contrast, he implied, reflects a deeper divide within Nigerian football governance, between fair competition and systemic interference.

He also acknowledged the roles of Osun State FA chairman, Sola Fanawopo and his Lagos State counterpart, Gafar Liameed, whom he contacted in advance seeking protection and fair play assurances, though events on match day suggested those assurances were insufficient.

A Familiar Story in Nigerian Football

The Sporting Lagos ordeal is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern that has long plagued Nigerian domestic football.

From intimidation of referees and visiting teams to crowd violence and administrative interference, such practices have eroded the credibility of competitions like the Nigerian football leagues.  

Analysts argue that clubs emerging from such environments are often ill-prepared for the professionalism and tactical demands of continental competitions.

This systemic dysfunction helps explain why Nigerian clubs, despite the country’s rich football heritage, have struggled to make a consistent impact in CAF inter-club tournaments in recent years.

Triumph Without Joy

Perhaps the most telling aspect of Enakhena’s account is his emotional response to success. Despite achieving promotion, his third as a club chairman, he admitted he could not celebrate.

“I was too dazed,” he said, reflecting on the ordeal.

Instead, he framed the achievement in spiritual and metaphorical terms: a journey through fire that ultimately purified and strengthened his team.

What Next?

Sporting Lagos will now join the NPFL, alongside other privately owned Lagos-based sides, signalling a shift toward private sector involvement in Nigerian club football.

Yet Enakhena’s revelations raise urgent questions: Can the league system reform itself? Will governing bodies act decisively against intimidation and malpractice? And can Nigerian football restore the integrity required to compete globally?

Until those questions are answered, stories like Sporting Lagos’—of triumph forged in adversity—may continue to define the domestic game, even as they undermine its future.

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 More than a century after football first took root on Nigerian soil, the game is, in many ways, returning to its spiritual home.

Legend holds that Nigeria’s earliest recorded football match took place in Calabar on June 15, 1904, when students of Hope Waddell Training Institution faced British sailors from HMS Thistle.

While historians continue to debate the accuracy of that account, there is far less dispute about where the sport truly found its structure, identity and national relevance. This is Lagos!

From its colonial beginnings to the modern professional era, Lagos has remained the nerve centre of Nigerian football.

It was here that the game’s organisation first took shape with the establishment in 1932 of the Lagos & District Amateur Football Association (LDAFA), now known as the Lagos State Football Association — the oldest football body in the country.

It was also in Lagos that football evolved into a national movement. In 1933, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), today’s Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), was founded in the city, laying the administrative foundation for the sport across the country, despite lingering misconceptions that place its origin in 1945.

The city’s football heritage is equally tied to infrastructure. In 1936, Lagos witnessed the construction of Nigeria’s first major football arena, the Association Ground.

Over the decades, the facility has undergone several transformations — from King George V (KGV) Stadium to Lagos City Stadium, Onikan Stadium, and now the Mobolaji Johnson Arena — remaining a symbolic heartbeat of the game. The structures may have changed, but the ground at the waterfront remains the same.

Nigeria’s oldest football ground, the waterfront Mobolaji Johnson Arena, is set to host more Nigeria Premier Football League matches than any other venue in the 2026/27 season.

Today, that heartbeat is growing stronger.

With the promotion of Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), alongside Ikorodu City, Lagos now boasts three clubs in the country’s top flight — a development that signals a return to an era when the city dominated the domestic game.

The Lagos trio of Inter Lagos, Ikorodu City and Sporting Lagos will make Lagos the hub of the NPFL

The resurgence echoes the early 1990s, particularly 1993, when Lagos was home to four of the 16 clubs in the professional league — including the iconic Stationery Stores, Julius Berger, ACB, and VIP. During that period, the city was widely regarded as the epicentre of Nigerian football culture, talent and competition.

Three decades later, history appears to be repeating itself — albeit with a modern twist.

Unlike the largely corporate-backed teams of the past, the current Lagos trio is privately owned, reflecting a shift in the structure of Nigerian football. Analysts see this as a positive development, suggesting that private investment could bring improved management, financial stability and long-term vision to the domestic league.

Beyond symbolism, the practical benefits are significant. With three Lagos-based teams in the NPFL, each club is expected to play at least 12 of its 36 league matches within the city, reducing travel costs and logistical strain.

The proximity of neighbouring clubs such as Shooting Stars in Ibadan and Remo Stars in Ikenne further strengthens the regional football ecosystem, offering opportunities for local rivalries and increased fan engagement.

For Lagos, the implications go beyond numbers. The return of multiple top-flight clubs reinforces its status not just as a historical cradle of Nigerian football, but as a present-day engine for its growth.

As the new NPFL season approaches, one narrative stands out: football, in many ways, is coming back home — to Lagos, where its story in Nigeria was first truly written.

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The death of Ibrahim Galadima on Saturday has not only drawn tributes from across the Nigerian football community, but it has also quietly marked the further thinning of a generation that once steered the country’s football fortunes.

Galadima, who presided over the Nigeria Football Association (NFA)—now known as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)—between 2002 and 2006, joins a growing list of former helmsmen whose voices have faded into history.

Since its founding in August 1933, Nigeria’s football governing body has had 34 presidents and chairmen, each leaving their imprint, whether through reform, controversy, or moments of national glory.

Today, however, only seven of those former leaders remain alive. This is a stark reminder of the passage of time and the changing face of football administration in Nigeria.

The surviving former heads are:

• Amaju Pinnick
• Aminu Maigari
• Sani Lulu Abdullahi
• Anthony Kojo Williams
• Amos Adamu
• Abdulmumini Aminu
• Yusuf Ali

A Roll Call of Departed Administrators

In recent years, the Nigerian football family has witnessed the steady departure of several of its former leaders:

• Dominic Oneya (d. August 2021)
• John Obakpolor (d. February 1, 2021)
• Emeka Omeruah (d. December 4, 2006)
• Earlier, the nation had bid farewell to notable figures such as:
• Efiom Edem Okon, who passed away on January 1, 2013, in Chelmsford, Essex, at the age of 88
• Chuba Ikpeazu, who died on December 27, 2004, aged 92

Remembering Okwechime and Dankaro’s Era

One of the defining administrators of the early 1980s, Mike Okwechime, died on February 23, 2018, in Benin City at the age of 87.

Col. Mike Okwechime, NFA Chairman, 1981-1982

Okwechime’s tenure was brief but significant. He took over the leadership of the NFA in 1981 from Sunday Dankaro, who had presided over Nigerian football from 1974 to 1980—a period remembered for structural consolidation within the game.

Before his appointment, Okwechime had served as a colonel heading the then National Sports Council, underscoring the long-standing intersection between military administration and sports governance in Nigeria.

The passing of Galadima is more than the loss of a former football administrator; it is part of a broader transition. These were men who governed Nigerian football in eras defined by limited resources, political interference, and evolving international expectations.

Their tenures spanned military regimes, democratic transitions, and the globalisation of football administration.

As their numbers dwindle, so too does a direct link to the institutional memory of Nigerian football—from its colonial roots in 1933 to its modern-day complexities.

A Moment for Reflection

With only seven former heads of the federation still alive, Nigerian football stands at a reflective crossroads.

The question now is not just about remembering these administrators, but about preserving their experiences, both the triumphs and the missteps, as guiding lessons for future leadership.

For in their stories lies the unfinished narrative of Nigerian football itself.

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 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title race took another dramatic turn on Matchday 35 as leaders Enugu Rangers strengthened their grip at the summit, while challengers Rivers United stumbled to keep the contest wide open with three matches to go.

Rangers moved to 59 points after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Enyimba in Enugu on Sunday, extending their lead at the top. The Flying Antelopes showed resilience against their Oriental rivals, reinforcing their title credentials at a crucial stage of the season.

However, the biggest twist of the weekend came in Kano, where Kano Pillars defeated Rivers United 2-1, halting the Port Harcourt side’s momentum. The result leaves Rivers United just one point behind the leaders on 58 points, setting up a tense run-in.

Top Four Battle Intensifies

The race for continental spots is equally fierce, with Ikorodu City and Abia Warriors locked on 55 points.

Abia Warriors boosted their chances with a 2-1 win over Ikorodu City, a result that not only tightened the top four race but also dealt a blow to Ikorodu’s ambitions of closing the gap on the top two.

Shooting Stars, sitting fifth on 54 points, also kept pace with a valuable 2-1 away win against El Kanemi, staying firmly in contention for a continental ticket.

Mid-Table Shuffle

Further down the table, Nasarawa United delivered one of the most emphatic performances of the round, thrashing Warri Wolves 3-0 to climb to sixth with 53 points.

Bendel Insurance, who edged Wikki Tourists 2-1 on Saturday, remain seventh with 52 points, continuing their quiet push toward the top tier.

Elsewhere:

• Katsina United edged Bayelsa United 3-2 in a five-goal thriller
• Kwara United defeated Barau FC 2-1
• Remo Stars boosted survival hopes with a commanding 3-0 win over Niger Tornadoes
• Plateau United and Kun Khalifat settled for a 1-1 draw

Relegation Fight Goes Down to the Wire

At the bottom, the battle to avoid relegation remains intense. Wikki Tourists, Bayelsa United, and Kun Khalifat are all tied on 40 points, with only goal difference separating them.

Despite their defeat, Wikki Tourists remain within reach of safety, while Bayelsa United’s narrow loss in Katsina further complicates their survival hopes.

A Nervy Finish Beckons

With just three rounds left, the NPFL season is heading for a thrilling conclusion.

Rangers hold a slender advantage, but Rivers United remain firmly in pursuit, while the chasing pack continues to apply pressure from behind.

At both ends of the table, nothing is settled—ensuring that the final weeks of the season will be defined by tension, drama, and possibly, late twists in Nigeria’s top-flight story.

Week 35 Results

Saturday April 18

• Wikki Tourists 1-2 Bendel Insurance

Sunday April 19

• Plateau United 1-1 Kun Khalifat
• Enugu Rangers 2-1 Enyimba
• Katsina United 3-2 Bayelsa United
• Kano Pillars 2-1 Rivers United
• Kwara United 2-1 Barau
• Abia Warriors 2-1 Ikorodu City
• El Kanemi 1-2 Shooting Stars
• Nasarawa United 3-0 Warri Wolves
• Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes

                                   The Table

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After 34 matchweeks and 340 matches played, a total of 663 goals have been scored, pointing to a league that has combined competitiveness with moments of attacking brilliance, even if the average goals per game stands at a modest 1.9.

At the heart of the campaign is the growing influence of emerging clubs like Ikorodu City, whose impressive second appearance at the top-flight league has been backed by remarkable statistics.

They remain one of only three sides yet to lose at home — alongside Enugu Rangers and El-Kanemi Warriors.

Ikorodu City’s impact goes beyond results. Their striker Joseph Arumala currently leads the goal charts with 12 goals, while goalkeeper Michael Atata has recorded a league-high 16 clean sheets, providing the defensive backbone for their campaign.

Yet, their season has not been without flaws. They are the only side to have conceded four or more second-half goals in a match.

Across the league, attacking contributions have come from unlikely sources. Rangers’ defender Chidozie Iwundu has netted eight times to emerge as the highest-scoring defender, while Shooting Stars midfielder Ayobami Abiodun Junior leads the assist chart with 11.

Late drama has also been a defining feature. Enyimba have built a reputation for strong finishes, scoring 10 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches — more than any other side.

On the road, Abia Warriors have proven the most effective travellers, amassing 16 away points. At the same time, the league overall has seen 39 away victories, suggesting a gradual shift from the traditional dominance of home teams.

The season has also produced moments of high drama, none more so than the eight-goal thriller between Wikki Tourists and Katsina United, which ended 4-4 — the highest-scoring match so far.

Early intensity has been another hallmark, with Nasarawa United leading the way in fast starts, scoring seven goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches — the most in the league.

Meanwhile, Bendel Insurance and Rangers have set the pace in first-half dominance, each scoring 24 goals before the break — a statistic that reflects tactical sharpness and early control in matches.

As the campaign heads toward its climax, these numbers offer more than just statistical insight — they frame a season defined by emerging contenders, tactical battles, and shifting dynamics.

With four matchweeks remaining, the race for glory and survival is poised for a thrilling conclusion, where consistency, discipline and perhaps a touch of late drama will ultimately determine who lifts the trophy and who falls by the wayside.

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The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) season is heading for a dramatic climax, with both the title race and relegation dogfight finely poised following Matchday 34 fixtures.

At the top of the table, the contest for supremacy has tightened into a two-horse race between Enugu Rangers and Rivers United FC, who are locked on 55 points apiece after 33 matches. Rangers currently hold a superior goal difference (+15), giving them a slender edge in what promises to be a thrilling finish.

Rivers United, however, have a crucial opportunity to seize control when they host Plateau United FC, knowing that any slip by Rangers could swing momentum decisively in their favour. Rangers themselves face a tricky away tie against Niger Tornadoes FC, a side battling to steer clear of relegation trouble.

Just behind the leading duo, Ikorodu City FC and Abia Warriors FC remain within striking distance on 52 points. However, Abia Warriors suffered a setback with a 1-0 defeat to Bendel Insurance FC on Saturday, a result that not only boosted Insurance’s push into the top half but also dented Abia’s title ambitions.

Nasarawa United FC and Shooting Stars Sports Club, both on 50 points, are still mathematically in the race but may need near-perfect finishes and favourable results elsewhere to challenge for the top three positions. Shooting Stars face a pivotal clash against Kwara United, a fixture that carries significance at both ends of the table.

Relegation Battle Heats Up

While the title race grabs headlines, the struggle for survival is even more intense, with several clubs separated by just a few points at the bottom.

Kun Khalifat FC prop up the table with 36 points and face a must-win encounter against Warri Wolves. Anything less than victory could leave their survival hopes hanging by a thread.

Just above them, Wikki Tourists FC (37 points) and Kwara United (39 points, with a points deduction) are also in danger. Kwara United’s clash with Shooting Stars could prove decisive, while Wikki Tourists face a tough trip to Bayelsa United, another side not yet safe.

The relegation scrap extends further up the table, with Remo Stars, Bayelsa United, and Enyimba all hovering around the 40-point mark. Remo Stars face a daunting test against high-flying Barau FC, while Enyimba must navigate a tricky fixture against Katsina United FC.

Even traditionally strong sides like Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes FC are not entirely safe, highlighting the depth of the relegation battle this season.

Season Reaches Boiling Point

With just a handful of matches remaining, every fixture now carries enormous weight. The title contenders must maintain consistency under pressure, while those at the bottom are fighting for survival with equal desperation.

From the summit clash between Rangers and Rivers United to the survival scrap involving nearly half the table, the NPFL is set for a pulsating finale where both glory and heartbreak remain very much on the line.

MatchDay 34 Fixtures

Saturday, April 11, 2026

• ‎Bendel Insurance 1-0 Abia Warriors

‎Sunday, April 12, 2026

• ‎Shooting Stars V Kwara United
• ‎Barau FC v Remo Stars
• ‎Niger Tornadoes V Enugu Rangers
• ‎Enyimba V Katsina United
• ‎Bayelsa United V Wikki Tourists
• ‎Ikorodu City V Kano Pillars
• ‎Rivers United V Plateau United
• ‎Kun Khalifat Fc V Warri Wolves

‎Monday, April 13, 2026

• ‎El-Kanemi Warriors V Nasarawa United

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With the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season entering its decisive stretch after Matchday 33, the race for the Golden Boot has not only remained intensely competitive but also reflects the attacking strength—and in some cases dependence—of several clubs.

At the top of the chart, Godwin Obaje (Enugu Rangers) and Joseph Arumala (Ikorodu City) are tied on 11 goals, but a deeper club-by-club analysis shows contrasting attacking dynamics across the league.

Enugu Rangers: Obaje and Chidozie attacking edge

Rangers International stand out as the only club with two players in the top scorers’ bracket. Obaje’s 11 goals underline his role as the club’s primary finisher, but the presence of Iwundu Chidozie (9 goals) highlights a complementary attacking structure. Rangers’ ability to share goals between two reliable forwards could prove decisive both in the title race and in sustaining Obaje’s Golden Boot push.

Ikorodu City: Arumala’s breakout brilliance

For Ikorodu City, Joseph Arumala’s 11 goals represent more than just numbers; they define the club’s attacking identity. Unlike Rangers, Ikorodu City’s presence in the scoring chart is singular, suggesting a heavy reliance on Arumala. His continued form will be critical if the club is to maintain momentum in the closing weeks.

Katsina United: Collins carrying the torch

Uche Collins (10 goals) has been the standout performer for Katsina United. His contribution underscores a team that leans heavily on individual brilliance in attack. With no other teammate in the top scorers’ list, Collins remains central to Katsina’s offensive threat.

El-Kanemi Warriors: Abdulrahman’s consistency

Daddy Abdulrahman (10 goals) has provided El-Kanemi Warriors with a consistent source of goals. His tally reflects both durability and efficiency, especially in a side that has not spread its goals widely among multiple players.

Remo Stars: Mbaoma leading the charge

For Remo Stars, Victor Mbaoma (10 goals) continues to justify his reputation as a proven goal scorer. His presence among the top contenders is crucial for a team still balancing title ambitions with survival concerns in a surprisingly turbulent season.

Abia Warriors: Obioma’s attacking spearhead

Chukwuemeka Godson Obioma (10 goals) has emerged as Abia Warriors’ main outlet in front of goal. His performances highlight a system built around a focal striker capable of delivering in crucial moments.

Bendel Insurance: shared responsibility

Bendel Insurance boast a dual presence through Oweilayefa Alex (9 goals) and Kayode Oke (8 goals). This shared scoring responsibility reflects a more balanced attacking approach, reducing dependence on a single player and giving the team multiple goal threats.

Shooting Stars: depth in attack

Similarly, Shooting Stars have two players in the mix—Sodiq Ibrahim (9 goals) and Qamar Adegoke (8 goals). Their combined output suggests a diversified attacking system, which could be advantageous in the final run-in as defensive attention is split.

Wikki Tourist: Mairiga’s Lone Effort

Jonathan Mairiga’s return of nine goals underscores his role as Wikki Tourist’s primary attacking outlet this season. He is the club’s only player among the league’s leading scorers, highlighting a clear reliance on his finishing ability.

In a team where goals have not been widely shared, Mairiga has consistently shouldered the burden in the final third, often providing the decisive edge in tight matches. His contribution not only reflects personal form but also underlines Wikki Tourist’s need for greater attacking support as the season approaches its climax.

Warri Wolves: Evhierehurhoma’s impact

With Igbunu Evhierehurhoma (8 goals), Warri Wolves have relied on a single consistent scorer. His contributions have been vital in keeping the team competitive in tight matches.

Plateau United: Temitope’s steady return

Vincent Temitope (8 goals) has provided Plateau United with a dependable attacking outlet, maintaining relevance in the Golden Boot conversation despite not leading the chart.

Nasarawa United: Yusuf in contention

Anas Yusuf (8 goals) represents Nasarawa United’s attacking hopes, remaining within striking distance of the leaders in what could still become a late surge.

Enyimba: Michael flying the flag

For Enyimba, Chidera Michael (8 goals) is the club’s top performer in front of goal this season, reflecting a campaign where goals have not been heavily concentrated among multiple players.

A League Defined by Balance and Uncertainty

The distribution of top scorers across clubs reveals a league marked by competitive balance rather than dominance. While teams like Rangers, Bendel Insurance, and Shooting Stars benefit from multiple contributors, others depend heavily on a single talisman.

With just a few matches remaining, the Golden Boot race remains wide open. The narrow gap between first and the chasing pack means that a single prolific performance could dramatically alter the standings.

As the NPFL season heads toward its climax, the battle for top scorer is shaping up not just as an individual contest, but as a reflection of each club’s attacking philosophy—whether built on collective strength or individual brilliance.

Top goal scorers as of matchday games 33

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Several invited players arrived in camp on Monday, April 6, 2026, with full training sessions commencing the following day as the team began serious build-up toward the decisive fixtures. The technical crew has since engaged the squad in intensive drills focused on fitness, tactical organisation, and team cohesion, while awaiting the arrival of the remaining invitees.

At the team’s first training session, Head Coach Moses Aduku charged the players to approach the assignment with utmost seriousness, stressing the need for discipline, unity, and mental strength.

He reminded the squad of the magnitude of the task ahead as they prepared to confront a determined Malawi women’s national under-20 football team in the final qualifying round.

The players, in response, expressed confidence and readiness, with many eager to secure Nigeria’s place at the global tournament. Training sessions have continued at a high tempo, with the coaching crew keen on ensuring peak physical and tactical condition before the first leg.

Malawi booked their place in the final round after edging past Guinea-Bissau women’s national under-20 football team in their previous fixture, setting up what promises to be a keenly contested tie.

The Falconets will host the first leg in Nigeria on Saturday, May 2, before travelling for the return leg in Malawi a week later in a two-legged showdown that will determine qualification.

Africa will be represented by four teams at the tournament, scheduled to take place in Poland from September 5 to 26, 2026, adding further significance to the upcoming encounter for the Nigerian side, which is aiming to maintain its strong pedigree in global youth women’s football.

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