Nigeria U-17 Girls Beat Puerto Rico 2-0, Eye Knockout Spot

 Nigeria U-17 Girls Beat Puerto Rico 2-0, Eye Knockout Spot

 

Nigeria’s U-17 Women National Team, the Flamingos, kept their campaign at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco on track with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico in their Group B encounter on Tuesday night in Rabat.

 

The 2022 World Cup bronze-medallists started the game with real intent, pressing high and creating early problems for the Puerto Rican defence. It was a lively opening from both sides, but the Flamingos soon took control with their quick movement and direct play going forward.

 

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when in-form striker Oluwakemi Adegbuyi finished brilliantly from Queen Joseph’s assist to put Nigeria 1-0 up. That goal settled the Nigerian girls and gave them the confidence to dominate possession for most of the first half.

 

In the second period, the Flamingos continued to push for another goal. Queen Joseph, Tosin Rafiu and Favour Nkwocha all came close, while Puerto Rico also tried to find a way back into the game with a couple of changes. Coach Hakeem Busari responded by introducing Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku in the 67th minute to add more energy and bite in attack.

 

The pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute when Nigeria got the second goal as substitute Precious Oscar nodded home a cross from Kemi Adegbuyi to seal the contest at 2-0. The team showed great maturity to see out six minutes of added time and secure all three points. The victory is a big boost for the Flamingos as North Korea defeated Poland 6-1 in the other match of Group B. The high-score deficit against the Poles is an advantage to the Flamingos ahead of Friday’s Group B encounter against the Koreans.

Euromatch Branding Under Fire As Journalists Threaten Boycott

 

Journalists Threaten to Boycott Euromatch Branding Over Lack of Media Engagement

Sports journalists covering the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have vowed to boycott the use of the Euromatch logo in their news reports, expressing dissatisfaction over what they describe as the sponsor's failure to recognise the media's role in promoting Nigerian football.

The journalists are also threatening a broader boycott of the Euromatch sponsorship branding, insisting that the media cannot be expected to promote a commercial partnership without being adequately recognised and engaged by the sponsors.

The development follows the reported $2.5 million sponsorship deal involving Euromatch and the NPFL, with $1 million said to have already been released.

However, the journalists are questioning why, despite the significance of the sponsorship agreement and the reported payment, no representative of Euromatch has engaged the media to explain the partnership, its objectives, or what sports journalists stand to gain from the arrangement.

Media Raises Concerns Over Recognition

For sports journalists, the issue goes beyond the display of a logo on match reports and other football-related publications. It touches on the broader question of the value of sports journalism in promoting the league, attracting commercial partners and expanding the NPFL's reach to football fans across Nigeria and beyond.

Every week, journalists travel, gather information, conduct interviews, report match results and produce stories that keep supporters connected to their favourite clubs and the league.

Through newspapers, television, radio, online platforms and social media, the media helps to sustain public interest in the NPFL while providing visibility for clubs, players, administrators and sponsors.

Against this background, the journalists believe that a sponsorship arrangement of such financial magnitude should include a clear media engagement strategy that recognises the contribution of those responsible for communicating the league's activities to the public.

$2.5 Million Deal: What Is the Media's Place?

The reported $2.5 million sponsorship agreement has generated questions among journalists about the place of the media within the commercial framework.

With $1 million reportedly already released, the journalists want to know how the partnership will benefit the media community, particularly those who invest their time, resources and professional expertise in covering the league.

They argue that sponsors benefit from the publicity generated by match reports, interviews, headlines, photographs and online stories. Therefore, they believe that media professionals should not be treated merely as channels for displaying a sponsor's identity without meaningful engagement.

The journalists are consequently calling for greater transparency and communication concerning the sponsorship arrangement, including the role expected of the media and any opportunities available to sports journalists and their organisations.

A Call for Dialogue, Not Just Branding

The threatened boycott has brought attention to the relationship between sports administrators, commercial sponsors and journalists in Nigeria's domestic football industry.

While sponsorship is essential to the growth and financial sustainability of the NPFL, journalists believe that successful partnerships should recognise the importance of media coverage in building the league's image and attracting fans, investors and additional sponsors.

They are therefore calling on the relevant stakeholders to open discussions with media representatives and establish a framework that promotes mutual respect, cooperation and shared benefits.

The journalists' position is that the media cannot be expected to provide publicity for commercia.

WAFU-B U17: Uwejamomere Confident Eaglets Will Bounce Back Against Ivorians

 

WAFU-B U17: Uwejamomere Confident Eaglets Will Bounce Back Against Ivorians

 

Ahead of Saturday’s must-win clash against Côte d’Ivoire, Golden Eaglets head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere says his team is ready to overcome the setback suffered against Niger Republic and secure victory over the Ivorians.

 

Speaking at a press conference at Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on Friday, Eboboritse urged his players to remain calm, recalling that Nigeria lost their opening matches at the 2018 and 2021 editions of the WAFU-B U17 Championship but bounced back to qualify.

 

“We had a setback in the game against Niger Republic, but we are in great spirit to overcome it as we play Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday,” Eboboritse said. “It is a dicey situation. We are calm and reminding the players of how we want to play. We have analysed Côte d’Ivoire, how they play, their strengths and weaknesses.

 

“There is just a little bit of pressure because it is a must-win game for Nigeria. So, we have to keep the players composed and believing in themselves, knowing that we can get the result we need. The Ivorians are a very good side. They can fight, but we also have to fight and show them how much we want the victory. We know what we have to do to beat them. I’m confident,” he concluded.

 

The Golden Eaglets lost 1-2 to Niger Republic on Wednesday, which has rendered the clash with the Ivorians a must-win, as the Ivorians drew their own game against the Nigeriens and have one point coming into tomorrow’s encounter.

Political Thuggery, Cultism, Motor Park Crisis: My Inherited Challenges, Says Zungura

 

Political Thuggery, Cultism, Motor Park Crisis: My Inherited Challenges, Says Zungura

The Osun State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Online Media Chapel on Thursday, 15th October 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, at the Command Headquarters in Osogbo. The visit, led by the Chapel Chairman, Mr. Isa Isawade, was part of the Chapel's ongoing Familiarity and Partnership Drive aimed at positioning itself as a credible bridge between the online media space and critical stakeholders in Osun State. Also present at the meeting was the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, alongside executives and members of the Chapel.

In his remarks, Isawade explained that the Chapel was established by the national body of the NUJ under the Osun State Council to provide structure for online journalism practice and tackle the growing problem of misinformation. He lamented that the online space had for too long operated without sufficient professional regulation, allowing quacks and impostors to masquerade as journalists, spread falsehood, extort and blackmail unsuspecting members of the public. According to him, the ease of accessing smartphones and social media has made it possible for virtually anybody to publish information without proper verification, giving rise to fake news and one-sided reports.

The Chairman further warned that the situation had become more complicated with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, which could be used to create manipulated audio and video materials capable of making people appear to say or do things they never did. He said the Chapel was therefore set up to register genuine online media correspondents and publishers, promote verification, and provide a recognised channel through which government institutions, security agencies, organisations and individuals could engage legitimate online journalists.

Isawade stressed that the role of the police as the security monitor of the state could not be overemphasised, noting that the police and the media share a common mandate to serve the public interest, maintain order and ensure safety. He called for stronger collaboration between the two institutions to enhance crime prevention, public trust and effective communication, while commending CP Zungura for his proactive approach to security which, he said, had begun to yield positive results within the short period of his assumption of office as the 29th Commissioner of Police in the state.

In his response, CP Zungura described the visit as an added value and admitted he was not aware of the existence of the Online Chapel until recently. He emphasised the versatility of the media and charged the Chapel to step up efforts to inform the public adequately and accurately, warning that there is information that can make and information that can destroy. The CP urged online journalists to be a force for truth, balance and national unity, stressing that responsible reporting can help prevent crises while inaccurate or inflammatory information may aggravate tensions.

The Commissioner disclosed that he inherited three major security challenges on assumption of office: political thuggery, local government and motor park disputes, and cultism. He recalled that his first day in office coincided with the killings in Ikire, to which he responded immediately by moving to quell thuggery and arrest perpetrators. On motor park issues, he warned that no individual, regardless of political position or public office, was above the law, adding that any local government chairman involved in violence would be arrested. On cultism, he said he had directed Divisional Police Officers to identify flashpoints and make arrests, leading to many suspects now in custody and relative peace in the state.

The Chapel used the occasion to urge the CP to address the activities of police extortionists who extort motorists on the outskirts of the city and intercity routes. The meeting ended with an interactive session where journalists engaged the Commissioner on security matters affecting their communities. Both parties agreed that the courtesy visit marked a significant step towards building synergy between the media and security agencies for the safety, peace and development of Osun State.

AFH Pre-season Tourney: Eko United, FC Ebedei record wins

 

AFH Pre-season Tourney: Eko United, FC Ebedei record wins

. As Obinna Otu leads goal chart with brace

Matchday 1 of the inaugural African Football Holding (AFH) Pre-season Tournament in Sagamu produced an entertaining set of results, with five goals scored.

The round saw wins for Eko United and FC Ebedei, as Obinna Otu scored a first-half brace for the Oliseh Boys in a stunning upset over Sunshine Stars.

Eko United beat Grassrunners JNR 2-0. Olalere Dauda opened the scoring in the 8th minute against the run of play, before Agada Solomon scored an own goal with a poor clearance under pressure.

The second 45 minutes was evenly matched, with Grassrunners JNR indebted to goalkeeper Labode Nicolas for his heroic saves.

The match between FC Ebedei and Sunshine Stars was a thriller and a game of two halves, which saw two brilliant goals from Otu in just over 18 minutes of the first half.

Muritala Quadri and Otu combined well for FC Ebedei’s opener in the 22nd minute. Quadri also provided the assist for the second, as Otu found the top corner to make it 2-0.

Sunshine Stars pulled one goal back through a strike from Udeme Sunday.

Action continues on Friday, with Group B matchups between FC Ebedei Sports College and Grassrunners FC at 9am, while Crown FC hosts Ikorodu City FA.