Sport
Super Eagles Face Gabon In High-Stakes 2026 World Cup Playoff
(DDM) – The Super Eagles of Nigeria are preparing for a crucial showdown against Gabon in the semi-final of the African qualification play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the tie will be played on neutral ground in Morocco.
The decisive fixture represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey to return to the world stage after missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Nigeria booked their place in the play-offs after a commanding 4–0 win over Benin Republic, a performance that reignited hope among fans and reestablished confidence in the team’s attacking power.
Victor Osimhen led the goal spree with an impressive hat-trick, while Brentford’s Frank Onyeka sealed the victory with a late strike.
The win was not just a scoreline; it was a statement of intent from a squad determined to restore Nigeria’s pride in global football.
For head coach Finidi George, the upcoming tie is more than a game, it’s an opportunity to prove that his tactical rebuilding of the Super Eagles can deliver under pressure.
Background
Nigeria, three-time African champions, last appeared at the World Cup in 2018 in Russia.
Their absence from the 2022 edition in Qatar remains one of the most painful moments in recent football history, as they were edged out by Ghana on away goals.
Since then, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has undergone significant restructuring, focusing on youth development, better player management, and data-driven performance analysis.
Meanwhile, Gabon enter the fixture as the underdogs but with immense motivation.
READ ALSO: Jenik Logistics partners ABS Ilorin FC to drive player excellence in 2025/2026 NNL season
They finished second in Group F behind Ivory Coast, displaying discipline and flair that surprised many continental observers.
For Gabon, this is an unprecedented opportunity to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, a feat that would make history for the Central African nation.
Key Players
Nigeria’s forward line will once again rely on Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, supported by Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze.
In midfield, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi will be expected to dictate the tempo, while Wilfred Ndidi provides defensive stability.
However, the Super Eagles will miss defender Semi Ajayi, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards during the qualifiers.
For Gabon, Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will lead their attack, supported by Denis Bouanga and Mario Lemina.
Match Details
The CAF confirmed that the semi-final will be played on Thursday, November 13, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 PM (Nigerian Time).
The encounter will be a single-leg tie, meaning there will be no second leg advantage, only one team will progress.
The winner of the Nigeria-Gabon clash will advance to the final play-off on November 16, 2025, also in Morocco.
Victory there will secure a spot in the intercontinental play-offs, scheduled for March 2026, bringing the Super Eagles one step closer to the global tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Looking Ahead
Analysts say Nigeria must maintain composure and tactical discipline, as Gabon’s pace and unpredictability could cause trouble.
With the high expectations of millions of Nigerians at home and abroad, the Super Eagles enter this clash carrying the weight of national pride and redemption.
For now, all eyes turn to Morocco, where one match could define Nigeria’s football destiny.
In a strategic move blending sports and enterprise, Jenik Logistics has signed on as official sponsor of the ABS Ilorin FC Player Awards for the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) season — marking another win for the growing synergy between Nigerian football and the business community.
Under the sponsorship deal, Jenik Logistics will fund the Player of the Match awards for all ABS Ilorin FC home fixtures, as well as the Player of the Month recognition throughout the season.
The partnership reinforces the club’s commitment to rewarding performance while building bridges with Nigerian companies that value innovation, dedication, and community impact.
Jenik Logistics, one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising logistics brands with operational bases in Kwara, Lagos, and Abuja, specializes in both inter-state and international delivery services. The company’s strong record in reliability and efficiency mirrors the ethos of competitive football — precision, speed, and teamwork.
Speaking on the new partnership, Mrs. Funmi Owolabi, Administrative Secretary of ABS Ilorin FC, described the collaboration as a morale booster for players and a signal of corporate confidence in local sports development.
> “We are thrilled to have Jenik Logistics on board for this season. Their involvement is not just financial support; it’s a belief in our vision and the power of football to inspire excellence,” she said.
Similarly, Jenik Logistics CEO, Mr. Nonso Okoh, highlighted the company’s drive to support youth engagement and community development through sports.
> “At Jenik Logistics, excellence and teamwork define our business. Partnering with ABS Ilorin FC allows us to extend those values beyond logistics — into nurturing young talent and strengthening our connection with the community,” he noted.
READ ALSO: Jenik Logistics partners ABS Ilorin FC to drive player excellence in 2025/2026 NNL season
ABS Ilorin FC will begin their 2025/2026 NNL campaign in Conference C with a home clash against Sokoto United FC at the Rashidi Yekini Main Bowl, Ilorin, on Saturday.
The deal represents a growing trend of Nigerian SMEs tapping into the sports business ecosystem — using football sponsorships not just as brand exposure tools, but as platforms for community engagement and brand differentiation in a competitive market.
News
Peter Obi Decries Corruption In Nigerian Sports
Says It's A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by appointed officials to develop stadium and grow youth talents.
Mr. Obi made the remarks on his X handle, @PeterObi, on Monday, October 27, 2025, following FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to NFF.
Obi noted that ‘corruption in sports is a reflection of Nigeria’s deeper malaise’
He said that the sickening and shameful revelation perfectly mirrors the broader decay in national resources management.
Obi posted: “While we continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and the rising unemployment among our youths, the most heartbreaking reality remains the entrenched corruption that permeates every facet of our nation – especially in the critical sectors that could help lift Nigeria in these challenging times.
“FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria’s Football Federation for stadium development and youth talent growth is both sickening and shameful.
“It perfectly mirrors the broader decay in how our scarce national resources are handled.
“I am certain that further investigations will reveal even worse realities than what we currently know.”
The Awka Stadium debacle
Obi recalled how, during his time as Governor of Anambra State, he received officials from the Sports Federation.
The officials informed that Awka had been selected as one of six geographical locations for the construction of a FIFA-standard stadium to be fully funded by FIFA.
They assured us that the project would be executed through the Federal Ministry of Sports.
According to him, he immediately allocated land for “such a major project.. underway”.
“We channelled our resources toward constructing mini-stadiums across the state to encourage grassroots sports.
We commissioned the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium in Onitsha, as well as the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha South, among others,” he recalled.
Unfortunately, “that was the last we heard of it,” he regretted.
NFF squandering opportunities
He said further: “Years later, nothing came of the promised FIFA project, which prompted us to initiate the construction of the Awka Stadium ourselves.
“Seeing the recent news about funds released by FIFA to Nigeria to develop talent and improve youth sports, I am deeply disappointed by such blatant squandering of opportunities.
“I have always maintained that those who accuse us of “demarketing” Nigeria for speaking the truth and exposing corruption are the very ones who thrive on corruption and deceit.
“The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have forged their way to wealth through the mismanagement and theft of public funds.
“[These] resources that should have been used to provide schools, healthcare, and employment for our youths and to nurture their talents.”
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau
Peter Obi stressed that since 2013, NFF has reportedly received about $25 million from FIFA and CAF.
The said funds were meant for the development of football and youth sports in our country.
However, “there is little or nothing to show for it, Obi lamented.
Kebbi State stadium a national embarrassment
Emphasising the shame of one such project, he said: ” The so-called $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State is a national embarrassment.
READ ALSO: Jenik Logistics partners ABS Ilorin FC to drive player excellence in 2025/2026 NNL season
“The structure in no way reflects the funds claimed to have been spent on it.
“We cannot continue to watch our sports decline while corruption flourishes.
“Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them “Yahoo boys”.
“In truth, the leaders who have robbed them of their future are the real “Yahoo” of our nation.”
He regretted the shameful reflection of the corruption Nigerians have allowed to take root in the country.
In his words, “if we truly desire to rebuild our country, we must begin with integrity and accountability in every aspect and sector.
“Until then, our nation will continue to crawl where it should be soaring,” he added.
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