The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Chadian referee Alhadji Allaou Mahamat to officiate Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against Rwanda in Uyo. Mahamat will be assisted by fellow countrymen Bogollah Issa (Assistant Referee One), Moussa Hafiz (Assistant Referee Two), and Abdelkerim Ousmane (Fourth Official). Egyptian Abdelsalam Mahmoud will serve as referee assessor, while Bakary Jammeh from The Gambia has been named match commissioner. The fixture, billed for Saturday, September 6, will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. Nigerian time. The Super Eagles go into the tie on…
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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that despite endorsing President Bola Tinubu as its preferred candidate for 2027, the presidential primary remains open to other aspirants. The party’s national organising secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja. The party dismissed speculations that it would print one presidential nomination form solely for Tinubu and exclude other party chieftains from the contest. While confirming that both the National Working Committee (NWC) and various state chapters had adopted Tinubu as the preferred candidate, the Organising Secretary insisted the process remain open. He said, “It will…
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has described an online publication alleging that administrators of the Service’s training institutions extort ₦350,000 from participants before releasing their certificates of attendance as baseless. Naija News reports that the Public Relations Officer of NCoS, Umar Abubakar, in a statement on Wednesday, also dismissed further insinuations that the Service’s cooperative society has been converted into a so-called “cash cow.” Abubakar stated that at no time has the NCoS authorised or permitted the collection of any fees aside from the payment of ₦1,000.00 and ₦2,000.00 caution fees, respectively. He noted that the Cooperative society mentioned in…
The leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a new turn on Wednesday after Nafiu Bala assumed office as the party’s National Chairman. Naija News reports that Bala, who addressed journalists at the party headquarters, declared himself the authentic leader of the ADC, citing the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act. Bala explained that his emergence followed the resignation of Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman, insisting that the ADC constitution made him the rightful successor. He said, “Our party’s former National Chairman voluntarily resigned his position. “As far as our party is concerned, the Electoral…
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for their commitment to deepening cultural and heritage ties between Africa and its Diaspora. Naija News reports that she made the remarks during a landmark cultural event held in the Legislative Chambers of Brasilia, Brazil, on the sidelines of President Tinubu’s state visit to the South American country. The event featured the “Return to Africa” project led by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, which was described as a symbolic spiritual and cultural reconnection with Africa’s…
Nigerian actress Eniola Ajao has dismissed allegations of having a romantic affair with her senior colleague, Odunlade Adekola. Naija News understands that the actress has come under criticism after a viral video showed her hiding from the camera during the burial of Odunlade’s father last week. There have been speculations over the years that the duo are involved romantically However, speaking on Wednesday in a series of posts on her Instagram story, the actress stated that the allegations are aimed at tarnishing her image. While explaining that she “can’t fix every lie and rumour”, she noted that “life hits differently…
Sweden striker Alexander Isak has made it clear he still wants to leave Newcastle United for Liverpool in this summer’s transfer window, according to The Telegraph. The 25-year-old reportedly insists on leaving Newcastle in this summer transfer window even after talks with club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and co-owner Jamie Reuben. Teamtalk reports that Isak’s future may determine whether Liverpool and Newcastle rival each other for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, also 25. Elsewhere, the Telegraph said Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle with Real Betis to send Brazilian winger Antony, 25, back to La Liga on an initial loan…
An Equatorial Guinea court has sentenced the infamous Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a former senior government official, to eight years in prison for embezzlement. Naija News reports that Engonga went viral last year after sex tapes involving him and several women leaked online. According to Hilario Mitogo, press director of the Supreme Court, the Bioko provincial tribunal found Engonga guilty of diverting funds meant for professional travel expenses for personal use. He was also fined $220,000. Engonga, a former head of the national financial investigation agency, was tried alongside five other senior officials. They were accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of…
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has claimed that he advised erstwhile presidential candidate Peter Obi to return to the party but he refused to listen. In an interview on Nigeria Info FM 99.3 on Wednesday, he stated that he urged Obi to return to the PDP due to the debt the party owes the South-East. Sowunmi stated this after the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the South during its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. Sowunmi alleged that Obi wants the party’s presidential ticket without participating in a primary election. Sowunmi said, “Peter…
Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign has been hit with a major setback after first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was stretchered off injured while playing for his South African club, Chippa United. Stanley Nwabali, 29, went down clutching his leg during Tuesday’s league clash against Richards Bay and had to be taken off in the first half. While Chippa’s medical team is still running assessments, the sight of Nwabali in visible pain has left both club and country concerned. The timing could not be worse for the Super Eagles. Nwabali has become a dependable figure for Nigeria, making 21 appearances and providing…
