by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 4, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a Tunisian referee to officiate the crucial U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying encounter between Ghana and South Africa.
The high-stakes fixture will see Ghana’s Black Princesses battle their South African counterparts as both sides chase a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. CAF’s decision to select a neutral official from Tunisia is aimed at ensuring fairness and upholding officiating standards for the encounter.
Further details, including the match date, venue, and full officiating crew, are expected to be confirmed ahead of the tie.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 4, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
Former Super Eagles midfielder Sylvanus Okpala has taken a swipe at ex–Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick for supporting Eric Chelle to continue as head coach of the national team.
Okpala, a long-time advocate for indigenous coaches, maintained that appointing a Nigerian remains the best path forward for the Super Eagles, regardless of the recent goodwill surrounding Chelle’s tenure.
The former international revealed he opposed Chelle’s appointment from the outset in January 2025 and believes positive results should not distract from what he sees as a flawed policy direction.
While acknowledging that the Malian coach has recorded largely impressive performances, Okpala argued that the bigger picture must not be ignored.
One year into the job, Chelle is yet to lose a competitive match in regulation time.
However, he was unable to steer Nigeria to qualification for the FIFA World Cup. At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the Super Eagles finished third, earning widespread praise for their attacking flair after scoring a tournament-high 14 goals and emerging as one of the competition’s most entertaining sides.
Those displays prompted Pinnick to publicly back Chelle to remain in charge.
He also suggested that any Nigerian coach aspiring to handle the Super Eagles should first prove himself by winning domestic league titles and continental honours with a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club.
Reacting to those comments in an interview with Brila.net, Okpala questioned what he described as inconsistent standards often used to sideline local coaches.
“All I can say is that it’s Nigerian coaches that will solve the Super Eagles problem. I’ve been saying it for maybe five years now,” Okpala said.
“I read again where someone said that if you want to coach the national team, you must have taken a club side to the continent and won the CAF Champions League.
“I started thinking—if that is the yardstick for coaching the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle is from Mali, so how many teams did he coach in Mali that won the CAF Champions League?”
Okpala’s remarks come despite Chelle’s bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2025, a campaign that continues to divide opinion among fans and former players.
A highly respected figure in Nigerian football, Okpala was a member of the Super Eagles team that won Nigeria’s first AFCON title in 1980. He also represented the country at the Moscow 1980 and Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, and enjoyed a successful club career with Enugu Rangers and Portuguese sides C.S. Marítimo and C.D. Nacional.
In coaching, he served as assistant to the late Stephen Keshi and was part of the technical crew that guided Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013—credentials he believes highlight the depth of local coaching expertise that continues to be overlooked.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 4, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
Former Super Eagles captain and ex-head coach Sunday Oliseh has stirred debate following Nigeria’s semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco at AFCON 2025, blaming the loss on what he described as a breakdown in team spirit involving Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
According to Oliseh, the supposed problem began earlier in the tournament during Nigeria’s Round of 16 victory over Mozambique, which the Super Eagles won 4–0. He claimed Osimhen, despite the comfortable scoreline, berated teammates for not passing to him, allegedly disrupting harmony within the squad. Some observers interpreted the incident as frustration driven by Osimhen’s desire to complete a hat-trick after already scoring twice.
However, that narrative has been widely challenged. Osimhen’s track record suggests anything but selfishness. His unselfish assist to Akor Adams against Algeria—when he could easily have gone for personal glory—stands as clear evidence of a striker who prioritizes team success above individual milestones.
Osimhen is a relentless competitor who demands excellence, but his commitment to collective effort has rarely been in doubt.
The suggestion that Osimhen “killed” team spirit also appears overstated, especially considering Nigeria’s fluent, attacking display against Algeria immediately after the Mozambique game. Far from looking fractured, the Super Eagles played with confidence and cohesion, dismantling their opponents with ease.
Ademola Lookman, on the other hand, continues to earn admiration for his calm demeanor and professionalism, even under intense pressure and provocation.
The ability of head coach Eric Chelle—often underappreciated—to manage contrasting personalities like Osimhen’s fiery intensity and Lookman’s composed elegance was one of Nigeria’s quiet strengths throughout the tournament.
Oliseh’s public lecturing on discipline has also raised eyebrows, given his own history. As gifted and articulate as he was, his playing career was marked by frequent clashes with teammates and officials.
Those issues contributed to his exclusion from the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup squad, despite Nigeria securing a bronze medal at the Mali AFCON that same year.
His coaching stint followed a similar pattern. Tasked with rebuilding the Super Eagles after the late Stephen Keshi, Oliseh instead presided over a turbulent period defined by rigid rules and strained relationships. His fallout with then-captain Vincent Enyeama—one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeepers—culminated in Enyeama’s exit from the national team. Oliseh’s abrupt resignation soon after only deepened criticism of his leadership.
Given that history, Oliseh’s criticism of Osimhen has been dismissed by many as selective memory and cheap punditry. In a football culture often short on institutional recall, such comments can gain traction—but facts remain stubborn.
A former captain once sidelined over indiscipline is in a weak position to sermonize on humility and team spirit. In the end, Oliseh’s remarks may say more about his unresolved past than about Victor Osimhen’s present.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 4, 2026 | Africa, Europe, International, Soccer, World Cup
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has pushed back against criticism of his time in office, insisting that Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup since his departure highlights the impact of his leadership.
In an interview with Trust TV, Dalung said his record at the ministry remains unmatched, pointing to the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a major achievement under his watch.
According to him, the team secured qualification despite operating without the heavy structures and large budgets that had characterised previous administrations.
Dalung, who served as sports minister from 2015 to 2019, questioned those who have labelled his tenure as unsuccessful, asking why Nigeria has struggled to reach the World Cup since he left office.
He described himself as the most successful sports minister in Nigeria’s history, citing the renovation and revival of key national sporting facilities during his tenure.
Among the projects he highlighted were the restoration of the national swimming pool and paralympic gymnasium at the National Stadium in Lagos, as well as the revival of the indoor basketball court.
He also noted that three national mini-stadia were constructed in Daura, Makurdi and Kano, insisting that all projects initiated under his leadership were completed before he left office.
Despite continued criticism, Dalung said he remains confident in his achievements, adding sarcastically that he accepts claims of “woeful performance” even in the face of the infrastructure projects completed during his time as minister.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 4, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, Uncategorized, USA, World Cup
Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil has dropped a strong hint that Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a few unexpected names.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Paintsil revealed that the technical team is casting a wide net in its player selection.
With the final squad set to be announced on June 1, the former Ghana international stressed that both home-based players and those plying their trade abroad are firmly in contention.
“We are focused on both local and international players for the Black Stars’ World Cup squad. Every Ghanaian who qualifies to play is welcome, but there will be a lot of surprises,” Paintsil told Asempa FM.
As part of preparations, the Black Stars are expected to regroup in March for a pair of high-profile international friendlies against Austria and Germany, games that could prove decisive for players hoping to secure a spot on the plane to North America.
Ghana has been drawn into Group L, where they will face Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, take on England in Boston, and wrap up the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
After early exits at the group stage in Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, the four-time African champions are eager to make a deeper run and restore pride on the global stage in 2026.
