The Super Eagles’ return to Nigeria has been unexpectedly delayed after a chartered ValueJet aircraft conveying the team from Polokwane, South Africa, to Uyo suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air on Saturday.
According to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the incident occurred shortly after the plane took off from Luanda, Angola, where it had made a routine refueling stop. The pilot was said to have skillfully guided the aircraft back to the Luanda airport, ensuring the safety of all passengers on board.
The same aircraft had transported part of the Nigerian delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night ahead of Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa.
It was also the same plane that handled the team’s previous trips to and from Bloemfontein for last month’s clash with Bafana Bafana.
As a result of the mid-air incident, the players and officials remain stranded in Angola while efforts are being made to arrange an alternative aircraft.
World Cup
Akor Adams Becomes Nigeria’s 61st Scoring Debutant
Published
7 hours ago
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October 11, 2025
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s striking options received a fresh boost on Friday as Sevilla forward Akor JeromeAdams marked his senior international debut with a goal, becoming the 61st player to score on his first appearance for Nigeria national team since the country’s debut on 8 October 1949.
Adams, who replaced Tolu Arokodare in the 63rd minute of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, made an instant impact when he found the net in the 80th minute, calmly slotting home after connecting with a precise pass from Victor Osimhen.
The goal capped a memorable night for the 24-year-old La Liga player, who has steadily risen through the football ranks from Nigeria’s grassroots to Europe’s top flight.
Akor Adams was part of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles squad at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland,showcasing the promise that has now blossomed on the senior stage.
He began his professional journey with Jamba Football Academy in Nigeria before securing a move to Norwegian club Lillestrøm in December 2021.
His prolific form there earned him a transfer to Montpellier in France two years later, and earlier this year, he sealed a switch to Sevilla in Spain’s La Liga.
With his goal-scoring debut, Adams joins an illustrious list of Nigerian footballers who have announced themselves on the international stage in style—rekindling optimism about the Super Eagles’ attacking depth as the World Cup qualifiers reach a decisive phase.
NIGERIA’S SCORING DEBUTANTS SINCE 1949
| Player | Match | Date | Venue | Country | ||
| 1 | Balogun Tesilimi | Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria | October 8, 1949 | Freetown | Sierra Leone | |
| 2 | Okoh Friday – 2 goals | Nigeria 5-0 Gold Coast (Ghana) | October 20, 1951 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 3 | Asoluka Cyril | Nigeria 5-0 Gold Coast (Ghana) | October 20, 1951 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 4 | Anieke Peter | Nigeria 5-0 Gold Coast (Ghana) | October 20, 1951 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 5 | Okere Titus | Nigeria 5-0 Gold Coast (Ghana) | October 20, 1951 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 6. | Okwudili Daniel | Nigeria 3-0 Gold Coast | October 27, 1956 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 7 | Longe Julius | Nigeria 3-0 Gold Coast | October 27, 1956 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 8 | Ejor Hubert | Nigeria 3-0 Gold Coast | October 27, 1956 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 9. | Noquapor Patrick 2 goals | Ghana 3-3 Nigeria | October 27, 1957 | Accra | Ghana | |
| 10. | Ijeoma Patrick | Ghana 3-3 Nigeria | October 27, 1957 | Accra | Ghana | |
| 11 | Buraimoh Abudu – 2 Goals | Nigeria 3-2 Ghana | October 25, 1958 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 12 | Onyali Elkana | Nigeria 3-1 Ghana | October 10, 1959 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 13. | Ohiri Christopher | Nigeria 3-1 Ghana | October 10, 1959 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 14. | Chukwumah Egwuonu | Tunisia 2-2 Nigeria | December 10, 1961 | Tunis | Tunisia | |
| 15 | Egbuonu Johnny | Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria | January 1 1963 | Yaoundé | Cameroon | |
| 16 | Uduemezie Chris | Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria | January 1 1963 | Yaoundé | Cameroon | |
| 17 | Olatunji Lasisi | Nigeria 2-2 Guinea | July 27, 1963 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 18 | Anieke Sunday | Gabon 2-2 Nigeria | August 28, 1965 | Libreville | Gabon | |
| 19. | Mordi Bobo | Gabon 2-2 Nigeria | August 28, 1965 | Libreville | Gabon | |
| 20. | Olowo-Oshodi Samsideen | Nigeria 3-2 Congo DR | November 5, 1966 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 21 | Aghoghovbia Joe | Nigeria 1-1 Cameroon | December 7, 1968 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 22 | Obianika Mathias – 2 Goals | Nigeria 4-0 Upper Volta (Burkina Fasso) | November 27, 1971 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 23 | Oyarekhua Sunny | Nigeria 4-0 Upper Volta (Burkina Fasso) | November 27, 1971 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 24 | Popoola Ben | Nigeria 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire | July 18, 1974 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 25. | Ibeabuchi Ogidi | Ghana 1-2 Nigeria | August 21, 1974 | Accra | Ghana | |
| 26. | Usiyen Thompson | Kenya 1-1 Nigeria | February 7, 1976 | Nairobi | Kenya | |
| 27. | Godwin Iwelumo | Nigeria 7-0 Benin | February 14, 1977 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 28. | Onwuachi Martins | Benin 1-1 Nigeria | October 14, 1978 | Cotonou | Benin | |
| 29. | Boateng Leotis | Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia | July 12, 1980 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 30. | Emmanuel Osigwe | Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia | July 12, 1980 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 31. | Nwokocha Chris v | Tanzania 0-2 Nigeria | December 20, 1980 | Dar-es-Salam | Tanzania | |
| 32 | Ali Bala | Nigeria 1-0 Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) | July 18, 1981 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 33 | Adeshina Ademola | Ethiopia 0-3 Nigeria | March 7, 1982 | Benghazi | Libya | |
| 34 | Omughele John v. Ghana | Ghana 1-2 Nigeria | October 30, 1983 | Accra | Ghana | |
| 35 | Sadi Dahiru | Nigeria 3-1 Kenya | April 20, 1985 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 36. | Balaraba Abubakar | Guinea 1-1Nigeria | April 9, 1989 | Conakry | Guinea | |
| 37 | Adekola Adeolu v. | Nigeria 3-0 Guinea | April 22, 1989 | Ibadan | Nigeria | |
| 38 | Oyekanmi Taju | Nigeria 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire | January 25, 1990 | Kaduna | Nigeria | |
| 39 | Okechukwu Uche | Nigeria 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire | January 25, 1990 | Kaduna | Nigeria | |
| 40 | Lawal Dimeji | Nigeria 3-0 Togo | August 18, 1990 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 41 | Finidi George | Nigeria 7-1 Burkina Faso | Faso July 27, 1991 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 42. | Taiwo Wasiu | USA 3-2 Nigeria | June 11, 1995 | Boston | USA | |
| 43. | Fatusi Tesilimi | Czech 2-1 Nigeria | Dec, 11, 1996 | Casablanca | Morocco | |
| 44. | Zeigbo Kenneth | Cameroon 0-1 Nigeria | August 7, 1997 | Tunis | Tunisia | |
| 45 | Garba Ahmed | Iran 0-1 Nigeria | January 28, 1998 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong, China | |
| 46. | Aghahowa, Julius | Nigeria 2-0 Morocco | February 3, 2000 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 47. | Ishola Shuaibu | Nigeria 3-2 Malawi | June 4, 2000 | Kano | Nigeria | |
| 48. | Agali Victor | Nigeria 1-0 Zambia | January 13, 2001 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 49. | Opabunmi Femi | Nigeria 3-0 Kenya | May 4, 2002 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 50 | Ogochukwu Ileagwu | Senegal 2-2 Nigeria | October 12, 2002 | Dakar | Senegal | |
| 51. | Ogechukwu Uche | Ghana 0-1 Nigeria | December 15, 2002 | Accra | Ghana | |
| 52. | Akwueme Emeka | Nigeria 2-0 Jordan | April 28, 2004 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 53. | Martins Obafemi | Ireland 0-3 Nigeria | May 29, 2004 | London | Britain | |
| 54 | Makinwa Ayodele | South Africa 2-1 Nigeria | Nov. 17, 2004 | Johannesburg | South Africa | |
| 55 | Akabueze Chukwuma v. Kenya | Kenya 0-1 Nigeria | May 27, 2007 | Nairobi | Kenya | |
| 56. | Peter Utaka v. Congo DR | Nigeria 5-2 DR Congo | March 3, 2010 | Abuja | Nigeria | |
| 57 | Osas Idehen | Nigeria 5-2 DR Congo | March 3, 2010 | Abuja | Nigeria | |
| 58 | Ehiosun Ekigho v. Sierra Leone | Nigeria 2-1 Sierra Leone | February 9, 2011 | Lagos | Nigeria | |
| 59. | Bryan Idowu. | Argentina 2-4 Nigeria | November 14, 2017 | Krasnodar | Russia | |
| 60 | Joseph Aribo v. Ukraine | Ukraine 2-2 Nigeria | September 10, 2019 | Dnipro | Ukraine | |
| 61 | Akor Jerome Adams | Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria | October 10, 2025 | Polokwane | South Africa | |
World Cup
Judgment Day Beckons in Group C: Only One Ticket, Three Contenders, Infinite Drama
Published
12 hours ago
on
October 11, 2025
Three Nations, One Dream: Group C Set for a Blockbuster World Cup Finale. PHOTO; Cafonline X handle
By KUNLE SOLAJA.
Hypertensive football fans are advised to be on sedative on Tuesday as the Group C World Cup qualifiers reaches a crescendo. It is not a moment for the faint-hearted.
It is a battle on two fields and all three combatants having just one dream.
Mathematics, momentum and madness, perhaps best describe the three-way battle that defines Africa’s toughest World Cup qualifying group.
The battle for the Group C ticket has been thrown wide open, with Benin Republic, South Africa, and Nigeria all heading into Tuesday’s final round of matches still in contention.
Friday’s dramatic results ensured that the group—already touted as one of Africa’s toughest—will go right down to the wire.
Benin Republic now lead the standings with a slender two-point cushion following a remarkable late surge in form, capped by a crucial 1–0 away win over Rwanda in Kigali.
That victory not only put the Cheetahs in control of the group but also pushed Rwanda out of mathematical contention for a World Cup place.
In Durban, however, South Africa faltered when it mattered most. Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Zimbabwe side in a match that could have sealed their qualification.
The stalemate left South Africa in second place, two points behind Benin, and needing both a win in their final fixture and a favourable result elsewhere to reach the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010.
Nigeria, meanwhile, reignited their fading hopes with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane.
The Super Eagles, who have endured a turbulent qualifying campaign, now sit third in the group and face the most complex route to qualification.
Mathematics of the Final Day
The permutations are delicately poised heading into Tuesday’s decisive fixtures:
- Benin Republic (17 points) have the clearest path—they need only to beat Nigeria to secure a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. A win guarantees them an unassailable 20 points, regardless of results elsewhere.
- South Africa (15 points) must defeat Rwanda in Johannesburg and hope Nigeria beat Benin. A draw in the Benin–Nigeria clash would end their hopes.
- Nigeria (14 points) must not only beat Benin in Uyo, but do so by at least a two-goal margin to overcome the Cheetahs’ superior points and goal-difference advantage. They will also need Rwanda to hold or defeat South Africa to stand any realistic chance of finishing top.
A Group of Fine Margins
Group C has proven to be a cauldron of unpredictability. Every point has come at a premium, with unexpected upsets and narrow scorelines defining the campaign.
Benin, once underdogs, have emerged as the surprise package, while traditional powerhouse Nigeria have struggled for consistency and cutting edge.
South Africa, too, have mixed moments of brilliance with bouts of frustration—symbolised by their failure to break down Zimbabwe at home.
The Stakes and the Sentiment
For Benin, Tuesday could be the most important football day in the nation’s history. For South Africa, it is a chance to return to the world stage after 16 years in the wilderness.
And for Nigeria, a footballing giant now on the brink, it is a test of resilience, pride, and calculation.
As the nine African qualifying groups reach their climax, none promises more drama than Group C—a group where one slip, one goal, or even one missed chance could determine who marches to the world’s biggest football stage and who watches from home.
Current Table Ahead Tuesday’s Showdown
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Benin | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 17 |
| 2 | South Africa | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 15 |
| 3 | Nigeria | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 14 |
| 4 | Rwanda | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 11 |
| 5 | Lesotho | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 9 |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 8 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 5 |
FINAL DAY FIXTURES
(Monday, October 13)
- Lesotho v Zimbabwe
(Tuesday, October 15)
- South Africa vs Rwanda
- Nigeria vs Benin
World Cup
Mahrez says 2026 World Cup will be his last as Algeria qualify
Published
13 hours ago
on
October 11, 2025
International Friendly – Sweden v Algeria – Strawberry Arena, Stockholm, Sweden – June 10, 2025 Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez in action with Sweden’s Yasin Ayari Christine Olsson/TT News Agency via REUTERS
Riyad Mahrez ruled out extending his international career into his forties like Cristiano Ronaldo, declaring the 2026 World Cup will be his last after guiding Algeria to a fifth appearance at the tournament.
The 34-year-old winger, who plays for Al-Ahli – the reigning Asian champions – scored once and assisted twice in Algeria’s 3-0 win over Somalia in the penultimate round of African qualifying, securing top spot in Group G and a place at next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“This will be my last World Cup. I’m not Ronaldo (40),” Mahrez told Algerian media.
“I’ll give everything I have to represent Algeria in the best possible way.”
Mahrez, who turns 35 in February, now has 33 goals in 106 international appearances. He praised his teammates, coach, and fans for their support, saying the team “dominated from start to finish” and that the focus now shifts to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I thank God for this important win,” he said. “I’m happy to have helped with two assists, but the most important thing is that we’ve officially qualified.”
Algeria have now qualified for the World Cup for the fifth time following appearances in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014. Their best performance came in 2014 in Brazil, where they reached the round of 16 for the first time before falling to eventual champions Germany in extra time
