Head coach of Edo Queens, Moses Aduku, has insisted that his team will not get carried away despite moving to the top of the 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six standings following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rivers Angels.

READ ALSO: Thierry Henry Clarifies ‘Nigeria Shorts’ Joke After iShowSpeed Incident’s Backlash 

The Matchday Four win pushed Edo Queens to nine points from four matches and set up a decisive final-day clash against defending champions Bayelsa Queens at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Aduku praised his players for their resilience and discipline after bouncing back from an opening-day defeat to record three consecutive victories in the competition.

“I want to give kudos to my girls for playing to instruction and also for believing in ourselves that we could bounce back after that opening defeat,” Aduku said after the match.

Despite the impressive turnaround, the experienced tactician stressed that the team’s mission is far from complete, warning against premature celebrations ahead of the title showdown.

“We are not celebrating yet. Our focus completely shifts to Bayelsa Queens — that’s all I can say for now. We know we have one final hurdle to clear against a very tough opponent who happen to be the defending champions,” he added.

The upcoming encounter is expected to be a thrilling finale to the NWFL Super Six, with Bayelsa Queens also still in contention for the title as they seek to defend their crown.

For Edo Queens, victory in the decisive fixture would complete a remarkable redemption story and secure the club’s first-ever NWFL Premiership title.

The Benin City side has shown remarkable character throughout the tournament, recovering from early disappointment to place themselves within touching distance of domestic glory.

All eyes will now be on Port Harcourt as two of Nigeria’s top women’s football clubs battle for supremacy in what promises to be a high-stakes season finale.

The post NWFL Super Six: ‘Not Time for Celebration Yet’ — Aduku Maintains Focus Ahead of Bayelsa Queens Decider first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.

The post NWFL Super Six: ‘Not Time for Celebration Yet’ — Aduku Maintains Focus Ahead of Bayelsa Queens Decider appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Thierry Henry has clarified comments he made about Nigeria during a light-hearted exchange with popular streamer IShowSpeed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

READ ALSO: PFL Nigeria Delivers Bangers as Ignacio Campos Submits Wasi Adeshina in Main Event, Ocheme Knocks Out Ayinda in Lagos

The former Arsenal and FC Barcelona forward came under criticism from some Nigerian fans after joking that wearing a mix of national team kits was “bad luck.”

The incident happened during the World Cup clash between the United States men’s national soccer team and Paraguay national football team, which ended in a 4-1 victory for the United States.

IShowSpeed attended the match wearing a USA jersey paired with Nigerian shorts, prompting Henry’s playful remark.

According to Henry, the joke was misunderstood by some viewers on social media, leading to backlash from Nigerian supporters who interpreted the comments as disrespectful toward Nigeria.

Speaking in a video posted online, Henry moved quickly to clear the air.

“I needed to clarify something because I don’t think people understand when you say stuff sometimes or when a joke is a joke,” Henry said.

The 1998 World Cup winner explained that his comments had nothing to do with Nigeria specifically, but rather the superstition of mixing different kits together.

“I just said to him it is bad luck to break the set. Could have been the shorts of France, Italy or Spain, I would have said the same thing,” he added.

Henry also stressed his admiration for Nigeria and its football supporters, especially Arsenal fans from the country.

“I even said that I love Naija. And by the way, I do. I have my respect for Nigeria and the people there. A lot of Arsenal fans, by the way out there, so don’t misunderstand that stuff, please.”

The French legend concluded by reiterating that Nigeria was never the subject of the joke.

“Nigeria is never bad luck. I was just saying breaking the set is bad luck with any other shorts.”

The clarification has since eased tensions online, with many fans accepting that the exchange with IShowSpeed was intended purely as harmless banter during the World Cup coverage.

The post Thierry Henry Clarifies ‘Nigeria Shorts’ Joke After iShowSpeed Incident’s Backlash  first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.

The post Thierry Henry Clarifies ‘Nigeria Shorts’ Joke After iShowSpeed Incident’s Backlash  appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie, Compliance Manager at 1xBet Nigeria, took part in the Responsible Gaming Symposium, where he focused on one of the biggest challenges for safer gambling in Africa: players need to understand protection tools before they can use them effectively.

At the Symposium, Nnanna presented 1xBet’s view on player education as a core part of responsible gambling. His remarks were built around insights from 1xBet’s research – Independently Commissioned Player Protection Index, which shows that in many African markets betting is still often seen not only as entertainment, but as a possible source of income.

Education before warnings

Nnanna stressed that responsible gambling tools remain important, but they are not enough on their own. Deposit limits, self-exclusion and time-outs can only work when players understand why these tools exist and how they can help.

“If we want safer play, we must teach, not only warn the players. A tool only works when a player understands it. A limit means nothing if a player does not know why it helps,” Nnanna said.

This was the central idea of his contribution: education turns responsible gambling from formal messaging into a practical choice. When players understand the risks, odds, limits and available protection tools, they are more likely to stay in control.

“Education turns a warning into a choice. It helps a player move from betting for hope to betting with control,” he added.

What the data shows

The Player Protection Index research by 1xBet also points to a wider shift in the industry. According to the findings referenced by 1xBet, 69% of operators now agree that a safer player is more profitable over time. This suggests that player protection is increasingly being seen not only as a regulatory requirement, but as part of long-term business sustainability.

The research also shows that 84% of respondents believe player education is the foundation of safer gambling. At the same time, Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor to 1xBet, has highlighted that only a small share of operators strongly believe players fully understand what “Positive Play” means.

For Simon, this shows a clear gap between the tools available and the way players understand them.

“Player education was the foundation of safer gambling. Positive play is when the player is educated and informed of their decisions,” Simon said.

He also connected safer gambling with long-term trust between operators and players.

“If you can retain a player and give a player a safe, fun environment to gamble, then they are going to stay with you longer,” he said.

Africa needs local and practical solutions

The discussion also reflected the specific realities of African markets. Regulation, payment habits, languages, digital access and retail betting culture differ across countries. This means safer gambling standards cannot simply be copied from other regions.

The Player Protection Index by 1xBet points to a 56% / 44% split in views on how consistent player protection standards are across markets. For Nnanna, this reinforces the need for a common base that can be adapted locally.

That base should be simple: set limits, understand odds, take breaks and ask for help when needed. Each market can then adapt the language, examples and delivery channels to its own context.

In markets where many players rely on cash or in-person betting, education may need to come through voice, video, visual formats, local languages and shop staff, not only through long text or formal disclaimers.

“Simple words and pictures travel further than long text,” Nnanna noted.

From compliance to real understanding

Both Nnanna and Simon pointed to the same conclusion: safer gambling in Africa must move beyond small print and generic warnings.

The industry still faces real barriers. Simon has noted that 49% of respondents see commercial considerations as a blocker to player protection, while 67% of players are apathetic towards safer gambling and player protection tools. This is why education matters: many players do not use protection tools because they do not see how those tools apply to them.

For Nnanna, operators and regulators need to agree on what good player education looks like. He pointed to three practical steps: a shared standard for education, room to test what works and honest data-sharing.

“We cannot build trust if we only show the good numbers,” Nnanna said.

For Simon, collaboration is also essential. The research shows that 96% of respondents believe safe gambling is only possible through cooperation between operators and regulators. This cooperation should help turn player protection from a compliance requirement into something players can understand and use.

1xBalance and the next step

1xBet’s responsible gambling work also includes 1xBalance, a dedicated project and website focused on education, self-checking and helping players better understand their betting behaviour.

Through the 1xBalance website, players can access simple educational materials, take a self-assessment test and use a budget calculator to better understand their spending habits. The idea is to make player protection softer, clearer and less intrusive.

Instead of treating responsible gambling as a clinical or distant topic, 1xBalance presents it as something practical: a way for players to check themselves, understand their behaviour and make more informed decisions.

This reflects the main message of the Responsible Gaming Symposium: safer gambling will depend on education, cooperation and tools that players can actually understand.

For 1xBet Nigeria, Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie’s participation showed that responsible gambling in Africa is not only a regulatory issue. It is also a communication challenge, an education challenge and a trust challenge.

The next step is clear: teach better, explain earlier and help players turn protection tools into real choices.

The post 1xBet Nigeria’s Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie Calls for Better Player Education at Responsible Gaming Symposium first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.

The post 1xBet Nigeria’s Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie Calls for Better Player Education at Responsible Gaming Symposium appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.