Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets were forced to hold their final training session ahead of their opening match at the WAFU-B U17 Championship on a termite-infested five-a-side pitch in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Tuesday, 13 October.

The Nigerian team had been scheduled to train at the USFA football pitch, but the delegation reportedly discovered on arrival that the facility’s owners had arranged a friendly match for the same time.

The development forced the team to move to a nearby five-a-side pitch beside the main facility, where the playing surface was in poor condition and unsuitable for preparations ahead of an international tournament.

Golden Eaglets’ preparations disrupted by venue change

Nigeria‘s U17 team manager, Paul Okwudolor, reportedly attempted to contact the tournament organisers to address the situation, but his efforts were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The unexpected change left the players and technical crew disappointed, having been denied access to the scheduled training venue for their final preparations.

However, the team resolved to put the setback behind them and focus on their opening fixture against Niger Republic on Wednesday, 14 October.

Golden Eaglets target positive start in WAFU-B U17 Championship

The Golden Eaglets, five-time  FIFA U17 World Cup champions, are seeking a strong start to their campaign as they pursue qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Nigeria must navigate the group stage before advancing to the knockout rounds, with the regional competition serving as the qualifying tournament for next year’s continental championship.

Despite the disruption to their preparations, the Nigerian youngsters will be keen to channel their attention towards the pitch and begin their campaign on a positive note.

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Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji has expressed doubts about the credibility of Thursday’s Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) presidential election, alleging that some stakeholders are being pressured to influence the outcome.

Oyedeji, who is contesting for the federation’s presidency, said concerns over alleged interference involving state officials and changes to the delegate list had cast doubt on the transparency of the electoral process.

Speaking ahead of the 15 October poll in Abuja, the former national team captain called for an election in which delegates could exercise their voting rights without intimidation or undue influence.

He alleged that some individuals had contacted state governors and other government officials in an attempt to sway their positions ahead of the contest.

According to Oyedeji, the alleged interference included calls to stakeholders and attempts to influence their decisions in the run-up to the election.

“I mean, a couple of days before then, you send your letters in, I mean, you see intimidation, you see people calling the chairman,” he said.

He also claimed that a South-East governor had reached out to other governors, directors and commissioners, alleging that the contacts were intended to put pressure on those involved in the electoral process.

Oyedeji maintained that candidates should be allowed to compete on the strength of their support rather than through tactics that could undermine the credibility of the election.

He further questioned the rationale behind the alleged pressure on stakeholders, arguing that candidates confident of their backing should have no need to resort to such measures.

The claims, however, have not been independently verified.

Delegate list sparks further questions

Beyond the alleged pressure on stakeholders, Oyedeji expressed concern over reported changes to the list of delegates expected to participate in the election.

He suggested that the development had heightened his reservations about the process, questioning whether the poll would meet the standards of transparency and fairness expected of a federation-wide election.

“We have to have a free or fair election. We’re talking about the free, fair election. Are we gonna have a free election? Yes, are we going to have a fair election? I don’t know,” he said.

The presidential aspirant added that he was not convinced the process would be fair, given what he described as developments surrounding the delegate list.

“I don’t think so, because maybe we’re just going there to just start with what’s already been planned,” he said.

His comments place the spotlight on the electoral process as the federation prepares to elect its next leadership, with the conduct of the poll likely to be closely watched by candidates and basketball stakeholders.

Committee assures stakeholders

The NBBF presidential election is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The federation’s Electoral Committee, chaired by Dr Lanre Glover, has assured stakeholders that the election will be conducted freely and fairly, with candidates afforded equal opportunities under the applicable electoral guidelines.

As the election approaches , attention will be on the committee’s ability to address concerns surrounding the process and ensure that the election is transparent and credible.

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The Super Falcons booked their place in the third round of the LA 2028 Olympics qualifiers after thrashing Comoros 5-0 in Tuesday’s second leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, to complete a commanding 7-0 aggregate victory.

Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu scored twice each, while Christy Ucheibe converted a penalty as Nigeria turned their 2-0 first-leg advantage into a comprehensive victory on home soil.

The result sends the 10-time African champions into the next round, where they will face Morocco in their quest to secure a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Payne breaks the deadlock

The Super Falcons dominated much of the opening half but initially struggled to convert their chances into goals.

Nigeria suffered an early setback when captain Rasheedat Ajibade was forced off following a heavy collision in the 28th minute. Folashade Ijamilusi came on as her replacement.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 41st minute when Kanu capitalised on a mistake by the Comoros goalkeeper before squaring the ball for Payne to finish from close range.

Nigeria took their 1-0 lead into half-time, extending their aggregate advantage to 3-0.

Kanu and Payne strike again

The Super Falcons returned from the interval with greater attacking intent and doubled their lead on the night in the 58th minute.

Ijamilusi delivered a cross into the penalty area, which Kanu met with a header to make it 2-0 and further strengthen Nigeria’s grip on the tie.

Payne completed her brace in the 63rd minute after substitute Blessing Okpe beat two Comoros defenders before setting up the midfielder to finish.

Three minutes later, Kanu added her second goal of the match, heading home another Ijamilusi delivery to put Nigeria 4-0 ahead on the night.

The forward’s brace and Payne’s two goals underlined Nigeria’s attacking superiority as Comoros struggled to contain the hosts after the break.

Ucheibe completes the rout

Nigeria completed the scoring in the 71st minute when Ucheibe converted from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was awarded after Okpe was fouled inside the penalty area, allowing Ucheibe to put the finishing touch on an emphatic performance.

The five-goal victory ensured that the Super Falcons advanced with a clean sheet across both legs, having also won the opening fixture 2-0.

Morocco await in third round

The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to Morocco in the third round of the African qualifying campaign.

Morocco advanced automatically after the Republic of the Congo withdrew from the competition, setting up a more demanding test for Nigeria as the race for Olympic qualification continues.

With only two places available for African teams at the LA 2028 Women’s Football Tournament, the Super Falcons will need to maintain their momentum as they pursue consecutive Olympic appearances following their return at Paris 2024.

Nigeria’s emphatic win over Comoros provides a strong platform, but the upcoming tie against Morocco will offer a clearer measure of their progress towards securing a place at the Games.

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