Sports
W/Cup Draw: ‘S’Eagles Ready For Any Opponent’
Nigeria may have disap
pointed at their last two FIFA World Cups but expectations are high of a better showing in Brazil next year, irrespective of the first-round group they are drawn in today.
The Super Eagles have not won a World Cup finals match since a 1-0 win over Bulgaria at France 1998. But defender Efe Ambrose said they should not dread clashing with any team in the first round in Brazil. Instead other sides should be apprehensive after a meeting with the African champions.
“We are African champions and instead of trying to avoid any team in the group stage, it should be the other teams trying to avoid us,” the Celtic defender said this week.
“All we need to do is to prepare very well for the competition by playing some top friendlies and making sure that we are fit and playing for our various clubs in Europe. We must be ready to play against the best teams in the world if we wish to make an impact at the World Cup.”
Sporting Braga ace Elderson Echiejile meanwhile said confidence had been running high in Nigeria’s squad since they won a third CAF Africa Cup of Nations in February, making them ready for the challenge. “I can confidently say we have a good team right now. We have more confidence as a team and that is what I think is going for us right now and that would really help us at the World Cup,” said the defender.
“As a team, we do not have a limit to what we could achieve. I believe so much in this team to shock the world in Brazil. But we should not expect the best draw because there are a lot of great teams going to the World Cup. But whatever team we would be paired against in the draw would be a difficult team because they all went through the qualifiers, so they would be tough to play against.”
Nigeria are now a settled side under former skipper Stephen Keshi and suggestions of hiring a foreign coach for the World Cup, as was the case for the 2010 competition, have been dismissed by officials. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have also promised a good build-up for the World Cup, with the government equally promising a financial lifeline for the cash-strapped association
The NFF said it was working on proposals for a training base in either Colombia, Argentina or the United States before the kick-off in June next year. “The task ahead is a very huge one and as champions of the continent, we must have the best preparation as a lot is expected of this team,” said the head of the NFF Technical Committee, Chris Green.
Brazil will be Nigeria’s fifth World Cup. Their best performances at the tournament came on their debut in 1994 and again in 1998, when they reached the knockout round of 16.
Golden Eaglets star, Kelechi Iheanacho to join CHAN Eagles
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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