Sports
Yakubu Rallies Eagles Against Greece
Yakubu Ayegbeni has said that Nigeria must put their opening day defeat to Argentina behind them and focus on their next game against Greece tomorrow.
The Super Eagles were beaten 1-0 by the Argentines and the striker says it is time to look ahead.
“We need to focus on our next game,” he said. “Every game is important and we want to win and get to the next round. It is not going to be easy, but we have to get there for the fans.”
The team has received praise for their performance against Argentina despite the defeat and the Everton man is convinced that this was the best display the team has put up in recent years.
“We did well and we were unlucky not to win. It was a good game for me, and I think it is one of the best games we have played in recent years.
“It is good because now the confidence is there and we believe that we can get to the second round.”
Yakubu gives credit to coach Lars Lagerback for the improvements in the side.
“The new manager has come in and brought his own style. It’s been so good and we are enjoying it. We struggled in the first game, but we are getting better with every game, and I believe we will improve even more.”
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.
He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.
According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.
“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.
The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.
Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.
Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.
Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.
The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.
Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.
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