Sports
Kwara SWAN Lauds FG Over National Award On Yekini
The Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) has commended the Federal Government for recognising late football legend, Rashidi Yekini, with a posthumous Member Order of the Niger (MON) award.
The late Yekini, who hailed from Irra, Oyun Council of Kwara State, was an integral part of the Super Eagles’ golden era. He made history in 1994 when he fired Nigeria to the World Cup in the U.S.A and even scored the country’s first-ever goal at the competition.
The late Yekini was among 11 outstanding personalities from Kwara, and 456 Nigerians, who were conferred with national honours. He was also one of the two Kwara indigenes that got the award posthumously. The other was Chief Superintendent of Police, Benedict Okoh Ajide.
According to a statement signed by Kwara SWAN Secretary, Olayinka Owolewa, the honour is a recognition of the contributions of the late striker to the development of football in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
While describing the late awardee as a true patriot, who paid his dues, both at national and international levels with various clubs, SWAN commended the Federal Government on its decision to honour the late Yekini for his services to his fatherland.
Late Yekini, the all-time top goal scorer for Nigeria, had a successful professional career, which spanned more than two decades. He was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries besides his own.
Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international footballer, and represented the nation in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups, where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition.
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CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
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.
Sports
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
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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