Sports
Debutants! Meet Nigeria’s AFCON Newcomers
It has been a mixed season for Bassey with Fulham this season but his performances for the Cottagers was enough to convince Peseiro to hand the defender a spot on the team.
The defender will hope to give a good account of himself at his first AFCON with the national team in a tricky Group A.
The 23-year-old has been heavily criticised for his underwhelming performance for the Eagles but now he has a chance to prove his doubters wrong in Abidjan.
Bassey has been a regular for Fulham this campaign and has made 17 appearances for the Cottagers and most notably sacrificed himself and picked up a red card in a match against Arsenal as they earned a 2-2 draw at the Emirates.
Lookman’s skillful and creative style of play has been a highlight in Italy for Atalanta, where he has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 18 Serie A appearances this season.
His inclusion in the Eagles squad adds versatility and attacking flair to the team’s forward line and he will be keen to add to his goal tally for Nigeria. In the pre-tournament friendly against Saudi side, Al Gharbi, on Sunday, the winger scored four goals for the Eagles as they claimed a convincing 12-0 win.
Terem Moffi
Moffi was called up to the Eagles squad as a replacement for the injured Victor Boniface on Tuesday. Moffi made his international debut in June 2021, scoring four goals in 14 games, but had initially failed to make the cut in coach Jose Peseiro’s side despite his six goals for Nice since the start of the season.
The 24-year-old has been pivotal for OGC Nice in the Ligue 1 this season as he bagged a brace against PSG on September 15 scoring the winner in the 3-2 victory.
Raphael Onyedika
Onyedika has been earning comparisons to France W’Cup winner Paul Pogba since last year and the 22-year-old versatile midfielder brings his skill and creativity to the Eagles squad.
He made his national team debut on September 27, 2022 and has since made three appearances for the Super Eagles while providing one assist.
Since joining Club Brugge in August 2022, Onyedika has made 72 appearances across all competitions for the Belgian club scoring one goal and providing one assist.
Alhassan Yusuf
Another Nigerian plying his trade for a Belgian side, Yusuf of Royal Antwerp is not only an AFCON newcomer but also a Super Eagles new boy. Yusuf was a last minute replacement for injured Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and the midfielder can make a name for himself at the competition.
Yusuf who last season won a double of both the Belgian Pro League and Belgian Cup, is although not at the same level as Ndidi but he is a quality ball winning midfielder. This season, he has made 23 club appearances across all competitions and has scored one goal and provided three assists.
Bright Osayi-Samuel
The Eagles starting right-back heading into the 34th edition of the AFCON, Osayi-Samuel is one of Nigeria’s players who have been in excellent form since the start of tue 2023/24 season.
The 25-year-old has appeared 24 times for Fenerbahce across all competitions this season, scoring two goals and registering four assists.
The Nigerian is one of Europe’s defender with highest number of assists this term. His service on the right flank will definitely help the team draw out opponents and as striker, Victor Osimhen, will hope, earn goals.
Stanley Nwabali
Nwabali is one of the two goalkeepers in the Eagles squad making their debut at the tournament.
The former Lobi Stars keeper, who had already been capped by the home-based Eagles, has been in great form for Chippa United, keeping seven clean sheets in 15 games and conceding 14 goals in South Africa’s topflight division.
Nwabili, known for his proficiency with his feet is not without quirks. His eccentric style is evident in the six yellow cards he has already received this season.
It remains to be seen if the 6ft5in keeper will be able to displace Francis Uzoho, whose inclusion in the AFCON squad has been heavily criticised.
Olorunleke Ojo
Enyimba’s first choice will battle Nwabili for the second choice position. Ojo is the only player from the Nigeria Premier Football League in the squad and he has blown hot and cold for the Enyimba this term despite their recent impressive results.
Ojo recently won the NPFL title in 2023 but despite his accolades, Ojo’s lack of international experience introduces an element of uncertainty.
Debuting in the pressure cooker of the AFCON might be a risk Peseiro is hesitant to take.
Bruno Onyemaechi
Determined to battle Zaidu Sanusi for the starting left back position, Onyemaechi has made 12 appearances for Boavista in the Portuguese topflight league this season has provided one assist.
Also capable of playing as a centre-back, Onyemaechi made his national team debut on September 10, 2023 in a 6-0 win over Sáo Tomé and Principé in the final group game of the AFCON qualifiers. He has gone on to make two more appearances for the Eagles.
The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist spoke to Tidesports source her desire to defend her para singles title in the women’s category and to also secure a qualification berth for both the regional West Africa para table tennis event in Abeokuta in September and the continental championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt in November.
The multiple Paralympian said, “My expectation is to come out great at this wonderful tournament and to qualify for the forthcoming tournament that is coming up in Nigeria and Egypt in September and November. Last tournament, I won the singles. I won three golds at the last ValueJet tournament. And I want to believe and hope that I will maintain my position by coming in first position.”
Ugwueke had featured in the para event at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in January, where she suffered a stunning defeat to eventual finalist and tournament runner-up Taiye Oyinloye, who in turn was beaten 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) by Commonwealth Games medallist, Kate Oputa, to become the women’s class 1-5 champion.
The ValueJet Lagos Para table tennis Open, which is in its seventh edition, is an event sanctioned by the governing body ITTF Africa and put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission.
The event will come to a close on July 11, with the competition serving as qualifiers for the country’s players for the regional tournament in Abeokuta.
A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events.
Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.
Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.
The AIU announced in the June 2025 sanctions list on July 1 that 21-year-old quarter-miler Uko was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation committed on June 5 2024. Her infraction falls under whereabouts failures, having missed three tests within a 12-month period.
The AIU confirmed that her period of ineligibility will run until 23 July 2026 and all results recorded from the date of the infraction have been officially disqualified.
Uko rose to fame after clinching three gold medals at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, winning the women’s 400 metres, 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay.
Stephen Eloji (June 2028)
Sprinter and hurdler Stephen Eloji tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-
The 25-year-old was active in the American collegiate circuit, recording strong performances in the 110m hurdles and relay events as recently as April 2024, including at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Music City Challenge.
Ada Princess Bright (September 2027)
Ada Princess Bright is serving a four-year ineligibility period after testing positive for Metenolone during the National Athletics Trials held on July 6 2023 in Benin City.
She had an active season prior to her suspension, competing in national meets in Lagos, Uyo, and Benin, and earning a relay gold at the African U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.
Grace Nwokocha (August 2025)
Nwokocha is serving a three-year ban after testing positive for SARMS substances including Ostarine and Ligandrol during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The fallout was significant, as Nigeria was stripped of its women’s 4x100m relay gold medal at the Games. Prior to her suspension, she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, posted a personal best of 11.00s in the 100m, and reached the semi-finals in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She is ineligible to compete until 2 August 2025.
Yinka Ajayi (January 2030)
Ajayi, a 400m specialist and one-time Olympic representative, is currently serving an extended eight-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.
The first sanction, issued after she tested positive for Metenolone in an out-of-competition test in Iowa, USA, led to a four-year ban starting in December 2021. However, further findings of tampering led to an additional four-year penalty in 2024, extending her suspension until January 25 2030.
Glory Okon (January 2026)
Glory Okon is serving a four-year ban for testing positive for Metenolone following an out-of-competition test conducted on December 2 2021 in Nigeria.
She previously won gold in the 400 metres at the 2019 African U-20 Championships in Abidjan and featured prominently at the 2021 National Sports Festival in Benin City.
Blessing Okagbare (July 2031)
Once the face of Nigerian athletics, Okagbare is now serving a 10-year ban following multiple anti-doping rule violations. She tested positive for human growth hormone and EPO in an out-of-competition test in June 2021.
Her suspension came while competing at the Tokyo Olympics and was announced in February 2022. It was later extended by an additional year in June 2022 due to further breaches.
Divine Oduduru (February 2029)
Oduduru’s career was derailed by anti-doping violations linked to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On October 12 2023, a Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU imposed a six-year ban on Oduduru after he was found guilty of possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances and methods. The case stemmed from the wider investigation into Eric Lira, the first individual convicted under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, who supplied banned substances to athletes, including Okagbare, ahead of the Tokyo Games.
Oduduru’s ban is effective from February 9, 2023 and will run until February 8, 2029.
Henry Azike (Lifetime ban)
Azike is one of two Nigerian athletes currently serving a lifetime ban after testing positive for Metenolone, an anabolic steroid. His case was classified as a second ADRV, automatically triggering a lifetime suspension from the sport.
Azike last competed in 2011, including at the Doha Amir Cup and Nigerian Championships in Calabar.
Vivian Chukwuemeka (Lifetime ban)
Two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Vivian Chukwuemeka is serving a lifetime ban for a second doping offence after testing positive for Stanozolol at the 2012 National Championships in Calabar.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion and multiple-time African gold medallist had previously served a two-year ban following a 2009 positive test. Her personal best of 18.43m remains the African record in women’s shot put.
Invited players into the Super Eagles B camp ahead of the rescheduled African Nations Championship tournament are feeling the pressure of selection, three days into their training camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The eighth CHAN tournament is taking place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between August 2 to 20.
Ahead of the tournament, head coach Eric Chelle had invited an initial 35 players to camp and they began training on Monday with 21 players.
Five more players arrived on Tuesday to take the number to 26 while 28 players trained on Wednesday morning with the rest expected before the end of the week.
Captain of the team through the qualifiers, Junior Nduka, spoke about the intensity of the sessions and the jostle to make the final squad.
“Everybody is under pressure but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” Nduka said.
River United and former Flying Eagles forward, Aniekeme Okon, also admitted the pressure.
“It puts pressure on us, 35 players being invited, everybody is going to give out their best with an expectation of being selected. So we keep pushing.”
Ikorodu City defender, Leonard Ngenge also said, “Obviously, it puts everyone under pressure even myself. But I just need to do my best to be on the coaches’ radar.”
Nigeria, the 2018 runners-up, are in group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo.
The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.