Author: Enitan Obadina

Olayinka Olajide won three medals, the highest by any Nigerian at the athletics event of the 2023 African Games to announce herself as the latest speedster in Nigeria and Africa. Bronze in the 100m women, Silver in the 200m women, and gold in the women’s 4X100m relay gave her the honour of three medals at her debut African Games. AJ Gold Strikes Gold in Accra Running in her first African Games, and first 100m final where she became the first Nigerian athlete to qualify for the final of her event in Athletics at the 2023 African Games. Olajide got to…

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Alex Iwobi’s role in the Nigerian team has drawn the ire of the fans for lack of adventure in attack. In the absence of an attacking midfielder, Alex has been the go-to player for the Eagles’ attack, but that is missing at the AFCON. Despite his explanations at a pre-match conference, Alex Iwobi’s role still draws a lot of conversation, and Sportsintel decided to run his numbers. “I have been told to manage the ball & keep the ball for my team. “The role me & Frank told to do is to control the game as much as we…

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An Ademola Lookman’s goal in the first half earns Nigeria a win over Angola and a semi-final spot at the 2023 AFCON. Man of the match, Simon Moses beat Kialondar Gaspar on the left wing before squaring a pass to Lookman to blast home for the only goal of the game. Sportsintel provides five key insights featuring the good and the bad in the 1-0 win over Angola. Super Nwabali: The fitness of Stanley Nwabali was the talking point going into the game after he picked up an injury against Cameroon. Super Nwabali had two moments where he kept Nigeria…

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The Super Eagles duo of Alhassan Yusuf and Troost Ekong is back in full training according to clips of training released by the Super Eagles media. Before the latest training videos and pictures, Yusuf has been training alone, while Troost Ekong has an ice pack on his leg. Meanwhile, the news of Alhassan Yusuf returning to full training will bring succor to the Eagles Midfield after his impressive performance in the first game. Alhassan Yusuf became an instant hit for the team on his AFCON debut against Equatorial Guinea before picking up a knock. On his part, Troost Ekong picked…

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Nigeria recorded a clean sheet against AFCON host, Cote d’Ivoire for the first time in five matches and it was down to to Jose Peseiro’s new system. In an all-important second game, pragmatic football, good defensive shape, and some attacking complacency characterized the win. Jose Peseiro’s New System: A Background Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro’s 4-3-3 system in the friendly against Guinea offers Insight into Changes In the team ahead Of AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. Peseiro revealed that he experimented with different formations during his team’s recent friendly 2-0 loss against Guinea. The encounter at the Banis Yas Stadium in…

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Nigeria has Gift Orban, Chuba Akpom, Dessers, Akor, and Onuachu fit as a fiddle but now has just one fit striker for the AFCON Opener. Despite having a striker glut, the Super Eagles coach will be lacking fit strikers at the 2023 AFCON. Sadiq Umar becomes the second striker to pull out of the AFCON for Nigeria after Boniface according to Owngoal. Terem Moffi will only join the team after the weekend, while Iheanacho is not match fit. The Origin Of The Striker Challenge During preparations for the AFCON, Nigeria played safe by listing only a 41-player-roster against the maximum…

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The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the jersey numbers of participating teams at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. SportsIntel provides insights into which player will adorn what is now known as Iconic Super Eagles numbers. Iconic Super Eagles Numbers: Number 10, The Magic Is Missing Austin JJ Okocha, Etim Esin, the super brat, and Henry Nwosu are some of the illustrious stars to adorn the world-famous number 10 jersey for Nigeria. For the 2023 AFCON, the jersey belongs to Joseph Aribo. The Southampton Midfielder pales compared to the former illustrious stars that adorned the number for the Super…

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“I want to sincerely appeal to President Bola Tinubu to increase the budgetary provision for sports development even though the 2024 sports budget has been signed into law, particularly now that 2024 has a lot of local and international sporting events across the globe.” President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, makes a yearly call by federations on the Federal Government to do more for sports. For a country working on passing a sports bill that will professionalize sports, the 2024 sports budget is far from its ambition. Nigeria Sports Industry Bill: A Talk and No Walk Yet. According…

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Additional Analysis: Atumu Voke The jury is out on the Eagles’ Playmaker role after Jose Peseiro released the 25-man roster for the 2023 AFCON In Cote d’Ivoire. The evolution of football tactics means a team can play without a natural playmaker. What can Jose Peseiro do to make it obvious your playmaker role is covered? He gets 2 or 3 players with specific skills to cover the void. Most teams will go for the obvious and use one winger and two attacking midfielders to do most of the playmaking. Eagles Playmaker: Peseiro’s Current System and How It Has Failed Each…

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Super Eagles coach Peseiro has listed eight debutants in his 25-man roster for the 2024 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. Three-time champions Nigeria have picked a team of 25 players for their onslaught for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title, with Head Coach Jose Peseiro settling for usual suspects in a roster that has three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards. Captain Ahmed Musa returns to the squad after he was left out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series, while South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili is picked alongside Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo. 2009 U17 World…

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