SPORTS
Former Manchester United youth coach, Jonathan Hill, has expressed interest in taking on the coaching job of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles.
This comes at a time when the Super Eagles are seeking stability and a new direction following recent changes in the coaching staff.
Note that a former Nigeria international, Augustine Eguavoen, has successfully led the Super Eagles to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite this achievement, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) remains focused on bringing in an expatriate coach who can provide a fresh perspective and approach to the team’s strategy and development.
Hill, who recently concluded his tenure as the assistant coach at Rotherham United in the English Football League, has already taken proactive steps by submitting his application to the NFF for the head coaching position.
In a conversation with Sports Boom, he shared his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “This is a position I very much fancy because of its demanding nature and the relentless pursuit of delivering top results.”
He highlighted his admiration for Nigerian players, noting, “I’ve always known Nigerian players to be incredibly athletic, technically skilled, and brimming with energy.”
Hill emphasized the extensive talent pool in Nigeria and expressed his commitment to nurturing young players who align with the team’s philosophy and can elevate the national squad’s performance on an international stage.
[Sportsboom ]
Retired Andy Murray has agreed to join Novak Djokovic’s team and will coach him at the Australian Open next year, the Serbian 24-times Grand Slam champion said on Saturday.
Briton Murray retired after this year’s Olympics in Paris where Djokovic won the gold medal.
The two 37-year-olds, both former world number ones, played each other 36 times, with Djokovic winning 25 matches on the ATP Tour.
“We have played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,” Djokovic said.
“We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers. I thought our story may be over, turns out it has one final chapter.
“It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome on board, coach Andy Murray.”
Djokovic won nine of his 24 Grand Slams with Goran Ivanisevic as his coach but the Croatian left his team in March.
“I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open,” said Murray, a three-times Grand Slam winner and twice Olympic gold medallist.
“I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.”
Djokovic did not win a major this year and has slipped to seventh in the world rankings.
[Leadership]
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has stated that Manchester City’s dream to win five successive premiership titles in a row could be dashed if his side loses to table-toppers, Liverpool next week Sunday.
Speaking to ESPN on Saturday after Manchester city’s fifth defeat in all competitions and third straight league game with a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Guardiola said an 11-point gap if City lose to Arne Slot’s team would be too much to overhaul even at this stage of the season.
The Reds can go eight points clear if they defeat Southampton on Sunday.
When told that an 11-point gap could be too much to overcome, he replied: “Yeah, it’s true.
“We’re not thinking about winning or losing [the title]. We are not in the situation to think about what is going to happen at the end of the season.
“If in the end we don’t win it’s because we don’t deserve it. We won it in the past because we deserved it.”
[Punch]
YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul has expressed a keen interest in stepping into the ring with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Following his impressive victory over boxing legend Mike Tyson, Jake Paul’s ambition to transition into the heavyweight division has become more prominent.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Paul’s promotional partner, Nakisa Bidarian, shed light on this exciting prospect. “Jake’s feedback to me was, ‘I want to do that fight. Not now. But I want to do that.’ He is aiming to be a world champion at cruiserweight,” Bidarian shared.
Paul’s career has already challenged traditional norms in the boxing world, and a matchup against Joshua or other heavyweight contenders such as Daniel Dubois would certainly push new boundaries.
Bidarian emphasized that the motivation behind these potential fights is not driven by financial gain—Paul has been a millionaire since he was 18—but rather to explore the limits of what is achievable in the sport and to create memorable moments that resonate with fans.
“Jake weighed in at 227lbs for the Tyson fight but typically walks around at 215lbs,” Bidarian noted. “In the right environment and framework, he’s eager to exceed expectations. It’s about creating experiences that make people say, ‘Wow, that really happened.’”
Paul’s ambitions come at a time of speculation regarding Joshua’s boxing future. Former unified light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan recently advised Joshua to prioritize a highly anticipated match with Tyson Fury before considering retirement.
“Joshua should wait for the big fight against Tyson Fury,” Khan told New Zealand Daily. “AJ has achieved a great deal in boxing… but concluding his career with a fight against Fury could be a remarkable way to go out.”
Joshua, who has earned over $200 million throughout his career, is currently in recovery from injuries sustained during his knockout loss to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September. Promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that Joshua is not expected to return to the ring before May 2024.
Following the successful conclusion of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, the Super Eagles will now shift their focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
For Nigeria, the road ahead is challenging. Apart from her precarious position in the World Cup qualifying Group, the Eagles are not sure of who will lead them through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Nigeria Football Federation are yet to appoint a substantive coach for the team.
After delivering the 2025 AFCON ticket, it is believed that coach Austin Eguavoen who was appointed in an interim capacity will return to his desk as the Technical Director of the NFF.. Although many Nigerians have been calling for a permanent deal for Eguavoen, his employers are yet to say a word in that direction.
However with their penchant for foreign coaches, the NFF, we are told, are still in search of a good but affordable foreign coach. Whether Eguavoen will still lead the team in 2025 is yet to be seen.
As for the World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles must win all their remaining fixtures while relying on other teams in the group to disrupt South Africa’s campaign.
The qualifiers resume in March 2025, with South Africa hosting Lesotho and Nigeria traveling to Rwanda.
The Super Eagles had a very rough concluding part of the 2025 AFCON Qualifying campaign after a bright start. The Eguavoen tutored team tasted their first defeat in the final rounds of the campaign against Rwanda, the same team they will confront in March, when the World Cup campaign resumes. Eguavoen has since dismissed the defeat and assured that the result will not work against them in the World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria, with a huge point deficit, lies in a disappointing fifth place with three points, four behind South Africa, with six games left in the qualifying series. Rwanda with 7 points and a plus 2 aggregate tops the group, followed by South Africa with 7 points and plus 1, Benin also on 7 points with a zero goals aggregate are third and Lesotho on 6 points lies fourth. The only country below Nigeria is Zimbabwe. It will be an uphill task for Nigeria to qualify.
The Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is talking tough. Broos is optimistic about his side’s chances of securing the 2026 World Cup ticket ahead of Nigeria and other contenders in Group C.
Meanwhile, Broos, whose side topped Group K in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for Morocco 2025, believes South Africa’s recent form gives them the edge.
Reflecting on their progress, he remarked: “It doesn’t mean that we have to now think that we are where we have to be. No. But little by little we are becoming a very good team.”
He continued: “That will give us the confidence that we need for the next thing we have to do, which is qualify for the World Cup.
“But I’m confident that we can do it. I think, if SA can qualify for the World Cup it is now because we have quality; we have a good team. We can do it. But we still have to do it.”
South Africa’s Bafana have not lost a match since their semifinal exit against Nigeria at the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON.
In their last World Cup qualifier, they drew 1-1 with Nigeria in Uyo, a game where they nearly claimed all three points.
Broos plans to capitalise on South Africa’s AFCON momentum to navigate the World Cup qualifiers.
The coach expects to collect maximum points in their next matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, believing this will secure their ticket.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has stated that late Super Eagles legend Rashidi Yekini is the greatest Nigerian striker ever.
He stated this despite being on course to break the former Olympiakos forward’s goalscoring record.
Osimhen, who recently equalled Segun Odegbami as Nigeria’s joint second-highest goalscorer with 23 goals after netting in the 1-1 draw against Benin Republic last Thursday, still trails Yekini’s record of 37 goals in 62 appearances for the Eagles.
The 25-year-old, in a video recently posted on social media, insisted that surpassing Yekini’s record would not diminish the late striker’s legacy.
“No, no. I really don’t care about this. I just want to do my job and try to win games, score goals, and provide a lot of assists for my team,” Osimhen said.
“Then if I equal it, I equal it, if I surpass it, I surpass it, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles have ever had. This record stood for a very, very long time and it still stands, so I think we should give him his flowers and also celebrate him.”
Yekini, who wrote his name in Nigerian football folklore by scoring the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal, dominated African football during his prime, claiming the top scorer award at the Africa Cup of Nations in consecutive tournaments – 1992 and 1994.
The late striker’s impressive tally of 37 goals has stood for nearly three decades, highlighting the magnitude of his achievement and the challenge facing Osimhen in his pursuit of the record.
Osimhen’s journey to potentially breaking the record has seen him emerge as one of Africa’s most lethal strikers, with the majority of his 23 goals coming in AFCON qualification matches, demonstrating his importance to the national team’s success.
The on-loan Napoli man had the opportunity to reduce the gap to Yekini’s record on Monday but could not find the net after coming on as a 77th-minute substitute in Nigeria’s shock 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in Uyo.
With potentially more games ahead in both the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, and with time on the young striker’s side, Osimhen has the opportunity to close in on Yekini’s record.
A Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA test) analysis has revealed that Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior, hails from Cameroon.
The test result recently presented to the player uncovered his ancestral ties to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.
Naija News understands that the DNA test was conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com.
The findings were revealed on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, during a ceremony held at Fonte Nova, where Vinicius was awarded a certificate that attests to his heritage.
According to Foot Boom, Vinicius received this certificate in the presence of his father, Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira, and the CBF president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, shortly before Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.
This initiative is part of the CBF’s ‘Roots of Gold’ campaign, which aims to honour the history and pride of the Afro-Brazilian community, especially within the realm of football.
Speaking at the event, Rodrigues emphasized the broader significance of the initiative, stating, “To celebrate Vini Jr. is to celebrate the success of all Brazilians. By knowing his origins, we reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive society, recognising the fundamental role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and our success in global football.”
Moment Vinicius Junior was presented a certificate that confirmed his root after DNA Test
The founder and president of AfricanAncestry.com, Gina Paige, highlighted the importance of reconnecting individuals of African descent with their roots.
“Vini Jr. carries within him the desire to honour his heritage. However, like many individuals of African descent, his ancestral story has been erased by racism and the legacy of slavery. Through a DNA test, we discovered that Vini Jr.’s ancestors belong to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.
“We believe that Vini’s reconnection with his African roots is a powerful ‘act of resistance,’ in line with his advocacy for social justice both on and off the football pitch,” Page stated.
Remarking on the development, the player’s father said: “It’s important for us to know where we come from. Many Brazilians don’t know their ancestry or heritage. I’m happy we are from Cameroon too.”
Vinícius celebrated his recently discovered heritage by wearing a distinctive jersey adorned with the flags of Brazil and Cameroon during the match, which concluded with a score of 1-1.
The lineup of 24 countries for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is complete, with Mozambique claiming the final spot following a 2-1 win over Guinea-Bissau.
The tournament, set to begin in December next year, will be hosted by Morocco, who automatically have a place in the competition as the host nation.
The competition will feature a mix of traditional powerhouses and rising teams, all eager to make their mark on the continental stage.
Among the qualified nations are former champions Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, and title holders Côte d’Ivoire, who all demonstrated strong performances during the qualifiers.
Other iconic teams like Nigeria, Tunisia, and South Africa also earned their places, ensuring the presence of some of Africa’s most renowned footballing nations.
The tournament also welcomes back teams like DR Congo, Angola, and Gabon, with Botswana making a long-awaited return after a 12-year absence.
Sudan and Benin clinched their spots on the final day of qualifiers, adding to the drama.
With all 24 slots now filled, the stage is set for an unforgettable AFCON in Morocco.
Full List of 24 Countries for AFCON 2025
Morocco (Hosts)
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Algeria
DR Congo
Senegal
Egypt
Angola
Equatorial Guinea
Cote d’Ivoire
Uganda
South Africa
Gabon
Tunisia
Nigeria
Zambia
Mali
Zimbabwe
Comoros
Sudan
Benin
Tanzania
Botswana
Mozambique
Super Eagles caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen has expressed confidence that the recent 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda will not hinder his team’s performance in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
This unexpected loss, which occurred on Monday, has raised concerns among fans and analysts alike, but Eguavoen remains resolute about his team’s prospects.
The Super Eagles are set to face off against the Amavubi again when the World Cup qualifiers resume in March 2025.
Despite the disappointing outcome during their last encounter in Uyo, Eguavoen insisted that his players will not be burdened by this setback in their preparations for the next match in Kigali.
“This defeat will not have any negative impact on our quest for World Cup qualification,” Eguavoen stated, acknowledging his disappointment but emphasizing the importance of learning from the defeat.
He added, “We have learned a hard lesson from this experience, and we plan to thoroughly evaluate our performance. We will implement new strategies to ensure we are better prepared to tackle them next time.”
At present, the Super Eagles find themselves struggling in Group C, remaining winless with three draws and one defeat across their first four matches.
This precarious situation has relegated them to fifth place in the group standings, accumulating only three points. The three-time African champions are aware that significant improvements are necessary if they aim to turn their fortune around and revive their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel is taking over an England side with “all of the tools” to win the 2026 World Cup, says departing interim manager Lee Carsley.
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel begins his new role on January 1 after being given an 18-month
contract by the Football Association.
The German’s primary mission is to win the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026 and end England’s long and painful wait for a major trophy.
Carsley, who took over on a temporary basis after Gareth Southgate resigned in July, secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with five wins from his six games.
He believes England have the talent to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966 after several agonising near misses under Southgate.
“We have all of the tools,” he said. “We just need to play them in the (right) order.”
Carsley will hand over to Tuchel after Sunday’s 5-0 send-off against Ireland at Wembley, having given debuts to eight players during his temporary spell in charge.
“Thomas’s pool of players has increased, so we’ve left the squad in a fantastic position,” he said.
“We’ll collate our thoughts, along with the rest of the players, in terms of handing over something valuable he can read and look through. Then we’ll step back and support him.”
Carsley, who returns to his role as England Under-21 manager, said the challenge is achieving balance by using the best talent, with fierce competition for places.
“One thing you don’t get with international camps is time, so we just have to find that balance,” he said.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is also upbeat about the future, believing Tuchel could be the man to get the team over the line.
Pickford has been part of the England team that has lost the past two European Championship finals and reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the World Cup.
“There’s definitely new energy, and there’s going to be a lot of competition for places,” he said.
“But that’s what it’s about. You want the best players for England at the right moment, and hopefully, going forward next year, we’ll have that squad ready to win.”
[Vanguard]
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Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho started for the Super Eagles in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Monday but weren’t as impressive as expected.
Boniface played for 89 minutes, while Iheanacho’s struggle culminated in his substitution at halftime.
Addressing Iheanacho’s performance, Eguavoen acknowledged his importance to the national team, saying: “Kelechi Iheanacho is an asset to the national team; he needs some encouragement.”
Eguavoen emphasized his previous discussions with Iheanacho, reassuring him that he would have the opportunity to start and play for at least 45 minutes to regain his confidence.
Turning his attention to Boniface, the coach expressed a sense of urgency regarding the forward’s development, noting: “I have spoken with Boniface several times; I have done enough. He is important to this team.”
Recall that the Super Eagles, who have qualified for the 2025 AFCON after drawing 1-1 with Benin Republic on Thursday, suffered an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in their last game of the campaign.
The match began positively for Nigeria, with Samuel Chukwueze giving them the lead just before the hour mark. However, the Rwandan team, under the management of Thorsten Spitler, showcased resilience and came back to claim victory with goals from Jimmy Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti.
After the final whistle, Eguavoen expressed his disappointment with the team’s overall performance, saying: “It was below standard, and I feel very sad.”
He reflected on the game’s progression, stating, “This result was not what we planned for. We scored and were pushing for a second goal, but quite against the run of play, we conceded.”
Eguavoen added that he attempted to adapt the team’s tactics mid-game by altering the formation, but unfortunately, these changes did not yield the desired outcome.
[NaijaNews]
Rafael Nadal said he is unsure what role he will play at the Davis Cup this week, but he added he is at peace with his decision to retire from the sport and said any emotion will be kept in check until after the Davis Cup finishes.
Nadal, 38, was speaking on the eve of him taking part in his final competition in professional tennis as he lines up for Spain in the Davis Cup for its tie with the Netherlands. Spain captain David Ferrer would not be drawn on whether Nadal will play singles or doubles on Tuesday, but Nadal said he is ready to give his all for his country.
“If I’m on the court I hope to control my emotions. I’m not here to retire, I’m here to help the team win,” Nadal told a news conference.
“It’s my last week in a team competition and the most important thing is to help the team. Emotions will come at the end. Before and after I’ll be focused on what I have to do.”
It was a packed press room in Malaga on Monday for Spain’s team, as Nadal fielded questions on whether he had any regrets over retiring, and his emotions, as he prepared for one final swing.
He was sat on stage next to the other members of the Spanish team — including Carlos Alcaraz — but the attention was on Nadal, complete with his 22 Grand Slams and incredible legacy in the sport.
“It’s something that I have been thinking about for quite a long time, I wanted to have one more chance,” Nadal said.
“I have tried to work as hard as possible in the last month and a half. Just trying to do my best every single day. It’s difficult to hold the level on a constant basis when you’re not competing for a while. The improvement is there but we have a great team in Spain. The thing is all these players on the tour are having great seasons and it’s up to the captain to decide what’s best for the team.”
Nadal said he is not sure what emotions he will feel on Tuesday, if it is indeed his last match, with Spain potentially playing again in the semifinals on Friday and the final on Sunday if they progress that far. But Nadal said he leaves the sport content; he gave it his all.
“Everybody at the end of a long career, of course, at the end I will change things that I did, I will do things that I will change to try to be better and to try to avoid things, but at the end, I achieved the most important thing for me,” Nadal said.
[Leadership]
Ademola Lookman has been listed among the final five nominees for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
The African football governing body announced the top echelon of candidates for the coveted award in a tweet on Monday.
Only Lookman is the Nigerian named among the five finalists. William Troost-Ekong did not make the final cut despite being named in the initial 10-player list.
Other footballers in the top five are Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams and Serhou Guirassy.
Lookman had an impressive 2023/24 season for both club and country. The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta, which retained its status as one of the best in Serie A.
He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament. He was also named in the competition’s best XI alongside captain Willian Troost-Ekong.
The 27-year-old ranked 14th best player in the world at the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or ceremony — the only African to make the top 30.
Lookman has been tipped to be the next award winner, following the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the prize in 2023.
In the other award categories, Stanley Nwabali was nominated for the goalkeeper of the year prize, while Nigeria will vie for the national team of the year category alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco, South Africa, and six others.
The head coach of the Rwanda national team, Torsten Spittler, expressed mixed feelings following their historic 2-1 victory over Nigeria in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Note that in the history of Rwanda’s football, the Amavubi have never defeated the Super Eagles until Monday, November 18, when they secured the unexpected win.
Despite the big win, Rwanda did not secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON as they finished third in Group D.
After the victory, coach Spittler acknowledged the significance of their achievement, highlighting the stark contrast in FIFA rankings, with Nigeria positioned around 30th and Rwanda in the 160s.
“This win is a testament to our perseverance and determination. I am immensely proud of the team for standing their ground against a formidable opponent,” the coach said.
However, he also conveyed his disappointment, noting, “It’s disheartening that such a hard-fought victory does not lead us to qualification. We came incredibly close, yet there’s still a gap to bridge.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles of Nigeria expressed their disappointment after the unexpected home loss to Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in their final AFCON group D encounter.
AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze opened the scoring for the Super Eagles, showcasing his brilliance by navigating past three Rwandan players before finding the back of the net. However, Rwanda responded strongly, with Jimmy Mutsinzi equalizing in the 72nd minute, followed by Innocent Nshuti giving the visitors the lead just three minutes later.
In response to the defeat, the Super Eagles took to their X account to share their sentiments, saying: “While we are disappointed to conclude our AFCON 2025 qualifiers with a loss at home, we remain committed to bouncing back. We appreciate all the support during this journey and look forward to the next challenge in Morocco. #soarsupereagles.”