The Super Eagles of Nigeria began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Alhassan Yusuf gave Nigeria an early lead in the second minute after connecting with a pass from Ademola Lookman in the Group L encounter.

However, Tanzania drew level in the 32nd minute through Alphonce Mabula Msanga, who converted an assist from Novatus Miroshi.

Nigeria suffered a setback shortly before the break when Lookman picked up an injury and was replaced by Moses Simon in the 45th minute.

Head coach Eric Chelle made two changes at the beginning of the second half, bringing on Tolu Arokodare and Moses Usor, who both contributed significantly to the victory.

Arokodare restored Nigeria’s lead in the 52nd minute with a header from Wilfred Ndidi’s cross before extending the advantage eight minutes later.

The striker completed his brace in the 60th minute, calmly converting a pass from fellow substitute Usor to put the Super Eagles firmly in control.

Nigeria held on to their two-goal advantage until the final whistle, securing all three points.

The victory moves the Super Eagles to second place in Group L with six points from three matches, one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who have seven.

Madagascar sit third with two points, while Tanzania remain at the bottom of the group with one Point.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his supporters over their decision to sing Nigeria’s former national anthem at a party event.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The controversy followed the refusal of some NDC supporters, including Obi, to sing the current national anthem during the party’s town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

A video that went viral on social media showed Obi, the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and other attendees singing the former anthem, Arise, O Compatriots, which was replaced by Nigeria We Hail Thee.

Reacting to the incident during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Keyamo described the action as disrespectful to the law and the office of the president, which the NDC is seeking to occupy.

The minister said Nigerians would ultimately decide whether the conduct reflected the responsibility and maturity expected of individuals aspiring to political leadership.

He argued that although some people might applaud the action as an act of political defiance, it could cost the party the support of moderate and intellectually inclined voters.

Keyamo said, “Like they say of APC, they say it’s only mad men that will vote for APC. So let me return the campaign slogan, it’s only irresponsible people that will vote for that type of party called NDC that defy national symbols, it’s only irresponsible that will vote for them.

“For me, it is left for the Nigerian people to decide whether these human beings you have now seen disregarding national symbols, disrespecting the law and disrespecting the office of the president that they so crave whether they are responsible enough to aspire to that office.

“They have lost the cerebral and the in-betweens. They have lost them by that action. Maybe those who are downright irresponsible, they will hail them and they will vote for them. But we’ll see on election day how many Nigerians are irresponsible.”

However, when asked whether singing the former national anthem amounted to a violation of the law, Keyamo said he was unaware of any specific penalty attached to the action.

He explained that although the current national anthem was adopted through legislation, the absence of a prescribed punishment meant that singing the former anthem did not automatically constitute a punishable offence.

He added, “There’s no penalty that is prescribed by law. No penalty. The law just says this is our new national anthem and then you should think we should all abide by it. It becomes a crime when there’s a penalty attached to it.”

The 2-0 defeat means Nigeria will head into the return fixture with a two-goal deficit and must secure a convincing victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations alive.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶