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Odegbami Says Nigeria Facing Worst Period In Football History.
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Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has declared that the country is experiencing the “worst time” in its football history. The damning assessment comes as the Super Eagles prepare to begin their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
According to reports, Nigeria is scheduled to face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, with kick-off at 5 pm Nigerian time. They will then travel to face Guinea-Bissau for their second Group L fixture on September 29.
Odegbami, a key member of the squad that helped Nigeria win its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, emphasized that the current crisis extends far beyond the senior men’s national team.
He pointed to the fact that both the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons failed to qualify for their respective recent FIFA World Cups. Furthermore, the country’s age-grade teams and domestic clubs have struggled significantly in recent competitions.
“It has never been this bad in our entire history that we didn’t qualify for the World Cup,” the 74-year-old told BBC Sport Africa.
“Our girls (the Super Falcons), who were African champions, failed to win a competition (the 2025 Women’s Afcon) that was just there for their taking. All our junior teams are not doing well. Our local league is not bringing in money. Something is definitely wrong.”
The dire situation has already triggered major upheaval within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). President Ibrahim Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and several executive committee members resigned from their posts in August.
Currently, a joint delegation from FIFA and CAF is collaborating with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to develop a roadmap for necessary reforms. Consequently, the NFF elections that were originally scheduled for September 27 have been suspended.
Beyond administrative issues, concerns regarding deteriorating infrastructure and a lack of investment have dominated the discourse surrounding Nigerian football. Odegbami noted that several stadiums that were once iconic venues have fallen into a state of disrepair after years of neglect.
He specifically cited the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos—which hosted matches during the 1980 and 2000 AFCON tournaments—alongside the Liberty Stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) in Ibadan, Kaduna’s Ahmadu Bello Stadium, and the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
“I weep when I think of the amount of damage they have done to Nigerian football – the infrastructure that we had in the country, some of the historic monuments that were facilities for football in this country,” Odegbami said.
“Whether it was wilful, whether it was ignorance, they did irreparable damage to what was Nigeria’s heritage. Uyo is the best we have in Nigeria, but it is not half as good as what we had from the 1960s to the 90s.”
Odegbami concluded by contrasting Nigeria’s decline with major sporting investments happening elsewhere across the continent. He noted that Senegal is set to host the Youth Olympic Games; South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will stage the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup; Kenya will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships; and Morocco will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
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MILLIONS IN, MILLIONS OUT: Manchester United Cracks Record £677.6M Revenue Amid Mounting Financial Bleed!
Manchester United has reported a net loss of £43 million (approx. $57 million) for the financial year ending June 30, even as the club pulled in a record-breaking revenue of £677.6 million.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The club’s revenue saw a 1.7 percent boost, largely propelled by a nearly 20 percent increase in broadcasting income following a third-place finish in the Premier League during the 2025/26 season. However, both commercial and matchday revenues dropped by nearly 5 percent due to playing without European football.
Key highlights from the financial report include:
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Seventh Consecutive Loss: The accounts marked United’s seventh straight annual loss after tax, which included £8.2 million in exceptional costs mainly linked to the departure of manager Ruben Amorim in January after 14 months in charge.
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Stadium Expansion & Cost-Cutting: The club invested £63.5 million on land adjacent to Old Trafford as part of ambitions to build a new 100,000-capacity stadium, while co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has continued implementing strict cost-cutting initiatives and job reductions.
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Future Outlook: Chief Executive Omar Berrada expressed confidence in the club’s trajectory and financial discipline, with the club projecting revenues between £740 million and £760 million for the current financial year.
Despite the positive financial outlook and a return to Champions League football under manager Michael Carrick, the team has faced a rocky start to the new Premier League campaign, picking up five points from their first five matches and exiting the English League Cup.
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ARM UP OR WIPE OUT! General Musa Demands Mandatory Military Boot Camp For Every Single Citizen!
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has proposed that every Nigerian citizen should undergo military training, arguing that the physical and mental endurance it builds provides a unique perspective on life.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, the minister explained that putting ordinary citizens through rigorous boot-camp conditions would foster a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces.
According to Musa, experiencing firsthand hunger, exhaustion, and physical strain teaches invaluable lessons in resilience.
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Building Resilience: Citizens would learn what it means to keep moving forward despite physical fatigue, lack of sleep, and hunger while protecting their country.
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Understanding the Military: The training is designed to help the public truly grasp the gravity of soldiers putting their lives at stake on the front lines.
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Addressing Criticism: Expressing frustration over public backlash, the minister noted that such an experience would help critics better understand and respect the hardships military personnel face daily.
Musa emphasized that understanding these hardships highlights the true dedication of security forces who risk everything so that other Nigerians can move about freely.
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‘Nigeria Will Be Governed Remotely Until Tinubu Returns’ – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed
ABUJA — The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has remarked that Nigeria is effectively being managed from afar following the extension of President Bola Tinubu’s leave in Europe.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Baba-Ahmed pointed out that both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are currently out of the country—with the President extending his working vacation in Paris and the Vice President attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Key Highlights from Baba-Ahmed’s Remarks
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Remote Governance: Baba-Ahmed criticized the concurrent absence of the nation’s top two leaders, noting on social media that the country would have to “be governed remotely” until the President’s return.
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Critical Timing: He emphasized that this leadership vacuum occurs at a crucial moment when citizens are evaluating the current administration and deciding whether they desire a continuation of leadership or a major change.
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Questions on Leadership Priorities: The PRP chieftain expressed skepticism over the timing of the prolonged absence, suggesting that the administration’s current approach leaves critical domestic governance gaps.
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