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AFCON 2022: CAF Unveils Super Eagle’s New Squad

Published

4 years ago

January 6, 2022

By Derrick E. Bangura

The Confederation of African Football has recently unveiled the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s new squad numbers for the incoming AFCON 2022 tournament, scheduled to commence in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6 2022, after twice being postponed due to Covid-19, and with significant doubt about whether it would take place at all.

The 33^rd Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, will begin with over 52 matches to be watched and it’s no doubt that some of the best Premier League players will be on show, the tournament is enjoying a higher profile than ever before.

According to the disclosure, in the goalkeeping department, Maduka Okoye will wear the number one jersey, while Francis Uzoho will put on the 23, Daniel Akpeyi gets the number 16 jersey, while John Noble will wear 27.

Others are Semi Ajayi – 6, Frank Onyeka – 8, Kelechi Nwakali – 25, Joe Aribo – 10, Odion Ighalo – 9, Chidera Ejuke – 13, Taiwo Awoniyi – 19, Umar Sadiq – 24.

Nigeria who is drawn in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau will kick off their AFCON 2021 campaign against 7-time winners, Egypt on Tuesday, January 11.

Meanwhile, Nigerian professional footballer and Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has been bereaved.

Reports confirmed that the 29-year-old player missed the Super Eagles’ last training session after receiving the sad news.

He has since been granted permission by the National Team management to leave the team’s camp to be with family members.

Musa is, however, expected to join his teammates in Cameroon ahead of Nigeria’s first game of the competition against Egypt on January 11.

Cameroon is the hosts Country and will hold ambitions of participating deep into the tournament, but six nations come into the tournament placed higher in FIFA’s world rankings. Top of the list Senegal, who are the marginal favourites ahead of Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria and the hosts.

After twice failing to qualify, Nigeria reached the semifinals in 2019. The squad aims to go at least one better in this tournament.

Nigeria is in the same group with Egypt, Sudan, Guinea Bissau, led by the former Nigerian Captain Augustine Eguavoen, who also coached the Super Eagles to a third-place finish in Egypt 15 years ago.

He also made a selection for this years’ AFCON 2022, with four Goalkeepers, nine Defenders, five Midfielders and 10 Forwards, which brings about the 28-man list for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka( Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejike (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villareal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England ); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)

This year AFCON tournament has converged its Covid-19 rules ahead to ensure the safety of the fans. AFCON, states that fans must be fully vaccinated and must present a negative Covid-19 test dating back less than 72 hours to gain access to the stadiums during the tournament.

The Minister for Health in Cameroon, Dr Manaouda Malachie also announced that vaccines and tests will be freely made available, he further announced the installation of a vaccination unit for each site in the competition.

We are hopeful that the Super Eagles will break a leg as they make us proud as the Giant of Africa.

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Benue IDPs block highway, demand return to ancestral homes

Published

7 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

Vehicular movement along the Yelwata axis of the Benue–Nasarawa highway was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, staged a protest, demanding immediate return to their ancestral homes.

The protesters, believed to be victims of persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, blocked both lanes of the busy highway for several hours, chanting “We want to go back home”.

The protest caused disruption, leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded.

Eyewitnesses said the displaced persons, many of whom have spent years in overcrowded IDP camps, are expressing deep frustration over the government’s delay in restoring security to their communities.

“We have suffered enough. We want to return to our homes and farms,” one of the protesters told reporters at the scene.

Security personnel were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any escalation, though tensions remained high as of press time.

Efforts to reach the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and other relevant authorities for comment were unsuccessful.

Headlines

NNPCL reveals decision not to sell Port Harcourt refinery

Published

7 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has officially decided not to sell the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

NNPCL has, instead said it is committed to conducting an extensive rehabilitation of the facility and ensuring its continued operation.

During a company-wide town hall meeting held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, announced the decision regarding the future of the nation’s most significant state-owned refining asset, putting an end to weeks of speculation.

A statement by NNPCL reads, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has officially ruled out the sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-grade rehabilitation and retention of the plant.

“The ongoing review indicates that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt refinery, before full completion of its rehabilitation, was ill-informed and subcommercial.

”Although progress is being made on all three, the emerging outlook calls for more advanced technical partnerships to complete and high-grade the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

”Thus, selling is highly unlikely as it would lead to further value erosion.”

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Tinubu appoints Olumode Adeyemi as Federal Fire Service boss

Published

7 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adeyemi Olumode, as the new Federal Fire Service, FFS, Controller-General.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday on behalf of the Federal Government by retired Maj.-Gen Abdulmalik Jubril, Secretary of the Civil, Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB.

Jubril said the appointment followed the retirement of the current Controller-General, Abdulganiyu Jaji, on August 13.

Jaji is retiring upon attaining the age of 60 by August 13.

Jibril further disclosed said that Adeyemi Olumode is qualified for the position, having attended and passed all mandatory in-service training, Command courses as well as other courses within and outside the country.

“He brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having transferred his service from the FCT Fire Service to the Federal Fire Service and grown to the rank of DCG in the Human Resource Directorate of the Service Headquarters.

“He has served in various capacities and is equally a member/fellow of the following professional associations including Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria.”