Sports

NFF mourns ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu’s death

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep sorrow after it was confirmed that Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, who captained Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad and later coached the team, had died in his native city of Enugu on Saturday.

General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was the definition of a strong, dedicated and disciplined leader on and off the field. He was not nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for nothing. He embodied strength, vision and consistency.

“We pray that the Almighty will grant his soul eternal rest, and also grant the family and friends he has left behind, and Nigeria football’s fraternity the fortitude to bear this big loss.”

Chukwu was in the Nigeria senior team that won bronze medals at the 1976 and 1978 AFCON finals in Ethiopia and Ghana respectively, before leading the squad to glory on home soil in 1980. He was named Player of the Tournament.

Chukwu coached his darling club, Enugu Rangers (he played for only one club in his career) and then coached the senior national team of Kenya, nicknamed the Harambee Stars. He was named Head Coach of the Super Eagles in 2002 and led the team to finish third at the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia.

His death comes exactly 20 days after the 45th anniversary of the 1980 AFCON triumph. Before him, other members of the squad that had passed on, were goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders Okechukwu Isima and Tunde Bamidele, midfielders Aloysius Atugbu and Mudashiru Lawal, and forward Martins Eyo.

Sports

Nike unveils new super falcon home and away kits

The new Home kit

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are stepping onto the international stage with a bold new look, as Nike officially unveiled the team’s latest home and away kits on Tuesday.

The announcement, which has since gone viral across social media, has been widely praised for celebrating Nigerian heritage while maintaining a sleek, modern edge.

With the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) set to kick off in Morocco this July, the new kits underscore the Nigerian Football Federation’s (NFF) commitment to honouring culture, pride, and performance.

In a statement shared via the NFF’s official Instagram handle, the federation declared, “New kit. Same pride. The Super Falcons’ new jersey is here — bold, fearless, and made for champions.”

The home jersey comes in white with bold green brushstroke patterns across the front and sleeves, inspired by traditional Nigerian designs.

The away jersey is dark green with a subtle texture and neon green details, including the Nike logo, the updated NFF crest, and “NAIJA” printed beneath the collar.

The new away jersey

The same “NAIJA” text appears on the home kit.

Both kits feature a new NFF logo, showing an eagle on a football with cleaner lines. The circular badge includes “Nigeria Football Federation 1945,” honouring the federation’s founding year.

The kits’ release comes as the Super Falcons prepare for a series of crucial international fixtures.

Sports

Visa delay: China denies blame in Nigerian athletes’ withdrawal from World Athletics Relays

The Embassy of China in Nigeria has pushed back against claims that visa delays were responsible for Nigerian athletes’ withdrawal from the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.

In response to reports and a public statement by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), which cited delays in visa processing as the reason for the country’s withdrawal from the event scheduled for May 10–11, the Chinese Embassy released a detailed clarification asserting that it acted swiftly and professionally to facilitate the process.

According to the Embassy, it received a formal request for visa support from Nigeria’s National Sports Commission on April 24—two weeks before the competition—following a letter dated April 22. The embassy stated that it immediately communicated with the Commission and provided guidance on required documentation.

The visa application materials were submitted to the China Visa Application Centre on May 6, the embassy noted. In response, it activated expedited procedures and completed visa issuance by May 8, just two days later.

“The Embassy of China in Nigeria has always actively supported people-to-people and sports cooperation between the two countries,” the statement read. “We have consistently assisted Nigerian citizens in visa applications in an efficient and professional manner.”

The Embassy also underscored that visa issuance is a matter of national sovereignty and requires applicants to follow standard procedures and timelines. It described the AFN’s statement as “clearly inconsistent with the facts.”

Despite the incident, the Chinese mission reiterated its commitment to promoting sports and cultural exchange between the two nations, expressing regret over the athletes’ absence from the competition.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has yet to respond to the Chinese Embassy’s rebuttal.

Sports

Champions league: Arsenal knock out Real Madrid to face PSG in semi-final

Arsenal have eliminated Real Madrid from the UEFA Champions League, after they won 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

The Gunners travelled to Spain with a healthy 3-0 lead from the first leg.

And they had the chance to extend that advantage after they were awarded a first-half penalty.

But Bukayo Saka saw his tame effort saved by Thibaut Courtois, as both sides went into the break without scoring.

However, Saka burst through to dink the ball over Courtois in the second half, as Arsenal virtually took the tie beyond Real Madrid.

And although Vinicius Junior pulled one back after a defensive mixup between David Raya and William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli ran through to seal another big win.

Mikel Arteta’s men will now take on Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the final.

Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 earlier in the league phase