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Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed that the team was determined to give everything on the pitch to avoid consecutive defeats at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), following their crucial victory over Zambia. Nigeria entered the match under immense pressure after suffering a surprising 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening group game. Needing a positive result to keep their title defence alive, the defending champions responded with a disciplined performance to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win. The task became more difficult just before halftime when defender Oluwatosin Demehin received a red card for a foul on Zambia captain Barbra Banda, leaving the Falcons to play with 10 players for the remainder of the match. Despite being a player down, Nigeria held firm after Asisat Oshoala scored the only goal of the encounter in the eighth minute. The team successfully contained Zambia’s dangerous attack, led by Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie produced an impressive performance to preserve the lead. Speaking after the match, Ajibade said the players knew victory was non-negotiable following the opening defeat to Malawi. She explained that the team approached the game with total commitment and determination, believing they had to give everything possible to keep their tournament hopes alive. Ajibade also credited her faith for helping her remain calm after Demehin’s dismissal. She said she trusted God throughout the match and believed the team would overcome the difficult situation despite being reduced to 10 players against one of Africa’s strongest attacking sides. According to the captain, there was never any panic within the squad, as every player remained confident they could protect their lead and secure the much-needed victory. The win has revived Nigeria’s chances of reaching the knockout stage. The Super Falcons will now face Egypt in their final group match, needing at least a draw to book a place in the next round as they continue their quest for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed the state’s readiness to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards following an inspection of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, by a CAF delegation. The five-member CAF team arrived in Nigeria to assess facilities proposed for both the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the annual CAF Awards ceremony. The delegation was led by CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, alongside officials responsible for technology, travel and accommodation, transportation, and branding. The team was received by officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission, led by Director-General Lekan Fatodu, during an inspection of the National Theatre, which has been selected as the venue for the awards ceremony. Speaking after the visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos is fully committed to delivering a world-class event. He noted that the inspection provided valuable feedback, adding that every aspect of the preparation is being carefully handled to ensure a successful hosting. According to the governor, the state is working behind the scenes to meet international standards and showcase Lagos as a capable destination for major sporting events. He expressed confidence that the city would provide an outstanding experience for African football stakeholders and fans. Nigeria has hosted the CAF Awards on four previous occasions, with the last edition taking place in Lagos in January 2015. While Abuja will host the CAF General Assembly on November 21, 2026, Lagos will stage the awards ceremony recognising Africa’s best footballers and other outstanding contributors to the sport. Before arriving in Lagos, the CAF delegation inspected facilities in Abuja, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, which will host delegates attending the General Assembly. The inspection tour is being coordinated by officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), including representatives from the federation’s media, marketing, security, protocol, and information technology departments. Nigeria secured the hosting rights for both CAF events after President Bola Tinubu approved the bid during the Africa Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, following a request from CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan secured the bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, ending her reign as the event’s champion. Amusan, who won back-to-back gold medals at the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Games, was aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive Commonwealth titles in the event. The 29-year-old finished third in the final with a time of 12.60 seconds. The Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton claimed the gold medal after clocking 12.33 seconds, while Megan Simmonds of Jamaica won silver in 12.41 seconds. Earlier in the competition, Amusan had raised hopes of defending her title after producing an impressive performance in the heats, winning her race in a wind-assisted 12.19 seconds. Although the time was not eligible for record purposes because of excessive wind assistance, it was the fastest performance ever recorded at the Commonwealth Games under any conditions. Amusan, however, was unable to reproduce that form in the final as Charlton and Simmonds finished ahead of her. Despite missing out on a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games title, the Nigerian sprint hurdler extended her remarkable record at the Games by securing a third straight podium finish in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Nigeria increased its medal haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Sunday as Ruth Asuquo Nyong claimed silver in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event with a combined lift of 168kg. Nyong began the competition with a 75kg snatch, placing third behind India’s Mirabai Chanu Saikhom, who lifted 85kg, and Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry, who managed 77kg. She bounced back in the clean and jerk, lifting 93kg to finish with a total of 168kg, narrowly edging Henry by one kilogram to secure the silver medal. Saikhom won gold after setting a new Commonwealth Games record with a total lift of 190kg, while Henry claimed bronze with 167kg. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s men’s 3×3 basketball team suffered a 21-16 defeat to hosts Scotland in their fourth group-stage match. The loss leaves the team with a 1-3 record, with their only victory so far coming against Cape Verde in their opening game. With Nyong’s silver medal, Team Nigeria’s tally now stands at three gold and four silver medals as the Games continue in Glasgow, where more Nigerian athletes remain in medal contention.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have retained their 26th position in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings but have dropped to fourth in Africa following Egypt’s impressive run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The rankings, released by FIFA on Monday, show Nigeria unchanged on 1,585.2 points. The Super Eagles remain ahead of Turkey, Australia, Algeria, Canada and Ivory Coast, who occupy 27th to 31st positions respectively. Nigeria have not played a competitive match since June, when Eric Chelle’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in an international friendly. Although their global ranking remains unchanged, the Super Eagles lost their place among Africa’s top three after Egypt advanced to the Round of 16 at the World Cup before losing 3-2 to Argentina. The Pharaohs’ strong tournament performance lifted them above Nigeria in the continental rankings. Morocco remain Africa’s highest-ranked team after reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, climbing one place to sixth in the world. Senegal continue to rank second in Africa despite slipping three places globally, while Algeria remain fifth on the continent after dropping one spot in the world rankings. Despite missing out on the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria remain the second-highest-ranked nation not to qualify for the tournament, behind Denmark, who are 21st in the world. The Super Eagles’ absence from the expanded 48-team competition has continued to draw criticism from football personalities. Former England captain John Terry recently described Nigeria as one of the biggest teams missing from this year’s tournament. Nigeria narrowly missed qualification after finishing second behind South Africa in their CAF qualifying group. They kept their hopes alive by defeating Gabon in the playoff semi-final but were eliminated after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the playoff final. The defeat marked Nigeria’s second consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, having also missed the 2022 edition in Qatar. Following the playoff loss, the Nigeria Football Federation challenged DR Congo’s qualification, alleging the team fielded ineligible players during the campaign. FIFA dismissed the appeal. At the top of the latest rankings, newly crowned world champions Spain reclaimed the No. 1 spot after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina dropped to second, while France, England and Brazil complete the top five. FIFA is scheduled to release its next men’s world rankings on October 7, 2026.

Jody Solomons, the mother of one of late South African footballer Jayden Adams’ children, has paid an emotional tribute to the former Bafana Bafana midfielder in a touching TikTok post that has resonated with football fans across South Africa. The video features their son, Jude, alongside the song Sengithole Omunye by Feza featuring Chulumanco M, a track that became synonymous with Adams after clips of him dancing to it with teammate Oswin Appollis during the 2026 FIFA World Cup went viral. The tribute comes just days after Adams’ tragic death. Reports indicate that the midfielder died by suicide shortly after returning from the World Cup, where he played a key role in helping South Africa reach the knockout stages. Born in 2024, Jude appeared in a collection of photos shared by Solomons, with many social media users commenting on the striking resemblance between the toddler and his late father. Adams’ passing has left the South African football community in mourning, with teammates, supporters and football stakeholders remembering him as one of the country’s most promising talents. At the time of his death, Adams was in a long-term relationship with Aqueelah Adendorf. The couple, who were reportedly together from 2021, share a five-year-old daughter, Allaia-Jayda. Although the details surrounding Adams’ relationship with Solomons have not been made public, she has previously shared TikTok posts about raising Jude largely as a single mother. In one post, Solomons reflected on motherhood, saying she believed she was meant to become a mother even if marriage or a romantic relationship was never part of her life journey. In another, she suggested she had been left to raise Jude without support despite once being in a relationship with his father. Following Adams’ death, Solomons also shared a separate tribute dedicated to the late footballer. The loss has been deeply felt within the Bafana Bafana camp. Speaking during a memorial service in Stellenbosch on July 16, captain Ronwen Williams vowed that the national team would continue to honour Adams’ memory every time they took to the field. Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, has also spoken about the family’s grief, expressing appreciation for the outpouring of love and support received from the football community during the difficult period.

Veteran English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from professional officiating, bringing to an end a distinguished 20-year career that saw him oversee 831 matches. The 47-year-old Manchester official officiated 668 domestic professional games, including every major domestic cup final in England. Taylor was promoted to the Premier League refereeing panel in 2010 and went on to officiate at four major international tournaments the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 championships. In total, he handled 163 international fixtures, with his final match being the FIFA World Cup round of 16 encounter between Portugal and Spain earlier this month. Announcing his retirement on the official England Football website, Taylor described officiating at the highest level as a privilege despite the demands of the role. “Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant,” he said. “The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, my refereeing colleagues and everyone connected with the game for all their support over the years. “Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”