Sports

Flying Eagles begin quest for eighth U-20 AFCON title against Senegal

Published

3 years ago

February 19, 2023

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will begin their quest for an eight continental title when they take on Senegal at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Sunday (today).

Ladan Bosso’s side qualified for the U-20 AFCON in Egypt by virtue of emerging Champions at WAFU B U-20 regional tournament in May 2022 in Niger.

In the process of team’s qualification, Bosso’s team defeated 2021 AFCON cup holders, Ghana 2-0, Ivory Coast 2-1 in the semi-final and Benin Republic 3-1 on final day to be crowned WAFU B regional champions.

The Flying Eagles are back in the tournament with the sole mission of winning the trophy after missing the previous edition in Mauritania.

They were crowned champions seven times with the first in 1983 and the most recent in 2015 defeating host nation Senegal 1-0 in the final.

The Flying Eagles have lost only two finals in 1999 and 2007 while finishing third on three occasions in 1995, 2005, 2013 and fourth in 2019.

Head Coach Ladan Bosso remains upbeat about the readiness of his boys to sustain their winning mentality when the tournament kicks off today.

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He said, “We have been able to sustain the same mood we had in camp before going for the WAFU B U20 Championship in Niamey, which we won. Since then, we have played a series of matches and scored plenty of goals, and that is immense for a winning mentality to stay within a team.

“However, we are not going to under-rate any of our opponents. Defeating Zambia in Abuja was good for confidence but we know championship mood would be tougher. We will be ready to do the country proud.”

Belgium -based Ahmed Abdullahi has joined the Flying Eagles’ squad in Cairo. The KAA Gent of Belgium forward arrived in Cairo in the early hours of Friday morning. Abdullahi was part of the team that emerged WAFU B U20 Champions in Niger Republic in May last year.

The nifty forward scored one goal at the regional tournament despite injury ruling him out of the tournament after he suffered head injury during a match with Burkina Faso, and is expected to offer more attacking options upfront to Coach Ladan Bosso.

After their game on Sunday, the Flying Eagles- two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up and one-time bronze medalists, will then face hosts Egypt on Wednesday just as well as Mozambique on Saturday, at the same venue.

All four semi-finalists at the 12-team championship in Egypt will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals to be staged in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11 later this year.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Moroccan Jalal Jayed as referee for Sunday’s Group A game at the Cairo International Stadium.

Jayed will be assisted by Tunisian Mohamed Bakir (assistant referee 1), Algerian Hamza Bouzit (assistant referee 2) and Ivoirian Franklin Kpan.

Related Topics:Flying Eagles Senegal U-20 AFCON

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Sports

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Published

11 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Lamine Yamal has sparked widespread conversation after condemning the act of mocking religion, describing it as both ignorant and racist.

The FC Barcelona youngster issued the strong warning while reacting to offensive remarks targeting his beliefs, stressing that respect for religion and cultural differences should never be compromised.

According to Yamal, ridiculing someone’s faith goes beyond humor or free speech, and instead reflects a deeper problem of intolerance and lack of understanding in society.

He said acts of religious mockery contribute to division and hostility, especially in a world where diversity continues to grow across communities, sports, and online spaces.

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The teenage football star urged fans and social media users to embrace tolerance, respect, and inclusivity, rather than spreading hate or engaging in abusive behavior.

His comments come amid rising concerns over online abuse in football, where players increasingly face attacks related to race, religion, and personal identity.

Yamal’s stance has drawn praise from supporters and observers who see his response as a bold step in addressing racism in sports and promoting unity among fans worldwide.

As conversations around freedom of expression vs hate speech continue globally, the young star’s message highlights the importance of mutual respect in maintaining harmony both on and off the pitch.

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Sports

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Published

18 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the Iran national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and play its group stage matches in the United States as originally scheduled, dismissing doubts raised amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Infantino made the announcement on Tuesday during Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey, saying, “Iran will be at the World Cup. The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.” He stressed that there is no alternative plan to relocate the games, affirming FIFA’s commitment to keeping the tournament on course.

Iran had previously announced it was negotiating with FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico due to security concerns linked to the ongoing US-Israeli-Iran conflict. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had expressed willingness to host the games if necessary, but FIFA confirmed all three fixtures will remain in the U.S., ensuring compliance with the official tournament draw.

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The Iranian squad is drawn in Group G, alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their matches are scheduled as follows:

Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 15, 2026
Iran vs Belgium – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 21, 2026
Iran vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle, June 26, 2026

Infantino, who attended the friendly match in Turkey, praised the Iranian team as “very, very strong” and confirmed that players and coaches are well-prepared for the tournament. He highlighted FIFA’s principle that all qualified teams must compete according to the official schedule, unaffected by political disputes.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, Vice President of the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI), affirmed Iran’s commitment to FIFA’s regulations, stating: “Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honor them.” He said the meeting with Infantino during the friendly gave the team reassurance and a morale boost ahead of the World Cup.

Earlier, some Iranian officials, including Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, had expressed concerns over participation due to safety issues. There were even suggestions that the country might withdraw, but FIFA’s firm stance ensures Iran will compete on U.S. soil as planned.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring 48 teams across multiple North American cities. Iran’s participation guarantees that Group G matches will proceed as drawn, offering fans clarity and ensuring the integrity of the tournament.

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Sports

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

The highest-paid African footballers in 2026 continue to earn staggering wages, with stars in the Saudi Pro League dominating the rankings due to lucrative contracts. From Riyad Mahrez to Mohamed Salah, African players remain among the top earners in global football, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds weekly.

Leading the list is Riyad Mahrez, who earns an estimated £827,000–£886,000 per week at Al-Ahli, making him the highest-paid African footballer. He is followed by Sadio Mané, who earns around £630,000–£680,000 weekly at Al-Nassr.

Defender Kalidou Koulibaly earns about £550,000–£590,000 weekly at Al-Hilal, making him the highest-paid African defender. In Europe, Mohamed Salah continues to command massive wages of £350,000–£400,000 per week at Liverpool FC.

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Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen earns between £250,000–£318,000 weekly at Galatasaray, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers.

Midfielder Franck Kessié and defender Achraf Hakimi both earn just over £220,000 per week, playing for Al-Ahli and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earns up to £200,000 weekly, while Iñaki Williams takes home about £180,000 per week at Athletic Bilbao. Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the list with weekly earnings of £150,000–£160,000 at Al-Qadsiah.

Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers (2026) – Weekly Salaries

Rank	Player	Club	Weekly Salary
1	Riyad Mahrez	Al-Ahli	£827,000 – £886,000
2	Sadio Mané	Al-Nassr	£630,000 – £680,000
3	Kalidou Koulibaly	Al-Hilal	£550,000 – £590,000
4	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool FC	£350,000 – £400,000
5	Victor Osimhen	Galatasaray	£250,000 – £318,000
6	Franck Kessié	Al-Ahli	£220,000 – £233,000
7	Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	£220,000 – £227,000
8	Edouard Mendy	Al-Ahli	£170,000 – £200,000
9	Iñaki Williams	Athletic Bilbao	~£180,000
10	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Al-Qadsiah	£150,000 – £160,000

The rankings underline the growing dominance of the Saudi Pro League, which now offers significantly higher wages than most European leagues, attracting top African talent. Only a few players, such as Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, remain among the top earners in Europe.