NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

The Confederation of African Football has officially announced that the 2027 African Cup of Nations will take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The schedule was approved by the FIFA Council during its recent meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda; All East African nations will host this edition of the tournament. It is the first time …

Former Super Eagles midfielder Friday Ekpo has called for greater private sector involvement, saying government ownership remains a major obstacle to the growth of the NPFL. Speaking on the state of club management and structure, Ekpo highlighted that the dominance of government-owned teams creates an unequal and often unhealthy competitive environment. “The government-owned teams want to win at all costs; …

Former Nigerian international Friday Ekpo has criticized the NFF for prioritizing foreign players over those from the domestic league. Ekpo insists that the foundation of any successful national team must be rooted in its local league. The former League winner emphasized that while foreign players can add tactical depth and experience, they should only complement a strong core of locally …

Former Nigeria international, Friday Ekpo, has criticized the decision of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s planned European scouting program for foreign-born Nigerian players ahead of upcoming international friendlies. In a talk with Brila.net, Ekpo denounced the abandonment of local talents. Ekpo argued that the continued preference for foreign players limits opportunities for locally developed footballers and weakens their progression …

Former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that he struggled to convince Michael Olise to represent Nigeria. Rohr revealed that he first identified Olise’s talent around 2019, when the midfielder was still a teenager. “In 2019 I saw this player (Michael Olise) with my assistant Tunde (Adelakun). Joe Allen and Michael Olise during the Championship match between Stoke …

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has expressed concern that the NFF’s current approach to recruiting foreign-born players is problematic. In a conversation with Brila.net, Sodje said that he fully supports the inclusion of foreign players. However, he highlighted that the lack of attention to local players is creating an imbalance in the team. “There is nothing wrong with inviting …

Frank Onyeka put in an impressive performance and provided a crucial assist as Coventry City defeated Wrexham 3-1 in their final home game of the EFL Championship season. Although Coventry had already secured the league title in their previous match, Sunday served as a trophy presentation. The team celebrated the occasion in style with a convincing victory in front of …

Ryan Alebiosu put in an impressive all-round performance as Blackburn Rovers claimed a 3-1 away victory over Sheffield United. Yuki Ohashi scored a brace and Ryoya Morishita also scored to seal the three points. Alebiosu played the full 90 minutes and stood out in both defense and attack. He provided one assist and recorded 20 passes, while also creating several …

Former Super Eagles defender Eric Ejiofor has expressed his support for Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle’s decision to invite local players for the team’s upcoming off-season friendlies. “It’s an opportunity to see these new players in every position,” Ejiofor said. “We will use this friendly to test and identify good players. We will see if they can fit into the …

Nosa Igiebor, former midfielder for the Super Águilas and Real Betis, admitted that he underestimated Ademola Lookman after his move to Atlético de Madrid. Igiebor revealed that he initially doubted Lookman’s ability to adapt to the demands of Spanish football, but that the winger’s outstanding performances have since proven him wrong. “To be honest, I’m really surprised that it’s a …