Big news don land for African football as CAF President Patrice Motsepe announce say African Cup of Nations go expand from 24 to 28 teams. The announcement come on Sunday after CAF executive committee meeting finish. Motsepe, wey be South African billionaire, talk say this na part of CAF commitment to elevate African football to world-class level.
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“This na about our commitment to world-class football,” Motsepe yarn. “We dey bring together the best African players from across the globe to compete for continent.” But the CAF boss no give details about how the new 28-team format go work or when exactly the expansion go start. This one don make plenty people dey ask questions about qualification process and scheduling for future tournaments.
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Meanwhile for Nigeria Premier Football League, action dey hot. Nasarawa United head coach Mangut Mbwas dey vex wella after him team suffer 1-0 defeat to Kwara United for match-day 32 clash. The “Solid Miners” con dey enjoy draw until extra time when substitute Abdulsalam Abdulsalam score penalty for Kwara United for 90+5 minute.
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Match play for Kwara United temporary home ground, Mobolaji Johnson Arena for Onikan, Lagos. Both teams dey fight wella for regulation time, no goal. But three minutes into added time, Nasarawa United defender Utake Emmanuel make mistake wey lead to penalty. Referee say Chidera Nduka foul opponent for box, despite Nasarawa United players dey argue say na lie.
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Coach Mangut Mbwas talk say the result pain am wella. “We all dey pain for this result today,” the coach yarn. “We don give this game our all from blast of whistle, only for disappointment come for dying minutes. Draw na the worst we think go happen, but sometimes, football dey cruel like that.”
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Despite the loss, Nasarawa United still dey third position for league table with 50 points. Kwara United don move up to 18th position with 36 points. Nasarawa United next match na against Kun Khalifat FC for their home ground for Lafia.
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For Kwara United side, technical adviser Suleiman Ashifat dey praise him players for the win. “We go continue to work hard to achieve our league status,” Ashifat talk after the match. The Harmony Boys next match na against El-Kanemi Warriors.
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Down for Nigeria National League, Heartland FC dey push hard for promotion to NPFL. Their technical adviser Emmanuel Amuneke dey target strong finish for 2025/26 season. The Naze Millionaires boost their chances with 3-0 win over Gateway FC for Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Saturday.
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Heartland currently dey third position for NNL Conference A table with 23 points from 13 games. Them dey two points behind leaders Inter Lagos FC. With outstanding game against Smart City still dey, Amuneke talk say them go fight to achieve their objective.
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“Like I always dey talk, we no come here to make noise,” Amuneke yarn after the Gateway match. “We just want to play our games and approach each one as e come. Every game get different challenges. We know all three games go hard, but wetin matter na our readiness to play them and achieve our objectives.”
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For other news, CAF don appoint Nigeria’s Samson Adamu as acting General Secretary. The appointment come after previous secretary leave the position. Adamu go dey oversee CAF administrative matters for now.
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