Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali has expressed excitement with the team’s victory over the Republic of Benin in a 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification match.

Nwabali said this in a post he shared on his X account on Sunday morning following Nigeria’s 3-0 trouncing of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.

Atalanta attacker, Ademola Lookman came up with a brace while Victor Osimhen scored the other goal to help the Super Eagles exact vengeance on the Gernot Rohr-led Benin Republic who had beaten them 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June.

“Great team performance. Important three solid points and clean sheet accomplished. Next!,” the goalkeeper wrote on his X account.

Nwabili added another clean sheet to his record for the Super Eagles as the Chippa United goalkeeper of South Africa doing his best against the Republic of Benin despite his defense also remaining very compact.

The shotstopper as usual was composed all through the game against the Beninoise and was equal to the task when called upon to make some important saves.

He is already looking forward to the Super Eagles’ second match of the 2025 AFCON qualification series against Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

Nigeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo has just broken a World Record in the 2024 women’s over 86kg Para-Powerlifting, becoming the first Para-athlete in history to lift 167kg.

Oluwafemiayo’s lift of 167kg is the highest ever recorded in the women’s over 86kg category, making her the first Para-athlete in history to lift 167kg.

China’s Deng Xuemei finished second with 155 kg, while Egypt’s Nadia Ali came in third with 145 kg.

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Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has expressed a great belief in the team’s attackers to always come good while urging the side to create enough goalscoring chances during their matches.

Troost-Ekong said this on Saturday night during the post-match press conference following Nigeria’s 3-0 trouncing of the Republic of Benin in a 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification match.

The Super Eagles began their 2025 AFCON qualification campaign on a winning note after easily dispatching Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Atalanta attacker, Ademola Lookman came up with a brace while Victor Osimhen scored the other goal to help the Super Eagles exact vengeance on the Gernot Rohr-led Benin Republic who had beaten them 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June.

With the Super Eagles giving back joy to millions of Nigerian football fans all across the world with the win over the Cheetahs, Troost-Ekong speaking to reporters after the match expressed his belief in the team’s attackers to shine even brighter in subsequent games.

“We respect the Republic of Benin because the last time we played against them, they won the game,” the central defender who had a commanding game said.

“But like I said only on Friday that we have great belief in our team, we also have great belief in our coach (Augustine Eguavoen).

“He is like a family member who has come back to us now and we knew that we had to take the responsibility.

“Also, I think with the attacking talent that we have, we don’t have to name them, everybody knows who they are, they all played very well and we, the defenders also did our best to keep a clean sheet.

“We also did our best to bury most of the goalscoring chances that we created and I have great belief in our attackers to always come good if we create enough chances.

“Also, the performance we churned out against Benin Republic is a good indication of where we we are heading to and the first step of many that we will take to qualify for Morocco 2025.”

The central defender upon his return to the Super Eagles set-up for the first time in seven months, having last featured for the team against Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 AFCON in February 2024 played like he never left and formed a decent centre-back trio with Semi Ajayi and Cavin Bassey.

Troost-Ekong appears to be like fine wine which becomes better as it ages with the centre-half showing why he deserved to have been named the 2023 AFCON Best Player of the Tournament award with an impressive display against Benin Republic.

Team Nigeria shone bright on Saturday after the country’s athletes climbed the podium three times by winning a trio of medals at the ongoing 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France.

Bose Omolayo was one of the winners as she picked up yet another medal for Nigeria, this time silver in women’s up to 79kg Para Powerlifting, making it her country’s sixth of the competition.

For the third consecutive Paralympics, Omolayo has finished on the podium lifting 145kg to win a silver medal, adding to the two gold medals she won in Rio and Tokyo.

Omolayo was in discomfort coming in for her third attempt, having injured her right arm after her first, and scored two consecutive no-lifts, but she had done enough to secure a medal for her country.

She won Nigeria’s third medal on Saturday, making it the sixth overall in what has been an impressive outing from the country’s contingent.

Flora Ugwunwa had earlier on Saturday secured a silver medal in the Women’s Javelin F54 category with a throw of 19.26m, finishing second at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris.

Isau Ogunkunle also on Saturday crowned his brilliant stint in the men’s Singles Class 4 event with a bronze medal to become the first Nigerian player to win an individual medal in Para Table Tennis since the Sydney 2000 Games.

Meanwhile, since Barcelona 1992 when they started competing at the Games, Nigerian Paralympians have never returned without a medal.

In an electrifying match, Ademola Lookman spearheaded a dominant 3-0 victory for the Super Eagles, putting them at the top of their group.

Lookman opened the scoring in the first half, finding the back of the net to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead by halftime.

As the game progressed, it remained tight until the 72nd minute when star striker Victor Osimhen was introduced to replace Victor Boniface.

It took only five minutes for Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, to make his impact felt.

Pouncing on a loose ball, he effortlessly slotted in Nigeria’s second goal, extending the lead to 2-0.Ademola Lookman wasn’t done yet.

In the 82nd minute, he scored his second goal of the night, sealing a convincing 3-0 win for the Super Eagles.

The result secured Nigeria’s place at the top of their group, leaving fans thrilled and hopeful for the team’s upcoming fixtures.

The comprehensive victory highlighted Nigeria’s attacking depth and showcased Lookman’s impressive form, further cementing their status as favorites moving forward.

Super Eagles skipper, William Troost-Ekong has said that he and his teammates want to make sure they are in Morocco 2025 for the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The central defender said this on Friday when he appeared for the pre-match press conference of Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic.

The Super Eagles will kick off their 2025 AFCON qualification series with a game against Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.

“It is a great privilege for us to be here again and we are very excited about this new 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign,” Troost-Ekong said.

“None of us needs to be reminded once again of the joy we had some months ago when we came second at the 2023 AFCON and we all understand that this new qualifiers are very important.

“We want to make sure that we are there in Morocco 2025 and that starts with Saturday’s qualification match against the Republic of Benin.

“We all know that it is going to be a long journey getting to Morocco 2025 but we want to do much better than we did in Ivory Coast some months back.

“We, however, know that this dream of ours will start with winning our qualification matches but we are really focused on achieving this.

“I was only telling the boss, Augustine Eguavoen that the boys are ready to put in their best with everything going in the right direction in camp.”