The Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa, said the Biafra Under-19 Team featuring in a European football tournament signifies international recognition of Biafra independence.

Ekpa made this known in a statement on his official X handle on Saturday.

He noted that the development is an indication that Biafra has come to stay among the community of nations.

According to him, the Biafra team will be playing against SL Benfica, the UEFA Youth Championships winner, in the Algarva football tournament in Portugal on Saturday.

He said that the Biafran team will play all opponents to prove to the world and Nigerian government that Biafrans are indomitable and now have all government institutions functioning including the Ministry of Sports.

“It is gratifying to see that Biafra has come to stay.With the Biafra Under-19 team featuring in the Algarva Elite Football Tournament in Portugal, which commenced on November 14 and is expected to end on November 18, 2024.

“Biafra has succeeded. We will defeat all our opponents in the tournament to prove to the world and the Nigerian government that Biafrans are indomitable,” he said.

Recall that months ago, Ekpa announced the Biafra independence would be declared on December 2, 2024.

Ekpa said the creation of a national football team represents a significant move in the push for international recognition of Biafra as a separate entity.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles and 14 other countries have confirmed their place at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Super Eagles qualification was sealed on Thursday thanks to Libya’s 1-0 win away to Rwanda in Kigali in Group D.

Despite confirming their place, the Eagles went on to battle the Benin Republic to a 1-1 draw following Victor Osimhen’s late header.

Aside from the Super Eagles, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda all confirmed their places on Thursday.

Tunisia clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Madagascar, courtesy of Ali El Abdi’s stoppage-time header, ensuring their record 18th consecutive AFCON appearance.

South Africa and Uganda advanced without taking to the pitch, cementing the top two places in Group K after Congo lost 3-2 to South Sudan.

Gabon qualified from Group B without playing, as their closest rival, the Central African Republic, lost 1-0 to Lesotho.

For four-time AFCON winners Black Stars of Ghana, their qualification hopes were revived after Sudan suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Niger, setting up a tense finish in Group F.

However, Ghana must win their remaining two fixtures and hope Sudan falter in their last match against Angola.

Also, Algeria, already qualified alongside Equatorial Guinea from Group E, dropped their first points of the campaign in a goalless draw against Equatorial Guinea in stifling Malabo heat.

The AFCON 2025 will be hosted by Morocco, December from 2025 to January 2026.

This is the second time Morocco will host the tournament, having first doing so in 1988.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were among four teams to secure their places at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday, even before taking to the pitch.

Gabon, South Africa, and Uganda also booked their tickets to the prestigious tournament in Morocco as results in their respective groups worked in their favor.

The Super Eagles’ qualification was sealed after Libya defeated Rwanda 1-0 in a Group D fixture.

This result ensured Nigeria finished in the top two of their group, guaranteeing their spot at the finals.

Later, the Super Eagles played out a 1-1 draw with the Benin Republic to confirm their status as Group D winners.Elsewhere, Tunisia made headlines with a dramatic 93rd-minute winner in their 3-2 victory over Madagascar.

The hard-fought win not only secured their place at the tournament but also marked their 17th AFCON qualification, extending their record as one of the competition’s most consistent participants.

The current AFCON title holders, Ivory Coast, had already secured their spot earlier, joining an impressive lineup of qualified teams that includes Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Angola, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Morocco, and Senegal.

This elite group reflects the diverse and competitive nature of African football, with powerhouse teams and emerging nations earning their places at the continental showpiece.

AFCON 2025, set to take place in Morocco, promises to deliver high-stakes matches and showcase the best of African football talent. With Morocco’s automatic qualification as hosts, the tournament is already shaping up to be a significant spectacle for fans across the continent and beyond.

For Nigeria, the qualification is a testament to the Super Eagles’ resilience and dominance in African football.

Led by coach Jose Peseiro, the team has demonstrated consistency in their performances during the qualifiers, blending experienced players like Victor Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi with emerging talents such as Gift Orban and Victor Boniface.

Meanwhile, Gabon, South Africa, and Uganda will also relish their hard-earned qualification.

Their successful campaigns reflect the growing competitiveness of African football, where every point and result in the qualifiers carries immense significance.

As the qualification process wraps up, more teams will be confirmed in the coming days, further completing the roster of nations set to compete for the prestigious title in 2025.

The excitement and anticipation for AFCON 2025 continue to build, with fans eagerly awaiting another chapter in the storied history of African football’s premier competition.

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong says the team is determined to pick all the three points against Benin Republic in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Thursday to seal the ticket to the finals.

The game will take place at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where Benin have adopted as their home ground.

But it is much more than such to Nigeria who lost the final of the 2023 AFCON to the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire back in February at the venue, where they recorded some intriguing victories in the run to the final.

Nigeria go into the game on top of Group D with 10 points from four matches. A draw could still be a fair result for the Eagles, as it would be enough to pick one of the two slots in the group.

However, a win would without doubt cap an impressive campiagn so far. The Austin Eguavoen-led side are unbeaten in the qualifiers and particularly against the Cheetahs, they would hope to maintain their unbeaten run against them in AFCON qualifiers and further extend their overall record to seven games without a defeat.

Benin shocked Nigeria in June, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 triumph, with the Al-Kholood defender not in the squad under former Nigerian coach, Finidi George.

But Troost-Ekong who would be making his 75th appearance for the Eagles in the game, said he and his teammates have faced Benin in recent times and are aware of how good they are.

“The last game we played against Benin was in October if I’m correct, we won at home. We know Benin is a good team, Gernot Rohr was my national team coach for over five years.

“He knows the team very well, we’ve played against Benin several times, so this is going to be a difficult game,” he said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“But I think here at this Stadium where we have some amazing memories from earlier this year, we will be very ready, we feel at home here in Abidjan, yea.

“I’m confident that we can do the job by winning tomorrow ( Thursday).and that is what we are going out to do, but we know it is going to be a difficult game.

“So, we have to be at our best. What I’ve seen so far in training and the spirit in the camp has so far been amazing, though.”

Super Eagles’ interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen has given a stern warning to Benin Republic and its manager, Gernot Rohr that Nigeria is a country that you don’t toy with.

Eguavoen issued this warning on Wednesday night during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Super Eagles’ 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday night.

The Super Eagles’ gaffer added that he is aware Rohr knows a lot about his team, having managed them for more than five years from 2016 to 2021 but that doesn’t mean Nigeria will not defeat Benin.

“We have worked with Gernot Rohr for so many years, he was our head coach, a very good coach, no doubt. He knows us in and out, he is a part of us, we also know him inside and outside,” Eguavoen told reporters.

“We know what Rohr is capable of but you know Nigeria is a country that you don’t toy with. We respect our opponents but we play with the mindset that we want to win all our games.

“Well, that is easier said than done but we fight for every ball, we fight for every point and that exactly is what we want to do when we play against Benin Republic on Thursday.

“In respect to everything I just said, we should all have it at the back of our minds that Benin Republic is not a pushover but we will work hard to make sure we achieve our objectives.”

With 10 points from four matches, seven goals for and none against and top of their Group D, the Eagles will walk with an extra bounce into the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.

The Super Eagles will target their fifth consecutive clean sheet in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying encounter against neighbours, Benin Republic in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday evening.

Nigeria remains the frontrunners in Group D, showcasing solid performances that have seen them yet to concede a goal, having thrashed Benin 3-0 in the opener at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Auxerre central defender, Gabriel Osho has admitted that Nigeria is full of talented players even as he said to get called-up by Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen is a great honour for him.

Osho who was born and raised in Reading, England has finally joined Nigeria’s squad for the first time after an injury had ruled him out earlier in March when he got his first call up to the Super Eagles.

The 26-year-old who said his parents were born in Lagos joined Auxerre from Luton Town as a free agent and has been impressive for the French side this season, making nine appearances in the French Ligue 1.

An injury unfortunately stopped him from making his debut for the Super Eagles in March but Osho has now been recalled after West Bromwich Albion defender, Semi Ajayi picked up a serious hamstring injury.

In an interview with the Super Eagles media team in Abidjan on Tuesday, Osho said: “My name is Gabriel Osho, defender for Auxerre and the Super Eagles. Both my parents were born in Lagos, I am happy to be here.

“I have been invited before but I couldn’t come because of injury and one or two other things, but when this time came, I could finally join up with the team.”

Osho during the interview also promised to give his best if selected for Thursday’s game against Benin Republic and is impressed with the quality of players in the Super Eagles squad.

He said he is impressed with, especially the attack which includes the likes of Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho.

“I will just work as hard as I can. That’s what the fans can expect from every single player here, everyone is talented enough to be here.

“All you have to do is look at the frontline, you’ll see the names and all the players. The players that are here and the players that couldn’t be selected in the squad this time, the country is full of talented players.

“To get a call-up is a great honour for me because I know there are so many great players from Nigeria that are not here at the moment.”