Expert opinion: These 4 Nigerian gems to watch at CHAN 2024
Nigerian talents to follow at CHAN
Nigéria/NFL
Nigeria will take part in their fourth African Nations Championship (CHAN) as the 8th edition kicks off from August 2 to 30 in East Africa.
Drawn in Group D, the 'Super Eagles' will face off against Senegal, Congo, and Sudan.
In an exclusive statement to Foot Africa, Mohammed Mowiz Suleman, Nigerian Sports Journalist of the Year, heaped praise on four standouts of the national squad.
The local Nigerian selection boasts some incredibly talented players. I'm especially thinking of striker Anthony Ijoma (20 years old), who netted 12 goals and provided 2 assists for his club Abia Warriors in the most recent domestic league campaign.Goalkeeper Mustapha Lawal is another great hope for Nigerian football, having recorded 16 clean sheets in 29 matches during the 2024-2025 season. Michael Tochuckwu is another gem to watch—he played a pivotal role in Remo Stars FC's impressive MPFL season. At just 21, he may not remain long in the domestic league.Finally, defender Junior Nduka possesses tremendous potential thanks to his exceptional athleticism and outstanding aerial ability.
Nigeria aims to break the jinx
Nigeria is still chasing its first-ever African Nations Championship (CHAN) crown. Their best achievement came in the 2018 edition, where they reached the final but fell to Morocco in a 4-0 defeat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen striker agrees AC Milan move
Victor Boniface has reached an agreement with AC Milan over a potential move to the club from Bayer Leverkusen. Milan are working on the signing of a new striker, following the summer exits of Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham. The Rossoneri want to bring in competition for Santiago Gimenez and Boniface is the top target. Milan have reached a verbal agreement with the Nigeria international on personal terms and discussions with Leverkusen will continue over a fee. Boniface could be the latest big name to leave Leverkusen this summer, following the departures of Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka. Head coach Xabi Alonso also left Leverkusen to take charge at Real Madrid. Sky Germany are reporting that Leverkusen are deliberating the offer from Milan but are likely to accept with the player keen on the move. The 24-year-old was a huge hit during his debut season at Leverkusen, where he was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Year. Boniface was recognised after scoring 21 goals in all competitions, as Leverkusen won a historic German double. However, injury problems and Patrik Schick's form reduced Boniface to just 12 league starts last season. Milan's move for Boniface could deal a blow to several Premier League teams. Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham have been among the clubs linked with signing the forward in recent months. Read – See more – Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: | | | |
Forbes
12 minutes ago
- Forbes
Racing Club Defeats Peñarol 3-1 In Epic Copa Libertadores Clash
Racing Club of Argentina recorded a historic victory over Uruguayan club Peñarol in the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday night. Racing Club won the game 3-1 and the tie 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for the quarter finals of the competition. An Explosive Atmosphere Racing Club had a date with destiny in a drenched 'Cilindro' stadium in Avellaneda on Tuesday night. The Buenos Aires club welcomed five-time champion Peñarol who held the lead in this tie with a 1-0 home victory in the first leg. Fans packed into the standing sections behind the goal like sardines. The noise in the arena was mind-blowing. Racing supporters knew they needed to come from behind to defeat a strong opponent on the night, and they did everything in their power to get behind the team. It was obvious that there were more home fans in the stadium than the legal capacity, but this is common practice in South America on big match days. The atmosphere was hostile and fervent. A strong section of yellow and black in the upper tier added their own noise and colour. The Peñarol fans had traveled in their thousands too, with Copa Libertadores dreams of their own. The night turned into a rollercoaster for both sets of supporters. Early Goals At The Cilindro Racing was ahead within minutes. The rain poured, and the stadium lifted, as Adrián Martínez bundled in after a goal-mouth scramble. The Racing bench jumped onto the pitch in celebration but little did they know the twists and turns still to come. Peñarol equalised minutes later, and that was after another missed chance. The Uruguayans weren't in Buenos Aires to make up the numbers which added to the incredible spectacle. As did the weather. The ball moved faster in some parts of the pitch and slower in others as the resting rain water had a significant impact on the drama. Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo thought he had scored a second for Racing, but the referee disallowed the goal because Rojo pushed a Peñarol defender in the build-up. Both teams had big chances in this encounter. Racing had 26 shots and Peñarol had 16. The game was open, providing edge of the seat action, just as you would expect from the finest competition in South American soccer. Pure Copa Libertadores Drama As both teams continued to squander opportunities in the second half Peñarol stayed in the lead on aggregate. Then in the 83rd minute the referee handed the hosts a golden opportunity. Peñarol defender Emanuel Gularte gave away a clumsy foul and Racing was awarded a penalty. Adrián Martínez dispatched expertly to send the crowd into rapturous applause. Racing had the winner on the night and the leveller in the tie, and there was still time for more. Then touchline theatrics struck. The referee sent off both Marcos Rojo and Bruno Zuculini in the 87th minute, even though they weren't on the pitch at the time. On the field, both teams pressed again. Either might have scored inside 20 seconds of what felt more like a basketball game than a soccer match. Then Peñarol broke forward again, this time a header from the edge of the six-yard box was directed straight at the keeper. You could barely keep up with the action. The home fans had their hearts in their mouths. Racing Club Advances To The Quarter Finals Then in the 94th minute the entire stadium exploded with emotion. Franco Pardo headed in a third goal for Racing club, peeling off at the back post to finish a set-piece for the hosts and send Racing into the quarter finals. The stands erupted in pandemonium as Racing went ahead 3-2 on aggregate at the very death. The final whistle sounded and the agony and the ecstasy of tournament soccer was laid bare for all to see. Racing celebrated as if they had already won the tournament and Peñarol simply couldn't believe the outcome of the tie after leading for so long. The Uruguayan side will have to wait another year but Racing's pursuit of continental glory continues. Racing, who won the Copa Sudamericana last year, will face another Argentinian side, Vélez Sarsfield, in the quarter finals of the Copa Libertadores next month.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
England icon Peter Shilton's incredible 28-year-old world appearance record broken by Brazilian Serie A star
Fabio breaks Shilton's appearance record Debate remains over Shilton's official match tally Brazilian keeper nearing 1,400 official appearances Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? Shilton, who enjoyed a stellar career spanning between 1966 and 1997, has long been credited with holding the all-time appearance record, but his exact total remains a subject of much debate. He lists 1,387 matches in the biography section of his X account. Guinness World Records, however, recognises 1,390. A separate calculation of his senior club and England national team outings comes to 1,374, with higher counts possibly including appearances for England Under-23s and various regional cup competitions. THE BIGGER PICTURE What's clear, though, is that Fabio's relentless consistency since starting his career back in 1998 has propelled him into history's top tier, regardless of disputed tallies. Fluminense officials presented Fabio with a commemorative plate and a bespoke painting, while he played the match against America de Cali donning a shirt adorned with a special patch marking his milestone. WHAT FABIO SAID 'I have nothing but reasons to thank God, who allowed me to experience this special moment, to reach this gigantic milestone,' Fabio said. 'It was incredibly moving to experience it, especially having my family by my side during the tributes. It's a huge satisfaction to reach this record wearing the Fluminense jersey, which opened doors for me. Now it's time to keep playing and strive for new achievements with each game.' DID YOU KNOW? Fabio's entire career has been forged in Brazil. He began his professional journey with Uniao Bandeirante (30 games) before moving to Vasco da Gama (150 games). His most successful spell came at Cruzeiro, where he amassed a staggering 976 matches, cementing himself as one of the club's most iconic figures. Since joining Fluminense, he has added another 235 appearances, becoming a cornerstone for the Rio de Janeiro giants. Remarkably, despite his domestic dominance, Fabio has never played for the Brazilian national team. WHAT NEXT? At 44, Fabio has become football's iron man, a symbol of endurance in a sport. He featured in six matches at this summer's Club World Cup, helping Fluminense to the semi-finals before falling to eventual champions Chelsea. His presence between the sticks is still trusted on the continental stage, underlining both his resilience and enduring quality.
