By OUR REPORTER
The Dualla Barracks field in Nasarawa Gwong, Jos North LGA, hosted a Group B clash in the ongoing Anaguta Football Tournament (AFT) 2025 qualifiers as Iroho F.C Fudawa faced off against Tirah F.C of Nasarawa on match day 2.
The match began with high intensity, and it was Iroho’s F.C’s Peter who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, scoring a stunning goal from outside the box.
Iroho F.C dominated possession in the early stages, testing the resilient defence of Tirah F.C Nasarawa, which held firm despite constant pressure.
Tirah F.C came out firing in the second half, and Nasarawa’s Sati Sani converted a penalty in the 53rd minute to level the score.
Iroho F.C responded with renewed determination, with Rueben finding the back of the net in the 85th minute.
Sati Sani then scored another penalty for Tirah F.C, ensuring the game ended in an exhilarating 2-2 draw.
Speaking on the match, Mr Danjuma Sani, former Director of Sports (DOS), said, “The match is getting hotter; the coming week will get even tougher.”
Mr Joe Sani added, “The game is going to be very interesting, just wait and see.”
The new DOS, Sunday Dallah, confirmed that in the coming week, matches would be played twice weekly to allow all teams a fair chance to qualify for the finals scheduled for December 2025.
SPORTS
NPFL coach to face police over alleged certificate forgery
A top coach in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is set to be quizzed by the police over allegations of forging a coaching certificate, SCORENigeria has exclusively reported.
The coach allegedly forged a CAF B coaching certificate to qualify for the leadership of one of the newly promoted NPFL clubs this season. According to sources, the coach claimed to have earned the certificate in 2014, but no such course existed in Nigeria at that time.
“It’s a criminal offence and the case is before the NFF leadership, the coaches’ association as well as the police,” a source familiar with the scandal said.
“The very ambitious coach blatantly and criminally forged the certificate, claiming he bagged it in 2014, when in actual fact there was no such course in Nigeria then,” the source added.
The source further revealed that the coach does not even possess a CAF C license, making his claim to the CAF B certificate entirely fraudulent.
The case is now under scrutiny by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Coaches’ Association and the police, with all parties expected to take legal and administrative action.
“This matter is being treated with utmost seriousness because the integrity of coaching standards in Nigerian football is at stake,” the source concluded.
ALL NIGERIAN SOCCER
Chelle confident as S’Eagles target 2026 W’Cup qualification
Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, remains focused on Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Morocco, despite facing a strong Gabon side in the opening African playoff match next month.
Speaking on Segun Odegbami’s ’90 Minutes with Mathematical 7′ programme on Eagle 7 Sports Radio 103 FM from Lisbon, Portugal, Chelle acknowledged Gabon’s quality.
“Gabon are a good team with great players like Pierr-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina, a good coach with good philosophy,” Chelle observed.
He stressed that the Super Eagles must focus on winning both matches in Morocco, as this was Nigeria’s only route to the World Cup after losing the Group C ticket to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana during the qualifiers.
“This is a final for us and we have to focus only on ourselves. We have a lot of injuries in our team, but for sure we are focused on this game and positive about our chances,” he said.
Chelle also admitted that a few players had injuries that may prevent them from featuring in the playoffs.
He highlighted the core group of senior players who form his inner circle for team leadership and cohesion: Captain William Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen.
“It’s a little circle of four, five players – William (Ekong), Wilfred (Ndidi), Moses (Simon), and Victor (Osimhen). They help me to get to the team,” Chelle explained.
He also praised Benjamin Fredrick, a Dender EH centre-back in the Belgian Pro League, for his impressive performances since debuting at the Unity Cup in London against Jamaica in May.
“It was at the Unity Cup in London when the NFF President (Ibrahim Gusau) called me on Benjamin. I said he should come for training. His training was so good, it was as if he has been with the team for two, three years. I then put him on the pitch and he did well. He’s ready, he is a positive, he plays at right back at his club Dender and he can also play at centre back,” Chelle said.
Rejecting suggestions that Nigeria qualified for the playoffs by luck, Chelle said: “Not luck that gave Nigeria the playoffs ticket. It was the quality of work that the coaches and players put into it. During the qualifiers when things were going rough, I didn’t say nothing because I knew that we will have this chance (window). It was hard work that got us here. Not luck.”
Chelle admitted that some media narratives predicted a back-to-back failure for Nigeria, but he refused to be distracted.
“I only focus on the pitch and don’t listen to side talks. Our energy and state of mind is to go to the World Cup,” he emphasised.
The Super Eagles will face Gabon on November 13 and will then play the winner of Cameroon versus D.R. Congo on November 16. The winner will advance to the Intercontinental playoffs in Mexico next year.
“This is a final for us. We will continue with our energy. We want to go to the World Cup,” Chelle said confidently.
ALLAFRICA