Sports
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau Outline Gains of Super Eagles’ Friendly Against Russia
Joel Ajayi
As anticipation builds for the Super Eagles’ high-profile friendly match against the Russian national team on June 6 in Moscow, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has outlined several strategic gains for the national team from the international encounter.
Speaking further, Gusau assured Nigerians that there were no concerns regarding sanctions from FIFA or diplomatic backlash over the fixture. He emphasized that the match was fully sanctioned by FIFA, and that all players and officials secured their Russian entry visas through the embassy in Abuja.
“This match is a crucial step in the team’s evolution under our new head coach, Eric Chelle,” Gusau stated. “It’s not just about the result. It’s about learning, development, and team cohesion. These are the kinds of games we need to grow.”
Gusau explained that the fixture provides a rare opportunity for Coach Chelle to experiment with different formations and assess how players respond under pressure from a strong European side.
“Russia is a disciplined and physically dominant team. This kind of test will help our coaching crew evaluate tactical systems and make important adjustments going forward,” he said
With several emerging and returning players in the Super Eagles camp, Gusau believes the friendly will be a perfect platform to gauge their readiness.
“We are building for the future, and we need to understand our depth. The coaches will be watching closely to see who is ready to step up for AFCON and World Cup qualifiers,” he added.
Gusau stressed the importance of playing top-tier international opponents in preparation for major tournaments.
“Russia has scored over 31 goals in their last six friendlies. They beat Belarus 5-0, Vietnam 3-0, Brunei 11-0, Syria 4-0, and recently defeated both Grenada and Zambia 5-0 each in March 2025. This kind of opposition will truly test our mettle.”
Amid speculation over possible sanctions due to international tensions involving Russia, Gusau was unequivocal:
“This match is FIFA-approved. Every process, including visa issuance and formal clearances, has followed global football protocols. There are no fears on that front.”
Gusau reaffirmed the NFF’s dedication to ensuring the Super Eagles have consistent access to top-quality international friendlies.
“We will make sure that every FIFA window is used to build a stronger, more competitive Super Eagles team. Russia is just the beginning. The future of Nigerian football depends on constant testing and development.”
The Super Eagles’ fixture against Russia is seen as a significant step in preparing the team for a new era under Eric Chelle, with the 2025 AFCON and 2026 World Cup qualifiers firmly in focus.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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