Headlines
Nigerians Score New Eagles’ Jersey Very Low
The new Super Eagles kits unveiled by designers Nike and the Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday, has elicited reactions from Nigerians on Twitter.
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, in a chat with our correspondent, had described the jerseys as an improvement on the ones worn by the Eagles in 2018 and 2019.
But while some fans praised the kits, saying they were beautiful, others labelled them as below quality.
Among those who praised the design was Seun Obalola, who said, “Lovely jersey, some Nigerians that don’t really know what they want will still come and criticise it.”
“Amazing design, our new sponsor makes us good looking on the pitch,” Abdulrahman Barnawi added.
According to Danielle Enonche, many Nigerians were only criticising the jerseys because they were not yet endorsed by big stars.
“People saying the green and white isn’t good will change their minds the moment their favourite celebrity rocks it. I remember when the last ones were unveiled, many people criticised it until it began to make wave internationally,” Enonche stated.
Among those who criticised the new jersey was Sam Uche, who said, “What is this rubbish Nike IT students designed for the NFF and you’re smiling that you’re wearing this for Africa Cup of Nations. Don’t we know the difference between football jersey and inter house sports wear. Thumbs down for this Super Eagles kit.”
“Nike you can do better than this now,” Ijoma Chijioke tweeted.
“How many times have England, Germany, Italy or France changed their jerseys? What with all the continuous, petty changes every two years!? Common, be consistent and brandable! This is becoming childish. A Nigerian designer can do better. And why unveil in New York? No class,” Kelvin Keshi said.
“Is this one a design? We should go back and upgrade the old ones that we know and love instead of bringing anyhow design for us as a jersey. And we need our normal green not this colour, I don’t like this jersey at all,” Manuel Afabor also said.
Tunde Gbedo however rated the two jerseys separately, giving a thumbs up for one and a low rating for the other.
“The white and green is a huge no for me, a downgrade compared to the present one. For effort sake, 4/10, the ‘bitterleaf’ jersey looks better this time 9/10,” Gbedo tweeted.
The NFF president Pinnick said the Eagles would first wear the new kits in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liberia in Monrovia on October 5.
The Punch
The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 third-place playoff on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali proved the hero of the night with two crucial saves during the shootout, including one from Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.
Ademola Lookman then calmly converted the decisive penalty to secure the bronze medal —Nigeria’s ninth third-place finish in AFCON history.
With neither side able to break the deadlock in a cagey second half, the game ended 0-0, sending the contest directly to penalties.
Despite Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missing Nigeria’s first kick, Nwabali’s immediate saved from Egypt’s first two attempts shifted the momentum.
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of the son of a former Jigawa State governor, challenging the decision of the trial court, which convicted him for failing to declare $40,000 at Kano airport.
In a unanimous decision, the apex court panel dismissed the appeal of Aminu Sule Lamido, the son of former governor Sule Lamido, for lack of merit.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Aminu on December 11, 2012, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while preparing to travel to Cairo, Egypt.
The prosecution said Aminu declared $10,000 to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), but was found with an additional $40,000, which was not disclosed on his currency declaration form.
The EFCC charged him before the Federal High Court in Kano on a one-count offence of false declaration of foreign currency, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
On July 12, 2015, the court convicted Aminu and ordered him to forfeit 25 per cent of the undeclared sum to the Federal government.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Aminu approached the Court of Appeal in Kaduna to overturn the conviction and set aside the forfeiture order.
In a judgment delivered on December 7, 2015, however, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ordered that the trial of former governor Lamido, his two sons, and others, over alleged N1.35billion fraud, should continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
A five-member panel of the apex court issued the directive in two unanimous judgments, in the two appeals filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the trial court, which dismissed the no-case submission filed by the Lamidos and held that the defendants had a case to answer.
Both appeals were against the July 25, 2023, judgments of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld the no-case submission made by Lamido and others and struck out the 37-count charge on which they were being prosecuted, on the grounds that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.
In the lead judgments of the Supreme Court, Justice Abubakar Umar set aside the July 25, 2023 judgments of the Court of Appeal and affirmed the earlier decision by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which overruled the no-case submissions by Lamido and others and ordered them to enter their defence.
The EFCC, in the 37-count charge, among others, accused Lamido of abusing his position as a governor between 2007 and 2015, allegedly laundering sums of money received as kickbacks from companies that were awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government under his leadership.
The other defendants charged alongside Lamido are his two sons – Aminu and Mustapha; Aminu Wada Abubakar and their companies – Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.
