Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu has hailed the late Peter Rufai as one of the best he has ever seen in the colours of Nigeria, following the death of the Nigerian goalkeeping legend last week, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Rufai died at the age of 61 last Thursday following a brief illness and tributes have been pouring from different corners of the world and even outside the football community.
Agu competed for the number one jersey with Rufai during their heydays in the national team and the ex-Eagles keeper trainer says he won’t shy away from regarding the late keeper as number one.
“It’s an international loss. He was a little bit ahead of us, and honestly, he was number one. Peter is somebody whose confidence and command of the goalpost is one of the best I have ever seen,” Agu told The PUNCH.
“Working with him enabled me to see how hardworking he was and how thorough he was about his game.
The 57-year-old Agu was the preferred choice for some of the qualifying matches for the USA 1994 World Cup but he was displaced by Rufai towards the end of the series and for the mundial.
Despite losing his place, Agu noted their rivalry was healthy during an interview with Premium Times.
“I think everyone has a role to play and then, I told myself, he is Nigerian too. And there was a time he was on the bench watching while I was Nigeria’s No.1. I had to support Rufai when the coach picked him ahead of me.
“I had no hard feelings because we are one happy family and Nigeria is bigger than anyone. I came into the picture again when we played against the Asian team and was adjudged as the man of the match. No man is an island!”
The late Rufai made over 60 caps for Nigeria and he famously scored a goal – a penalty which was the last goal in the 6-0 drubbing of Ethiopia during a 1994 AFCON qualifier.
He later led Nigeria to a second continental title in Tunisia in 1994. His penalty saves in the semi-final against holders Ivory Coast and three crucial saves in the final against Zambia remain etched in Nigerian football folklore. (Punch)
Nigeria kicked off their quest for a record-extending tenth WAFCON title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Tunisia on Sunday evening at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Goals from Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo underlined the gulf in quality between the two sides in their Group B opener and extended Nigeria’s dominance over North African opposition at the continental showpiece.
The Super Falcons came into the game on the back of a patchy record in recent WAFCON openers, having lost their first matches in both the 2018 and 2022 editions to South Africa.
However, they wasted no time putting any nerves to rest. Just four minutes into the encounter, Nigeria struck with their first real chance. After Rinsola Babajide was brought down on the left, she got up to deliver the resulting free-kick which found Oshoala in the box.
The former Nigerian captain directed a well-timed header in the midst of Tunisians into the centre of the goal for her 14th career goal at the WAFCON.
Nigeria’s second goal came at the end of a lengthy first-half stoppage period. After a VAR check for offside, Babajide’s well-taken left-footed effort in the 46th minute was confirmed, making it 2-0.
Coach Justine Madugu made three half-time changes, perhaps with an eye on managing player fitness for the rest of the group stage. Oshoala, Babajide and Abiodun made way for Chinwendu Ihezuo, Esther Okoronkwo and Christy Ucheibe.
The new entrants made an instant impact. Ihezuo’s energy pinned Tunisia’s defenders deeper, while Okoronkwo offered direct runs and link-up play, striking the post in the 81st minute before assisting the final goal.
The third goal arrived in the 84th minute. Okoronkwo received Plumptre’s cross in the box after already playing her on from the middle and her flicked header perfectly met Ihezuo’s position in front of goal, whose left-footed shot settled low in the far corner to seal the result.
Tunisia’s best opportunity came in stoppage time when Salma Zemzem rattled the crossbar from a distance, a rare moment of danger for Nigeria.
The Carthage Eagles have now gone five consecutive WAFCON matches without scoring, stretching over 460 minutes, and remain without a goal against Nigeria in the competition’s history.
The win sets Nigeria atop Group B heading into their next match against Botswana, while Tunisia will be looking to bounce back against Algeria. (Punch)
The Presidency on Sunday defended President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia, describing it as a landmark diplomatic and cultural mission.
It said the visit is rekindling Nigeria’s ancestral and strategic ties with the Caribbean nation and the wider CARICOM bloc.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said, “In the wake of some Nigerians’ misguided, mischievous, and uninformed comments regarding President Bola Tinubu’s historic state visit to Saint Lucia, it is necessary to clarify the purpose of the visit.”
The statement is titled ‘Why President Tinubu is on a state visit to Saint Lucia.’
It added, “First, from the perspective of the Government of Saint Lucia, the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations.”
Onanuga explained that Saint Lucia, like many Caribbean nations, has deep ancestral roots connected to West Africa, especially Nigeria.
The statement read,” In the mid-19th century, a wave of immigrants from present-day Nigeria arrived in Saint Lucia, bringing cultural and religious practices that persist today.
“Citizens of Saint Lucia are excited that President Tinubu has chosen to visit the island.
“They long to strengthen their bonds with African nations with which they share ancestral links.”
The Presidency described the visit as a major effort within the framework of South-South cooperation and Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy strategy- Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.
It said, “Saint Lucia is the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states.
“The CARICOM states have a combined GDP of over $130 billion, a significant figure in South-South trade discourse.”
Citing diplomatic and historical bonds, Onanuga recalled key historical ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, most notably the life and career of Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979.
“Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who died on February 10, 1989, served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979,” it said, adding that, “He first came to Nigeria in 1957, recruited as a legal draftsman by the Western Regional Government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.”
It explained that Alexander became the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in 1958.
In 1960, he was appointed Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Western Regional Ministry of Justice.
Four years later, he was appointed a judge in the Lagos High Court, and in 1969, the defunct South Eastern State appointed him the chief judge.
He later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1975, succeeding Sir Teslim Olawale Elias.
The presidency also highlighted the contributions of other Saint Lucians, including Neville Skeete, who helped design the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, and Sir Darnley’s son Michael, a frontline medical officer during the Nigerian civil war.
On the cultural front, the Presidency stated that Tinubu’s visit aligns with the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which recognises the African diaspora as a key development partner.
“Nigeria actively fosters cultural exchange through collaboration in education, culture, and heritage preservation.
“Our cultural exports, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, and literature, are already making a significant impact on Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean,” it said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s growing cultural footprint, the statement noted, “The Gros Islet Street Party is arguably one of Saint Lucia’s most famous cultural events. It has been held every Friday for over 50 years.
“On the Friday before President Tinubu’s arrival, Afrobeats and Nigerian music dominated the airwaves, a testament to Nigeria’s growing soft power and cultural footprint.”
On democratic values, the Presidency stressed that “Saint Lucia is a stable parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria, which has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.”
During the live coverage of Tinubu’s arrival, a Saint Lucian commentator reportedly described him as a “fighter for democracy.”
Regarding Nigeria’s growing population, the statement said, “Nigeria is projected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050.
“President Tinubu has consistently emphasised that Nigeria’s youthful population is a driver of economic transformation via education, industrialisation, and innovation.”
As part of his itinerary, President Tinubu is scheduled to visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to deepen educational partnerships.
The delegation also includes members of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, who are deployed to ACP countries to provide professional services.
“This assistance is delivered through the deployment of Nigerian professionals to recipient countries to address specific needs,” Onanuga explained. (Punch)
The captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, has declared the team’s unwavering commitment to clinching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and earning a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during an interview with the Saudi Pro League in Ar Rass, the Nigerian defender shared his pride in leading the national side and highlighted their ambitious goals.
“It’s an incredible honour to captain Nigeria,” Troost-Ekong stated. “This role carries significant responsibility, as Nigeria is a football powerhouse with an abundance of talent. However, despite our potential, we’ve often fallen short of expectations over the years, given the calibre of players we produce.”
The former Watford centre-back praised the current generation of Super Eagles players and expressed confidence in the team’s future.
“I’m really enjoying the experience and trying to contribute the best I can. With the group of players we have now—who are extremely talented—our focus is clear: to win the next AFCON and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“We came very close at the last AFCON, and that’s something we’ve all learned from. Now, as captain, the mission feels even more meaningful,” he said. (Punch)
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