Every week we gather the news of Nigerian and African athletes at home and around the world: results, records, transfers and the fixtures coming next. This edition covers 18 to 30 September 2026.
Checked 30 September 2026
The week in brief
A painful week for the Super Eagles: a 2-1 comeback against Madagascar in Uyo, then a 3-0 defeat in Guinea-Bissau, Eric Chelle’s first as coach. Ghana fared even worse, losing both of their opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers, while Morocco, Algeria, Ivory Coast and DR Congo made perfect or near-perfect starts.
Away from football, Africa ruled the roads. Tigst Assefa won the Berlin Marathon in a course record on a ruptured Achilles, Agnes Ngetich set a world record at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, and Eritrea’s Dawit Seare outkicked Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Nigeria’s sprinters sealed places at the 2027 World Championships with an African record in the mixed relay, and Anthony Joshua finally has a date with Tyson Fury.
This week · Checked 30 September 2026
The week in numbers
3-0
Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria
Eric Chelle’s first defeat as Super Eagles coach, in Bissau on 29 September
40.24
Nigeria mixed 4x100m
A new African record, set at the World Relays in Gaborone; the team is one of six Nigerian entries already sealed for Beijing 2027
1:05:15
Agnes Ngetich, half marathon
Women-only world record at the World Road Running Championships
Franculino Dju, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló scored as Nigeria suffered Eric Chelle’s first defeat. Guinea-Bissau lead Group L with 6 points; Nigeria have 3.
Nigeria came from behind to win 2-1 in Uyo. George Ilenikhena equalised just before half-time from Alex Iwobi’s pass, and substitute Moses Usor scored the winner.
Nigeria host Tanzania in Uyo on 13 November and travel to Dar es Salaam on 17 November. Co-hosts Tanzania qualify automatically, so only one other Group L team goes through.
Acting coach Augustine Eguavoen recalled Ashleigh Plumptre and named Oshoala, Ajibade and Nnadozie. Both legs are at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, on 9 and 13 October.
Nigeria’s U-20 women lost 1-0 in the quarter-final in Łódź, Poland, to a 92nd-minute goal after a red card. They had beaten England 3-0 in the last 16.
The long-awaited fight will be at the Principality Stadium and shown live on Netflix. Joshua, 36, was knocked down twice by Kristian Prenga in July before winning in round two.
Nigeria skipped the Conakry qualifiers because of cost, so its teams cannot play in Tangier from 18 to 26 October. Aruna and others still enter the singles, which qualify players for the 2027 Worlds.
The American with a Nigerian mother won the title with Campos Racing at the Madrid finale on 13 September, beating Freddie Slater by 159 points to 145. He is the first American F3 champion.
· Source: Formula1.com
Multi-sportNigeria
Abuja 2027 African School Games “on course”
Nigeria presented its plans to the ANOCA General Assembly. The Games run from 2 to 11 August 2027 in Abuja, and NOC president Habu Gumel promised that “Nigeria will do wonders”.
· Source: Premium Times
ChessNigeria
Tunde Onakoya opens a weekly chess club in Lagos
The Guinness record holder launched the “Good Move” club at PANU Lagos. It meets every Tuesday and is open to players of all levels.
· Source: Pulse
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Nigerians making waves
Nigerian stars making waves around the world
The Nigerian and Nigerian-heritage athletes who stood out this week, ranked by impact. Names link to their profiles on SitesNG where we have one.
In her final WNBA game she had 17 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, though the Sparks lost 76-75 to Golden State. She retires after 15 seasons, 11 All-Star selections and the 2016 title.
· Source: Just Women’s Sports
BasketballUSA (Nigerian heritage)
Kiki Iriafen’s double-double in the WNBA playoffs
Iriafen had 15 points and 14 rebounds, nine of them offensive, but Washington lost Game 1 to Atlanta 92-77.
· Source: WNBA.com
BasketballUK (Nigerian parents)
Champion OG Anunoby goes viral at Knicks media day
The defending champions’ forward, who scored 33 points in Game 4 of the Finals, charmed reporters asked about his famous poker face.
· Source: ClutchPoints
BasketballUSA (Nigerian parents)
Onyeka Okongwu becomes the Hawks’ main centre
With rookie Henri Veesaar out for the season with a knee injury, Okongwu will take most of Atlanta’s minutes at centre.
Ghana led 2-0 through Ernest Nuamah and Afena-Gyan but collapsed. The Black Stars have lost both games, and coach Carlos Queiroz said he would be “the first one to resign” if it helped.
Egypt won 5-0 in Juba after a 0-0 draw with Angola in Cairo. Mohamed Salah left the squad before the game in Juba, which was played on an artificial pitch.
Algeria beat Zambia 3-1 in their new coach’s first game; Nene Dorgeles scored twice as Mali beat Cape Verde 3-1. Algeria were then held 2-2 in Burundi.
Mohamed Salah scored three and set up another; he has 7 goals in 6 Süper Lig games. Nigeria’s Paul Onuachu and Chibuike Nwaiwu were in the Trabzonspor squad.
· Source: The National
FootballGhana
Semenyo double sends Manchester City top
Antoine Semenyo scored twice in a 5-3 win over Sunderland; Ernest Nuamah scored twice for Lyon against Rennes.
· Source: Vanguard
Super Eagles
Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 qualifying group
AFCON 2027 qualifying, Group L after matchday 2 (our table from the results)
Team
P
W
D
L
Goals
Pts
Guinea-Bissau
2
2
0
0
5-0
6
Nigeria
2
1
0
1
2-4
3
Madagascar
2
0
1
1
2-3
1
Tanzania (co-host)
2
0
1
1
1-3
1
Results: Tanzania 0-2 Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria 2-1 Madagascar (25 September); Madagascar 1-1 Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria (29 September). Next: Nigeria v Tanzania in Uyo on 13 November and Tanzania v Nigeria in Dar es Salaam on 17 November. Read more about the Super Eagles and their AFCON history.
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Around Africa
African sport beyond football
Road running, rugby, cricket, boxing, cycling, golf, squash, volleyball and handball: the week’s biggest African results.
Assefa won in a course record of 2:11:04 and needed surgery afterwards; she faces about seven months out. Guye Adola won the men’s race in 2:02:50, his second Berlin title.
In a one-off Test in Perth, South Africa fought back from 25 points down; Ox Nche scored in the last minute. The Boks had beaten New Zealand 3-1 in their series.
David Miller hit 142 off 93 balls and Temba Bavuma 103 as South Africa made 365/9 at the Wanderers and won by 32 runs to lead 2-0. Matthew Breetzke’s 112 won the first game.
Nyasha Gwanzura took 4-33 as West Indies were bowled out for 139, and Zimbabwe chased it down with four wickets to spare.
· Source: Jamaica Observer
BoxingSouth Africa
Ricardo Malajika wins a WBC world title in Tokyo
The underdog took the super-flyweight belt on a split decision, becoming the sixth South African to win a WBC world title.
· Source: Sowetan
CyclingEritrea
Visa refusals and fines hit Eritrea at the Montreal Worlds
Two riders missed the elite road race after being refused visas, and Biniam Girmay was fined for mismatched kit. Girmay rode in the early breakaway.
· Source: Cyclingnews
GolfSouth Africa
USA come back to win the Presidents Cup 17-13
Christiaan Bezuidenhout lost his singles on the final hole at Medinah, where South Africans Tim Clark and Trevor Immelman were International assistant captains.
Every week. Each edition covers the previous seven to ten days of Nigerian and African sport; this one covers 18 to 30 September 2026.
Where do Nigeria stand in AFCON 2027 qualifying?
After two games Nigeria have 3 points in Group L, behind Guinea-Bissau on 6. Co-hosts Tanzania qualify automatically, so only one other team goes through, which makes the two games against Tanzania on 13 and 17 November must-win.
Who won the 2026 Berlin Marathon?
Ethiopians won both races: Guye Adola in 2:02:50 and Tigst Assefa in a course record of 2:11:04, run on a ruptured Achilles tendon.
When is Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury?
On 11 December 2026 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, shown live on Netflix.
Which Africans are nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané for the men’s award and Barbra Banda and Racheal Chawinga for the women’s. The ceremony is in London on 26 October 2026.
Where are the 2029 World Athletics Championships?
In Nairobi, Kenya: the first time the championships will be held in Africa. The decision was announced on 15 September 2026.
FootballNigeria
FootballNigeria
FootballNigeria
FootballNigeria
AthleticsNigeria
BoxingNigeria & UK
Table TennisNigeria
MotorsportNigeria & USA
BasketballUSA (Nigerian parents)
American FootballUSA (Nigerian parents)
FootballEgypt
FootballGhana
FootballAfrica
AthleticsEthiopia
AthleticsKenya
RugbySouth Africa
CricketSouth Africa
SquashEgypt
