Archive · edition of 15 October 2026
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 1 to 15 October 2026, with the freshest stories first.
Checked 15 October 2026
A good fortnight for Nigerian football. The Super Falcons beat Comoros 7-0 on aggregate in Olympic qualifying and now meet Morocco, the Super Eagles came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 in Russia with nine debutants, and Victor Osimhen is back playing for Galatasaray after a month out injured.
Around Africa, Mohamed Salah set a Turkish Super Lig record, Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande scored his first Real Madrid goal, and Ghana closed applications for a new Black Stars coach after Carlos Queiroz left.
On the roads, Kenya’s Amos Kipruto won Chicago in 2:01:09, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa kept her Chicago title and Eliud Kipchoge, 41, won again in Melbourne. Coming up: the Flamingos at the U-17 Women’s World Cup from 17 October and the Ballon d’Or on 26 October.
This week · Checked 15 October 2026
7-0
Aggregate win in LA 2028 Olympic qualifying; Morocco come next
3-3
A late comeback in Nizhny Novgorod, with nine Super Eagles debutants
2:01:09
Chicago Marathon victory in a personal best
10
Goal contributions in his first seven Super Lig games, a record
Top stories · 15 October 2026
Full reports with photos, key facts and quotes. Every story keeps its own permanent link, ready to share.
Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu scored twice each as Nigeria won 7-0 on aggregate in Olympic qualifying.
The Super Eagles striker set up a goal on his return, then faced Barcelona in the Champions League.
A young, much-changed Nigeria side found late goals from debutant Peter Edokpolor and Akor Adams.
Hakeem Busari's 21 players open against Poland on 17 October, with defending champions Korea DPR in the group.
Ten goal contributions in his first seven league games: no player had done it before.
The 19-year-old Ivorian, Africa's most expensive player, is settling in fast at the Bernabeu.
After Carlos Queiroz's exit, a five-member committee will pick Ghana's next coach; an interim team takes the November qualifiers.
A personal best for Kenya's Amos Kipruto and a second straight title for Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa.
The two-time Olympic champion's first marathon win since Berlin 2023.
Josh Hazlewood took eight wickets as the world Test champions fell behind in the three-match series.
Nigeria this week
The Super Falcons, Super Eagles, Flamingos and Nigeria’s clubs and federations, from Ikenne and Nizhny Novgorod to Istanbul and Abuja.
FootballNigeria
Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu scored twice each and Christy Ucheibe added a penalty in a 5-0 win in Ikenne, 7-0 on aggregate. Morocco wait in the next round of LA 2028 Olympic qualifying.
FootballNigeria
Victor Osimhen set up a goal on his return against Kasimpasa on 9 October, then played as Barcelona won 4-1 at Galatasaray in the Champions League.
FootballNigeria
Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first Nigeria goal in three years, and debutant Peter Edokpolor and Akor Adams struck late in Nizhny Novgorod. Nine players won their first caps.
FootballNigeria
Hakeem Busari’s 21-player squad open against Poland in Rabat on 17 October, then face Puerto Rico and holders Korea DPR in Group B.
FootballNigeria
Michelle Alozie scored after the break and Uchenna Kanu headed in Jennifer Echegini’s cross as interim coach Augustine Eguavoen’s side beat Comoros in Ikenne.
FootballNigeria
After the defeat in Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria dropped four places in the October ranking, according to Blueprint. The next ranking is published on 18 November.
BasketballNigeria
FIBA set a 15 October deadline for the Nigeria Basketball Federation election in Abuja, with the new board due to take office by 16 October. Outgoing president Musa Kida is not standing again.
FootballNigeria
Rangers face MC Alger in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, first leg 16 to 18 October, and El-Kanemi Warriors meet Raja Casablanca in the Confederation Cup. Return legs are on 23 to 25 October.
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Nigerians making waves
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.
Football · Super Falcons
Nigerian roots: Nigeria
Scored in both legs against Comoros, three goals in all, as Nigeria won 7-0 on aggregate.
Football · Super Falcons
Nigerian roots: Nigerian-American; switched to Nigeria at senior level
Two goals in the 5-0 second-leg win that sent Nigeria through to face Morocco.
Football · Super Eagles
Nigerian roots: Nigeria
Scored on his Super Eagles debut, aged 19, to start the comeback from 3-1 down in Russia.
African football
Coaching changes, friendlies and the African players who made the headlines in Europe’s top leagues and the Champions League.
FootballGhana
Carlos Queiroz left on 1 October after two qualifying defeats. A five-member committee chaired by Fred Pappoe will pick his successor, and an interim team takes the November games.
FootballEgypt
His assist in a 3-0 win over Samsunspor made him the first player with 10 goal contributions in his first seven Super Lig games: 7 goals and 3 assists for Trabzonspor.
FootballIvory Coast
The 19-year-old scored the only goal against Villarreal on 10 October and set up Kylian Mbappe as Real won 4-3 at Roma in the Champions League.
FootballMorocco
Achraf Hakimi played the full match and hit the post with a header as the Champions League holders won in Manchester. He is on the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
FootballCameroon
Bryan Mbeumo put Manchester United ahead, but ten-man Tottenham equalised through Dominic Solanke in stoppage time: 1-1.
FootballMorocco
Ismael Saibari equalised from Harry Kane’s pass as Bayern drew 2-2, after Augsburg had scored inside nine seconds, the fastest goal in Bundesliga history.
FootballAlgeria
Mohamed Belloumi came off the bench to score a left-footed equaliser for 2-2. He has 3 goals and 2 assists in his first Premier League season.
FootballSenegal
The Senegal striker struck at 90+2 and 90+4 as Rennes beat Auxerre 4-1, his first league goals for the club.
FootballCameroon
Bil Nsongo, 22, scored at the start of the second half as Cameroon won the friendly 1-0 in Ebimpe.
FootballMali
Abde Ezzalzouli scored a penalty for Morocco before Gaoussou Diarra equalised late in the friendly.
FootballAfrica
Morocco slipped to 7th in the world but stay top in Africa. Senegal are 18th, Algeria 28th and Ivory Coast 29th; Mali and South Africa climbed six places each.
Super Eagles
| 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 |
There were no qualifiers in October. Matchdays 3 and 4 are in the November window (9 to 17 November), when Nigeria play Tanzania twice. Tanzania are already qualified as co-hosts, so only one other team goes through. Read more about the Super Eagles and their AFCON history.
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Around Africa
Marathons, rugby sevens, cricket, basketball and the road to Dakar 2026: the fortnight’s biggest African results.
AthleticsKenya / Ethiopia
Amos Kipruto ran a personal best to win the men’s race, with defending champion Jacob Kiplimo fourth. Hawi Feysa retained the women’s title in 2:13:33.
AthleticsKenya
Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon in 2:09:10, his first marathon win since Berlin 2023.
CricketSouth Africa
Josh Hazlewood took eight wickets in the match despite Aiden Markram’s 75. Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0.
AthleticsKenya
The Athletics Integrity Unit suspended the 35-year-old for a prohibited substance. He was fourth at the 2023 Berlin Marathon in 2:04:22.
AthleticsKenya
Witold Banka met President Ruto in Nairobi. More than 140 Kenyan athletes have been suspended since 2017, and Africa has no accredited anti-doping laboratory.
RugbyKenya
Kenya’s national sevens side beat the Morans 24-5 at Nyayo Stadium, with four second-half tries.
RugbyKenya / Uganda
The Lionesses beat Uganda’s Lady Cranes 22-5 in the deciding match in Nairobi.
BasketballSouth Sudan
Khaman Maluach had 10 points and 15 rebounds in his first preseason start as Phoenix beat San Antonio 102-98.
AthleticsSouth Africa
South Africa’s Adam Lipschitz won in a personal best of about 2:07:21; Ethiopia’s Aberash Fayesa Robi won the women’s race.
Multi-sportSenegal
The torch visits all 14 regions before lighting the cauldron in Diamniadio on 31 October. About 2,700 athletes aged 15 to 18 are expected at Africa’s first Olympic event.
RugbySouth Africa
Two WXV Global Series Tests at Athlone Stadium on 24 and 31 October, Ireland’s first Test tour to South Africa.
African stars
The African stars from other nations who made the headlines this week.
Football · Trabzonspor
Country: Egypt
Ten goal contributions in his first seven Turkish Super Lig games, a league record.
Football · Real Madrid
Country: Ivory Coast
First Real Madrid goal against Villarreal, then an assist for Mbappe in a 4-3 win at Roma.
Athletics · Marathon
Country: Kenya
Won the Chicago Marathon in a personal best of 2:01:09.
Athletics · Marathon
Country: Kenya
Won Melbourne in a course record, his first marathon win in three years, at the age of 41.
Diary
| Date | Event | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 18 October | CAF Champions League second preliminary round, first legs (Rangers v MC Alger) | Football |
| 17 October | Nigeria v Poland, U-17 Women’s World Cup, Rabat (Flamingos) | Football |
| 18 October | Amsterdam Marathon | Athletics |
| 18 to 22 October | South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha | Cricket |
| 20 October | NBA season opens | Basketball |
| 20 October | Nigeria v Puerto Rico, U-17 Women’s World Cup (Flamingos) | Football |
| 23 October | Nigeria v Korea DPR, U-17 Women’s World Cup (Flamingos) | Football |
| 23 to 25 October | CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup return legs | Football |
| 24 and 31 October | Springbok Women v Ireland, Cape Town | Rugby |
| 25 October | Nairobi Marathon | Athletics |
| 26 October | Ballon d’Or ceremony, London (Hakimi, Mane, Diomande among African nominees) | Football |
| 31 October | Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games open (to 13 November) | Multi-sport |
| 9 to 17 November | AFCON 2027 qualifiers, matchdays 3 and 4 (Nigeria v Tanzania) | Football |
Updated every week
Archive
Stories move to the news archive after a week, at the same address. Browse by month: September 2026.
Quick answers
Every week. Each edition covers the previous one to two weeks of Nigerian and African sport; this one covers 1 to 15 October 2026.
Morocco, in the next round of LA 2028 Olympic qualifying, in the window of 23 February to 6 March 2027, after beating Comoros 7-0 on aggregate.
3-3 in Nizhny Novgorod on 6 October 2026. Iheanacho, Edokpolor and Akor Adams scored for Nigeria.
Yes. He returned for Galatasaray on 9 October 2026 and played against Barcelona in the Champions League on 13 October.
Amos Kipruto of Kenya (2:01:09) and Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia (2:13:33).
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