It’s been a whirlwind week in the world of sports, both at home and abroad! Nigerian football dominated the headlines with Troost-Ekong’s retirement following the release of the Super Eagles’ provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The FIFA World Cup draw, Real Madrid’s renewed interest in Osimhen, and the disturbing assault on Terem Moffi by Nice fans also kept people talking.
On the domestic front, Edo State has been confirmed to host the next Niger Delta Games, while in the US, Lionel Messi reached yet another remarkable milestone as the sports action rolled on.
First 11 — the weekly recap of the biggest stories in sports— brings you the major talking points from the world of games this week.
Troost-Ekong retires
Topping the headlines in Nigerian football was defender Troost-Ekong’s retirement from international football, which took many fans by surprise. The former Watford man leaves the Super Eagles just three weeks ahead of the 2025 AFCON. He had 83 caps for the three-time African champions, having started playing for them in 2015.
Super Eagles AFCON Provisional list
His sudden exit comes as Nigeria finalise their preparations for the AFCON, marked by the release of a provisional 54-man squad list for the competition. Regulars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Simon Moses, among others, were included. Some returnees included Kelechi Iheanacho, Francis Uzoho, and Taiwo Awoniyi. The Super Eagles will begin camp on December 10 ahead of the tournament, which starts 11 days later.
AFCON: FIFA Gives Clubs More Time
As the AFCON draws closer, FIFA says it will give clubs until December 15 to release players for the competition.
Top European clubs such as Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool, Bryan Mbeumo’s Manchester United, and Achraf Hakimi’s Paris Saint-Germain, among others, face losing key players for up to five weeks for the 24-nation tournament in Morocco from December 21 to January 18. But they had feared it could be even longer until FIFA amended its rules to soften the blow for clubs by delaying the release date by a week.
READ ALSO: Brazil Have ‘Difficult’ World Cup Group With Morocco, Says Ancelotti
World Cup: Spain, Argentina Get Kind Draws
Though Nigerian stories dominated the headlines, the World Cup draw got global attention. The ceremony in Washington featured some intriguing matchups, setting the tone for an exciting tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The opener will be South Africa and co-hosts Mexico.
FIFA Mulls New VAR Rule
During the competition, FIFA, the world football ruling body, said it will try VAR reviews for corner kicks. The decision was made during an October meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). It said VAR will now be expanded to cover wrongly issued second yellow cards that led to red cards.
Real Madrid Renews Interest in Osimhen
Meanwhile, Real Madrid has renewed interest in signing Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen to bolster their attack.
Ex-Super Eagles coach and captain, Sunday Oliseh, sparked discussions about Osimhen’s potential move to the Spanish capital, citing credible sources in the Galacticos. According to him, the Galatasaray striker is seen as a possible replacement for Brazilian star Vinicius, who is expected to leave Real Madrid this summer.
OGC Nice Fans Assault Moffi
Osimhen’s compatriot and Super Eagles teammate, Terem Moffi, was on the receiving end of an assault by fans of French club Nice. The 26-year-old was reportedly beaten and spat on, alongside Ivorian star Jeremie Boga, following a 3-1 loss to FC Lorient, a defeat that added to their poor form this season.
McGregor’s Sexual Assault Case Dropped
Away from football, a US woman who accused Conor McGregor of sexually assaulting her at an NBA basketball game has dropped her lawsuit against the Irish mixed martial arts fighter. The 37-year-old, one of Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most famous and bankable fighters, had denied the allegations of sexual battery following a 2023 Miami Heat game.
Messi Reaches Historic Milestone
Still in the US, Lionel Messi became the all-time assists leader after reaching 405 in Inter Miami’s win over New York City. He assisted Tadeo Allende to hit the milestone and surpassed the legendary Ferenc Puskas’s tally of 404.
Edo To host Niger Delta Games
On the home front, Edo State has been confirmed as the host for the Niger Delta Games. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said the South-South state will host the event billed for next year. Akwa Ibom hosted the first edition in April. Nine states, including Edo, Imo, Cross River, Ondo, and Rivers, participated in the maiden edition. The rest were Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Delta.
Nnadozie’s Super Save!
Nigerian women’s football continues its global rise as Super Falcons’ goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, won the English Women’s Super League Save of the Month for November 2025. She got the recognition for her acrobatic save in her clubside Brighton and Hove’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The Nigerian tipped Fuka Ngano’s effort onto the crossbar before the ball went out of play.
It’s a wrap this week on First 11! Don’t forget to visit Channels Television’s sports page for updates across the globe!
