𝑵𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒊 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝒔 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑 𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝑻𝒐 21 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝑭𝑪𝑶𝑵 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒔

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is back with the national team after months away from international duty, as Nigeria steps up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

According to Complete Sports Newspaper, Nwabali has linked up with his teammates in Ikot Ekpene ahead of the double-header against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The confirmation was made by the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe.

His arrival brings the number of players in camp to 21, with captain Wilfred Ndidi and winger Samuel Chukwueze still expected to join the rest of the squad.

The 30-year-old is returning to the fold after losing his place following a long period without club football. He last featured for Nigeria in January during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. After the tournament, he parted ways with South African side Chippa United in February to chase a move abroad, but the deal fell through and he remained without a club for close to six months.

That setback cost him a spot in recent games, including the friendlies against Iran and Jordan and the Unity Cup in London, where Maduka Okoye and Arthur Okonkwo were called up in his place.

Nwabali has now rejoined Chippa United for the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season and has already played three league matches to get back to full fitness. His return to action has convinced head coach Eric Chelle to hand him another chance, with the keeper named in the 24-man list that also includes Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen.

He will now battle Udinese’s Maduka Okoye and Charlton Athletic’s Arthur Okonkwo for the number one shirt, a position he made his own with his impressive showing at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where Nigeria finished as runners-up. His calmness, leadership at the back and penalty-saving ability quickly made him a fans’ favourite.

With regular football back in South Africa, the former Enyimba and Katsina United shot-stopper has a fresh chance to revive his career at both club and international level as Nigeria begins its Group L campaign at home to Madagascar on September 25 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, before taking on Guinea-Bissau four days later.

The players presently in camp are Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac James, Emmanuel Fernandez, Benjamin Fredericks, Moses Uzor, George Ilenikhena, Arthur Okonkwo, Alex Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Tolu Arokodare, Bruno Onyemaechi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka and Stanley Nwabali, Complete Sports reports.

𝑴𝒆𝒕𝒂 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝑻𝒊𝒌𝑻𝒐𝒌 𝑶𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒚𝒕𝒆𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌, 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎

M eta has blocked TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, from advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the United States and six other countries. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the move on Thursday. Bloomberg News first reported it, according to the New York Post. The ban takes effect immediately in the US, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, and also applies to outside advertisers whose campaigns direct users to TikTok or other ByteDance products in those countries. The decision deepens a rivalry that has been building for years. TikTok has grown into one of Meta's strongest competitors, battling for users, top creators and advertising revenue. Defending the move, Meta said it has no obligation to promote a direct rival. "We don't have to run ads from a competitor whose goal is to pull people off our apps," the company said, adding that refusing to sell promotion services to a competitor is common business practice and that it will continue to comp...

The Evolution Of Igbo Highlife Music: An Exclusive Interview With Professor Onye Egwu

H ighlife music is a genre that has been harmonizing culture and beats in Nigeria and across Africa for decades. In this interview, Nigerian highlife singer CHIBUIKE JOHNPAUL ANEKWE , best known by his stage name " PROFESSOR ONYE EGWU ", shares his journey, influences, and vision for Igbo highlife. As a visual artist, he brings a unique perspective to the genre, drawing inspiration from Igbo highlife legends. He also discusses his collaboration plans and reveals his plans to introduce Igbo highlife to new audiences. EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA brings excerpts. 1. Can you share a bit about yourself, and when did your love for highlife start? My full name is Chibuike Johnpaul Anekwe, though I am more widely recognized by my stage name, Professor Onye Egwu. Apart from music, I am a visual artist. I guess I was born with music, because I started playing as early as when I was in Primary School. I would always assemble all sorts of tins like in typical drums set up and play to my delight....

NANS Threatens to Shut Down MTN Over Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

T he National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a final warning to South Africa over violent attacks on Nigerians, saying major businesses like MTN could be forced out of Nigeria, Sahara Reporters reported. NANS sent a letter to South African High Commissioner Thamsanga Dennis Mseleku in Abuja, expressing anger at what it called continuous and brutal xenophobic violence against Nigerians in South Africa. The letter, signed by NANS President Comrade Atiku Isah, said the association speaks for over 40 million Nigerian students. Isah said the group would no longer tolerate what he called the systematic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. NANS said it was unacceptable for South Africans to attack other Africans. The group noted Nigeria’s key role in ending Apartheid, stating that Nigeria provided financial and diplomatic backing and made huge sacrifices for South Africa’s freedom. The association said the current violence go...

Unveiling '3 Cold Dishes': A Gripping Tale of Survival, Revenge, and Justice

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN H uman trafficking has been a significant issue affecting millions worldwide, causing long term physical and emotional harm to victims. In this interview, Nigerian award-winning filmmaker Asurf Oluseyi Samson reveals how he started as a filmmaker and unveils what prompted him to shed light on the harrowing reality of human trafficking through the movie " 3 Cold Dishes ," which explores themes of trauma , revenge , and survival , showcasing women's strength and resilience in the face of human trafficking. Asurf Oluseyi, founder of Asurf Films Ltd ., directed the movie " A Day with Death ," which received 10 international nominations and won Best Short Film at AMVCA 2016 . He is also the director of the movie " Hakkunde ," which represented Nigeria at the 50th anniversary edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2019. EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN brings excerpts. 1. How did yo...

SEPTEMBER TOP SCOOPS IN NIGERIA

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN ✓ Afriland & Central Plaza Infernos: A Call to Action for Enhanced Fire Safety F ire outbreaks remain a persistent crisis in Nigeria, claiming lives and destroying properties. The two recent incidents in Lagos show how severe it can be. On September 16, 2025 , around 1:20 pm, a fire broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island . The inferno was triggered by an electrical fault in the basement of inverter batteries in the building, which resulted in the tragic loss of ten lives due to smoke spreading via air-conditioning ducts. The deaths were caused by smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning . According to national dailies, at least 25 people were injured. The high-rise building harbored different firms, including United Bank for Africa (UBA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and United Capital Plc . Just hours later, between 7:00 and 8:00 pm, anothe...

The IMOIFF Creatives & Film Festival Sets to Hold 2026 Edition with "Kwechịrị" Theme

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN T he IMOIFF Creatives and Film Festival, formerly known as the Imo International Film Festival ) is set to make a significant impact on the global film scene with its 2026 edition, themed ‘Kwechịrị’. It means standing your ground, refusing to give up when life gets heavy, and just pushing through. Scheduled to take place from November 26 to 28, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, the festival is sponsored by Julob Entertainment, with professional roots connected to the British Council’s Film Lab Africa and local creative partners like Clifford and Stanford Igbo. In a brief chat, Izuchukwu Okafor , Founder of IMOIFF, stated that the festival aims to bridge the gap between local filmmakers and international distribution platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV. The festival will feature a diverse range of award categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film (Narrative/International), Best Documentary, Best Student Film, B...

16 Nigerian Directors Behind Afrobeats’ Global Visual Identity

A s Afrobeats has gone global and earned worldwide recognition, the directors behind its most watched videos have become key cultural figures. These Nigerian filmmakers turn hit songs into cinematic stories that reach millions, blending local culture with bold creative ideas. Their work has helped define how the world sees Afrobeats. The directors below are presented in no order of importance or ranking. Each has made a distinct mark on the genre’s visual growth. Director Pink P raise Onyeagwalam is one of the few prominent female directors in Afrobeats. She broke through with Chike and Simi’s “Running To You,” a video praised for its emotional storytelling. Through Pinkline Films and Pinkline Academy, she directs high profile work and trains emerging filmmakers. Kemzart A diukwu Daniel Nkemakolam, known professionally as Kemzart, is a Nigerian director recognized for concept-driven visuals. He gained prominence with Shallipopi’s “Cast” and has since directed high-impact videos f...

Peter Okoye Signs Multi-Million Dollar Deal, Confirms New Single Release Date

N igerian singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as 'Mr P', has signed a five-year, multi-million dollar distribution deal and confirmed the release date for his forthcoming single. In a statement released to fans on Friday, May 1, 2026, the singer disclosed that he recently entered an agreement with an undisclosed distribution company. He noted that release dates will now be “strategically scheduled under the contract,” limiting his control over rollout timelines. “Because of this agreement, I don’t have full control over exactly when songs or the album drop,” Okoye wrote. The first single from his 'OG Forever' album is set for release in May 2026, with three to four singles to precede the full album, expected between October and November 2026. Okoye revealed that over 30 songs were recorded for 'OG Forever', with 15 to 16 tracks to make the final cut. He added that he will share details of the recording process with fans beginning this month. The deal covers two ...

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