Ticket prices for the crucial 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers between Nigeria and Egypt at the the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna have been unveiled. Nigeria will play the Pharaohs of Egypt in Kaduna on Friday, March 25 with the return leg to be played in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 29.
Nigerian fans who will want to attend the game can get the tickets for just N300 and N1000 for open and covered seats respectively according to the marketing department of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Nigeria’s senior national team has dropped seven places to 66th in the latest Fifa world ranking released on Thursday morning. The Super Eagles gathered a total of 541 points to fall to no. 14 in Africa behind Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Senegal, Congo, Guinea, Egypt, Cameroon, Congo DR, Mali and Uganda. Côte d’Ivoire are ranked first in Africa with 950 points while the Fennecs of Algeria end 2015 as runners-up after gathering 845 points. Ghana are third on the log with 778 points. Belgium claim the team of the year award for 2015. The Red Devils jumped into first position (their first-ever) on the Fifa /Coca-Cola World Ranking in the November ranking, but a 3-1 victory over four-time world champion Italy in Brussels on 13 November saw them hold on to the coveted position for the final ranking of 2015.

Turkey receive the award for best mover of the year thanks to the 329 points they collected over the last 12 months of football. Having last competed at a major tournament back in 2008, Turkey secured a place at the Uefa Euro 2016 in a campaign that saw them defeat Netherlands The highest climbers of 2013, thanks to nine wins, two draws and only one defeat, are Ukraine, who have collected no fewer than 312 points since December 2012, moving up 29 places to 18th and gaining the title of Mover of the Year for the first time. In contrast, Portugal dropped three places into 7th having lost 145 points – the most points lost by a team. Of the 137 matches taken into account for the latest ranking more than two thirds (92 games) were World Cup qualifiers; eight of the 137 games were playoff matches to determine the final four teams to qualify for EURO 2016, and the remaining 37 matches were international friendlies.

Football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday morning published its latest ranking of National Teams. Compared to their position the previous month, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped seven places, and now occupy the 59th position, while in the continental ranking, they are in 12th place. Ivory Coast, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands and Senegal are the top five teams in Africa in that order. Our rivals to book a ticket to the next African Nations Cup – Egypt, Tanzania and Chad – are placed 57th, 135th and 136th in the global ranking. There were changes in the top five, with Belgium leading the way followed by Germany, Argentina, Portugal and Chile. The next ranking will be published by the official website of Fifa, fifa.com on December 3, 2015.

Top Ten African Teams
1) Ivory Coast
2) Algeria
3) Ghana
4) Cape Verde Islands
5) Senegal
6) Tunisia
7) Cameroon
8) Congo
9) Guinea
10) DR Congo

The new financial cash policy of President Mohammed Buhari prompted the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to inform all players to open an account with Nigerian banks to receive their bonuses. “We have been asked to open foreign currency accounts with a bank where our bonuses will now be paid,” a player informed AfricanFootball.com This new development will take effect from next month’s World Cup qualifier against Djibouti or Swaziland. The direction is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s new financial policy as it concerns foreign currencies. Before now, the Eagles and other national teams were paid their bonuses in cash. Former Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo, flew to Brazil last year during the World Cup with over $3million, to pay the team appearance bonuses.

The Nigeria Football Federation has ruled out trying to persuade goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to return the Super Eagles. Enyeama on his Instagram page on Thursday said he had decided to retire from the national team after 13 years of service. Spokesman for the NFF Ademola Olajire was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria as saying on Thursday, “We heard about his quitting the national team on his Instagram page. If somebody says he is retiring from the national team, what are we going to do, to beg him? “We don’t know if he is leaving the national team because of his quarrel with the coach (Sunday Oliseh). He just wrote on his Instagram page that he was leaving the national team. So, why should we be finding out whether he left because of the rift? “The player has gone out of the camp, what do you want us to do. He has left the camp and he did not tell anybody that he was leaving.” France-based keeper Enyeama quarrelled with Oliseh in Belgium on Tuesday after the Eagles manager decided to the strip him of the team’s captaincy in favour of Ahmed Musa. Enyeama had reported late to camp for the Eagles’ friendly games against DR Congo and Cameroon, after staying back in Nigeria last weekend to be involved in the burial of his mother in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

 Many Nigerians aren’t happy with Oliseh over Enyeama’s exit from Super Eagles.

Vincent Enyeama’s wife Promise took to instagram to speak on her man quitting the national team “Yes! You did well! Hold your head up high my love! I’m so proud of you and your dedicated service to your fatherland for 13 good years. I have witnessed your passion and commitment firsthand. You spent sleepless nights just to analyze every goal you conceded, even if there was nothing you could do to save them. You played through injuries, pains and fatigue. You took the bullets of unjust criticisms, biased and false reporting/information, just to let peace reign. You missed important family moments to honor national call-ups. Thank God for the opportunity/privilege to serve the nation. Thank God for the strength/skill to carry out your duties. Thank God for all the memories ( good and bad). You leave as a hero. You bow out as a legend. Our children, grandchildren and future generations will hear and speak of your great deeds. God bless you my husband. God bless Nigeria.” she wrote

One of Nigeria’s best goal keepers Vincent Enyeama, who announced his retirement from the National squad this morning, has left the camp. He is pictured left with Oma Akatugba, a football presenter and analyst who said Mikel Obi, Emenike and a few other players pleaded with Enyeama to stay but he refused.Vincent Enyeama took to his Instagram Page to Announce his Painful Exit from the Super Eagles Squad following the Scenario at the Eagles Training ground with the Super Eagles Coach, Oliseh.

Below is what he posted on his Instagram:- I have fought a good fight for more than 13years. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith and sang the anthem with passion. Henceforth, there is laid for me a crown which only GOD can reward me for my 13 years of national services. God bless NIGERIA. From HENCEFORTH,😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I am no more the captain of the NIGERIAN senior football team, I am no more the goalie of the team, I am out of the team. I am no more available for international duties. I want to say thank you to every Nigerian fan and supporter world wide, Its been the most trying period of my life but I know that Nigerian are there for me and God is with me. 😭😭😭😭😭😭. God bless NIGERIA.#ENDOFANERA. See another photo below:-