The Super Eagles of Nigeria have officially booked their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

This achievement follows Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, a result that has effectively ended Rwanda’s chances of progressing to the tournament.

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With Rwanda stuck at five points from five matches, even a victory in their upcoming game against Nigeria in Uyo won’t be enough to overtake the Super Eagles in the Group D standings.

Nigeria currently sits atop the group with 10 points, followed by Benin with six, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four.

Nigeria’s qualification marks a significant milestone as they aim for their fourth AFCON title, last winning the prestigious tournament in 2013.

The Super Eagles, led by head coach Jose Peseiro, have shown consistent form throughout the qualifiers and will be looking to maintain their momentum heading into the tournament.

Meanwhile, Benin remains in contention for the group’s second qualification spot.

They face a crucial match against Nigeria tonight, needing a positive result to stay in the running.

The race for qualification will conclude on Monday, with Libya hosting Benin in the final Group D game.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has earned a spot among football’s elite, being nominated for the prestigious 2024 Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Best Player prize.

The Atalanta forward joins a distinguished list of players including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Erling Haaland, as revealed by the award organisers on Thursday.

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Lookman, who finished 14th in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, has enjoyed a standout year with both Atalanta and the Nigerian national team.

His impressive performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he scored three goals in seven matches, were a highlight, despite Nigeria’s narrow defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in the final.

Further solidifying his case, Lookman scored a historic hat trick in the UEFA Europa League final, helping Atalanta to victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

This remarkable form has also earned him a place among the candidates for the CAF Player of the Year award.

The winner of the Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Best Player will be announced on December 27, 2024, in Dubai, UAE.

The full list of nominees for the award is as follows:

1. Nicolò Barella

2. Jude Bellingham

3. Hakan Çalhanoğlu

4. Dani Carvajal

5. Artem Dovbyk

6. Phil Foden

7. Antoine Griezmann

8. Alejandro Grimaldo

9. Viktor Gyökeres

10. Erling Haaland

11. Harry Kane

12. Toni Kroos

13. Robert Lewandowski

14. Ademola Lookman

15. Emiliano Martínez

16. Lautaro Martínez

17. Kylian Mbappé

18. Lionel Messi

19. Dani Olmo

20. Cole Palmer

21. Rodrigo

22. Rodrygo

23. Cristiano Ronaldo

24. Bukayo Saka

25. Mohamed Salah

26. William Saliba

27. Federico Valverde

28. Vinícius Júnior

29. Vitinha

30. Nico Williams

31. Florian Wirtz

32. Granit Xhaka

33. Lamine Yamal

Danny Jordaan, president of the South African Football Association (SAFA) and a prominent figure in the country’s sports sector, was arrested Wednesday on charges of fraud and theft.

Police allege that Jordaan misused SAFA resources for personal gain in a case involving 1.3 million rand (approximately $72,000).

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Jordaan, 73, who was instrumental in South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, appeared in a Johannesburg court and denied the charges.

Authorities claim that, between 2014 and 2018, Jordaan employed a private security firm and a public relations company without SAFA board approval, allegedly using the association’s funds for these expenses.

The public relations company’s services reportedly followed a blow to Jordaan’s reputation after a South African singer and former lawmaker accused him of sexual assault in 2017, regarding an incident that allegedly occurred 25 years prior—a claim Jordaan has consistently denied.

SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, head of the communications firm linked to the charges, were also arrested in connection with the case.

Both Hluyo and Neethling pleaded not guilty.

Police said the arrests followed an extensive investigation by Johannesburg’s Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.

All three were released on bail following their court appearance.

Jordaan has led SAFA since 2013 and was re-elected for a third term in 2022.