By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, an unexpected geopolitical controversy has emerged over whether Iran national football team will participate in football’s biggest tournament, raising a complex question about authority in global sport: who ultimately decides, the host country or FIFA? The debate intensified following escalating tensions between the
By Paul Lucky Okoku FIFA’s confirmation of DR Congo in the intercontinental playoff closes Nigeria’s last qualification path, while raising broader questions about governance, timing, and the practical realities surrounding major football decisions. In modern football, victory is earned on the pitch — but integrity, rules, and timely governance determine the stage on which the
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo With less than two weeks before the scheduled start of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, the absence of firm public communication from the Confederation of African Football has become as concerning as any logistical challenge. Africa’s premier women’s football tournament is not a minor event. WAFCON
By B4Ball The Federation of International de Football Associations (FIFA) has existed since the year 1904 and was led through its initial years by Robert Guerin. Established on 21 May of that year, its core business was to oversee international competitions among national football associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo With just four months to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America, Mexico’s readiness as one of the three host nations is under intense scrutiny following the killing of a powerful drug cartel leader and the wave of violence that followed. The unrest has reignited long-standing concerns
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo African footballers are once again redefining Europe’s biggest stage, with Serhou Guirassy emerging as the latest symbol of excellence in the UEFA Champions League. Nearly three decades after George Weah finished as the competition’s top scorer for Paris Saint‑Germain in 1995, Guirassy has reignited continental pride by rising to the summit
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo The Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to schedule international friendly matches for the Super Eagles in March 2026 has sparked widespread debate about whether Nigeria has quietly conceded defeat in its eligibility dispute with the Fédération Congolaise de Football Association following their loss in the FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs. However, a
By Paul Lucky Okoku A halted match in Lisbon exposes a deeper truth — racism remains football’s most persistent opponent Football may unite nations, but racism still divides the humanity within the game. When a player is racially abused, the match does not stop because of football — it stops because humanity has failed.
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo Football management salaries vary enormously worldwide, shaped by club wealth, league revenue, national federation budgets, performance expectations, and market forces. A fresh debate has erupted after recent reports that Habib Beye, the newly appointed head coach of Olympique de Marseille, will earn significantly less than his predecessor—prompting questions about how coaches
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo The night was supposed to be about football. Instead, it became another chapter in José Mourinho’s long war with authority. Now, the Special One will not be on the touchline when his team walks into the fire at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He has been suspended. He has been silenced. But