₦airaland Forum

2026/27 UEFA Champions League play-off draw - This comes up only after the UCL Qualification Round 3 1st legs today/tomorrow and 2nd legs on August 11.


🟫Champions path
PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) / FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs AEK Athens FC (GRE)

Celtic FC (SCO) vs LASK (AUT)

GNK Dinamo (CRO) / FK Kauno Žalgiris (LTU) vs Viking FK (NOR)

Mjällby AIF (SWE) / ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM) / NK Celje (SVN)

Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC (ISR) / FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB) vs AGF Aarhus (DEN) / Sabah FC (AZE)

🟦League path

Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) / SK Sturm Graz (AUT) vs AC Sparta Praha (CZE) / Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)

Olympiacos FC (GRE) / N.E.C. Nijmegen (NED) vs R. Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) / FK Bodø/Glimt (NOR)


The first legs are due to be held on 18/19 August, with the return legs on 25/26 August.



NB: Some Naija players would be involved from Round 3 to the Final Playoffs (with some in action today).....

✅️ Moses Usor (LASK)

✅️Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos)

✅️Emmanuel Uchenna Aririerisim (Sparta Prague)*

✅️Jay Enem (Red Star Belgrade AKA Crvens Zvezda)

✅️Franklin Tebo Uchenna (Red Star Belgrade)

✅️Papa Daniel (NK Celje)

✅️Armstrong Oko-Flex (Levski Sofia)

✅️Melvyn Otobo (Olympique Lyonnais)**


*Still likely injured.

**Not likely to feature although he got integrated this Preseason window into first team training. Still 18.

Papi85:
✅ DONE DEAL :

French Ligue 1 club @StadeDeReims have completed the signing of highly rated Nigerian 🇳🇬 teenage defender Godwin Raphael from Nigerian academy @Grassrunners.

Massive 🔥🔥

Some time ago in April 2026, 4 young lads left the shores of Nigeria together for trials.

Azuka Alatan (36 Lions)
Daniel arierhi (Beyond Limits FA)
Shedrack Bitrus (Tripple 44 FA)
Lucky John (Sporting Lagos)

They went to Czech Republic for 6 week trials.

NOW, there is strong rumor that one of them, Daniel Arierhi is close to signing for Qarabag FK in the Azerbaijani Toflight (Premyer Liqasi).

He is younger brother to Striker, Kparobo Arierhi at Lillestrom, Norway).

oloriooko:
My wotm is the Senegalese striker turned goalkeeper, she's not so tall but very good and read the game well
She stopped 2 pens in a row!

Chiamaka Nnadozie don baff her 😂

Exactly. Nnadozie took same route. Striker into GK.

BankyGee:
Chiamaka Nnadozie don baff her 😂

So.... International Football Coaching Rumors

Patrick Vieira ➡️➡️ Senegal NT ??

Herve Renard return ➡️➡️ Cote D'Ivoire NT ??

Super Eagles Legend, John Mikel Obi is back on twitter/X.

TheSuperNerd:
Exactly. Nnadozie took same route. Striker into GK.

Osimhen own na GK to striker 😂

15y/o Anglo-Nigerian Emerson Nwaneri for Arsenal U17s vs China U17s at the 2026 U17 Shanghai Future Star Cup.

Emerson Nwaneri vs China U17 | Shanghai Future Star Cup (03/08/26) pic.twitter.com/VusKRoJTTC

— N5Local (@n5local) August 4, 2026

He is Ethan Nwaneri's younger brother. I see him play like this and I cant help but see a younger version of Jude Bellingham. It is too early though but I like what I see. He would be 16 on August 18.

They should scrap LW plans for this one... he is a CAM/Box to box material.

Nigeria U17 Golden Eaglets Prep for 2026 WafuB U17 Afcon Qualifiers Tournament to enter full edge gear...

I hope this Open Camp hits close to the heights of 2013 and 2015. Abeg.

I have this theory that by making football efficient, by cutting out dribbling and generally curtailing individual display of brilliance, all other footballing countries have surrendered to an Europeanized version of football and since nobody can be more European than Europeans, it's a trap for other countries.

This is why the past 6 world cups have been won by European teams.

This reflection is prompted by this clip of Romario. You can see that the Europeans find it hard to deal with his samba movement.

https://x.com/i/status/2084368328689070229

TheSuperNerd:
15y/o Anglo-Nigerian Emerson Nwaneri for Arsenal U17s vs China U17s at the 2026 U17 Shanghai Future Star Cup.

Emerson Nwaneri vs China U17 | Shanghai Future Star Cup (03/08/26) pic.twitter.com/VusKRoJTTC

— N5Local (@n5local) August 4, 2026

He is Ethan Nwaneri's younger brother. I see him play like this and I cant help but see a younger version of Jude Bellingham. It is too early though but I like what I see. He would be 16 on August 18.

They should scrap LW plans this one... he is a CAM/Box to box material.

Make the new U17 coach grab this baller na.
Is he not on this thread?

Kurdish league. See music for background 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣

Gift Orban arriving for training with Amed SK. pic.twitter.com/L0u42A5iNU

— Naija Ballers (@9ja_Ballers) August 4, 2026

Amedino99:
You sef. See the kind news you dey post. Brentford get money for 80 m plus player?club wey no get arab money

Even if dem get f money u go like make he go there?

Papa Daniel, CM starts for NK Celje away at Ararat Armenia in the UCL Qualification Round 3 1st leg.

NK Celje leads 1-0 after 29mins

TheSuperNerd:
2026/27 UEFA Champions League play-off draw - This comes up only after the UCL Qualification Round 3 1st legs today/tomorrow and 2nd legs on August 11.


🟫Champions path
PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) / FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs AEK Athens FC (GRE)

Celtic FC (SCO) vs LASK (AUT)

GNK Dinamo (CRO) / FK Kauno Žalgiris (LTU) vs Viking FK (NOR)

Mjällby AIF (SWE) / ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM) / NK Celje (SVN)

Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC (ISR) / FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB) vs AGF Aarhus (DEN) / Sabah FC (AZE)

🟦League path

Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) / SK Sturm Graz (AUT) vs AC Sparta Praha (CZE) / Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)

Olympiacos FC (GRE) / N.E.C. Nijmegen (NED) vs R. Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) / FK Bodø/Glimt (NOR)


The first legs are due to be held on 18/19 August, with the return legs on 25/26 August.



NB: Some Naija players would be involved from Round 3 to the Final Playoffs (with some in action today).....

✅️ Moses Usor (LASK)

✅️Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos)

✅️Emmanuel Uchenna Aririerisim (Sparta Prague)*

✅️Jay Enem (Red Star Belgrade AKA Crvens Zvezda)

✅️Franklin Tebo Uchenna (Red Star Belgrade)

✅️Papa Daniel (NK Celje)

✅️Armstrong Oko-Flex (Levski Sofia)

✅️Melvyn Otobo (Olympique Lyonnais)**


*Still likely injured.

**Not likely to feature although he got integrated this Preseason window into first team training. Still 18.

Ahmed Abdullahi has joined him. At Eyupspor... He leaves Sunderland U21s.

Gift na Amedspor. Spor battles in 2026/27 ahead. 😁

[quote author=Papi85 post=140238098]Kurdish league. See music for background 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣

Gift Orban arriving for training with Amed SK. pic.twitter.com/L0u42A5iNU

— Naija Ballers (@9ja_Ballers) August 4, 2026

]

Francis Onyeka scores for new loan club, Elversberg as they lead 2-1 vs Ligue 1 side, Strasbourg.

37mins played.

Ararat Armenia 1-1 NK Celje HT

TheSuperNerd:
Papa Daniel, CM starts for NK Celje away at Ararat Armenia in the UCL Qualification Round 3 1st leg.

NK Celje leads 1-0 after 29mins

🔍 Hull City step up pursuit of Nigerian winger Femi Azeez

Premier League newcomers Hull City are intensifying efforts to sign Femi Azeez from Championship side Millwall, according to reports. The Tigers are looking to bolster their squad ahead of their return to the top flight following promotion last season.

Azeez has been identified as a priority target, with Millwall reportedly rejecting a £20 million bid for the Nigerian winger. Hull City are understood to be continuing their pursuit despite the initial setback.

Papa Daniel and NK Celje fall 2-1 away in the 3rd Round First leg vs Ararat Armenia.

Bruno Onyemaechi in action currently for Olympiacos from the start vs Nec Nijmegen.

TheSuperNerd:
Ararat Armenia 1-1 NK Celje HT

Morocco will be so happy 😊 if South Africa and and Nigeria are eliminated. These two countries have prevented them twice fork winning the tournament. These two countries have experienced to battle Morocco

I see the $7.5m npfl deal and all. Looks great.


And immediately i rem the brouhaha with all members of fifa in the last 2 weeks. If it came down to negotiation for supporting that FFE abi FFO, that spragball headed man ought to at least push some form of advantage for the NPFL as one of the MUST DO FOR ME to give a resounding support to FFE. That way a whole lot of burden for dey FIFA to execute and speed up. The ripple effect is it will ensur all these hungry overlords for scouting see and chop better whie reducing their powers in a way. Win win for the league.


Some sort of financial and visibility negotiation.

TheSuperNerd:
15y/o Anglo-Nigerian Emerson Nwaneri for Arsenal U17s vs China U17s at the 2026 U17 Shanghai Future Star Cup.

Emerson Nwaneri vs China U17 | Shanghai Future Star Cup (03/08/26) pic.twitter.com/VusKRoJTTC

— N5Local (@n5local) August 4, 2026

He is Ethan Nwaneri's younger brother. I see him play like this and I cant help but see a younger version of Jude Bellingham. It is too early though but I like what I see. He would be 16 on August 18.

They should scrap LW plans for this one... he is a CAM/Box to box material.

Hopefully the parent will reduce their interference. It's not good for their boys' developments.

Omo na so Aribo take fade away

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro bagged a brace ⚽️⚽️ in his first game for AC Monza in their 4-2 win over AC Milan Futuro in a friendly.
He came into the game as a second half substitute with Monza 1-2 down.

Highlights of the game is on youtube via @ACMonzaOfficial

Abeg give me info on the npfl deal

daveP:
I see the $7.5m npfl deal and all. Looks great.


And immediately i rem the brouhaha with all members of fifa in the last 2 weeks. If it came down to negotiation for supporting that FFE abi FFO, that spragball headed man ought to at least push some form of advantage for the NPFL as one of the MUST DO FOR ME to give a resounding support to FFE. That way a whole lot of burden for dey FIFA to execute and speed up. The ripple effect is it will ensur all these hungry overlords for scouting see and chop better whie reducing their powers in a way. Win win for the league.


Some sort of financial and visibility negotiation.

Chuba Akpom scored the winner⚽️ in Ipswich Town's 1-0 win over Le Harve in a friendly.

Olakunle Olusegun scored ⚽️ in Rostov's 4-0 win vs Akron Togliatti in the Russian Cup Group Stage.

Armstrong Oko-Flex played 63mins in Levski Sofia's 1-0 first leg win over Kairat Almaty in the UCL Qualification Round 3.

Bruno Onyemaechi played all 90mins in Olympiacos' first leg goalless draw vs Nec Nijmegen of the Netherlands in the UCL Qualification Round 3.

Malomo Taofeeq Ayodeji played 81mins for Albanian side, FC Dinamo City in their first leg 1-0 loss away at Latvian side, Auda FK in the Uefa Europa Conference League (UECL) Qualification Round 3.
David Fadairo came off the bench for Dinamo on 81mins replacing Ayodeji.
Bright Aniekan James alsp with Dinamo was benched for all 90.

Does anyone have updates on the following:

- Abdullahi Shehu
- Karo Etebo
- Ezenwa

Abdullahi Shehu - He was with Ahmed Musa at Kano Pillars but has now left football for Politics. Gunning for House of Reps seat I hear.

Karo Etebo - In Turkey with TDB's former side, Genclerbirligi. He's recovering from an Achilles Tendon injury ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Ezenwa - The GK? Retired I think.

Ppogbae:
Does anyone have updates on the following:

- Abdullahi Shehu
- Karo Etebo
- Ezenwa

TheSuperNerd:
Ahmed Abdullahi has joined him. At Eyupspor... He leaves Sunderland U21s.

Gift na Amedspor. Spor battles in 2026/27 ahead. 😁

As already said... 22y/o Former Flying Eagle,Ahmed Abdullahi leaves Sunderland U21s and signs for Eyupspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

So Trabzonspor really has pulled off the biggest signing in Turkish Football since Victor Osimhen.

Mohamed Salah will land in Turkey and join Onuachu and Nwaiwu at Trabzonspor. Omo! Turkish league title battle just got hotter😂

Former Youth International to the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup under Siasia, Nurudeen Orelesi is now U19 Head Coach of Albanian topflight side, KF Laci