Football fans and visitors have been provided with adequate security by Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, during the World Cup qualifiers between Nigeria and Rwanda.
At a news conference on Thursday in Uyo, Azare reassured attendees.
At 5 p.m., the game will take place on September 6 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Azare claimed that the police were fully prepared to host the game and make sure it went without a hitch.
“On Saturday, by God’s grace, we have an international match between Rwanda and Nigeria in Akwa Ibom.”
Our men will use their full force to policing the game, he said, “I want to inform you.”
The CP made sure that all visitors entering and leaving the state would be safe both before and after the game, making sure it would be peaceful.
Read more about the police’s investigation into Kogi and the recovery of firearms.
However, Azare cautioned hoodlums who might be planning to foment trouble to steer clear of the state, stating that the command was prepared to stop violence in any form.
Morocco became the first African group to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after defeating 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E.
After Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off, Ismael Saibari scored twice in the opening half, and Azzedine Ounahi’s goals in the second half and Ayoub el Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi completed the comeback.
With two games to go, Morocco earned an unassailable lead with a sixth straight victory, scoring 18 points over Tanzania, and clinching its seventh world championship appearance with a win.
Morocco won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, beating a group that included Croatia and Belgium, and knocking Spain and Portugal out in the knockout stages.
With a 2-0 defeat to France in the semi-finals, their stunning run came to an end.
Morocco’s players celebrate scoring in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex’s (Rabat) Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex’s (September 5, 2025) Group E African qualification football match between Morocco and Niger. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)
Only Ounahi of the scorers against Niger made the 2022 World Cup squad, along with Saibari from PSV Eindhoven and coach Walid Regragui who has since introduced new faces, such as Saibari from Dutch club PSV.
Egypt defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in Group A in Cairo thanks to late penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush from Premier League players.
If Egypt defeats second-placed Burkinabe on Tuesday, they will join Morocco at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As South Sudan defeated South Sudan 4-1 in Juba to maintain its lead in Group B, Newcastle United signing Yoane Wissa scored one of the goals.
After Sweden international Alexander Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool in a record-setting British move, Wissa made a £50 million ($67 million) deal to move from Brentford.
The Congolese hope to win the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when Zaire was the nation’s name.
Paraguay Declares a Holiday to Celebrate 2026 World Cup Qualification
South Africa triumphs
Before Keer Majak scored a consolation goal, Cedric Bakambu added a second and Wissa added a fourth to give the visitors a three-goal lead at half-time.
Following a 2-0 victory over Sudan in Diamniadio with goals from Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr, Senegal now leads DR Congo by one point heading into a top-of-the-table showdown in Kinshasa on Tuesday.
South Africa won their third straight game 3-0 away victory over neighbor Lesotho in Bloemfontein, keeping them five points clear of Group C.
Because Lesotho’s home game was moved because the mountain kingdom lacks a FIFA-approved stadium, it was moved to the city in central South Africa, which is 145 kilometers away by road from the border.
Mohau Nkota, who left renowned Soweto club Orlando Pirates last month for Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, scored his first international goal for Bafana Bafana (the Boys) on 15 minutes.
Within four minutes of the second half, Oswin Appollis and Premier League returnee Lyle Foster scored.
However, South Africa’s victory came at a price, with defenders Thabo Moloisane and Nyiko Mobbie both retiring injured before Tuesday’s crucial game against Nigeria.
Benin, who defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in Abidjan with a Steve Mounie goal, has 16 points, five more than South Africa. Rwanda will host Niger on Saturday, nine points clear of the leaders.
Gambia defeated Kenya 3-1 in a surprise 3-1 victory in Nairobi thanks to second-half clinical finishing, with Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh scoring the winning goal.
The outcome, however, did not have an impact on Group F, with the Ivory Coast’s current champions traveling to Gabon on Tuesday, likely to decide the winner.
Serhou Guirassy, a prolific scorer for Borussia Dortmund last year, scored 38 goals in all competitions for Guinea in their 3-0 victory over Somalia.
Guirassy will almost certainly miss the World Cup due to their disappointing campaign, which leaves them eight points behind Group G leaders Algeria.
After qualifying for its first Football World Cup in 16 years with a draw against Ecuador, Paraguay celebrated an impromptu national holiday on Friday.
As thousands of Albirroja fans gathered in the streets to celebrate a 0-0 draw with Ecuador, which gave Paraguay the final automatic spot in South America, President Santiago Pena decreed the holiday on late Thursday.
Even though some critics claimed a national holiday was over the top, Pena said in his announcement that Friday would be dedicated to paying “homage to the epic campaign that has inspired the entire nation.”
READ ALSO: Spain Cruises to its first World Cup Finals, Germany Loses It.
Paraguay last participated in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where they were eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals.
Paraguay’s ninth World Cup campaign will be marked by their participation in the 2026 edition, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“There are children who have never seen the Albirroja at a World Cup.” Paraguayans have waited for this to happen once more, Pena said.
Luis Suarez, who played for Inter Miami last weekend in the NFL’s championship game against the Seattle Sounders, received a six-game suspension, according to tournament disciplinary officials who released a statement on Friday.
After getting involved in a brawl following Miami’s 3-0 loss, the 38-year-old former Uruguay, Liverpool, and Barcelona star was fined for spitting at a Sounders official.
Suarez’s suspension would only be effective for the following year’s edition of the tournament, according to a statement from the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee, but Major League Soccer “reserves the right” to impose additional sanctions.
Sergio Busquets, Suarez’s inter-teammate at Inter Miami, also received a two-game suspension. Tomas Aviles, a third Inter player, is prohibited from playing in three games.
Steven Lenhart, a member of the Seattle coaching staff, has received a five-game suspension.
READ MORE: Germany Loses Opening World Cup Qualifier As Spain Cruises
The teams from MLS and Liga-MX faced off in the joint competition after chaotic scenes came to an end to Miami’s defeat in Sunday’s final at Seattle.
Obed Vargas, a 20-year-old midfielder for the Sounders, was immediately put in a headlock by Suarez shortly after the final whistle, causing a brawl that involved both players and staff.
As Seattle security staff members spit at each other as they walked away from Vargas, officials scrambled to restore order, but cameras later discovered Suarez and his partner were doing the same.
Suarez apologized for his actions in a statement on Thursday, which was released after being previously given suspensions for biting and racially abusing opponents in separate incidents earlier in his career.
Suarez wrote on Instagram that the situation created great tension and annoyance, with the result that things didn’t go as planned but that doesn’t justify my actions.
Suarez continued, “I was wrong and I sincerely regret it. I feel bad about what happened, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to acknowledge it and express my sincere regret,”
This was Suarez’s most recent disciplinary encounter.
After receiving a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, he was notoriously kicked out of the 2014 World Cup.
He has also been fined for biting people during club games, and in 2011 England’s authorities issued an eight-game ban for allegedly racially abusing France’s Patrice Evra.
One of the villains of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was also a man who had denied Ghana what would have been a late winner in the quarter-finals due to his cynical handball.
Promoter CSI Sports reported on Thursday that Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather have reached a deal for a potential 2026 exhibition fight.
Although there was no release date or location for the fight, CSI reported that Mayweather and heavyweight champion Mayweather would meet in “Spring 2026.”
Tyson, 59, established himself as the most feared heavyweight of his generation by creating a 50-7 record with 44 knockouts.
In Arlington, Texas, he last appeared in the ring in November when YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul thumped him.
Tyson hardly ever managed to punch in that eight-round fight, which was still watched by a live audience of about 70 000 spectators and an estimated one million more tuning in from all over the world.
Mayweather, 48, a former world champion who won world titles in five weight classes when he retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 of his fights.
However, he has continued to show up in shows, most recently in August of 2024 when he defeated John Gotti III in Mexico.
In a statement made by CSI, Tyson said, “No way this happens,” when asked about entering the ring with Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd, however, said “yes.” None of us ever imagined or could witness this conflict. This fight is as unpredictable as it gets, despite the fact that boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable.
Germany’s opening World Cup qualifier on Thursday saw them suffer a shock 2-0 defeat, while Spain opened the year’s title defense with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bulgaria.
Just before half-time against Germany in Bratislava, Atletico Madrid’s David Hancko untracked into the penalty box to give Slovakia the lead.
Ten minutes into the second half, David Strelec, who has just signed for Middlesbrough in the English Championship, brilliantly fired into the top corner.
Slovakia’s first World Cup appearance since 2010 is assured by the outcome, which gives them a first-class start in Group A.
On September 4, 2025, Germany’s midfielder #17 Florian Wirtz (L), Slovakia’s midfielder #08 Ondrej Duda, and Slovakia’s #22 Stanislav Lobotka play for the ball in a first-round football match between Slovakia and Germany in the World Cup qualifiers Europe zone group A in Bratislava. (Photo by Joe Klamar/AFP)
Germany, in contrast, are immediately under pressure, despite the fact that this group match appears to be their hardest-fought match so far.
After losing both of their matches in the UEFA Nations League Final Four against Portugal and France in June, Julian Nagelsmann’s team kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign.
When they take on Northern Ireland on Tuesday, they must now act quickly while Luxembourg is their other four-team teammate.
Only the group winners advance to the North American finals with 48 teams.
Jamie Reid, Shea Charles, and Justin Devenny scored the goals for Northern Ireland in Luxembourg, 3-1.
Aiman Dardari’s equalizer put the hosts in front before the break, but Seid Korac’s second-half red card put an end to their chances of winning the game.
Spain, the reigning champion of Europe, had few issues with their Group E match against Bulgaria in Sofia. They lost in June to Portugal in the Nations League final.
On September 4, 2025, during the Bulgarian-Slovak international football matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E European qualification, Serbia’s No. 10 midfielder Radoslav Kirilov and No. 19 forward Lamine Yamal battling for the ball at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria’s No. 10 and No. 19 Lamine Yamal fight for the ball. (Photo by Nikolay DOYCHINOV/AFP)
Within five minutes, Mikel Oyarzabal scored a skillful finish from a Martin Zubimendi pass, and Marc Cucurella put together a superb second goal.
After Lamine Yamal’s third goal, Mikel Merino scored it after 38 minutes.
Belgium wins, Netherlands wins,
Turkey, who fought back from a Georgian comeback to defeat Spain 3-2 in Tbilisi, will play their next game away.
Turkey appeared to be cruising after Mert Muldur’s opening goal was met by Kerem Akturkoglu’s two goals either side of half-time.
However, Zuriko Davitashvili pulled one back, sending Baris Alper Yilmaz to the visitors’ penalty.
In stoppage time, Turkey held on for the victory, going up to 3:32 with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Despite having a lead through Denzel Dumfries in the first half, the Netherlands were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland in Group G Rotterdam.
The Dutch still lead the group with seven points, having already won both Poland and Finland on goal difference, and have a game in hand thanks to Matty Cash’s ferocious late strike.
In the same group, Lithuania and Malta both scored penalties to draw 1-1.
Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring for Belgium against Liechtenstein with a 6-0 win over the minnows.
Arthur Theate, Kevin De Bruyne, and Malick Fofana also scored, with Youri Tielemans scoring twice, including a penalty.
