Sports
Super Eagles Cruise to AFCON 2023 Final After South Africa Scare
By Dipo Olowookere
The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday defeated South Africa in the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
The three-time winner of the tournament qualified for the final of the competition after a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
Nigeria went ahead from a spot pick 22 minutes into the second half of the match through the captain of the team, Troost-Ekong.
However, parity was restored in the 90th minute also from the spot through Mokoena, who sent the Super Eagles’ shot-stopper, Stanley Nwabali, the wrong way.
The game stretched to extra time and when both teams could not convert their chances after sweating it out for one and a half hours, the Egyptian referee, Amin Mohamed Omar, signalled an end to the match for the shootout.
Moffi, who forced a South African defender, Kekena, to make a foul that led to his red card in the extra time, converted the first penalty. However, Mokoena could not convert his when he stepped forward for the shootout.
Ola Aina missed his shot from the spot but Makgopa could not take advantage of this as his shot was saved by Nwabali. With Omeruo, Troost-Ekong and Kelechi Iheanacho putting the ball at the back of the net, Nigeria won the game 4-2 on penalties to pick a spot in the final.
With the defeat, the quest of South Africa to clinch the trophy for the second time after 1996 was crushed.
Nigeria now has a chance to grab the cup for the fourth time if it beats the winner of the second semi-final match between the host and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday.
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By Dipo Olowookere
Spain put one past Argentina to clinch their second FIFA World Cup trophy in New Jersey, USA, on Sunday night.
Ferran Torres put the only goal of the match in the back of the South American’s net in the 106th minute after both teams could not settle scores in normal time.
The Argentines, led by Lionel Scaloni, were reduced to 10 men in added time of the second half after Enzo Fernández got his second yellow card for a tackle on Spain’s Pau Cubarsí.
Lionel Messi could not inspire his team to victory in the final watched by the President of the United States, Mr Donald Trump, as the Europeans dominated the match, with Argentina not having a shot on or off target before the extra time.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup champions only managed to show signs of pressing after the winners of the 2010 edition in South Africa scored a minute after the resumption of the second half of the extra 30 minutes.
The win by Luis de la Fuente’s men left Lionel Messi teary after the match. This could be his last World Cup as he turned 39 this year.
The next FIFA World Cup in 2030 goes to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This year’s edition was hosted by the trio of the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Mundial kicked off on June 20, 2026, and ended on July 19, 2026, with 48 teams participating, more than the usual 32 teams of the previous editions.
On July 23, Nigeria’s main grassroots tournament kicks off: players from the top 100 teams across five divisions of Lagos will compete for the championship title, a generous prize pool, the prestige of their home communities, and their dream of signing their first contract with a professional club.
1xCup has helped many talented players make a name for themselves. Thanks to their standout performances at the tournament, more than 30 footballers have earned spots on professional teams in Nigeria, Bulgaria, Norway, Albania, North Macedonia, and many other countries.
1xCup top success stories
From their debuts in the NPFL and second-tier European leagues to call-ups to the Nigeria national team, the stories of 1xCup graduate players could easily serve as the script for a new Hollywood sports drama. Defensive midfielder Adeoye Aderemi Jacob was named one of the top breakout stars of the 1xCup 2025. His dedication and energy helped the Naths Boys reach the tournament’s final four and caught the attention of Ikorodu City scouts. Adeoye Aderemi Jacob quickly adapted to the professional level and even earned a call-up to the Nigeria national team for friendly matches against Zimbabwe and Jamaica as part of their preparations for the.
Several 1xCup graduates have built successful careers in Europe. Martins Idowu plays in Serbia, Peter Ahisu in Bulgaria, and Okere Ebube in North Macedonia. Lawani Clinton, Bada Moses, and Raheem Ibrahim Ogede have continued their football careers with professional clubs in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Nwana Okechukwu and Kayode Akinyemi are representing their homeland in the Egyptian and Beninese leagues.
The 1xCup 2026 will continue this mission. Starting with the knockout stage, scouts from professional clubs will be in attendance at the tournament’s matches. This means that every participant will have a chance to prove themselves, get noticed by experts, and perhaps write a new chapter in their football history.
1xCup 2026 is open to everyone
Nigeria’s most prestigious grassroots tournament has helped football talent shine and demonstrated that our country is capable of organizing large-scale sports events. The list of participants in the qualification was made publicly available, and every fan can follow the match results and the standings on the official 1xCup Instagram page.
The tournament’s matches are drawing huge interest from viewers, so the organizers have expanded their media coverage. The 1xCup Podcast is set to launch very soon, featuring well-known figures from Nigeria’s football community who will discuss the main storylines and standout players of the fourth season, as well as share exclusive insights with fans.
Watch from the front row as the next generation of football stars is born, and follow the action from the grassroots tournament on the official 1xcup.ng website or on the project’s Instagram page.
Some weekends just ask for steady light, a fully charged phone, and zero plans to leave the house, and this is one of them. From a chilling true-crime finale to the biggest stage in world football, a UFC grudge match, Formula 1 at Spa, and a fiery kitchen showdown, DStv has packed the next 48 hours with must-watch television.
Whether you’re a sports fanatic, a true-crime junkie, or just here for the drama of a cooking competition, here’s your full guide to what’s showing, when, and where to catch it.
1. The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets
When: Saturday, 10 pm | Where: M-Net
Kick off your weekend with a gripping true-crime documentary that unpacks one of the most disturbing serial killer cases in recent memory.
This three-part series, executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, goes inside the home of Rex Heuermann, the Manhattan architect accused of murdering multiple women over nearly two decades on New York’s Long Island. It features exclusive, never-before-heard interviews with Heuermann’s wife, children, and friends as they grapple with the accusations against a man they thought they knew. The series carries extra weight now: Heuermann pleaded guilty to killing eight women in April 2026, prompting an additional episode that revisits his family’s real-time reckoning with the confession, including insight from their psychotherapist.
2. FRA v ENG – World Cup 3rd Place Play-Off
When: Saturday, 10 pm | Where: SuperSport
France and England go head-to-head for World Cup bronze, and if this tournament has taught us anything, it’s that neither side plays for pride quietly. Expect fireworks as two football powerhouses fight to end their campaigns on a high.
Both sides arrive bruised: pre-tournament favourites France were shut out 2-0 by Spain in the semi-final, while England surrendered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Argentina after Messi set up both goals. Kylian Mbappé, tied with Messi for the tournament’s Golden Boot race on eight goals, will be desperate to add to his tally after going scoreless in the semis, while Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham look to close the gap. It’s billed as football’s unofficial “bronze final,” played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
3. Du Plessis v Usman
When: Sunday, 1 am | Where: SuperSport
Set your alarm as this UFC clash is worth losing sleep over. Former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis looks to rebound from the first loss of his UFC career, a dominant defeat to Khamzat Chimaev that ended his 11-fight winning streak and cost him the belt.
Standing in his way is Nigerian-born former welterweight king Kamaru Usman, who makes his first full campaign at 185lbs after 13 months out of the Octagon. It headlines a 12-fight card at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, the promotion’s first visit to the city in nearly a decade, with a title shot on the line for the winner.
4. Belgian Grand Prix
When: Sunday, 2 pm | Where: SuperSport
The F1 circus rolls into Spa-Francorchamps for one of the most iconic races on the calendar. Round 10 of the 2026 season arrives with the title fight tightening: Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead has shrunk to just 25 points over teammate George Russell, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton lurking further back after back-to-back podiums.
Hamilton sits one win shy of matching Michael Schumacher’s record six victories at Spa, now chasing it in Ferrari red. With brand-new car and power unit regulations this season, expect the legendary Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex to sort the contenders from the pretenders.
5. MasterChef Nigeria – Finale
When: Sunday, 7 pm | Where: M-Net
It all comes down to this. After weeks of whisks, plating panic, and culinary showdowns, MasterChef Nigeria crowns its winner.
Nigeria’s maiden season of the global culinary franchise has whittled ten home cooks down to a final two, fan favourites Fads and Favy, who battled through an emotional elimination that saw finalist David bow out just steps from the finish line. Under judges Chef Eros and Chef Stone, the winner walks away with a historic ₦73 million grand prize as Nigeria’s first-ever MasterChef champion.
6. Spain v Argentina – World Cup Final
When: Sunday, 8 pm | Where: SuperSport
In an exciting turn, Spain takes on Argentina for the ultimate prize in world football. Whatever happens over the weekend, this is the match everyone will be talking about on Monday morning.
Reigning European champions Spain, unbeaten and conceding just once all tournament, face defending world champions Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It’s a changing-of-the-guard storyline as much as a football match.
Nineteen-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is leading Spain’s relentless machine against Lionel Messi, chasing one last title in what’s widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance.
If you can’t get to a TV this weekend, you can stream every single one of these moments live on DStv Stream, wherever you are. So whether you’re at home or on the move, there’s no excuse to miss a second of the action.
