Lagos, Nigeria. June 05, 2026. Unilever Nigeria Plc has officially announced the winners of the Rexona FIFA World Cup 2026™ Consumer promotion, giving loyal consumers of its leading deodorant brand, Rexona, the chance to experience the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live in Vancouver, Canada.

The ticket presentation ceremony, held at Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Ikeja, marked the successful conclusion of the consumer promotion designed to reward loyal customers who purchased Rexona products. Under the campaign structure, consumers who purchased three Rexona aerosol products were eligible for the grand prize, while all participating shoppers also received guaranteed rewards.

Winners emerged from the promotional draw after meeting the purchase criteria, with their prize packages fully sponsored by Rexona. The rewards included return flight tickets, accommodation, match tickets and other travel arrangements, offering them a memorable FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience.

Speaking at the event, Head of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Zainab Obagun, stated that the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Consumer promotion sponsored by Rexona reflects Unilever’s commitment to building stronger connections with consumers through initiatives that reward loyalty and create memorable experiences.

Obagun noted that the promotion underscores the importance of partnerships within the retail ecosystem, emphasizing that collaborations with trade partners remain essential for delivering value to consumers nationwide.

“At Unilever, we believe our relationship with consumers goes beyond providing quality products. It is about creating meaningful experiences and rewarding the trust they place in our brands every day. This presentation demonstrates that when we make a promise to our consumers, we fulfill it. We remain committed to creating value for Nigerian consumers while strengthening our partnerships with retailers and trade partners across the country,” she said.

Also speaking, Brand Manager, Rexona, Olaide Olumide, explained that the campaign was inspired by the success of previous football-focused consumer activations and forms part of Rexona’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with consumers through passion points that resonate strongly with them.

Olumide added that the emergence of winners and the presentation of prizes validate the integrity of the campaign and encourage continued participation with future brand initiatives and promotions.

“Rexona is a performance-focused brand globally, and football provides the perfect platform to demonstrate what performance means. Following our successful partnerships with CAF during AFCON and WAFCON, where we rewarded consumers with unique football experiences, this promotion around the FIFA World Cup 2026™ represents an even bigger opportunity to celebrate and reward our loyal consumers. More importantly, it shows that we care about our consumers not only through our products but also by creating life-changing experiences for them,” she added.

Expressing her excitement, one of the winners, Fatima Ahmed, described the opportunity as a dream come true and thanked Rexona for enabling her to witness one of the world’s biggest sporting events live.

As one of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ official sponsors, Rexona leveraged the global football spectacle to connect with consumers and reward their loyalty. The campaign also featured other Unilever personal care brands, including Dove and Axe, extending the opportunity to households across different consumer segments while creating excitement around the tournament.

About Unilever:

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Personal Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Foods products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. Unilever Nigeria is a locally listed business that has been operating for over 100 years, selling brands such as Closeup, Pepsodent, Vaseline, Rexona, Knorr, Royco, and Pears.

Further Information:

Please contact –

Zainab Obagun

[email protected]

+234 907 974 6267

World football governing body has included the Nigeria Premier Football League duo of Enyimba and Remo Stars in the list of beneficiaries of their financial largesse for the 2026 World Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

FIFA will give out a total of $355m as payments to teams who release their players during the qualifying series for the tournament. It is called FIFA Club Benefits Programme.

According to FIFA, each club that released players during the qualifiers will receive at least $2,360 per player for each match for which the player was released. A new high which the president of the body Gianni Infantino said is due to the increase in the number of teams at the tournament.

“Through the FIFA World Cup 2026 Club Benefits Programme, and thanks to the inclusion of all qualifying matches for the first time, more clubs than ever before will receive a share of the financial benefits generated by the FIFA World Cup, recognising their essential contribution to the success of international football.

“From approximately 1,000 matches combined from qualifiers and the final tournament, this programme will deliver USD 355 million back to club football — an increase of 70 per cent compared to the last edition.

This is another benefit from the expanded FIFA World Cup, providing more support across the entire football ecosystem to the clubs that provide all the players who compete to shine on the global stage. I thank the FIFA Council and European Football Clubs for their support in making this landmark programme a reality for so many players and their clubs worldwide.”

In a release sent to all Federations made available to our editorial team FIFA said clubs will qualify for the payments provided their players were included in matchday squads, even if they did not feature in the games.

The qualifiers which lasted from November 2023 to October 2025 and had each team play ten games saw Nigerian teams Remo Stars and Enyimba benefiting from the windfall.

Remo Stars released four players: Benin Republic goalkeeper Adebiyi Obassa (eight matches), Kayode Bankole (two matches), Sodiq Ismaila (two matches) and Togolese striker Franck Mawuena (three matches). Enyimba also released goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo for two matches.

As a result, Remo Stars are expected to receive about $35,400, which amounts to approximately N48.14m at an exchange rate of N1,360 to the dollar.

Enyimba, meanwhile, are set to receive about $4,720, equivalent to approximately N6.42m.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Scottish giants Rangers who were beaten to the League and Cup title by arch rivals Celtic have started preparations in earnest for next season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The team are on the look out to strengthen key areas in their team, and have already start by identifying and looking at targets who will improve their defence.

Nigeria international defender Ryan Alebiosu who plays for English Championship side Blackburn Rovers has emerged as a target, with reports saying talks are well advanced with his camp on the transfer.

According to Sportsboom, the 24 year old who is also a target of relegated English Premier League side West Ham and Italian Serie A side Genoa will command a fee of around £3m-£5m.

The report say despite the interests from other teams Rangers look the most likely to clinch his signing, and personal terms have already been agreed with his camp leaving just an agreement with Blackburn Rovers for a transfer fee.

He isn’t new to Scottish football as he had a spell with fellow league side St. Mirren a few seasons ago. Alebiosu was a part of the senior national team of Nigeria that competed and won bronze at the AFCON tournament in Morocco.

Daniel Martins

Newly capped Nigeria international defender Abdullahi Bewene has become a huge subject of interest from top teams in Belgium after his exploits with the Super Eagles, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The Banik Ostrava of Czech Republic defender who was handed a late call up to the team by head coach Eric Chelle held his own in the game against Poland and Portugal respectively.

Yesterday he came off the bench to show that his performance from the start against Portugal isn’t a fluke. A performance that drew applauses and praises from his teammates.

His representative revealed that the 21 year old has received around six enquiries from teams in Belgium, and one from a team in the French Ligue 1.

He said a decision will be made in the coming days, and it will be a move to a team that he is sure to get playing time to continue his development, and also cement his current status as a senior national team player of Nigeria.

We also gathered from other sources that LASK of Austria, Slavia Prague of Czech Republic and FC Basle of Switzerland are also among his admirers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of Portugal Roberto Martinez has defended his decision to delay the substitution of star player Cristiano Ronaldo in their 2-1 win over Nigeria despite his below par performance, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Martinez made a raft of substitution after the first half, but kept Ronaldo who missed around three chances in the game for over an hour leading to the 41 year old missing more chances.

The coach was asked after the game why the legendary striker was left on the pitch way longer than others, before he was eventually substituted for Goncalo Ramos with 25 minutes left to play in the game.

“The plan we had for Cristiano, based on the information we had, was for him to play 45 or 60 minutes”, he explained.

“The important thing is to work on the individual aspect, but also to have a team capable of finishing the game stronger than it started. This shows good work, focus, and clarity in executing ideas”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Portugal Roberto Martinez has given his view on the senior national team of Nigeria after yesterday’s 2-1 win in a pre world cup friendly game, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Martinez watched on as his team twice took the lead against a Nigerian team , who found their way back through Akor Adams in the 37 minute cancelling Pedro Nero’s opener.

Francisco Conceição netted what ended as the winner 15 minutes to full time handing a perfect sentforth to the team as they head out to the world cup in the USA, where they will open their campaign against fellow African nation DR Congo.

Nigeria failed to make it to the World Cup and head coach Eric Chelle have been using the games to build a new team, that will ensure that the failure of not making to two consecutive world cups doesn’t happen again.

Martinez gave his opinion on the team and their approach in the game and gave credit to the way Chelle set the team up for the game, and his views about their strength.

“Nigeria is very similar to Congo from a football culture perspective. They have physically strong players who attack space aggressively and play very directly, which is something Congo also does”, he explained.

“As a test, it was excellent. We were able to make eleven changes, win the match and execute the concepts we worked on in training. That reflects the attitude of the group, and I’m very pleased with what we’ve done over these two games.

He went ahead to praise Nigeria’s approach to the game, and how they were able to neutralise the threat of the team to grind out a win.

“Today Nigeria played with a diamond and two strikers. There are not many teams in Europe that play like this, so it creates an opportunity to press in a mid block with three, four or five players in central areas.

“That is something that often happens when there is man marking. We have players on the ball like Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and João Neves, and without a doubt in the World Cup we are going to face situations of man marking.

“Today it was about experimenting with our positioning on the ball, creating passing lanes and always creating numerical superiority in central areas.

“It was very good because not only the tactical structure of Nigeria, but also their willingness to take risks in the mid block, made this test perfect for that purpose.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

FIFA World Cup 2026: Nigeria’s qualification journey and playoff challenges explained

Being a Nigerian football fan arguably comes with a health warning. The memory of missing out on Qatar, watching the tournament from home while rivals participated, remains painful. Now, the stakes are twice as high, and the entire nation holds its breath as the qualification journey for the fifa world cup 2026 reaches a boiling point. The talent is present, but for the super eagles, success requires consistency, administrative focus, and navigating the complexities that define African football.

The pressure is immense because missing out twice in a row is not an option for a football-crazy nation. The sport’s biggest events, such as the quadrennial FIFA World Cup or the annual UEFA Champions League Final, are among the premier sporting spectacles, matched only by the Olympics in terms of global reach. Competition for the global spotlight is fierce. For Nigeria, returning to the big stage requires navigating a brutal group phase and mentally preparing for unexpected hurdles.

Group stage drama and the reality of the world cup qualifiers

The current situation arose from a group that appeared manageable on paper, resembling a routine path to qualification. However, African football can be unpredictable, and underestimating any opponent carries significant risk. Dropping points at home to lower-ranked teams can quickly change the outlook on the world cup qualifiers table, increasing the pressure on the squad.

A major part of the issue has been integrating our star-studded attack with a midfield that occasionally forgets how to control the tempo of a game. When you look at the latest lagos sports news, the debates are always heated. Fans are constantly screaming about tactical blunders and strange substitutions that leave everyone confused.

Fixing these lapses isn’t just a matter of training harder; it requires a massive psychological shift from the players who need to understand that continental football requires 90 minutes of absolute concentration.

Tactical strain on Nigerian players Europe and the looming playoff matches

Another massive factor that nobody seems to talk about enough is player fatigue. The five most popular European football leagues (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, and France) are the “big five,” a key pillar for the functioning of the European football ecosystem. Guess where almost all our top starters play? Exactly. Our key men are playing 50 to 60 high-intensity games a year for these elite clubs, and by the time they fly down for international duty, their legs are completely heavy.

This exhaustion is going to be a massive risk factor as we approach the dreaded playoff matches, where one single mistake can ruin four years of hard work. The knockout format of a world cup Africa playoff leaves absolutely no room for error or slow starts.

The media houses keeping up with African football updates are already analyzing potential opponents, and the data shows that the upcoming path is going to be incredibly steep:

It is going to be a test of raw nerves and squad depth, and the coach will need to utilize every single resource available to keep the squad fresh and focused.

Navigating the final stretch of world cup Africa qualification

So, where do we go from here? The math is simple, even if the execution on the pitch is anything but. To ensure that fifa 2026 Nigeria becomes a reality instead of a distant dream, the administrative side of the game needs to match the hunger of the fans. We cannot afford late travel arrangements, pitch complaints, or bonus disputes disrupting the camp before such crucial games.

At the end of the day, the history of the Nigeria national team is filled with moments where our backs were completely against the wall, yet we somehow found a way to pull off a miracle. This squad has the firepower to scare any team on the planet, but they must play as a cohesive unit. The journey through the world cup Africa qualifiers has been an emotional rollercoaster, but the destination is still within our grasp. It is time for the team to silence the critics, win those crucial points, and secure their rightful place among the elite in 2026.

The senior national team of Nigeria fell to a 1-2 defeat in the hands of Portugal, a game meant to prepare the host for their forthcoming challenge at the world cup in the USA.

Akor Adams got Nigeria’s lone goal of the game, cancelling out Pedro Nero’s opener before Francisco Conceição scored what ended as the winner for the Portuguese.

We rate the players who featured for Nigeria in the game.

Maduka Okoye – He was literally the reason why the game ended 1-2 and not by a high margin win for Portugal. He made six big saves including two in quick succession. Certainly his best game in a Super Eagles shirt…..9/10

Christian Akpan – Handed a start on the strength of his performance in training, but it wasn’t the kind of debut he will want to remember. At fault in the build up to Portugal’s first goal. Misplaced simple passes and looked jittery all through…….4/10

Bruno Onyemaechi – Started as a left back and ended the game as a centre back. Solid but not spectacular…….7/10

Semi Ajayi – Won all of his duels and largely why Cristiano Ronaldo had a frustrating night. A very good performance from the Hull City man…….. 8/10

Calvin Bassey – Drove the team forward with strong runs without letting his primary job of defending suffer. Unfortunate to end up on the losing side because he didn’t put a foot wrong……..8.5/10

Wilfred Ndidi – A trusted lieutenant of Eric Chelle. He did what was expected of him as a senior player and captain but never truly had the game his way……… 6/10

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – His major contribution was the assit for the goal scored by Akor Adams. A largely anonymous performance for a player of his standard……. 6/10

Alex Iwobi – The centurion completed more passes than any Nigerian player on the pitch. Always want to be on the ball and capped his 100 cap with a slightly above average performance…… 8/10

Tochukwu Nnadi – Slowly warming his way into the heart of the coach , and was his usual energetic and brave self. Tired out in the second half and should have done better for the second goal conceded by Nigeria…….7/10

Moses Simon – Ensured that Bruno Onyemaechi wasn’t isolated with Trincao. Dropped deep and not until he was subbed off in the second half Portugal found it hard to get going from his position. A disciplined performance…….. 8/10

Akor Adams – Showed his usual fighting spirit and did really well to create the opening for the goal. Tired out in the second half and didn’t do much afterwards……… 8/10.

Substitutes:

Terem Moffi – Got into the act almost immediately and tired to spark the attack to life. However in key moments he failed to provide that quality needed…….. 5/10

Abdullahi Bewene – Immediately slotted into the game and ensured that Joao Felix was kept in check. Confident on the ball, brilliant with his passes and also very athletic. He is here to stay…….8/10

Zaidu Sanusi – Had a night to forget against the country where he has played all his professional football. Was taken off before the final whistle. Looked way off the pace with misplaced passes and poor decisions……..3/10

Frank Onyeka – His introduction brought stability to the midfield of Nigeria but didn’t offer anything going forward………5/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Had what could have been Nigeria’s route to scoring a late leveler but wasn’t sure of what to do when he ran into space. Wasted a perfect counter attack opportunity……… 3/10

Raphael Onyedika, Philip Otele, Paul Onuachu – They didn’t get involved enough to earn a rating.

Portugal rounded up their preparation for the World Cup with a hard fought 2-1 win over Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

They took the lead in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto took advantage of some slack defending from Nigeria to fire a low effort past Maduka Okoye.

Nigeria drew level in the 37th minute when Akor Adams showed good strength to get on to a long ball from Okoye, and raced on to a lay off by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to draw Nigeria level.

Upon assumption for the second half, Portugal made seven changes and immediately dominated and they got rewarded with a second goal in 75 minute from Francisco Conceição.

His goal ended up as the winner with Nigeria failing to carve a way back into the game for the second time.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has gone with his strongest starting lineup for today’s high profile friendly game against Portugal, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles have been involved in a series of friendlies in the summer starting with the Unity Cup tournament in London, which they won after a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in the semi final, and a 3-0 win over Jamaica in the final.

Chelle rejigged the team for their next friendly which ended 2-2 against Poland in Warsaw, and today’s game against World Cup bound Portugal he has made changes to the team that started the last game, and last we exclusively reported in the morning he made four changes.

In defence, the duo of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi will start after playing as a substitute against Poland, Emmanuel Fernandez keeps his spot with Igho Ogbu is absent due to injury.

Abdullahi Bewene who made his debut against Poland stays with goalkeeper Maduka Okoye in goal like it was against Poland.

Alex Iwobi returns to the midfield and takes up his spot for what will be his 100th cap for the senior national team of Nigeria, with Tochukwu Nnadi dropping to the bench.

In attack Chelle handed a start to Samuel Chukwueze to play from the right , Terem Moffi drops to the bench while Akor leads the line.

Confirmed Starting XI

Okoye

Bewene

Fernandez

Ajayi

Bassey

Ndidi

Iwobi

Onyeka

Chukwueze

Simon

Akor