By Abigail David

FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive championship rings for the first time in the tournament’s history, alongside the World Cup trophy and gold medals.

The world football governing body unveiled the initiative on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

According to FIFA, the introduction of championship rings brings a tradition commonly associated with American sports to the FIFA World Cup.

In a statement, FIFA said a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered rings would be produced to commemorate the tournament.

Thirty rings will be presented to members of the World Cup-winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be offered to fans worldwide as officially licensed memorabilia.

FIFA said each ring will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side, while the other side will be customised to reflect the identity of the championship-winning team. The rings will also be individually numbered, custom-fitted and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The governing body added that the winning team’s captain and head coach will receive temporary rings immediately after the final, with the customised versions to be presented at a later date.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will see Spain and Argentina compete for the title on Sunday.

By Abigail David

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo for the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The draw, held on Wednesday, also placed hosts and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire in Group A with Niger and Benin Republic.

The Group B fixtures will see Nigeria renew its long-standing youth football rivalry with Ghana’s Black Satellites, while Burkina Faso and Togo complete the group.

The WAFU B Championship serves as the qualification tournament for the 2027 U20 AFCON, which will be hosted by Ghana. The continental competition will feature 12 teams, with the four semi-finalists earning places at the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Nigeria enters the tournament with a strong record in the regional competition. The Flying Eagles won the WAFU B title in 2022 and successfully defended it in 2024, defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final played in Lomé.

The team also reached the final of the inaugural edition in 2018 and finished runners-up at the most recent tournament after a 1-0 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

The Flying Eagles will begin preparations for the championship as they seek another regional title and qualification for the 2027 U20 AFCON.

By Abigail David

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that he hopes to return to school and earn a university degree, saying he is preparing for life after football.

Speaking in an interview that recently resurfaced online, the Galatasaray forward said formal education remains a personal goal despite the success he has achieved in professional football.

“As an adult, not everything I learned in school. There are some kinds of life lessons you encounter through life’s journey,” Osimhen said.

The 2023 African Footballer of the Year noted that a football career is relatively short, making it important to plan for the future.

“It will be an amazing thing to get a degree because football is not something you will play for so long. After 20 or 25 years, you’re done,” he said.

Osimhen added that he hopes his decision will inspire young people who left school because of financial or personal challenges to pursue their education.

“For me, it’s to set a standard and an example to the younger generation that even if you dropped out due to challenges, you can always go back to school because the school is always there,” he said.

Osimhen has previously encouraged young footballers to balance their sporting ambitions with education, stressing that academic qualifications can provide opportunities after retirement from the game.