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Category: Sports

  • NOC organises 2-day seminar for sports federations

    The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) said on Wednesday that it would organise a virtual seminar for presidents and leaders of sports federations.

    A statement issued by Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of the NOC, said the seminar which focuses on good governance, would hold in Abuja from June 9 to June 10.

    Nezianya also said that the seminar would be organised under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Solidarity programme.

    He reported the Secretary-General of the NOC, Babatunde Popoola as emphasising the objectives of the seminar to include enhancing effective management and good governance of sports federations.

    ”It is also to create more integrated sport-specific systems, improve performance and utilisation of resources, as well as leverage or exploit available opportunities to reduce conflicts and reinforce greater harmony in the sports sector.

    “It is also to enable Sports Federations to function properly.”

    According to Nezianya, the seminar will be rich in content and delivery as the programme will be anchored by an international expert, Dr Donald Rukare from Uganda and an appointee of the IOC for the seminar.

    Nezianya also reported NOC President, Habu Gumel as saying that the benefits of the seminar would be measured by how the sports federations use the knowledge gained from the event to effectively run their federations.

    “We will know if they adhered to the basic principles of good governance.”

    The key areas to be covered in the seminar are an introduction to Sports Architecture, Leadership and Sports, Key Governance Challenges and Sports Governance.

    Other key areas to be covered are “Role of Presidents and Secretaries General, Management of NOC/Sports federations, Identifying Types of Sports Disputes and Resolution forums for Sports Disputes.” 

  • WAFU B Championship: Falconets spank Niger Republic 7-0

    Nigeria’s under-20 women national team on Sunday in Kumasi whipped their Niger Republic counterparts 7-0 in their opening game at the inaugural West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B Championship.

    The the match had a lot in stock for spectators at the Baba Yara Stadium when it finally got underway after a one-hour delay.

    The Falconets completely dominated the game, getting off to a flying start through goals by Opeyemi Ajakaye, Mercy Kalu, Adoabi Okah, Victoria Alani and Chioma Olise.

    Ajakaye opened scoring four minutes into the game, and went on to double the tally nine minutes later.

    Kalu scored the third goal in the 30th minute, while Okah made it 4-0 in the 49th minute.

    Ajakaye scored her third goal for a hat-trick in the 53rd minute when she created space for herself in the penalty box.

    It was the turn of Alani with the sixth goal in the 64th minute, while substitute Olise headed home a minute into added time of the second half for the seventh goal.

    The Falconets will face Togo in their second game at 6 p.m on Wednesday, also at the Baba Yara Stadium.

    Niger Republic will tackle Burkina Faso at 3 p.m. at that same venue.

    The Falconets will end their group stage campaign by clashing with Burkina Faso on Sunday.

    The Falconets are drawn in Group B with Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Togo.

  • Family, friends of West Ham players attacked in Netherlands

    Family and friends of West Ham United players, celebrating their success in Thursday’s Europa Conference League semi-final in the Netherlands, were attacked by AZ Alkmaar supporters at the final whistle.

    According to Dutch media, AZ supporters broke through a fence and attacked the West Ham contingent seated in a reserved section at the AZ Stadium.

    A brawl ensued in which West Ham players, including captain Declan Rice, attempted to intervene, the Algemeen Dagblad (ad.nl) added.

    Police and stewards were quickly on the scene to prevent further confrontation and calm was restored 10 minutes later.

    There was a similar incident in London last week when AZ supporters, including the family of coach Pascal Jansen, were accosted by West Ham fans.

    This was after they celebrated the goal scored by the Dutch club in the first half of the first leg.

    West Ham came back to win last Thursday’s match 2-1 and then scored a last gasp winner in the second leg of the semi-final for a 3-1 aggregate triumph. 

  • Argentina 2023: Flying Eagles arrive in Mendoza

    Nigeria’s Flying Eagles arrived in the city of Mendoza, four days before their opening match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals against the Dominican Republic.

    The team led by Head Coach, Ladan Bosso touched down at Aero Puerto International Airport, Mendoza and was received by NFF’s Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor and officials of the Local Organizing Committee of the championship.

    The Nigeria Football Federation had set up a pre-World Cup training camp for the Flying Eagles in Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, where the team defeated an Argentine second division team, Almirante and battled out a 3-3 draw with fellow World Cup finalists Colombia in friendlies.

    Nigeria, who will be making their 13th appearance at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals, open their World Cup campaign in group D against Dominican Republic on 21 May, and will also play Italy and Brazil in that order in the group phase.

  • U-17 AFCON: CAF announces Best XI for group phase 

    U-17 AFCON: CAF announces Best XI for group phase 

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Study Group (TSG) has named its Best XI of the group stages at the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, also naming the best coach and player so far in the competition.  

    Two-time champions Mali have three players in the Best XI following their impressive run in the tournament so far.

    Senegalese tactician Saliou Dia Serigne has been named the best coach, having led his side to the semis for the first time ever with an unbeaten record, while his skipper and tournament top scorer, Amara Diouf has been named the best player of the group phase. 

    Diouf has scored five goals so far, breaking Victor Osimhen’s 2015 goal scoring record of four goals.  

    Mali’s Bourama Kone, who has kept three clean sheets so far in the competition, is selected as the best goalkeeper. He has the highest save percentage rate in the competition thus far.  

    His defense is made up of Nigeria’s right-back Yahaya Lawali, who was twice named man of the match in the group stages while Burkina Faso’s Lassina Traore has been selected as the best left-back so far in the competition.  

    Senegal’s Fallou Diouf forms part of a backline that has not conceded a single goal in the tournament so far, and Morocco’s skipper Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal have been named as the best two centre-backs.  

    Morocco’s anchorman Adam Chakir has been crucial for the Atlas Cubs so far in the competition, dictating the tempo and sits at the basement of the Best XI’s midfield.  

    Mali’s Angel Martial Tia, scorer of the opening goal against Congo in the quarters, as well as one half of the Wumba Niati Congolese twins, Abiga, make the midfield three.  

    Senegal skipper Diouf, Burkina Faso’s Souleymane Alio and Mali’s Mamadou Doumbia complete the front three.

    Doumbia has scored three goals so far in the tournament while Alio has two.

    The tournament will enter the semi-final phase on Sunday with Mali, Senegal, Morocco and Burkina Faso searching for a place in the final.

    The final will be played on Friday 19 May 2023 at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers at 22h00 local time (21h00 GMT). 

     

  • WAFU B Tourney: Danjuma picks Ajakaye, Onyenezide, Sebastine

    Head Coach Chris Danjuma has selected midfielders Taiwo Afolabi and Esther Onyenezide, and forwards Flourish Sebastine and Opeyemi Ajakaye in Nigeria’s 20-woman squad for the forthcoming WAFU B U20 Women Tournament taking place in Kumasi, Ghana.

    Danjuma, who steered the Nigerian girls to the last eight of last year’s World Cup in Costa Rica, has also picked goalkeeper Inyene Etim, defenders Comfort Folorunsho and Jumoke Alani, midfielders Chioma Olise and Blessing Emmanuel, and forwards Omowunmi Bello and Goodness Osigwe.

    Afolabi, Folorunsho, Ajakaye and Emmanuel were in the Nigeria U17 girls’ team that won the bronze medals at last year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in India.

    This year’s tournament, scheduled for 20 May–4 June, pits the Falconets in Group B against the U20 girls of Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Togo. Hosts Ghana will confront the U20 girls of Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A.

    Ghana and Benin Republic will lift the curtain on the tournament at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday, 20 May before FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists Nigeria take on Niger Republic and Burkina Faso tango with Togo on Sunday, 21 May.

    The Falconets will then play Togo on 24 May, also at the Baba Yara Stadium, before trading tackles with Burkina Faso Paa Joe Stadium on Sunday, 28 May.    

    FALCONETS FOR WAFU B U20 WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT

    Goalkeepers: Inyene Etim, Shukura Bakare, Chinyere Mgbechi

    Defenders: Jumoke Alani, Oluchi Ohaegbulem, Chidinma Ogbuchi, Comfort Folorunsho, Blessing Okpe, Monica Ameh

    Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi, Chioma Olise, Chinyere Kalu, Esther Onyenezide, Blessing Emmanuel

    Forwards: Shukurat Oladipo, Goodness Osigwe, Flourish Sebastine, Omowunmi Bello, Opeyemi Ajakaye, Judith Okah

    FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (MEN)

    Heartland FC (Imo) Vs Bendel Insurance (Edo) – Awka – 24/05/23 – 2pm

    Sunshine Stars (Ondo) Vs EFCC FC (FCT) – Aba – 24/05/23 – 2pm

    Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Gombe United (Gombe) – Abuja Goal Project – 24/05/23 – 2pm

    Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) Vs Lobi Stars (Benue) – Awka – 24/05/23 – 4pm

    Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Ingas FC (Enugu) – Abuja Goal Project – 24/05/23 – 4pm

    Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Benin – 24/05/23 – 4pm

    FC Ebeide (Ekiti) Vs Rangers International (Enugu) – Asaba – 24/05/23 – 2pm

    Doma United (Gombe) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Abuja Area 3 – 24/05/23 – 4pm

    FEDERATION CUP: QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES (WOMEN)

    Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa) Vs Fortress Ladies (Ebonyi) – Calabar – 18/05/23 – 4pm

    Lakeside Queens (Ogun) Vs Edo Queens (Edo) – Owerri – 18/05/23 – 4pm

    FC Robo Queens (Lagos) Vs Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) – Awka – 18/05/23 – 4pm

    Rivers Angels (Rivers) Vs Delta Queens (Delta) – Aba – 18/05/23 – 4pm

    FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 32 RESULTS (MEN)

    Heartland FC (Imo) 2 Essien Ayi FC (Cross River) 1

    Ahudiya (Abia) 0 Bendel Insurance (Edo) 1

    Standard FC (Kaduna) 0 Sunshine Stars (Ondo) 2

    EFCC FC (FCT) 1 Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) 1 (9-8 after penalties)

    Warri Wolves (Delta) 0 3SC (Oyo) 0 (4-3 after penalties)

    Mighty Jets (Plateau) 0 Gombe United (Gombe) 2

    Osun United (Osun) 1 Insurance Feeders (Edo) 2

    Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) 0 Lobi Stars (Benue) 2

    Plateau United (Plateau) 2 Enyimba FC 2 (3-2 after penalties)

    Ingas FC (Enugu) 1 El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) 1 (9-8 after penalties)

    Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 3 DMD FC (Borno) 2

    Ikorodu City (Lagos) 1 Kwara United (Kwara) 3

    FC Ebedei (Ekiti) 4 Igbajo FC (Osun) 0

    Rangers Int’l (Enugu) 2 Kano Pillars (Kano) 0

    FR Ebunuja (Imo) 0 Doma United (Gombe) 4

    Edel FC (Anambra) 1 Mailantarki FC (FCT) 0

    FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 16 RESULTS (WOMEN)

    Bayelsa Queens

    Fortress FC (Edo) 2 Honey Badgers (Benue) 1                     

    Heartland Queens (Imo) 0 Lakeside Queens (Ogun) 0 (2-4 after penalties)

    Edo Queens (Edo) 5 Maureen Mmadu FC (Abia) 0

    Robo Queens (Lagos) 3 Royal Queens (Delta) 0 (W/O)

    Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) 2 Naija Ratels (FCT) 1

    Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1 Osun Babes (Osun) 0

    Moje Queens (Kwara) 0 Delta Queens (Delta) 7

  • FIFA U-17 World Cup: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Mali to represent Africa

    Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mali will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup after Nigeria missed the opportunity with a 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso.

    The four sides sealed their places following the conclusion of the quarter-final matches at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday.

    The 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 19th edition of the biennial international men’s youth football tournament.

    It is contested by 24 teams of the under-17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA from six confederations.

    It will be held from Nov. 10 to Dec. 2 in a yet-to-be-decided venue (initially Peru).

    This edition marks the return of the tournament after a 4-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing FIFA to cancel the 2021 edition.

    The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are the most successful team in the tournament having made eight appearances and winning a record, five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015).

    They were also runners up on three occasions (1987, 2001 and 2009).

    Nigeria are also two-time Africa U-17 Cup of Nations’ champions, having won their first title in 2001, with their most recent title at the 2007 edition.

    They were runners up on two occasions (1995, 2013) and finished third in 2003.

    Brazil are the defending champions, having won their fourth title in 2019.

    Africa has four slots at the tournament and with the U17 AFCON serving as the qualification, the teams that reach the semi-finals will represent the continent at the global event.

    Of the teams qualified, Mali is the most experienced, having qualified five times previously. This is their sixth qualification.

    Their best performance was in 2015 when they lost to African rivals Nigeria in the final. Their last qualification was in 2017 in India when they finished fourth.

    They reached the quarter finals in 1997 and 2001 and exited in the group stage in 1999.

    Burkina Faso are meanwhile going back to the global stage for the first time since their last qualification in 2011 when they exited in the group stages.

    They have qualified for the World Cup four times in total and their best ever performance was in 2001 when they finished third after beating Argentina 2-0 in the play-off.

    Morocco are meanwhile qualifying for the World Cup for the second time in their history, having made their debut in 2013 when they when they reached the round of 16.

    Senegal have qualified for the World Cup for the second time in their history, after making their debut in 2019 following Guinea’s elimination.

    In their maiden campaign, they reached the round of 16 after finishing second in their group. They lost 2-1 to Spain in the knockout phase. 

  • £130m-rated Victor Osimhen: Man United get major boost as Bayern back down

    Manchester United may have received major boost in their bid to sign £130 million-rated Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen after Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn hinted that the club will not go after the Nigerian this summer. 

    The 24-year-old has been a key part of Napoli’s Serie A success this season, scoring 23 league goals as Luciano Spalletti’s side wrapped up their first Scudetto in 33 years earlier this month.

    United are looking for a new striker since losing Cristiano Ronaldo in November, and have been linked with Osimhen for months.

    Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis however maintains the Nigeria international will not be leaving the club this summer and the player himself has played down talks of a move, but the Red Devils believe he will be available for around £130 million. 

    Chelsea are also interested in Osimhen and may be hoping to edge United with a partial swap deal involving Christian Pulisic, but Kahn’s comments suggest Bayern are not in the race for his signature.

    ‘When it’s about such a fee, we have to ask the question: does the player give you a guarantee for this money?’ Khan told SportBILD. ‘That would definitely be a big risk.’

    If the German giants have dropped out of the race to sign Osimhen, it could be another sign of their decline as a major force in European football.

  • U-17 AFCON: Nigeria takes on Burkina Faso today

    *It’s going to be fireworks, says Coach Nduka Ugbade

    Coach Nduka Ugbade (left) with Golden Eaglets’ defender, Emmanuel Michael at the press conference in Algiers. Photo: NFF Media

    It will be a West African derby on Thursday (today) when the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria tackle Burkina Faso in the quarter-final game of the ongoing Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria, with Head Coach Nduka Ugbade saying it is going to be a pulsating tie.

    Ugbade disclosed this at the pre-match press conference at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, as he noted that both teams are not strangers to each other having met at the final of WAFU B U17 tournament in Ghana, where Nigeria triumphed 2-1.

    “The game is going to be very interesting. At the WAFU B tournament, we had Togo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Niger and Burkina Faso. We did well to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in the final.

    “The only difference is that this is AFCON, but surely, it is going to be an interesting and very important game because victory will guarantee qualification for the FIFA World Cup,” Ugbade said.

    In a related development, Emmanuel Michael, who scored three goals at the WAFU B U17 tournament, said his teammates have respect for Burkina Faso. He, however, assured Nigerians that the Eaglets will work very hard to win the game.

    “We respect Burkina Faso, they are a very good team. The team loves to play and never gives up.

    “We hope to win the game. We will work very hard, play to the instructions of our coaches and win the game to qualify for the World Cup,” Michael said.

    The quarter-final clash is billed for the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers and the kick-off is 8pm Nigerian time.

  • Federation Cup: Fireworks in Benin, Abuja, Kano and Lokoja

    Former champions Enyimba FC of Aba and Plateau United of Jos will create fireworks at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City in their Round of 32 match of this year’s Federation Cup men’s competition on Wednesday (today).

    The People’s Elephant squeezed through to this stage after a nail-biting penalty shootout against Rivers United FC in Uyo, and now have to confront an ambitious Plateau United looking to march all the way to the grand finale.

    At the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, multi-titlists Rangers International of Enugu will do battle with Kano Pillars, while the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano plays host to the potentially-explosive encounter between Mighty Jets of Jos and Gombe United FC.

    A total of 16 matches will be disputed in the men’s category, all scheduled for Wednesday, while seven matches will be played in the women’s competition with Bayelsa Queens having reached the last eight without kicking a ball, following the unfortunate accident involving opponents Dannaz Ladies.

    In Lokoja, Nasarawa Amazons – one of the establishment – will clash with Naija Ratels of FCT in a match slated for Thursday as the six other matches in the women’s competition.

    FC Robo Queens of Lagos will make it a date with Royal Queens of Delta State in Awka while Rivers Angels are up against Osun Babes in Warri.  

    FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES (MEN)

    Heartland FC (Imo) Vs Essien Ayi FC (Cross River) – Awka – 10/05/23 – 2pm

    Ahudiya (Abia) Vs Bendel Insurance (Edo) – Calabar – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Standard FC (Kaduna) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Lokoja – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) – Awka – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs 3SC (Oyo) – Owerri – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Gombe United (Gombe) – Kano – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Osun United (Osun) Vs Insurance Feeders (Edo) – Lagos – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) Vs Lobi Stars (Benue) – Abuja Area 3 – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Enyimba FC – Benin City – 10/05/23

    Ingas FC (Enugu) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs DMD FC (Borno) – Bauchi – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Osogbo – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    FC Ebedei (Ekiti) Vs Igbajo FC (Osun) – Ibadan – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    Rangers Int’l (Enugu) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Abuja Goal Project – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    FR Ebunuja (Imo) Vs Doma United (Gombe) – Abuja Area 3 – 10/05/23 – 2pm

    Edel FC (Anambra) Vs Mailantarki FC (FCT) – Akure – 10/05/23 – 4pm

    FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (WOMEN)

    Bayelsa Queens Vs Dannaz Ladies (Dannaz Ladies were involved in an accident cannot continue in the competition)

    Fortress FC (Edo) Vs Honey Badgers (Benue) – Lokoja – 11/05/23 – 2pm

    Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs Lakeside Queens (Ogun) – Warri – 11/05/23 – 2pm

    Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Maureen Mmadu FC (Abia) – Calabar – 11/05/23 – 4pm

    Robo Queens (Lagos) Vs Royal Queens (Delta) – Awka – 11/05/23 – 4pm

    Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Naija Ratels (FCT) – Lokoja – 11/05/23 – 4pm

    Rivers Angels (Rivers) Vs Osun Babes (Osun) – Warri – 11/05/23 – 4pm

    Moje Queens (Kwara) Vs Delta Queens (Delta) – Lagos – 11/05/23 – 4pm