Basketball : Bank rewards the D'tigress

Zenith Bank PLC has rewarded players, coaches and members of the backroom staff with the sum of 200,000 naira each for their 2017 Afrobasket success.

At a brief reception held at the corporate headquarters of the bank in Lagos and presided over by the Managing Director, Mr Peter Amangbo, the gesture is part of their efforts to recognize excellence and continue their support for women's basketball in Nigeria.

He lauded the Sam Vincent led team for bringing the title 12 years after Nigeria last won it.

"We salute your courage and resilience in the face of adversity. Beating the champions of Africa twice and defeating the host in the semi final was not an accident but as a result of hardwork and courage."

He promised that Zenith bank who has continued to sponsor the women league in the last 12 years will not just stop at rewarding the team after their 2017 Afrobasket win, but will be a strong supporter of the team as they prepare for the 2018 FIBA world cup.

In his response, Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation who responded on behalf of the federation thanked Zenith Bank for their unflinching support for women's basketball in Nigeria.

According to him, the presence of 3 home based players (Atosu Upe, Akashili Nkechi and Chioma Okoro) is a testimony to te role Zenith Bank has continued to play in basketball development in Nigeria.

He pleaded with Zenith Bank not limit their involvement with the Musa Kida led federation to just sponsorship of the Zenith Women league but should partner with the NBBF in preparing the team for the 2018 world cup in Spain.

"We have booked a ticket to the world cup in Spain. Preparation for this type of tournament is capital intensive. We need your support more than ever to ensure a smooth preparation for the team."

Captain of the side, Aisha Mohammed thanked Zenith Bank for deeming it fit to reward their hard labour after going 8 matches unbeaten at the championship that was held in Mali.

She assured that the team will try their best to ensure that they bring more honors to the country when they file out against the rest of the world in 2018

Eagles target 12th win over Cameron's Lions

Eagles target 12th win over Cameroon’s Lions

The Super Eagles will aim to achieve a 12th triumph over the Lions of Cameroon when both teams go for each other’s jugular at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday.

In 19 previous encounters, Nigeria have been winners 11 times, with Cameroon winning four times and four matches drawn.

Of these games, three happened to be the Final matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (all won by Cameroon, including a nail –biting penalty shoot-out session in Lagos in February 2000), and there were two different fixtures of FIFA World Cup qualifiers (1968 and 1989) shared equally.

Nigeria eliminated Cameroon from the qualifying race for 1970 World Cup finals, winning 3-2 in Douala after a 1-1 draw in Lagos. But the Lions took their revenge in 1989, snatching the minimum win they needed in Yaounde (1-0) to kick the Eagles out of the race for Italia ’90, only two weeks after Sam Okwaraji’s death.

While Cameroonians treasure the wins in Abidjan (1984), Casablanca (1988) and Lagos (2000) that gave them three of their five African titles, Nigerians have sweet memories of a 2-0 defeat of the Lions in Ibadan (in 1989) and a gutsy 2-1 win over Cup holders Cameroon in the quarter finals of 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in the sunshine of Monastir.

When the two teams last clashed, at the Edmond Machtens Stadium in Brussels in October 2015, the Eagles ran away 3-0 winners. Efe Ambrose rose highest in the Lions’ box to nod home a Mikel John Obi free –kick, before Moses Simon rounded the goalkeeper for the second goal and Odion Ighalo headed the third after a splendid pull –out by Elderson Echiejile.

Mikel Obi, Simon, Ighalo and Echiejile are in the Nigerian squad that will seek a repeat scoreline on Friday.

NIGERIA & CAMEROON AT SENIOR LEVEL

8 Dec 1962: Nigeria 3 Cameroon 1 – Lagos (Nkrumah Cup)

1 Jan 1963: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 2 – Yaounde (Nkrumah Cup)

7 Dec 1968: Nigeria 1 Cameroon 1 – Lagos (World Cup Qualifier)

22 Dec 1968: Cameroon 2 Nigeria 3 – Douala (World Cup Qualifier)

13 Feb 1972: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 2 – Yaounde (Friendly)

22 Jan 1975: Nigeria 1 Cameroon 0 – Lagos (Friendly)

17 July 1978: Cameroon 0 Nigeria 0 – Algiers (All-Africa Games)

2 Feb 1980: Nigeria 0 Cameroon 0 – Ibadan – (Friendly)

18 Mar 1984: Cameroon 3 Nigeria 1 – Abidjan (ACN Final)

17 Mar 1988: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1 – Rabat (ACN – group phase)

27 Mar 1988: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 0 – Casablanca (ACN Final)

10 Jun 1989: Nigeria 2 Cameroon 0 – Ibadan (World Cup Qualifier)

27 Aug 1989: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 0 – Yaounde (World Cup Qualifier)

25 Jan 1992: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 2 – Dakar (ACN – Bronze medal game)

7 Aug 1997: Cameroon 0 Nigeria 1 – Tunis (LG Cup)

13 Feb 2000: Nigeria 2 Cameroon 2 (3-4 penalties) – Lagos (ACN Final)

1 Jun 2003: Nigeria 3 Cameroon 0 – Lagos (LG Cup)

8 Feb 2004: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 2 – Monastir (ACN – group phase)

11 Oct 2015: Nigeria 3 Cameroon 0 – Brussels (Friendly)