Africa Champions Cameroon crashed out of Russia Race as Nigeria need one more point to reach Russia

Eagles make a point in Yaounde, need one point to reach Russia

Cameroon merely delayed Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup ticket celebration even as the African champions were themselves eliminated from the race in a crunchy game that ended 1-1 in Yaounde on Monday.

In the event, the Super Eagles will qualify for their sixth FIFA World Cup finals with one point from their last two matches of the campaign.

Just as they did in Uyo on Friday, the Indomitable Lions started with some pace and passion, but they were immediately matched by a confident Super Eagles pumped up by the 4-0 thrashing of the African champions three days earlier.

As early as the 7th minute, Nigeria had started searching for the goal that would put them in the ascendancy and straight to Russia, but Sebastien Siami headed away a floated free –kick by Victor Moses.

Two minutes later, when Jean Pierre Nsame, surprisingly preferred to Vincent Aboubakar, was gifted an opportunity as Fabrice Olinga drilled the ball into Nigeria’s box, but he wasted it. In the 14th minute, Moses, full of running as he was in Uyo, earned a corner from a breezy run.

On the half hour, Nigeria got the lead that their self –assured approach deserved when Odion Ighalo, giving as much trouble to the Cameroonian defence as he did three days earlier, latched onto a Moses’ pass and got the ball into the box. It was returned, but a lurking Abdullahi Shehu floated it back, and Moses Simon rifled into the roof of Fabrice Ondoa’s net.

Ighalo and Moses threatened the Lions’ defence further, and in the second half, Nigeria continued where they left off as Moses continued to prove quite a menace to the hosts while goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa would not allow any ball past him.

On the hour mark, Cameroon coach Hugo Broos brought on Christian Bassogog and Aboubakar, which enlivened the Lions’ game, and after Moses came close to getting a second for Nigeria with a deft chip that missed narrowly, referee Papa Gassama duly pointed to the penalty spot after Ezenwa foiled Arnaud Njoum in the box in the 73rd minute. Aboubakar scored to level up.

Nigeria could have won it as Moses went for goal from a free kick in the 81st minute only to miss narrowly, and he did not direct a final effort well enough.

Yet, the Eagles deserve commendation for putting in a good shift at the Stade Omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo, and Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who met the players just before they left their hotel for the stadium and gave them a message of encouragement from President Muhammadu Buhari, hailed the players for their spirit and sure –footed approach.

“The Super Eagles have done very well. They have made Nigeria proud and I commend them. We are close to getting the ticket to Russia 2018.”

NFF President Amaju Pinnick expressed confidence that the Eagles would wrap up the World Cup ticket when they host Zambia in Uyo next month.

“This was the toughest World Cup qualifying group in Africa and the Super Eagles have been excellent. I praise them for their efforts since the qualifying campaign started and I want them to go for the three points against Zambia so that we wrap up the ticket quickly without further delay.

“Everyone called it the Group of Death, but we are alive to tell the story, and a very good story at that. We await Zambia and I believe the sweet story will be completed in great style.”

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

AITEO CUP: Rangers,Lobi Crash out as Ngwa FC,Unicem Rovers others qualify for Round of 16

The Reigning NPFL Champion has been thrown out of the aiteo cup ,in the Round of 32 of the competition.

Unicem Rovers defeated Rangers International by 6-5 on penalties after both sides battled to 1-1 full time draw.

The result mean Unicem Rovers will star in the Round of 16 of the competition.

Ngwa FC also edged out,another NPFL side, Lobi stars to qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2017 Aiteo Cup.

The Amateur defeated Lobi stars 4-3 on penalties, both sides played goalless  after 90 minutes.

The feat by Ngwa FC and Unicem Rovers is in line with cup tradition of smaller teams upsetting bigger sides in cup competitions.

Other Results show all the other bigger teams in the competition hold their own against their opponents as Shooting Stars , Abia Warriors,Plateau Utd, FC Ifeanyi Uba, ABS FC did enough to move past their less fancied opponents and qualified for the next stage of the competition.

Below is the full Results of the matches played yesterday

MEN

Sunshine Stars 4-2 Nasarawa United

Akwa United Vs Yobe Desert Stars (Uyo, 6 September 4pm)

Osun United 0-0 Kwara United (4-3 penalties)

Niger Tornadoes 1-0 FC Atete

Ngwa FC 0-0 Lobi Stars (4-3 penalties)

Unicem Rovers 1-1 Rangers International (6-5 penalties)

Ekiti United 1-1 Abia Warriors (4-2 penalties)

FRSC FC 1-1 Heartland FC (4-5 penalties)

FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders 0-2 FC IfeanyiUbah

El-Kanemi Babes 1-1 Almar FC (4-2 penalties)

FC Abuja Vs Samba Kurna (Area 3, Abuja, 31 August)

Plateau United 1-0 Ede United

ABS FC 6-3 Adamawa United Feeders

Katsina United Feeders 1-1 Bayelsa United (4-3 penalties)

Akwa Starlets Vs Doma United (Uyo, 6 September 2pm)

Delta Warriors 0-2 Shooting Stars

Thirteen  teams have now qualified for the Round of 16 and the winners of

FC Abuja / Samba Kurna (Area 3, Abuja, 31 August)
Akwa Starlets / Doma United (Uyo, 6 September 2pm)
Akwa United / Yobe Desert Stars (Uyo, 6 September 4pm)

Will complete the 16 teams that will compete in the next round of the competition.

The ladies also take to the pitch in the aiteocup and here are results across different centers nationwide

WOMEN

Adamawa Queens 0-1 Edo Queens

FC Robo Queens 1-0 Delta Queens

Confluence Queens 3-0 (W/O) Invincible Queens

Beautiful Tours 3-1 Moje Queens

Rivers Angels 5-0 Delta Babes

Bayelsa Queens Feeders 4-0 Fortress Ladies

Pelican Stars 1-0 Young Talents 99

Teams In Round of 16:

Ben Women FC, Ibom Angels, Jokodolu Babes, Sure Babes, Sunshine Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Osun Babes, Abia Angels and Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, FC Robo Queens, Confluence Queens, Beautiful Tours, Rivers Angels, Bayelsa United Feeders, Pelican Stars.

Youth football Development : NFF, Zenith launch second edition of Future Eagles tourney

The Nigeria Football Federation and Zenith International Bank on Wednesday in Lagos held a press conference to launch the second edition of the NFF/Zenith Bank U13/U15 Future Eagles Stars Championship.

At the event, held inside the offices of Lagos State Football Association, Onikan were NFF 1st Vice President/Chairman of Youth Football Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Zenith Bank’s Head of Digital Marketing, Mr. Pascal Or, Member of NFF Youth Football Committee, Mr. Dotun Coker, NFF’s Director of Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire and Zenith Bank’s Head of Media, Akin Olaniyan.

Akinwunmi disclosed that calls have gone out for entries from the States for the second edition, with 10th September set as deadline for entries, and the zonal finals to take place 13th – 16th September. The group stage matches/final of U13/semi finals of U15 will come up in Kano 20th -23rd September, while the Final of the U15 will come up on a date to be agreed with the sponsors, and will also have the Future Eagles play against a top academy as curtain raiser.

“The NFF as an institution remains very grateful to Zenith Bank for this partnership, which has enabled us to give fillip to our vision of youth football development. The first edition produced players who form our U15 National Team (Future Eagles) that recently impressed in a two –match tour of Morocco against the Morocco U15 squad.

“For this second edition, we have planned for it to be much bigger, and we have the support of Zenith Bank. We are committed to sustaining the credibility and integrity of the championship through thorough screening that will take several stages and dimensions, and we also want to breed the next generation of Nigerian referees by using very young referees.”

Akinwunmi, also Chairman of NFF Football Committee, also revealed that his committee will insist on coaches who have a minimum of CAF C License to handle the teams, making case for young, agile, educated and certificated trainers to grow the future stars. “I can assure you that this is one project that the entire NFF Board is passionate about. It is about building good, diligent and wonderful people who are proud to be Nigerians.”

Pascal Or expressed Zenith Bank’s excitement at being involved in the programme: “When a good idea is thoroughly packaged, you know from the onset that it will be successful. The NFF has done brilliantly well with the way they handled the first edition and the plans they have unveiled for the second championship.

“My challenge goes to other organizations to get involved in forms of youth development programmes. The youth is the heart and soul of every nation. Zenith Bank is keen to continue to support and be identified with this programme.”

Ezenwa to start as Ajiboye replaces injured Akpeyi

Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who captained Nigeria’s Africa Nations Championship squad that eliminated Benin Republic penultimate weekend to qualify for next year’s continental finals in Kenya, will start in goal for the Super Eagles against Cameroon in Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying cracker in Uyo.

This was announced at the team’s press conference held at the Ibom Meridien Hotel, Uyo on Wednesday.

South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who was in goal in the November 2016 3-1 win over Algeria at the same venue, has finally been ruled out of action on Friday as a result of injury.

Former junior international Dele Ajiboye, who is number one goal –tender for Nigeria Professional Football League table –toppers Plateau United, has been called in to replace Akpeyi.

As at Wednesday afternoon, there had been no definite word from the Cameroonians to the Nigeria Football Federation as to their arrival time or mode of transport into Nigeria.

Friday’s showdown at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium will kick off by 5pm.

Taekwondo: Nigeria's Otuadinma earns WTF Grand Prix Invitation

Nigeria’s African Champion, Uzoamaka Otuadinma, has been invited by the World Taekwondo body for the prestigious WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix, which is scheduled to hold in Rabat, Morocco 27 – 28, 2017.

The WT Grand Prix Series is a G-4 ranked prestigious event exclusively for the top ranked athletes in the world who compete for ranking points and prize money.

Otuadinma’s strong performances in recent years have helped increase her world ranking. The Delta-born taekwondoin, who started Taekwondo in 2011 and become National Champion in 2012, dramatically increased her world champion when she clinched the African title in 2015 at the 2015 All African Games in Congo.

Her semi-finals loss at the hands of Africa’s number one seed in the Female +67kg cost Otuadinma an Olympic slot in Rio 2016, but the African Champion had solid performance at the 2017 World Championships and Korea Opens, which earned her vital world ranking point and returned the odds in her favour.

At the World Championships, Otuadinma defeated Swaziland’s Munave Carlos 23 – 3 before losing to 10 – 26 to 2015 World Team Cup Gold Medallist, South Korea’s An Saebom. Otudinma followed up this performance by winning a Silver medals at the WT G-2 ranked Korean International Opens in Chuncheon, South Korea, defeating South Korea, USA and Columbia before losing to China in the finals.

NTF President, Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Binga, secured the air tickets with which the official team was able to make the trip to South Korea to participate in the World Championships and Korea Opens. The team’s participation ensured they earned vital world ranking points.

Prior to Otuadinma’s invitation, Nigeria’s Chika Chukwumerije has been the only Nigerian ranked high enough to be invited to three Grand Prix series. Currently, Africa oppositions like Cote D’Ivoire, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria Republic, Morocco all have highly ranked players that constantly attend the Grand Prix Series.

The WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix was introduced by the World Taekwondo Federation in 2013 to provide a homogeneous system for qualification to the Olympic taekwondo competitions with four competitions per year in each event.

NPFL Needs corporate Nigeria to be more Attractive. ....Irabor

 

The chief Executive officer of the League management company ,LMC,Honorable Nduka Irabor has declare that the Nigeria Professional Football League,NPFL needs the investment from cooperate Nigeria to be more attractive and reach the standards we will all be proud of.

 

This is coming on the trails of huge cooperate Nigeria investments in foreign sporting activities. He made this assertion at the symposium organised by the Lagos state chapter of the Sports writer Association of Nigeria ,Lagos SWAN, to mark this year Lagos SWAN week.

 

Irabor Affirmed that over 100 billion naira leaves the shores of the country on yearly basis from the purse of cooperate Nigeria sponsoring foreign sporting activities especially football.

 

"From our study with the central bank of Nigeria 100 billion naira goes out to sponsor foreign sporting activities especially football on yearly basis from cooperate Nigeria" .

 

But how can we make NPFL attractive to the "foreign investing" cooperate Nigeria? The astute administrator believe the  NPFL is sufficiently attractive enough to attract investors and have a good return for their money but asked for their sense of pride in investing in a thing 'of own 'and then they can only invest in the league to make it more attractive and not abandoning it for foreign sporting activities.

 

"There are two ways to look at it,it's ours .
First of all , the sense of pride has to reign to make it more attractive we need the money.

As it is right now it's attractive enough. The days you say they don't come to see match is over.

We ve seen on a match day people thronging the stadium ,things have changed but we need to draw attention to it."

 

The journalist turned administrator also defined the role the media should play in other to make the league more attractive.

"what's important is that the media should let people see what is going on as it is ,don't exaggerate,inflate or blow up minor issues.

Some things are trivial that we tend to concentrate on,is it poor officiating? This things are not new to football it happen even at world cup stage sometimes they are human errors that we in the media makes it to look as if it determine the league itself, don't put people off,sure you have a role to play.

 

Finally,Irabor  proposes the need for community ownership of clubs as this will get the people involved and also make the league more attractive

 

"I am not saying that the administrators should not look for a proper way to project their game but let this game get into the community.

if the people are involved, or are part of the club entity they will want to come out and see what they are doing" he concludes