2019 AFCON: Dangote,Otedola to reward Super Eagles with $75k for each goals henceforth

 

The day after their exquisite and efficient performance against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa (conquerors of seven –time champions and host nation Egypt) that saw them reach the semi finals of AFCON 2019, the Super Eagles received pledges of more dollar rain from two of Africa’s richest businessmen.

 

On a visit to the team’s Le Meridien Cairo Airport hotel on Thursday morning, during which he urged the players to even redouble their efforts in order to cross the semi final stage on Sunday, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick put a call through to the two well -known philanthropists and tasked them to commit to supporting the team.

 

While Dangote made a pledge of $50,000 to the team for every goal in their remaining two matches at the championship, Otedola pledged the sum of $25,000 for every goal.

 

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who holds Nigeria’s second highest national honour (GCON) is the President of Dangote Group and is ranked as the richest person of African descent in the world. The Dangote Group has interests in various commodities in Nigeria and other African countries.

 

Oil baron Femi Otedola has recently been involved in a number of commendable interventions for ailing former Nigerian international players, including 1980 AFCON winning team –captain Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu and goalkeeper Peter Fregene.

 

Super Eagles beat Bafana Bafana as Ekong Troost Late Winner secure semi final birth for Nigeria at AFCON 2019

 

Nigeria soared into the semi finals of the 32^nd Africa Cup of Nations finals after an unlikely William Ekong winner two minutes to full time at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday night.

 

Bongani Zungu scored in the 70^th minute as the ball hit the back of Super Eagles’ forward and tournament top scorer Odion Ighalo from a free kick, to cancel out a Samuel Chukwueze strike in the 26^th minute that had kept Nigeria on top all evening. But Ekong popped up at the far post to slam the ball into an empty net as goalkeeper Ronnie Williams and his entire defence missed the ball from substitute Moses Simon’s corner.

 

No doubt, the game lived up to its billing as a confrontation between two fierce rivals, with both teams sizing each other up in the early minutes and being very cautious in their approach. But Nigeria were quicker off the blocks, with Ahmed Musa guilty of a poor pull out and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi watching his shot sail narrowly over the bar in the 5^th minute.

 

As the game wore on, Samuel Chukwueze tried to stamp his authority on the right wing, combining beautifully with defender Chidozie Awaziem. In the 26^th minute, Alex Iwobi sold a dummy and cantered to the right side of the Bafana Bafana defence, before a sharp cut-back for Chukwueze, whose first shot was blocked. But the young forward followed up and snatched the rebound, and then slotted past Williams for Nigeria’s first goal.

 

The atmosphere was electric at the Cairo International Stadium, with the near 20,000 fans all rooting for the Super Eagles. But Musa, on a counter attack, failed to make it count with a poor cross, and then Chukwueze himself concocted a poor finish from Ahmed Musa’s pass with 10 minutes left before interval.

 

In the second half, Oghenekaro Etebo rocked Williams’ crossbar from a 25 –yard free kick, and Musa and Chukwueze had their hands on their heads from missed opportunities, before South Africa equalized somewhat fortuitously in the 70^th minute.

 

The ball hit the back of forward Odion Ighalo from Percy Tau’s free kick as Nigeria massed to defend, and flew to Zungu, who directed his header to the far corner and beyond a flat footed goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

 

Yet, Nigeria would make hay late, with Ekong’s winner, and now the Super Eagles await the winner of the tie between Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire in the semi finals at the Cairo International Stadium.

 

In the first semi final, Senegal’s Lions of Teranga (1-0 winners of Benin Republic in the first quarter final match on Wednesday) will take on the winner of the Madagascar/Tunisia match.

2019 HIFL: LASU Blazers,FUTMINNA through to of Round 16 as the Ibadan derby ends in deadlock

LASU Blazers have secured their place in the round of 16  after thrashing Afe Babalola University football team,ABUAD stars by three goals - One to take up their point haul to 6 points which is enough to guarantee the team a second round berth at the Ibadan centre as 

UI Pioneers and Lead City Gladiators settled for a goalless draw in the second  match of the day in Ibadan.

The thrilling encounter saw the Pioneers dominated the opening minutes of the game with all the  possessions of ball but the Gladiators defense was formidable to thwart all the attack thrown at it by the Pioneers.

Elsewhere at the Abuja centre, FUTMINNA Transformers beat defeated PLASU Boulders, plateau state  University Football team by two goals to one to book their place in the Round of 16 having trounce Nile Rovers earlier in the round to secure unassailable 6 points to top the group.

Meanwhile the battle for qualification continues today  the teams involved are in a win or break situations. 

UI pioneers will need to beat  LASU blazers to make it to the next round irrespective of the outcome of the match between Lead City Gladiators and ABUAD stars

While at the Abuja Centre PLASU Boulders will need to avoid defeat against the host,the Nile Rovers.

NFF sets up Member Associations Adhoc Committee

The Nigeria Football Federation has in line with its Statutes set up a Member Associations Adhoc Committee, saddled with the responsibility of maintaining excellent relationship with its 44 affiliate bodies.

 

Acting President of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, made this known to thenff.com on Wednesday, while underscoring the importance of having such a body in order to constantly and firmly keep the affiliate bodies on the same page with the supreme –governing body for the game in the country.

                                                           

Akinwunmi also disclosed that the membership is composed of the current zonal coordinators, with himself as chairman, while Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, Emmanuel Ibah and Babagana Kalli are members.

                             

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, will serve as secretary of the committee.

                                             

All the Football Associations in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory are members/affiliates of the Nigeria Football Association, alongside the Nigeria Referees Association, Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Players’ Union (National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers) and the Leagues (Nigeria Professional Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nigeria Nationwide League One).

 

…announces composition of NFF Foundation

 

The Nigeria Football Federation also on Wednesday set up the NFF Foundation, which would be saddled with the responsibility of targeting and raising funds for noble programs and legacy projects.

 

The Foundation is headed by Mr. Mohammed Edewor, with Mallam Danladi Bako, the Kogunan Sakkwato and former Director General of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, as the vice chairman.

 

There are also His Excellency Silas Agara, the immediate past deputy governor of Nasarawa State who had earlier served as Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the same State, as well as Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan, Chairman of the House of Rep’ Committee on Youth and Sports Development in the eighth session of the National Assembly; football –passionate businessman Yemi Idowu; former Nigeria international player and President of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers, Tijani Babangida and; foremost sports journalist and editor of Saturday Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Onochie Anibeze.

 

The committee will appoint its secretary.

 

Essentially, the Foundation will raise funds for empowerment initiatives for ex-international players by way of training and skill development; football community and social change programs; grassroots development programs and; football-for-the-girl-child and women football empowerment programs.

 

Acting President of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will serve as Adviser/NFF Liaison to the Foundation, which will adopt and adapt the governance structure of the (English) FA Foundation, with appropriate modifications to comply with the laws of Nigeria and take care of the local situation and environment.

Rangers Hires 'Surugede' as Caretaker Coach

 

Management of Coal city ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C ably led by Prince Davidson Owumi, has engaged the services of former senior international and club’ defense Trojan, Benedict Ugwu as care-taker head coach pending when a substantive technical adviser is hired.

In an exclusive chat, Prince Owumi said that Ugwu has been saddled with the task of taking care of the technical department of the team especially as the players retained return to begin pre-season activities following the expiration of the contract of former gaffer, Olugbenga Ogunbote.

“There is no room for any vacuum and Ugwu has shown through his actions and technical contributions that he has what it takes to lead our team on a care-taker basis. As a senior national team player, Benedict distinguished himself. As a player of Rangers, he was full of the ‘Never Say Die’ spirit. Even when he took his game oversea, he was a great ambassador of club and country. When he came back, he showed some great stuff with the feeder team. Naturally, it is the belief of management that he has what it takes to guide us before a substantive technical adviser come around,” said the G.M of Rangers.

Benedict Ugwu came to the lime light with the famous Benue Cement Company F.C of Gboko where he shorn like a million star to help the Gboko side to a national challenge cup and CAF cup winners cup in 1990 the same year he won the best player award in the country and third best play on the continent.

Ugwu, who spent a dedicated ten years service to the ‘Flying Antelopes’ in his playing days, was a strong member of the team that won the national challenge cup for the Enugu side in 1983 and 1984 before taking his skills to such clubs as El-Kanemi Warriors and 3SC where he also excelled before venturing overseas.

‘Surugede’, as Coach Benedict Ugwu is fondly called is a N.I.S, Lagos and CAF coaching license holder.

Goals Galore as the HIFL returns to the Pitch with Week 4 games

Action resumes at the on going 2019 HiFL ,Higher Institution Football League after last week break. 

The break was necessary to pave way for the 'Coaching the coach ' program where the coaches of the participating teams were taught on new tactical and technical aspects of the game .

Andy Smith, the technical director Man city football school led the team of experts in the two day event which was held I  lagos last week.

 The coaches no doubt were eager to apply what they learn and the week 4 matches live up to Expectations as FUTMINNA transformers put five goals past Nile Rovers of Abuja.

The new entrant from Abuja can only reply with one  goal. The match took place at the Nile Phoenix stadium Abuja.

 DVC Administration, Prof. Kayode Adebowale presenting the Man of the Match award to UI Pioneers Defender, Oyesina Emmanuel after the Higher Institutions Football league match between UI Pioneers and ABUAD Stars in Ibadan….

At the Ibadan  centre,LASU Blazers blew off resistance from the Lead City Gladiators as the lagos University team came from a goal deficit to beat their opponent by two goals to one.

In the Opening match at the Ibadan centre, the UI Pioneers failed to take maximum points at stake despite playing in front of their crowd at the University of Ibadan sports company,Afe Babalola University ABUAD stars share the spoils with the boys from UI.

Action continues in both centres tommorrow ,

The league is organised by Pace Sports and Entertainment Marketing in partnership with the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA). The top 32 Universities from NUGA-member institutions will play over a period of 21 weeks, with the final four billed for the Agege Stadium, Lagos. 

The league is proudly sponsored by Stanbic IBTC, Premier cool

AFCON 2019: Nigeria edge Cameroon 3-2 to reach quarter finals . Eagles versus Bafana Bafana on Wednesday

                                                                                          

Nigeria ejected Cup holders Cameroon out of the 32^nd Africa Cup of Nations after a brace by Odion Ighalo spearheaded a spirited fightback at the Alexandria Stadium on Saturday.

 

The Round of 16 clash was not given much of a rating after Nigeria suffered a nightmarish 2-0 defeat by lowly Madagascar in their final group match on Saturday and Cameroon failed to defeat Benin Republic and ended up in second place in their pool.

 

Yet, the rivalry between both neighbouring countries made for a cagey start, with the Super Eagles, who sliced the Indomitable Lions to tiny bits in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying race, showing more urgency and purpose at the fore.

 

Moses Simon had dithered unexpectedly as Cameroon slipped in defence before Odion Ighalo, top scorer in the qualifying race with seven goals, put Nigeria ahead after connecting from a pass by Kenneth Omeruo in a melee that ensued following Oghenekaro Etebo’s free kick from the left. This was in the 19^th minute. The ball deflected off a Cameroonian defender past goalkeeper Andre Onana.

 

Three minutes later, Simon fired a shot that was held by Onana, and at the other end, Stephane Bahoken, Clinton Njie and Choupo-Moting harassed the Nigeria defence as Kenneth Omeruo, William Ekong and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi showed frail nerves.

 

The Cup holders equalized in the 41^st minute when Bahoken lashed home from a pull out as the Nigeria defence ball –watched, and then shot into the lead three minutes later when Njie shook off the feeble challenge of Ola Aina and shot past Akpeyi.

 

Six minutes after the restart, Nigeria nearly conceded an own goal as Omeruo and Ekong faltered at the rear. On the hour, Nigeria introduced former junior international Samuel Chukwueze, and this brought some verve, zeal and energy into the Super Eagles’ attack.

 

Three minutes later, Chukwueze’s brilliant run ended with defender Chidozie Awaziem’s cross, which Ahmed Musa cleverly chested for the better –placed Ighalo to fire home his and Nigeria’s second of the evening.

 

With AFCON legends Nwankwo Kanu and Samuel Eto’o (who played against each other in the 2000 and 2004 finals, with honours even) seated in the VIP box, both teams chased a tie-breaker but it was Nigeria that got it in the 66^th minute. They profited from their ascendancy with a clinical strike by Alex Iwobi from a smart pass by Ighalo.

 

AIthough they were hardly spectacular on the night, with most moves rather lumberous and ponderous, Ighalo’s man-of-the-match performance egged on the Super Eagles and eventually landed them in the quarter finals, in which they confront South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday.

 

1996 champions South Africa shocked host nation Egypt 1-0 at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday evening, setting up another clash with familiar foes Nigeria, whom they defeated 2-0 in Uyo but had to force to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg in the qualifying series for this championship.

 

Saturday’s feat was the sixth time that Nigeria would eliminate a defending champion from the Africa Cup of Nations. In 1976, a young squad captained by Christian Chukwu mauled then Cup holders Zaire (now DR Congo) 4-2 in Ethiopia, and in 1984, Nigeria edged Cup holders Ghana 2-1 in Cote d’Ivoire.

 

In 1994, on the way to winning a second title, the Super Eagles sent packing Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire after penalties in the semi final, and in 2004, bundled out Cameroon (winners in Mali in 2002) 2-1 in a quarter final match in Monastir, Tunisia.

 

Two years later, incidentally in Egypt, the Super Eagles ejected Cup holders Tunisia after penalties in an interesting quarter final match in Port Said.

 

NFF partners AITEO, Nigeria’s leading energy solution company, will reward the team with the sum of $75,000, after promising the sum of $25,000 for one goal before the match against Cameroon.