NWFL: Lucky seeks Bayelsa Queens' scalp as Heartland Queens go after first win of the season

Heartland Queens won’t lose to Bayelsa, says Lucky

Heartland Queens’ all-time top scorer, Lucky Mary has voiced her conviction and preparedness to change her side’s fortune at the ongoing 2022/2023 NWFL Premiership.

The Owerri side will be on the road at the reigning champions and Africa’s third best team, Bayelsa Queens on Wednesday at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa for matchday 3 action.

The two sides who will be meeting each other for the first time in a competitive match had mixed experiences in matchday 2 while the Prosperity Girls enjoyed a well-deserved rest the Owerri landladies were stretched to the limit and benched by perennial rivals and visitors, Delta Queens right there at their hallowed ground, Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

The Owerri torchbearers are still without a point in the two-week old topflight after going down 1-3 in Abuja to Naija Ratels in the season’s opening matchday 1 clash.

Lucky whose match winner secured the gold for Team Imo in the women football event at the just concluded 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) in Asaba, Delta state assured that her side will harvest fruitfully at the backyard of the opponents, Bayelsa Queens.

“We are going into the match as underdogs and I’m comfortable with that tag as it’s capable of removing pressure from us.

“We will play our normal game, we will be natural and take our chances when it comes.

“Yeah, two matches without a win is not really good going into this crucial league match but we are going to change all that with the clash at Yenagoa.

“We are aware this match will be our last for the year and we will not want to go into the New Year without a point.

“And where do we hope for the point(s) if not in Yenagoa so we are not going to lose to Bayelsa Queens.

“The game will be tough given the pedigree of the home side, we have told ourselves not to go back to Owerri empty-handed.

“I missed action against Delta Queens, I want to make up for the sore miss in Yenagoa, I give you my word - we will not lose in Yenagoa,” said the potent goal poacher.

Heartland Queens will be on bye on matchday 4 and will be resuming league action in the New Year against multiple champions, Rivers Angels.

U20 AFCON: 6 foreign-based players that could help Flying Eagles pick World Cup ticket in Egypt

So far, only home-based players have been training under the watchful eyes of coach Ladan Bosso but the team can be better with the addition of good legs plying their trade outside the shores of the country. 

The U20 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from 18th February to 12th March 2023 in Egypt.

The top four teams will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup scheduled to place in Indonesia from 20th May to 11th June next year.  

In the last 16 days, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been sweating it out at the FIFA Goal Project Pitch in Abuja.

So far, only home-based players have been training under the watchful eyes of coach Ladan Bosso. 

Below are six foreign-based players who could help the team in Egypt. 

6. Abel Ogwuche [Trelleborg]

Ogwuche is a symbol of the new direction Trelleborg has taken in Sweden. Developed by Tripple 44, Trelleborg invested heavily to make his move permanent this summer after the successful loan spell of the central defender.

His games are a lovely blend of calmness and aggression. He reads the game well and seems to have a good grasp of when to push wide or press up to extinguish dangerous attacks. The lad has good height at 

5. Ahmed Abdullahi [Jong KAA Gent] 

Playing for Jong KAA Gent has done wonders for HB Academy product Ahmed Abdullahi, who has played four games this season.

The 19-year-old is looking like a machine in Belgium and undeniably earning himself some Jong minutes so far. Fast and energetic. Bosso doesn't dull.

4. Lekan Oyedele [Feirense U19]

Oyedele is a very promising athlete - he moves around the pitch comfortably and has room to fill out, possessing dynamic changes of pace with a good burst off his back foot. He has good body control in general, is agile, and is well-balanced in most situations, while he is fairly robust in contact and able to withstand challenges. The Remo Stars product is a left-back.

3. Ereku Temitayo [Brooke House FA]

Hopes have been high for Ereku for a while now. The central defender plays for Brooke House FA in the United Kingdom.

The 19-year-old has been sensational and shouldn't have any issue getting a shirt in the Flying Eagles squad.

2. Innocent Christian [Ankara Keçiörengücü U19]

If there is an in-form player capable of creating and scoring goals for the Flying Eagles at the AFCON, then that person is Innocent Christian.

The 18-year-old has been an absolute hit since joining Ankara Keçiörengücü U19 in the summer. The attacking midfielder has scored four goals and provided three assists in eight appearances, quickly proving himself as one of the country's most promising prospects in the midfield. He can play left back too.

1. Olubi Adams [FK Zalgiris Vilnius]

Of all the names on this list, Adams's involvement in the 2023 U20 AFCON seems the most certain. He's already a regular for Flying Eagles and is still going from strength to strength.

The attack is perhaps the strongest area in Bosso's squad and the FK Zalgiris Vilnius youngster is one of the stand-out names.

Adam is a strong dribbler under pressure with impressive coordination between technical skill and athleticism. He has a good sense of his surroundings and is adept at freezing opponents with intelligent body movements to create time and space.

CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United gets tough opponents as CAF unveils group stage draws

Rivers United, Nigeria's representative in the Confederation of African Football ( CAF) Confederation Cup has been drawn into a tough group as the draws were held in Cairo on Monday.

The ceremony was attended by a host of guests including Angolan legend Flavio Amado, Tunisians Aymen Mathlouthi and Mejdi Traoui, and Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak. 

Former Zambian international Christopher Katongo who played in the tournament during his active years conducted the draw under the guidance of CAF Competitions Director Samson Adamu.

Rivers United was drawn in group B alongside African club football powerhouses, DC Motema Pembe, Asec Mimosa of Cote d'Ivoire, and Diable Noirs of Congo. 

The Nigerian side will be attempting to become the first Nigerian side to win the competition since it was rebranded into the new format 25 years ago.  

The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup draws have the following  groups

 

Group A: USMA (Algeria), Marumo Gallants (South Africa), Al Akhder (Libya), St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) 

Group B: ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire), Diables Noirs (Congo), Rivers United (Nigeria), DC* Motema Pembe (DR Congo) 

Group C: Pyramids FC (Egypt), ASKO de kara (Togo), Future FC (Egypt), ASFAR (Morocco) 

Group D: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), US Monastir (Tunisia), Young Africans (Tanzania), AS Real Bamako (Mali)

 

The matches will be played in a round format among the teams in each group on a home and away basis according to the following schedule:

Matchday 1: 12 February 2023

Matchday 2: 19 February 2023

Matchday 3: 26 February 2023

Matchday 4: 8 March 2023

Matchday 5: 19 March 2023

Matchday 6: 2 April 2023 

The first two teams in each group will proceed to the quarter-finals.

36 Lion Football Club chief, Liameed Gafar receives Ladi Kwali Leadership award

The President of 36 Lion Football Club, Hajj Olawale Liameed Gafar, Monday, received the Ladi Kwali Platinum Leadership Award of Excellence as "Icon of Women Development." 

According to the organizers, the nomination came as a result of the 36 Lion Chief's philanthropic gestures and ability to work with different people irrespective of their tribe and religious inclination.

"Hajj Gafar's empowerment of youths and women in the area of skills acquisition and mentorship impressed the panelists to deem him worthy of the award," National Coordinator of National Youth for Women Empowerment and Education Development in Nigeria Ambassador Ibrahim Ibrahim added.

The talent developer is one of the most successful grassroots administrators in Nigeria with a series of successful international transfer deals by 36 Lion.

He was the brain behind the recently concluded 2022 Jagaban Cup which was a success.

The Award was presented to Hajj Olawale Liameed Gafar by Ambassador Ibrahim Ibrahim at the office of 36 Lion Football Club in the National Stadium on Monday.

Governor Dapo Abiodun calls for grassroots sports development

Abiodun calls for grassroots sports development 

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has called for the development of sports at the grassroots level in the country.

 The governor said that the current challenges the country is facing sustaining its competitive sports reputation as a regional, continental, and global champion can only be addressed in the long term when the country returns to grassroots sports.

Abiodun made this call during the 3rd Edition of the Ogun State Public Primary Schools Governor's Cup Competition held at the M.K.O International Stadium, Abeokuta.

He opined that sports provide a veritable platform for the development of everyone and a wholesome education plan.

"Sports provide a veritable platform for the development of all of us and a wholesome education plan, the hosting of this Governor's Cup has allowed all participants to widen the horizon for knowledge and Sports activities.

"Apart from the development of skills in our youths, grassroots sports are essential to provide an array of sports men and women for competitive events at all levels.

"The current challenge we have in sustaining our national competitive sports reputation at regional, continental and global levels will be addressed in the long term when we return to grassroots sports.

"It is instructive to note that most of the former and current thriving sportsmen and women such as Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, Akeem 'The Dream' Olajuwon, Falilat Ogunkoya and so many others, were those that were made at this level, including our latest current world record holder, Tobi Amusan, they were all discovered through local competitive sporting events such as this," he said.

Abiodun while calling on well-meaning investors and individuals to come and partner with the state government in the development of sports, said that it is important for the country to begin to nurture the younger and agile generation to be able to compete internationally.

"I, therefore, call on well-meaning investors and individuals to come and partner with us, you will find us willing and ready partners, 

"We cannot afford to continue to rely on aging sportsmen and women, we must begin to nurture our young agile ones to compete internationally.

"Let me assure our stakeholders in the sporting industry that our administration will continue to support sports, not just football as an avenue to harness the raw energy of our youths," he stated.

Governor Dapo Abiodun while acknowledging the efforts of Team Ogun who recently won 70 medals comprising 15 gold, 18 silver, and 37 Bronze medals at the just concluded National Sports Festival held in Delta State, promised that the state apart from aiming to host the best sports festival ever would also ensure that it comes first.

The governor also urged the pupils to eschew all forms of violence during and after competitions.

In his address, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education, Chief Femi Majekodunmi, while appreciating the governor for his support which ensured the success of the competition, said that the board would continue to play its role of nurturing talents from the primary school level.

Majekodunmi who also noted that the competition was introduced by the Board to build the pupils, said that the conception and implementation of school sports help to instill patience, and teamwork into the lives of future leaders.

The state chairman of the National Association of Primary Schools Games and Sports Teachers (NAPSGAST), Opedimeji Ola, while noting that sports in general and football in particular a unifying factor and the panacea to the socio-security challenges that have bedeviled the country in recent times, said that the just concluded Ogun State Sports Festival for all public primary schools and the 3rd Edition of the Ogun State Governor's Cup for primary schools have shown that talents abound in the country.

Opedimeji expressed his happiness at the display of quality football by the pupils on the field of play and appealed to corporate bodies and wealthy individuals to see sport as a golden investment and service to humanity.

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde, while noting that the technical team of the ministry was on the ground to pick as well as nurture talents discovered at the competition, commended Governor Abiodun for his support to the ministry at the just concluded National Sports Festival just concluded in Delta State.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who was represented by the Director of School Sports, Olarotimi Okeleye commended the governor for supporting the hosting of the competition. 

Nigeria's Skating super talent wins big at Africa Skate Games in Cairo

Omotosho wins big for Nigeria as curtain drops on Africa Skate Games 

 

Omotosho Samson representing Nigeria in Inline Freestyle Skating, on Friday, won a silver medal, in the ongoing 2nd Africa Skate Games in Cairo, Egypt.  

The skater who was featured on BBC World special talents is the sole representative of the country at the championship which comes to an end on Sunday.  

Skaters participated in Skateboarding Championship, African Inline Speed ​​Championships, African Inline Freestyle Championships, African Rink Hockey Championship, African Inline Downhill Championships, and African Freestyle Roller Championship.

The event which started on Wednesday saw Samson in the senior category of the Inline Freestyle Championship, alongside 15 other competitors.

This is his first outing at the multi-level competition and he ended with a podium finish at the games.

The Athlete will be back in Lagos Nigeria on Sunday, December 11, 2022.

2024 Winter Olympics Qualifiers: Nigeria’s Junior curlers get accolades despite a tough run in Finland

The young set of curlers representing Nigeria at the ongoing World Junior-B Curling Championships in Lohja, Finland have what it takes to become world beaters in a few years. 

This was the assertion made by Daniel Damola, President of the Nigeria Curling Federation, NCF as he reviewed the country’s performance so far in Finland.

According to the NCF President, the outing in Finland is more of an eye-opener for the Nigeria contingent, who are only being exposed to competing on ice for the very first time.

Even with the losses recorded in the games against Latvia, Austria, Spain, and then Italy, Mr. Damola noted that the players have shown the great potential that can be developed with the right resources and support system,

“When the team played against Latvia, they lost,0-24, being their first experience because they only had two days to train.  

“You can imagine kids that are coming from sub-Saharan Africa that have not been on the ice before getting on the ice, having less than 48 hours of training on how to slide, how to move from the arc, how to deliver a stone, how to play stones and then how to sweep at the same time within the 24-48 hours window to train.

“I think it speaks volumes that these kids have something in them.”

Having shown great improvement as they progressed in their group games; especially in Friday’s tie against Italy, the NCF President is confident that the lads are on the right path to stardom.

“They are the future of curling, watch out for them. You will see that these kids will be world-beaters because I think they played so well. The only thing that worked against them is the placement of stone because of their lack of experience and this is their first time stepping on the ice.  

“I think we can do better in our subsequent games. I believe we will do better because the first time they played, they won five against us in the first innings and second innings. It was six and then they now dropped to 3,4,2 and so on. 

“They are picking up and we believe they will do better because they were lacking some technicalities being their first time on ice. And then to play an international championship of that magnitude, they also played against older kids that have gotten the experience of maybe 5,6,10 years ahead of them. They did well.” the excited NCF President added.

Kamsiyochukwu Emmanuel Dike (Skip), Ebube Daniel Chukwuemeka (Vice-Skip), Fatiu Adedamola Danmola, Goodnews Idongesit Charles, and Great Aniedi Umoren are the history-making curlers for Nigeria in the male category.

The ongoing World Junior-B Curling Championships is open to junior teams from all World Curling Federation Member Associations that have not already qualified for the World Junior Curling Championships. 

The top three women’s and men’s teams will qualify for this event for the World Junior Curling Championships.