Ezeonu leads other Nollywood actors to get maiden Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup underway

Screen goddess, Ngozi Ezeonu led a band of Actors to the mainbowl of the Stephen Keshi Stadium as the maiden edition of Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup got underway. 

Ifeanyi Chiejine an important member of Super Falcons gave up the ghost on 21st August  2019 following a brief illness.

Respected veteran Nollywood diva Ngozi Ezeonu, a lover of the Girl-child and fan of Ifeanyi Chiejine graced the opening match  between Anambra Angels and Delta Babes on Thursday 15th December. Delta Babes won 2-0.

Ngozi noted for her excellent interpretation of roles in series of movies like Glamour Girls, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Forbidden, Co-Wives and Three Wives remarked that she came to identify with the memorial project with the aim  of further supporting the Girl-Child and encouraging budding talents.

She praised former Super Falcons goalkeeper Judith Chime (Kamala), teammate of late Ifeanyi Chiejine for championing the idea to remember the fallen shero.

"This is an idea worth praising and emulation, that concerned players led by Kamala and Vera Okolo. Their efforts should not be forgotten. I hope the authorities should always see the need to do this."

Citing an example with herself, Ngozi went on to admonish the girl-child to never give up in life.

"I struggled and never gave up in life, I come from a family in the South East where the boy child seemed more appreciated than the girl. I fought to be where I am today.

"So I say to the girls, your dreams will be realized if you keep fighting no matter the circumstances, chase your dreams always," she enthused.

Ngozi Ezeonu was in the company of other actors like Phil Daniels, Amar Ignis and Ken Odurukwe .

Meanwhile, action will continue Friday 16th December at the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup with three games on the cards.

Delta Babes will try Moje Queens for size in the first game.

Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens will clash with Imo Strikers in the second match of the day.

The last encounter will see Castmog Academy and Fortress Ladies battle.

Day 2 Fixtures:

Delta Babes vs Moje Queens

Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens vs Imo Strikers

Castmog vs Fortress

Anambra Angels (Bye)

Morocco coach, Regragui reveals one mistake his players must avoid against France

Coach Regragui: “If we just focus on Mbappe that will be a mistake" 

Morocco coach, Hoalid Regragui was the cynosure of all eyes at the press conference preceding the all-important Semi-final clash between Morrocco and France billed for Wednesday evening at the Virtual Stadium Doha. 

Coach Regragui was answering questions on his team's wonderful run at the World Cup has gone undone unbeaten so far at the World Cup. 

The Morrocan are faced with the history of becoming the first African team to qualify for the finals of the World Cup but are faced with the challenge of crossing the French hurdle.

France has been scoring for fun with Kyllian Mbappe scoring fine times as well as Olivier Giroud scoring four times and the combination of the two attackers posed a great threat to the Arabian African team's ambition of winning the trophy. 

This, coach Regragui acknowledged at the press conference, " that the French team poses too many individual threats" 

This mistake of concentrating on a particular player ( Kyllin Mbappe) will be avoided as he said " any reasonable opposing coach to concentrate on just one". 

Regragui said:  “I am not going to try and set up any particular tactical plan to counter Kylian,” 

“France also has other good players. (Antoine) Griezmann is on top of his game and playing well between the lines and Ousmane Dembele is also a perfect complement to Mbappe on the other wing.

“If we just focus on Mbappe that will be a mistake. They are world champions, with world-class players and they will be going for it with all they got. We need to focus on what we can do to cause problems for France.”

Mbappe vs Achraf battle  

The coach also spoke on Mbappe facing his PSG teammate and blossom friend Acraf Hakimi on the left of the attack. 

 

“Achraf knows Mbappe better than me and trains with him daily, so he’s better placed than I am to know how to deal with Kylian. Hakimi is one of the best players in the world, so it’s going to be a great duel between the two,” Regragui said. 

Morocco will aim to upset the books once more to continue their furious run at the world with their compact style of play which has seen them defeat the top three European top sides, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal from the competition conceding only once and scoring five times.

Morocco Football: Inside the $70 million Mohammed VI Football Complex

$70 million Mohammed VI Football Complex 

Morocco football is on the lips of many football lovers across the world, after their heroics at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

The team defeated Portugal by 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup to become the first African team to qualify for the semi-finals in the history of the World Cup. 

The jinx is still being celebrated all over the continent of Africa with commentators and analysts waxing lyrical about their success and explaining how Morocco got to the enviable position of playing in the semi-final of the world cup.

One of the reasons alluded to this great feat is the whopping 70 million US dollars in the construction of the Mohammed VI football complex which was commissioned in 2019.

 

Three years after the completion of the massive edifice, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has started reaping its humongous investments in infrastructure and talent development. 

 

Apart from being part of the remaining four teams left in Qatar, to jostle for the ultimate prize, the 2022 men’s and women’s African Champions League titles are currently held by Moroccan clubs -  Wydad Athletics Casablanca and ASFAR respectively.

RS Berkane, another Morrocan club is the holder of the CAF Confederations Cup. 

The home-based Atlas Lions is also the winner of the CHAH Championship and are also poised to defend the 2023 edition in Algeria.

The women's national team qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time and came second in this year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the highest position the country ever attained in the competition.

The Mohammed VI Football Complex is a constant mention anytime the topic of discussion is the successes of Morrocco at both continental and intercontinental competitions. 

 

The football complex is situated on 30 hectares of land, near Rabat. 

It has house pitches, hotels and accommodations, and a world-class medical center. 

The complex four natural grass football fields are a sight to behold. 

The complex also has three artificial football fields, a covered football pitch, a hybrid football field, and a re-training room that can host futsal matches.

It also has an outdoor Olympic-sized pool, two tennis courts, and a Beach Soccer field. 

The accommodation facilities have a five-star hotel, two three-star hotels, and dormitories.

The accommodation can accommodate has 66 rooms and 4 suites. It also has a 150-bed capacity and an 80 bed-capacity, with 54 rooms with dormitories respectively. 

The complex also has a 221-seater auditorium to host various events (conferences, film screenings), and administrative buildings.

This can serve as a camp for all the teams as well as a campsite for local football teams while preparing for major championships. 

The state-of-the-art Mohammed VI complex has an ultra-modern sports and performance medical center 

The medical center has physiotherapy, stress testing, dentistry, ophthalmology, trauma, psychology, podiatry, nutritional medicine, radiology, ultrasound, electrotherapy, bone densitometry, cryotherapy, and an emergency mobile medical unit. 

 

Africa and the World should prepare for more success from Morrocco on the field of play as this edifice guarantees that Moroccan football has finally joined the elite league, and winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup can just be a starting point for more to come.

NPFL Super 4 Prize Money: How 3SC shared the 100 million prize among participating teams

Shooting Stars Clear Air on 100,000,000 Naira Prize Money

The management of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, wishes to clear the air on the prize money of the just concluded NPFL/Doxy Mmobuosi Super Cup Football Tournament. 

Contrary to the belief that 3SC got the whole 100,000,000 nairas, being the winner of the 4-team tourney, we wish to state that the club only got 50,000,000 nairas as the champions.

We will like to inform all that the organizers doled out 100,000,000 nairas to the club, as seen in the cheque presented to the Oluyole Warriors.

However, there was a mutual agreement between the four participating clubs, before the commencement of the tourney, that whoever emerges as the winner, will part with fifty percent of the money, to be shared by the other three teams.

This was done in the spirit of sportsmanship and also to douse the tension which could attend the tourney if it were to be a winner takes all situation and to ensure that all the participating teams have something to take home, no matter how small.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by the four clubs to back up the agreement.

Based on this, Shooting Stars, who won the tourney got 50,000,000 nairas, the first runner-up, Enyimba FC got 25,000,000 nairas,  while third-placed Bendel Insurance and fourth-placed Rangers International got 15,000,000 nairas and 10,000,000 nairas respectively.

This was purely an arrangement between the four clubs, outside that of the organizers, hence the presence of a 100,000,000 naira check to Shooting Stars after the final match.

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.