Sports
Dolphins FC Beats Rangers 1-0 In PH
Defending Champions, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, yesterday scraped past Rangers International at the Liberation Stadium, courtesy of a lone goal scored at eth death by Olewezi Johnson.
The victory increased Dolphins points haul to six from four matches.
The match was one of the rescheduled Week Two fixtures, which was suspended due to the recent nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.
Substituet Olwezi Johnson saved Dolphins’ day as he headed past keeper Godwin Ayalogu fo Rangers off a well taken corner kick, in the 93rd minute.
The game was dominated by the visitors who played a more technical game than their hosts.
However, several scoring chances were frittered away by both teams, but the visitors had more clear opportunities.
Speaking with sports journalists shortly after the game, the technical adviser of Dolphins FC, Stanley Eguma commended his players over the victory.
He said that the most important thing in a match was victory, which would secure the three points at stake.
Eguma noted that the match was very tough and Rangers, a good team.
“The game was not an easy one. I know Rangers is a good side, but I thanked Gdo we won the match to get the points at stake,” Eguma said.
Also speaking the Chief Coach of Rangers FC, Okay Emordi, attributed their loss to poor officiating.
According to him, the goal scored by Dolphins was a clear off-side which the officials ignored.
“The game would have gone either way. My players impressed me. To me that goal is off-side,” Emordi said.
Meanwhile, a day earlier, Dolphins’ sister club, played-out a 1-1 draw with Warri Wolves of Delta State, at the Sharks Football Stadium.
The match was also one of the rescheduled Week Two fixtures.
Tonye Orabere
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”