Sports
2023 AFCON: Nigeria, Sierra Leone Clash In Abuja
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will tomorrow at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja open their bid to qualify for the 2023 African Cup of Nations billed for Ivory Coast with their first Group A fixture against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone. The Eagles under the tutelage of nascent Nigeria’s new coach, Jose Peseiro, would be aiming to return to the African championships with a bang, especially, after flattering to deceive in their last outing, where they were stopped by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the second round in Cameroon.
However, they must first of all, negotiate their way past the Leone Stars, who only few months ago stared them in the eyes without blinking, home and away. On paper, the Super Eagles may appear as the favourites to open this Group A account with victory, but nothing is guaranteed. This is because, in the last two meetings between the two, the Eagles were in the ascendancy at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, racing to a 4-0 lead before contriving to concede the lead and played out an unbelievable 4-4 draw. The return leg offered no better tale for Nigeria as it ended scoreless.
It is on this background that tomorrow’s clash would certainly be set. While the Super Eagles should be motivated to prove a point and show that they are a class above the opponents, the visitors would be buoyed by their last experience in standing up to the Nigerian team. The Leone Stars arrived Nigeria early and have been perfecting their strategy to take a major scalp in the group.
The Super Eagles on their part are just coming from a tour of the United States, where they took on Mexico and Ecuador in friendlies. Though the two games ended in defeat for coach Peseiro and his wards, they must have afforded the coach ample opportunity to see his team in competitive action from close quarters. It is expected that he should work to fix the lapses noticed in the games as they go for the real thing, beginning with Sierra Leone tomorrow before other dates with Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea Bissau for the tickets available from the group.
The facts are ominous for the Super Eagles though. They are winless in five games on the trot and the fact they conceded the first goal in four of those four encounters is telling. Coach Peseiro must, therefore, ensure that he gets his personnel and tactics spot on in order to begin the race on the front foot. After experimenting with Cyriel Dessers and Terem Moffi against Mexico and Ecuador, the return of Victor Osimhen is expected to add more verve to the attack, while Leon Balogun in defence and a tweak of the midfield should give the Eagles more balance and teeth to attack tomorrow’s opponents.
The plucky Leone Stars will certainly be aiming for an upset as coach John Keister would want see early advantage in the race go to his side. They may not possess as much individual quality as may be ascribed to the Super Eagles, but they have proven to be a stubborn and resilient unit. It this notion, that is expected to guide Coach Peseiro and his team as they file out tomorrow to battle the visitors.
Unfortunately, home comfort will count for little as the game billed for 5pm will be without fans, Nigeria, serving the sanction for fans’ misdemeanor last time out versus Black Stars of Ghana at same venue.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.
-
Business3 days ago
Expert Seeks Cooperative-Driven Investments In Agriculture
-
Politics3 days agoGov Alia Appoints TuFace As Adviser
-
Rivers3 days ago
Man Hacks Reverend Sister To Death In Rivers
-
Editorial3 days ago
Reforming Nigeria’s Prison Crises
-
Politics3 days ago
Leave PDP, Bode George Tells Atiku, Wike
-
News3 days ago
Nigeria Safe For Investment, Edun Assures Investors
-
Featured3 days agoFG Begins Induction For New Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General
-
Rivers3 days ago
Rivers Judiciary Denies Reports On SOLAD’s Sack