Namibia takes Cameroon’s scalp in Soweto

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March 28, 2023

Namibia takes Cameroon’s scalp in Soweto

Minnows stand their ground against giants in Africa nations cup qualifier

https://youtu.be/537uzj-v4UM

By Ed Emeanua

African football continues its intriguing run of minnows recording shocking wins over giants as “little” Namibia molested, harangued, and ultimately disgraced visiting giants of African football, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon with a famous 2-1 win at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto area of Johannesburg, South Africa.

The scoreline was not in anyway a reflection of the game which saw a complete Brave Warriors domination of the Lions from start to finish.

Despite their complete control, Namibia drew blanks in the first stanza of the game but soon after turned up the heat on the more illustrious opponent in the second half.

Finally, the enterprising Peter Shalulile broke the duck for Namibia by scoring in the 55th minute of the encounter. The scoreline could have been more embarrassing for the visitors had the Namibian attacking front been more prolific instead of showing off their abundant profligacy, spurning chance after chance to increase the scoreline.

However, when the second goal for the Brave Warriors finally arrived, everyone agreed that it was a textbook notion of a collector’s item. Absalom Nanjana Kumutyasa Limbondi lined his freekick shot through the crack provided by turned back of Vincent Abubakar in the defensive wall of the Cameroonians, shooting up the scoreline to 2-0 in the 79th minute of play.

Then, in the 1st minute of injury time, Cameroonian old fox and striker, Abubakar, against the run of play, reduced the tally for the Lions by redirecting a teammate’s scuffled shot that was going astray into the Namibian goalposts.

The victory saw Namibia jump into the lead in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying play with two games remaining to play for in the finger biting series.

‘New NPFL champion is ₦100m richer’

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March 28, 2023

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IMC chairman reveals his group’s plan to go big on Nigeria professional football league

Nigeria Professional Football League: Becoming growing into a System of football?

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) winner for the 2022/2023 season will go home happy with a whopping hundred million naira booty.

The Interim League Committee( IMC) Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who made this known at a press conference held on the Zoom app on Tuesday, revealed that plans are already being finalized to expand the amount of matches shown on TV and to sign new contracts with more Television stations to allow more Nigerians to watch the league.

“Part of our plan is to make sure that the least paid Nigerian player take home is one million naira monthly in the nearest future, ” Elegbeleye said.

Davidson Owumi, head of operations of the Committee clarified that the present NPFL structure is not self-driven but is an organization.

On the venue of the Super six, Owumi said “No location has been chosen for the competition. However, we would like to see how the season progresses and the commercial viability of the project before choosing a venue. Abuja and Lagos are the provisional venues in our minds.”

IMC partner, GTI Executive Director Mr. Nelson Ire, said his company will not relent in its efforts in bringing order, discipline, and competitive balance amongst the football clubs, as well as an adequate publicity for the league.

Nelson highlighted what his company hopes to achieve in the future, “We project in 4, 5 years there will be a change of owners using the system of substitution and elimination. Nobody will tell the state government not to own clubs based on the template we are running. We hope to bring a downward trend to the administrative and management conflicts, poor officiating and bad security at match venues.”

The IMC replaced the League Management Committee (LMC) which was declared illegal by the Sports Minister in December 2022.

Super Eagles beat the Wild Dogs

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March 27, 2023

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AFCON 2023 Race: Nigeria is back to the top of group A

https://youtu.be/3_Id-wHlxXg

Guinea-Bissau 0 VS 1 Nigeria Super Eagles – Goals & Highlights -2023 AFCON Qualifiers

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Nigeria reversed Group A positions with Guinea Bissau today to return to the summit of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying pool as Moses Simon’s 30^th minute penalty condemned hosts, Guinea Bissau, to a one-goal defeat.

The Eagles, created several opportunities but failed to get behind the Djurtus’ goalkeeper. In the first half, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze failed to polish off clear cut goal scoring opportunities, before Simon converted his spot kick to put Nigeria ahead for the first time in the double header fixture.

The Djurtus were always dangerous as was the case in the first leg in Abuja but failed to ruffle the new Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi central defensive equation, even as Bright Osayi-Samuel continued to solidify his claim for the Super Eagles’ right back position.

Osimhen’s effort was stopped by the upright in the 59^th minute when he smashed a shot past Mendes. Four minutes on, the man from Napoli shot into the sky after Samuel Chukwueze’s through pass set him loose from his markers .

In the 69^th minute, Osimhen was again frustrated by the concentration and readiness of Mendes after Simon’s cross from the left flank had freed him from his markers. Two minutes after, substitute Joe Aribo was also cracking his knuckles after Mendes strong hand pushed over his ferocious shot from outside the box.

The victory sealed Super Eagle’s return to the zenith of their group with nine points, relegating Guinea Bissau to second on seven points and Sierra Leone, who spanked Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday, to third with five points. The next round of the qualifiers is slated for June when Nigeria will visit Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau take on bottom-placed Sao Tome and Principe.

Results

Monday 27 March 2023
FT	Central African Republic	2	v	0	Madagascar
	Match page
FT	South Sudan	0	v	1	Congo
	Match page
FT	Angola	1	v	1	Ghana
	Match page
FT	Guinea-Bissau	0	v	1	Nigeria
	Match page
FT	Niger	0	v	1	Algeria
	Match page
FT	Ethiopia	2	v	3	Guinea
	Match page
FT	Sudan	1	v	0	Gabon
	Match page

Athletes promise GAA total commitment

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March 27, 2023

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Athlete says: ‘It was a pleasure getting involved with Gombe State’

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Gombe Athletes have promised the State AthIetics Association (GAA) of their commitment to work hard for laurels for Nigeria in local and Continental competitions.

The Athletes made the promise in a statement released by GAA Media officer Inua Mohammed and made available to Journalists, adding that they are ready to do their best for the benefit of the state.

Speaking on behalf of five Athletes that entered into five years contract with Gombe State Athletics Association, Abdullahi Habib Lawal a 400m runner said “It was a pleasure getting involved with Gombe State.”

The Athletes, he noted have been training individually to keep fit for the season with hope to adequately represent Nigeria in future at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games and National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

According to him, the welfare and other incentives have been taken care of by Gombe State Athletics Association Chairmen Alhaji Ahmed Gara Gombe with an assurance to deliver laurels for the state and country.

Lawal extolled the virtue of Hon. Gara Gombe on his desire to promote, provide and discover talents locally, insisting that his effort would not be in vain.

“Honestly I have to express my gratitude to the Chairman for discovering us and doing all he could in bringing us together to compete for the state,” Lawal said.

“We assure him and GAA board of our collective best for being so supportive all these period.”

The five Athletes entered into contract with GAA include are John Benjamin 800m, 1500m, 10 000m… Ibrahim Abba Aliyu, 100/200m, Long jump, etc.

Osimhen’s scudetto title hope going, going

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March 27, 2023

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Osimhen’s scudetto title hope going, going

Investigation into likely financial impropriety in the striker’s transfer deal threatens the hopes of player and club

Winger Luigi Liguori, defender Claudio Manzi, goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, and striker Ciro Palmieri featured under the former Napoli Youth Team setup

By Rasheed Adewuyi

The hope of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to win the Italian Serie A league title this season may be dashed following the discovery of financial impropriety in the deal that brought him from Lille to Naples.

According to the UK Sun tabloid, the Italian FA has intensified its investigation of the €70.1 million (Euro) transfer deal between Napoli and Lille that brokered the transfer of the Nigerian forward from Ligue One to Serie A.

Juventus F.C. suffered a fifteen points deduction penalty for false accounting practices that misleadingly inflated players’ transfer values and impugned the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rule.

Reports from Italy suggests that the city of Naples prosecutor office has asked for a six month extension to an investigation into the transfer and will make its decision at the end of its investigation known in the summer. This portends bad news for striker and club- SSC Napoli-who currently sits atop the Serie A table with a 19 points cushion between the club and their nearest contenders.

The UK Sun tabloid also stated that, “It looks as though Napoli may have done something similar because about €17.5 million of the Osimhen transfer to Napoli was listed as valuation for four players who went the other way to Lille.”

They were right winger Luigi Liguori, defender Claudio Manzi, goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, and striker Ciro Palmieri. None of the players ever played for Lille,” The sun pointed out.

Sports Joust reliably gathered that Napoli could be automatically relegated, fined a huge sum of money or penalized with fifteen to twenty points deduction by the Italian Football Association, if found guilty at the end of the investigation.

This development could ultimately scupper Osimhen’s hopes and aspirations for the entire season, after the Napoli striker had earlier said he would love to win the Scudetto this year and the Africa cup of nations in Cote D’ Ivoire early next year before thinking of playing in the 2026 World Cup slated for the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.

Osimhen has been on fire in Napoli’s colors this season with a total of twenty-five goals turnover so far. His goals has fired up the hopes of the City of Naples faithful, the Club, and its millions of fans base into nursing the possibility of actualizing an over thirty years old dream and prayers to end their scudetto title winning drought this season.

Waldrum invites 23 Falcons for friendlies

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March 26, 2023

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Waldrum invites 23 Falcons for friendlies

FIFA Women’s World Cup: Ebi, Oshoala, Ajibade, 20 others for Haiti and New Zealand tune-up games

Asisat Oshoala Nigeria and Barcelona of Spain star forward

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Head Coach Randy Waldrum has called up team captain Onome Ebi, and forwards Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade to the camp of Super Falcons ahead of next month’s Turkey international friendly games.

The nine-time African champions have a date with World Cup-bound Haiti women’s national team at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, 7^th April, before taking on World Cup co-hosts New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex also in Antalya on Tuesday, 11^th April.

It would be recalled that last month, the Super Falcons were at the Four-Nation Revelation Cup in the city of Leon, Mexico where they played three games, two of which were against World Cup-bound Costa Rica and Colombia.

The clashes in April are to further test the strength of the African representatives against other World Cup-bound teams, with this year’s edition being the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in history. It welcomes 32 teams – same number as featured at the men’s finals in Qatar late last year.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Inyene Etim (Abia Angels).

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France).

Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (FC Levante Las Planas, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint-Etienne, France)

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenin, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, Kentucky, USA); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain)

Super Falcons I’ll be ready-Gusau

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March 26, 2023

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Nigeria gears up for a Super Falcons excellent outing at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Gusau (second left) with Her Excellency Johnston (first left), Falode (third left), Giulia (first right), Icheen (third right) and Ebi (second right)

By Rasheed Adewuyi

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has assured that nine-time African champions Nigeria will be ready to put up an excellent show when the 9^th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals commence in Australia and New Zealand on 20^th July.

“Nigeria is very excited to be amongst the 32 finalist countries for the FIFA Women’s World Cup; the first to be co-hosted and the first ever for 32 teams. It is indeed a historic moment for us at the NFF and the Super Falcons and indeed for all the other teams that qualified,” Gusau stated while receiving the original FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy currently on its tour leg to Nigeria, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Sunday morning.

“Indeed, the Government and people of Nigeria have high expectations for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup competition. Our Super Falcons have been preparing hard and are still preparing to make an excellent run in Australia and New Zealand…we want to assure you that our Super Falcons will not be coming to Australia and New Zealand just to make up the numbers,”.

The day’s programme started at the Anglican Girls Secondary School, Apo, where the school’s fascinated 115 students took turns to take photographs with the original Trophy, alongside the five-member FIFA team and a number of NFF Management officials.

The main event at the Transcorp Hilton also had the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Her Excellency Leann Johnston, as well as Madam Aisha Falode and Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen, members of the NFF Executive Committee; NFF Management officials; the five-member FIFA team of Giulia Türkyilmaz, Alexa Sunderland, Felipe Chevita, Jot Jakher and Aurelien Fougere; Super Falcons’ captain Onome Ebi and; players and officials of NWFL Premier League side Naija Ratels led by the proprietor, Barr. Paul Edeh.

Her Excellency Johnston said: “We are excited to welcome Nigeria to Australia for the tournament and we’re looking forward to the group match between them on 27 July in Brisbane. Australia is rightly proud of the achievements of our women’s national team, the Matildas, who are currently ranked 12^th in the world.

“Australians know that the Super Falcons have a long reputation and are not to be taken lightly. The Super Falcons have played in every FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament and are by far Africa’s most successful women’s football team.”

Dignitaries and guests took turns to take photos with the most coveted prize in women’s football as some players of the FIFA U17 World Cup bronze medallists Flamingos of Nigeria regaled the auditorium with their humble beginnings and challenges on the way to the top.

Nigeria is one of only seven countries to have featured in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched in 1991. The others are the USA, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Norway and Sweden. This year’s finals will be the first finals to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, the first to welcome 32 teams and the first to be played across two countries in two different confederations.

Nets win casts interesting playoff plots

Basketball

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March 26, 2023

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Heats rejoins Cavaliers, others in Play-in picture mode

Brooklyn Nets vs Miami Heat - Full Game Highlights

By Ed Emeanua

Nets victory over Miami yesterday triggered a playoff scenario with contrasting twists and turns. Right up to the toss-up for Saturday night’s Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat clash, the anticipated conservative scenarios from the result of the tussle made a lot of sense with critical analysis.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were on the sidelines to pick up their playoff tickets, only contingent upon the outcome of the event in Miami. The Cavaliers stood to profit from an anticipated Nets beatdown at Miami, and would officially pickup the fourth team slot allocated to the Eastern Conference in the playoffs, alongside the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The expectation was that the Heat (40-34), would best lower seeded Nets on Saturday night. Rather, it was Brooklyn who raked in all the spoils, but it was not even with a lot of fight from the loser. All in all, the Brooklyn mowed down almost half of their shots from the field and notched 18 of their 40 three-point tries.

The entire Nets starting five raked in dual-numbers and a tantalizing point-making display from Mikal Bridges, helping Brooklyn to brush aside Miami with a commanding 129-100 win. No-one expects that the Cavaliers would not make playoff in the end, but Brooklyn’s victory over Miami denied Cleveland from just achieving that at their expense yesterday.

The Brooklyn beatdown on the Heat means both teams must trade seedings once again. While the Nets retrogresses to sixth seed, their fortunes portends a likely first-round series against the dreaded Philadelphia 76ers. For the time being, the Heat remain in the playoff-chase mode one more time, alongside the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and the Chicago Bulls.

Gusau blows hot over Nigeria’s loss

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March 25, 2023

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Discouraged Gusau, vows to enforce visible total commitment as a pre-requisite for future appearance in Nigeria’s colors

By Rasheed Adewuyi

President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, announced on Saturday that palpable full commitment suggesting loyal ardor will now be a key factor, apart from competence and current form, for any football player who wishes to wear the nation’s green-white-green jersey at any level.

Gusau’s words, spoken to players of the Super Eagles on Saturday morning, was a direct reference to Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat to Guinea Bissau at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, which pushed the Eagles down to second place in their qualification group.

Mama Balde’s 29^th minute goal was the only strike in the encounter, condemning the Eagles to defeat in front of fervent home fans. The Eagles created a dozen chances in the second half but failed to get the ball into the Wild Dogs’ net.

“Let us be very clear about one thing: no player will ever be encouraged against his wish to wear Nigeria’s colors at any time. If an invitation is extended to you at any time but you are not physically, psychologically or mentally up to it, you are free to decline.

“Nigeria demands good performances and positive results from any of the teams going forward. I was sorely disappointed by your performance against Guinea Bissau and I know that Nigerians at home and in the diaspora are more than disappointed. Things must change starting with the return match in Guinea Bissau on Monday. Our country is too big to be getting these poor results at international level.”

Recalling that the U23 Men Team, Olympic Eagles, also failed to score against Guinea in a Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifier at the same venue on Wednesday, Gusau said the message is for all the teams, down to the U15 side known as Future Eagles.

“Total commitment that we can see in your body language and output will now be a key factor in who wears Nigeria’s jerseys. If some players are not ready to give their all at a particular time, others will be and will deliver for our country.”

Team captain Ahmed Musa apologized to the NFF and Nigerians for the defeat and assured that the players are ready to redeem themselves in the return match on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria delegation to Monday’s match in Bissau will depart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 7am on Sunday aboard a chartered flight. The match comes up at the Estadio 24 de Setembro starting from 5pm Guinea Bissau time (6pm Nigeria time) on Monday.

Women’s World Cup Trophy arrive Nigeria

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March 25, 2023

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Trophy on display at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Sunday

The original FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy, to be competed for by 32 teams from across the globe from 20^th July to 20^th August this year, arrived Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja on Saturday afternoon.

The Trophy will be on display at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from 12 noon on Sunday, with a photo session planned for a number of invited guests.

Already, the coveted prize has been taken to the three other African countries that will participate in the finals: Morocco, South Africa and Zambia.

Nigeria is the fourth leg of the 32-leg journey that the Trophy will undertake, before heading to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand – the two countries that are the joint hosts of the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup in history.

Only four countries have won the glittering trophy: USA, Germany, Norway and Japan. USA have been victorious on four occasions and Germany have lifted it twice. Japan and Norway were champions once each.

This year’s finals will be staged in 10 venues across two countries in two different confederations – the first time a FIFA World Cup championship will be staged across two confederations. There are six venues in five different cities in Australia and four venues in Aotearoa, New Zealand, with only Sydney in Australia having two venues. These are the Sydney Football Stadium and the Stadium Australia, which is the venue for the Final match.

More information regarding the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour is available at FIFA.com/TrophyTour.

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Namibia takes Cameroon’s scalp in Soweto

Minnows stand their ground against giants in Africa nations cup qualifier

‘New NPFL champion is ₦100m richer’

IMC chairman reveals his group’s plan to go big on Nigeria professional football league

Super Eagles beat the Wild Dogs

AFCON 2023 Race: Nigeria is back to the top of group A

Monday 27 March 2023

Athletes promise GAA total commitment

Athlete says: ‘It was a pleasure getting involved with Gombe State’

Osimhen’s scudetto title hope going, going

Investigation into likely financial impropriety in the striker’s transfer deal threatens the hopes of player and club

Waldrum invites 23 Falcons for friendlies

FIFA Women’s World Cup: Ebi, Oshoala, Ajibade, 20 others for Haiti and New Zealand tune-up games

Super Falcons I’ll be ready-Gusau

Nigeria gears up for a Super Falcons excellent outing at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Nets win casts interesting playoff plots

Heats rejoins Cavaliers, others in Play-in picture mode

Gusau blows hot over Nigeria’s loss

Discouraged Gusau, vows to enforce visible total commitment as a pre-requisite for future appearance in Nigeria’s colors

Women’s World Cup Trophy arrive Nigeria

Trophy on display at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Sunday

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