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Nigeria sports minister threatens to disown athletes

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Nigeria sports minister threatens to disown athletes

Sunday Dare warns athletes against tarnishing the country’s image

 

 

2022 World Cup play-off: Nigeria minister Sunday Dare says clash with Ghana avenue to strengthen bond - Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results - GHANAsoccernet

Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s sports minister

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

 

Sports Minister Sunday Dare has taken a swipe at Athletes involved in tarnishing the image of Nigeria through covert activities at home and abroad.

 

The Minister frowned at the recent damaging stories involving Athletes and warned them to desist or risk being disowned in Nigeria.

 

Dare said this when he addressed Sports Federation Secretaries on the implications of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved Sports Policy.

 

Dare expressed optimism that the Policy will open up access to grants for athletes, stressing that already, an independent athletes’ welfare fund has been set up, which will be ceded by the government to cater to athletes’ well-being.

 

While emphasizing that government will have zero tolerance for anything untoward among athletes, he assured that a disclaimer would immediately be issued on any athlete found wanting. The Minister, therefore, called on them to refrain from any practice capable of denting the nation’s image.

 

At the meeting, which was held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja, the Minister informed the Secretaries that with the recent approval of the Policy by the Federal Executive Council, the funding and control of sports development would be handled by both the private and public sectors.

 

“Henceforth, the funding and control of sports development going forward will be 50-50 between the private sector and government”, he said.

 

Dare explained that the new Policy would thrive on 3 ‘i’s, infrastructure, incentives, and investment. To this end, he added, “football, basketball, table tennis, hockey, and all other games will no longer be for recreation alone, but for business and recreation.”

 

The Minister, who noted that no Industry could thrive without investment, stated further that through this Policy, a lot of assets could be attracted into the sports sector, which will not only contribute to the socio-economic development of the country but also create an opportunity for our teeming youth to showcase their sporting talents as well as compete favorably with their counterparts globally.

 

Earlier in his welcome address, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of youth and sports development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, thanked the Federal Executive Council and President Muhammadu Buhari in particular, for approving the National Sports Industry policy, explaining that with its implementation, Nigerian sports industry will witness a boom in the shortest possible time.

 

He assured that the Ministry would create an enabling environment for the full implementation of the Policy and therefore called on the Secretaries to support the efforts of the Federal Government to give the Sports Industry a face-lift by taking the right steps to achieve full implementation of the Policy.

Gara Gombe lands Athletics Top Post

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Gara Gombe lands Athletics Top Post

Becomes chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association

 

 

An Open Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari, By Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe – Daylight Reporters

Ahmed Shuaiba Gara Gombe

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Gombe State Sports Commission has appointed Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe as chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association.

 

The letter of appointment signed by the Gombe State Sports Commission executive chairman Larry Daniel Terry said Alhaji Gara Gombe was chosen because of his commitment and passion for sports, adding that his experience in sports will fast track the development of sports in the State.

 

Gara Gombe, a former Gombe State Football Association, is a keen follower of athletics events.
He said his focus would be the grassroots development of athletes, adding that he would draw out programs that would see athletics become popular in the State.

 

 

“I’ve always made my points clear about how good it would be for sports development in the country if every State of the federation developed homegrown athletes.

 

“Our focus would be to produce at least 20 homegrown Gombe State athletes; this we would do by making the sport popular in the primary and secondary schools,” Gara Gombe said.

 

His first assignment would be the National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State.

 

“Our athletes are getting set, and we hope to do our best and then return to focus on our enlisted programs.


“We are ready to work with whoever is at the helms of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria in our quest to see the sport grow.”

 

Gara Gombe is also the Special Adviser on strategy and information management to the Gombe State governor, Inuwa Yahaya.

Jose Paseiro blasts Super Eagles players

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Jose Paseiro blasts Super Eagles players
Nigeria’s Portuguese manager fumes: “We can do better than what I saw today”
 
 
 
 
Jonathan Akpoguma cuts a disappointing image as Portugal roars to a resounding 4-0 victory against a very poor Nigeria national men’s team yesterday in Lisbon

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

 

Super Eagles technical adviser Jose Paseiro has admitted that his team played below par in a friendly match against the Portuguese national side in Lisbon this evening.

 

Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in the encounter aimed at preparing them for the 2922 world cup which kicks off in Qatar this weekend.

 

Paseiro who had earlier said the Super Eagles would beat their Portuguese counterparts, disclosed that he was not impressed with the level of performance put up by his boys.

 

” We can do better than what I saw today. We need to work harder to prevent a repeat of what happened against Portugal. Though we lost, but we’ve been able to learn few things from Portugal, one of the best teams in the world.”he told Televisao de Portugal.

 

The Super Eagles are yet to win a friendly match since Jose Paseiro took over from caretaker manager Augustine Eguavoen after the African cup of Nations in Cameroon early this year.

 

Nigeria lost all its friendly matches under Paseiro 0-4 to Portugal, 0-2 to Costa Rica, 1-2 to Mexico , 0-1 to Ecuador and 1-2 to Algeria .

 

The Afcon qualifiers are expected to commence in March 2023.

World Cup bound Portugal massacre Nigeria

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World Cup bound Portugal massacre Nigeria

Portugal 4-0 Nigeria: Bruno Fernandes steps up in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo

 

 

Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Diogo Dalot after opening the scoring for Portugal

Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Diogo Dalot after opening the scoring for Portugal

 

By Reuters

 

Bruno Fernandes scored twice in the first half, and debutant Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario added late goals as Portugal crushed Nigeria 4-0 in a World Cup warm-up in Lisbon on Thursday.

 

Missing Cristiano Ronaldo due to a stomach bug, his Manchester United team-mate Fernandes led a strong Portugal side in their last match before traveling to Doha on Friday.

 

The only surprise was the debut of 19-year-old Benfica defender Antonio Silva, who started ahead of Pepe as the veteran works his way back from a long injury layoff.

 

Roared on by a sold-out Alvalade stadium, Fernandes seized the first chance he had in the ninth minute when Joao Felix found Diogo Dalot, and he teed up Fernandes to tap into an empty net.

 

Portugal doubled their lead through Fernandes from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after a Bernardo Silva cross struck the hand of defender Bright Osayi-Samuel.

 

Fernandes calmly converted the spot-kick to complete only the third brace for Portugal.

 

‘The perfection didn’t exist, or at least it is very hard to accomplish, but we made a great game, dominating every level,’ Fernandes told Sport TV.

 

‘It was a win that gave us great confidence ahead of our debut against Ghana.

 

‘We are a team; it is not about individuals, and we have a great group of young players that are up and coming and hungry. We are ready for the World Cup.’

 

Portugal's Goncalo Ramos fired a powerful shot low into the net in the 81st minute

Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos fired a powerful shot low into the net in the 81st minute

 

Coach Fernando Santos made six substitutions in the second half, and Ramos scored Portugal’s third immediately after Portugal’s goalkeeper saved a penalty from Emmanuel Dennis after the VAR spotted Dalot’s foul in the 81st minute.

 

Ramos took a short pass from Raphael Guerreiro in his stride and unleashed a powerful shot low into the middle of the goal.

 

Joao Mario closed out the victory with a strike into the bottom corner to the delight of around 45,000 fans in the stadium.

 

Portugal are in World Cup Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.

 

MATCH FACTS

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Dalot, Dias (Guerreiro 46), Silva, Nuno Mendes (Vitinha 46), William Carvalho, Otavio (Ricardo Horta 76), Bruno Fernandes (Pepe 46), Bernardo Silva (Joao Mario 46), Joao Felix, Andre Silva (Goncalo Ramos 66).

 

Subs Not Used: Jose Sa, Joao Palhinha, Danilo Pereira, Leao, Neves, Joao

 

Cancelo, Costa, Matheus Luiz.

 

Booked: Ricardo Horta.

 

Goals: Bruno Fernandes 9, 35 pen, Goncalo Ramos 82, Joao Mario 84.

 

Nigeria: Uzoho, Osayi-Samuel, Akpoguma, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Ndidi (Onyeka 46), Aribo (Etebo 69), Iwobi, Lookman (Chukwueze 46), Moffi (Onuachu 58), Simon (Dennis 77).

 

Subs Not Used: Okoye, Adeleye, Duru, Dessers, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Onyemaechi.

 

Booked: Etebo

Sadio Mane ruled out of FIFA World Cup through injury

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Sadio Mane ruled out of FIFA World Cup through injury

The African Player of the Year suffered a shin injury playing for Bayern Munich earlier this month

 

 

Senegal forward Sadio Mane. — AFP file

Senegal forward Sadio Mane AFP File

 

By AFP

 

AFP reports that African Player of the Year Sadio Mane was ruled out of the World Cup through injury on Thursday.

 

Mane’s omission is a cruel blow for Senegal, who had high hopes of making a long run in the tournament in Qatar thanks to their star forward.

 

Mane suffered a shin injury playing for Bayern Munich earlier this month but was named in the World Cup squad in the hope he could regain fitness, but on Thursday, Senegal conceded that the former Liverpool player would not make it.

“Unfortunately, today’s MRI shows us that the improvement is not as favorable as we imagined, and unfortunately, we have to withdraw Sadio from the World Cup,” team doctor Manuel Afonso said in a video on the official Senegal team Twitter account.

 

With Sunday’s kick-off looming, teams are still arriving in Qatar after completing last-minute preparations.

 

Germany touched down in Doha on Thursday, fresh from a 1-0 friendly victory over Oman.

 

The 2014 champions aim to erase the memory of their ill-fated campaign in Russia four years ago when they crashed out in the group stage.

 

Unlike most of the 32 teams who have opted to be based in and around Doha, Qatar, Germany is staying in the seaside town of Al-Ruwais, 68 miles (111 kilometers) from the capital.

 

“We want to develop a team spirit there that will carry us through the tournament — and for as long as possible,” team official Oliver Bierhoff said.

NBBF crises deepen as Stakeholders go on warpath with sports ministry

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NBBF crises deepen as Stakeholders go on warpath with sports ministry

Quarrel with the sports minister’s ‘illogical and irrational subtle imposition’ of Musa Kida to lead the Federation

 

 

No photo description available.

Pastor Skambo Morrison

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Some Basketball Stakeholders have reacted to the “subtle imposition” of Engr Musa Kida as the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) by the Federal Ministry of Youth Sports Development, describing the action as ‘illogical and irrational.’

 

The group under the umbrella of “New Face of Basketball” questioned the methodology used by Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, to pick Engr Kida as the NBBF President after publicly acknowledging that two elections took place on January 31, 2022.

 

Spokesman of the group and Chairman of Kaduna State Basketball Association, Pastor Scambo Morrison, in a media conversation on Thursday in Abuja, said the group had maintained silence for peaceful resolution and the amendment of the controversial Constitution of the Basketball Federation.

 

Pastor Morrison added that the group has options if the Sports Minister fails to retrace his steps by doing the right thing.

 

“So, it is not news that the Minister of Youth and Sports acknowledged that there were two elections. But our big surprise till today is that the Minister and Ministry never came out to talk to us about the findings of those elections. As good citizens of this country, we have remained very quiet, calm, and disciplined, waiting to hear the outcome of those elections,” Pastor Morrison said.

 

“But to this day, nobody has called this particular faction to say anything concerning the election. Instead, we found out that there were a couple of people parading themselves as the ‘custodians of basketball in Nigeria. We want the Minister to know that we have options if he fails to do the right thing.”

 

Continuing, the Kaduna Basketball Chairman said: “We, therefore, want a clarification of how Kida emerged to become the president of the NBBF, knowing well that the Minister who is in charge of sports in Nigeria acknowledged and pronounced that there were two elections and that his ministry was looking into the issue to make sure that things were resolved in the NBBF.

Otto Addo has high confidence in his Stars

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Otto Addo has high confidence in his Stars

Ghana coach boasts that his Black Stars are capable of beating every team in Qatar

 

 

Profile of Coach Otto Addo

Otto Addo, manager of Ghana’s Black Stars

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

 
Otto Addo, the Black Stars of Ghana coach, says his team can beat any squad despite losing his best goalkeepers to injuries.
 
 
 
 
First-choice keeper Jojo Wallacott and his assistant  Richard Ofori missed out on Otto Addo’s world cup selection due to late injuries sustained while playing for their clubs last weekend.
 
 
 
” I know we can beat every team in the world, and that is very sure. Everybody knows that at the world cup, results may not come as predicted by pundits in favor of the teams,” he said.
 
 
 
Addo hinted that the outcome of Ghana’s first match against  Portugal would motivate his wards to approach the second group game against South Korea with a winning mentality to qualify.
 
 
 
As of the time of filling this report,  23  players have reported to the team’s camp in Abu Dhabi,  UAE, ahead of Thursday’s friendly match against Switzerland.
 
 
 
Joseph Ado, Celia Figo FC of Spain,  Alexander Djiku,  Strasbourg FC of France, and Kamaldeen Sulemana of Rennes of France are expected to join the rest of the squad tomorrow.
 
 
 
The Black Stars are expected to travel to Qatar on Friday for the soccer Fiesta.
 
 
 

Ghana squad

 

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati, Danlad Ibrahim, Manaf Nurudeen

 

Defenders: Joseph Aidoo, Daniel Amartey, Baba Rahman, Alexander Djiku, Tariq Lamptey, Gideon Mensah, Denis Odoi, Mohammed Salisu, Alidu Seidu

 

Midfielders: Andre Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey, Salis Abdul Samed

 

Forwards: Daniel Afriyie, Jordan Ayew, Osman Bukari, Issahaku Abdul Fatawu, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Sowah, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Inaki William

Gusau hails Rivers United

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Gusau hails Rivers United

Encourages Eagles B and Bayelsa Queens to learn from defeats

 

 

Gusau 's Leadership Trait Can Held Drive Football Development - Abayomi Ogunjimi

Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, president of the NFF

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

 

 
 
Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, president of Nigeria Football Federation, reacted to some matches by Nigeria’s representatives worldwide on Wednesday, praising Rivers United FC for standing strong to emerge as the only Nigeria team left in continental club competitions after a midweek of action across Africa.
 
The Pride of Rivers dug their feet into the turf of the Benina Martys Stadium in Benghazi, Libya, to earn a 1-1 draw with Al Naser FC and qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage on a 6-1 aggregate.
 
 
Their feat came hours after fellow Nigeria flagbearers Plateau United imploded in a rather poor final four minutes to lose 0-3 to Al Akhdar FC on the same turf, wiping out their three-goal advantage from the first leg.
 

“On behalf of the NFF Board and the generality of Nigeria Football stakeholders, I congratulate Rivers United on their credible outing and wish them success on the group stage.

 

They did well to sustain the Nigeria flag in the competition,” Gusau said.

 

“On their part, Bayelsa Queens also gave their best in the CAF Women Champions League semi-finals in Morocco against the home team, ASFAR FC. I was hoping they would reach the Final so that we would go and support them, but they were not disgraced all the same.

 

They should take the lessons from the defeat to do better next time.

 

They should also fight hard for the bronze medals to not return home empty-handed.”

 

The Queens lost by the odd goal to ASFAR and will now play Simba Queens of Tanzania for the third place, while ASFAR battle Cup holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the final.

 

“As I have reiterated several times, the new NFF Board will provide tremendous encouragement for Nigeria women’s football to return strongly to its rightful place on the African continent and at the global level,” Gusau added.

 

Reacting to the Super Eagles’ 2-0 defeat against World Cup-bound Costa Rica in San Jose in the early hours of Wednesday, Gusau challenged the coaching crew and the players to take hard lessons from the loss and commit to returning to winning ways henceforth.

 

“Costa Rica was heading to the World Cup and was highly spurred on by their fans, but then we are Nigeria, and we should always remember that our people want us to win all the time. I am not saying they did not perform well; they should know that winning matters,” He insisted.

 

“The new NFF Board will be concerned with players that wear our green-and-white going out for wins, whether they play in competitive or friendly matches. It is not enough to try or to make an effort; a winning mentality is key. They tried their best in the game, but they should learn from this and know they must go all out to win or avoid defeat next time.”

 

Oscar Duarte opened the scoring for Los Ticos seven minutes into the game when he sliced past goalkeeper Kayode Bankole off a free-kick from the left by Joel Campbell.

 

Attack-minded defender Dominion Ohaka danced his way into the Los Ticos’ eighteen-yard box in the 18th minute, but his shot flew over the bar.

 

Bankole made several good saves, but the Eagles’ forwards could not mine fortune from the few opportunities that came their way. In the 73rd minute, Kendall Waston headed over the Nigeria goalkeeper and a defender into the net off a pull-out from the left by Campbell.

Five in last athletics woman standing

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Five in last athletics woman standing
Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2022 finalists
 
 
 
 
Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s high-flying woman, makes the final cut
 
 
 
 
By Rasheed Adewuyi with WAF Press Release
 
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The names of the five finalists for Women’s World Athlete of the Year have been confirmed as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2022 continues.

 

The five athletes, representing five countries from three area associations, have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2022 at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, one-day meeting circuits, and other events around the world.

 

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

 

Tobi Amusan, NGR
– World 100m hurdles champion
– Diamond League, Commonwealth, and African 100m hurdles champion
– Set a world 100m hurdles record of 12.12

 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, JAM
– World 100m champion, claiming a fifth gold medal in the event
– Diamond League 100m champion
– Ran a world-leading 10.62 among her record seven sub-10.70 100m races of the season

 

Kimberly Garcia, PER
– World 20km race walk champion, winning Peru’s first-ever World Athletics Championships medal
– World 35km race walk champion in a South American record to complete a race walk double
– World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships 20km bronze medallist

 

Sydney McLaughlin, USA
– World 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion
– Broke the world 400m hurdles record with 51.41 at the US Championships
– Further improved the world record to 50.68 to win the world title

 

Yulimar Rojas, VEN
– World indoor and outdoor triple jump champion
– Diamond League triple jump champion
– Improved her world record to 15.74m in Belgrade

 

Voting procedure for 2022 World Athletes of the Year

 

A three-way voting process determined the finalists.

 

While the World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family voted by email, fans equally logged their decisions online via the World Athletics social media platforms, accounting for a record 1.3 million votes.

 

The World Athletics Council’s vote counted for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s and public votes each counted for 25% of the final result.

 

Voting closed on 31 October.

 

The World Athletes of the Year will be announced on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December as part of the World Athletics Awards 2022.

 

World Athletics

NBBF Final 8: Falcons Beat Customs

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NBBF Final 8: Falcons Beat Customs

Qualify For BAL Tournament

 

Kwara Falcons

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

It was jubilation galore on Saturday as Kwara Falcons surprised the bookmakers to emerge the winner of the Nigeria Basketball Federation final 8.

 

The Kwara-based club emerged as the winner of the competition beating Nigeria Customs by 78-53 points.

 

To reach the final, Kwara Falcons defeated Benue Brave 83-59, while Nigeria Custom thrashed Rivers Hoopers 64-59 points.

 

Besides winning the NBBF final eight tournaments, Kwara Falcons also have qualified to represent in Basketball African League ( BAL).

 

Nigeria, alongside Senegal, Angola, Tunisia, Egypt, and host Rwanda, are the countries with the automatic spot for the 2023 BAL competition at the BK Arena in Kigali.

 

Elite 16, which will serve as the qualifiers for the countries, will commence on November 15th -20 and 22nd -27th in Abidjan and Johannesburg.

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