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Federation Cup: North and South East face off

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Federation Cup: North and South East face off

 Pillars in flaming war with Rangers in star match of Round of 64

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Last year’s runners-up, Enugu Rangers will go up against Kano Pillars in what is indisputably the pick of the men’s Round of 64 matches of this year’s Federation Cup competition.

 

At the national draw conducted inside the NFF Secretariat on Thursday, the two former winners were drawn together, with Cup holders Bendel Insurance to face Ogun State flag bearers, Stormers Sports Club.

 

High-riding Shooting Stars of Ibadan must negotiate for a place in the Round of 32 with Solution FC, while two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC of Aba must overpower Warinje FC from Bauchi, a survivor of the National Play-offs.

 

In the women’s draw, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens are up against Bright Future Queens, while Rivers Angels will tango with Ekiti Queens and Delta Queens tackle Fortress Ladies.

 

Last year’s runners-up Rivers Angels confront Ekiti Queens, with Delta Queens clashing with Fortress Ladies and Edo Queens to battle it out with Kada Queens.

 

At the draw, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau assured that the Federation is committed to restoring the glamour and glitz of the oldest football championship in the land, while also pledging that the integrity of the competition will be maintained all through the men’s and women’s competitions till the Grand Finale.

 

Also at the draw were NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Director of Finance and Admin, Babatunde Akinsanya; Director of Competitions, Ruth David; COO, Nigeria National League, Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman; Head of Marketing, Alizor Chuks; Head of Protocol, Barnabas Joro; Head of Women’s Football, Amina Daura; Head of National Competitions, Danlami Alanana; Member, Cross River State FA Board, Barr. Tom Agi; Special Assistant to NFF President, Abubakar Danladi; Special Assistant to General Secretary, Mohammed Ameenu and; Member, NFF Women’s Football Committee, Harry Awurumibe.

 

ROUND OF 64: MEN’S DRAW

Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Stormers SC (Ogun)

Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) Vs Jr. Danburan (Katsina)

Osun United (Osun) Vs EFCC FC (FCT)

Edel FC (Anambra) Vs Discovery Talent FC (Kebbi)

Zamfara United (Zamfara) Vs ABS FC (Kwara)

Kebbi United (Kebbi) Vs Ine Stars (Edo)

Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Cynosure FC (Ebonyi)

Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara)

Gombe United (Gombe) Vs Karim United (Taraba)

El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) Vs Adanimogo FC (Ondo)

Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Delta Marine (Delta)

Shooting Stars (Oyo) Vs Solution FC (Anambra)

Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Green Berets (Kaduna)

Coal City (Enugu) Vs Ekiti United Feeders (Ekiti)

Beyond Limits (Ogun) Vs Hammola Int’l (Osun)

Inter Lagos (Lagos) Vs May Frank (Cross River)

Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Lautai FC (Jigawa)

Kwara United (Kwara) Vs Rovers FC (Cross River)

Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Ilaji FC (Oyo)

Sporting Supreme (FCT) Vs PCM FC (Ebonyi)

Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs FC Bako (Kobi)

Sokoto United (Sokoto) Vs Ofirima FC (Rivers)

FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Fr. Eburuaja (Imo)

Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Warinje FC (Bauchi)

Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Ekiti United (Ekiti)

Sunshine Stars (Ondo) Vs Jedo Academy (Sokoto)

Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Ikukuoma FC (Imo)

Niger Tornadoes (Niger) Vs Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger)

Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Dutse Strikers (Jigawa)

Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) Vs FC Basira (Nasarawa)

Doma United (Gombe) Vs Gamji Eaglets (Taraba)

Kano Pillars (Kano) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu)

 

ROUND OF 32: WOMEN’S DRAW

Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa) Vs Bright Future Queens (Enugu)

Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Suit De Queens (Oyo)

Dannaz Ladies (Lagos) Vs Mighty Jets Mata (Plateau)

Remo Stars Ladies (Ogun) Vs OSKE Leans (Rivers)

Abia Angels (Abia) Vs Castmong Ladies (Ogun)

Naija Ratels (FCT) Vs ON Youth Academy (FCT)

Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs GoldenSun FC (Bayelsa)

FC Robo Queens (Lagos) Vs Onimang FC (Ondo)

Kwara Ladies (Kwara) Vs Ahudiya Nnem Queens (Abia)

Delta Queens (Delta) Vs Fortress Ladies (Edo)

Sunshine Queens (Ondo) Vs Green Foot FC (Enugu)

Plateau United Ladies (Plateau) Vs Honey Badgers (Benue)

Gallant FC (Kaduna) Vs Osun Babes (Osun)

Confluence Queens (Kogi) Vs Delta Ladies (Delta)

Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Kada Queens (Kaduna)

Ekiti Queens (Ekiti) Vs Rivers Angels (Rivers)

NFF sets the stage for Federation Cup

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NFF sets the stage for Federation Cup

 National Draw of 2024 competition to be held on Thursday

 

Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The National Draw for the men’s and women’s versions of this year’s Federation Cup competition will take place on Thursday, 18th April 2024 at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja.

 

Already, the field for the national competition in the men’s draw has been trimmed to 64 following last week’s Play-off matches that saw the elimination of Classic FC of Adamawa, Simon Ben Academy of Kaduna, PRO Line of Kano, Crusaders FC of Bayelsa, KC FC of Kogi and Flight FC of Benue State.

 

From those games, Warinje FC of Bauchi, PCM FC of Ebonyi, Ine Stars of Edo, Zamfara United Feeders, Fr. Eburuaja of Imo, and Gamji Eaglets of Taraba emerged to confirm their slots in Thursday’s draw ceremony.

 

The men’s competition will begin with a Round of 64 matches, before the Round of 32, and then a Round of 16 dovetailing to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the Grand Finale.

 

The women’s competition, which has 31 entries, will begin with a Round of 32 games, then the Round of 16, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the Grand Finale.   

 

States & Representative Teams (Men Competition)

Abia State: Enyimba FC, Abia Warriors

Akwa Ibom State: Akwa United, FC One Rocket

Anambra State: Solution FC, Edel FC

Bauchi State: Wikki Tourists, Warinje FC

Bayelsa State: Bayelsa United

Benue State: Lobi Stars

Borno State: El-Kanemi Warriors

Cross Rivers State: Rovers FC, May Frank FC

Delta State: Warri Wolves, Delta Marine FC

Ebonyi State: Cynosure FC, PCM FC

Edo State: Bendel Insurance, Ine Stars

Ekiti State: Ekiti United, Ekiti United Feeders

Enugu State: Rangers Int’l, Coal City FC

FCT: EFCC FC, Sporting Supreme FC

Gombe State: Gombe United, Doma United

Imo State: Ikukuoma FC, Fr. Eburuaja FC

Jigawa State: Lautai FC, Dutse Strikers

Kaduna State: Green Beret FC

Kano State: Kano Pillars

Katsina State: Katsina United FC, Jr. Danburan FC

Kebbi State: Discovery Talent Academy, Kebbi United

Kogi State: FC Bako

Kwara State: Kwara United, ABS FC
Lagos State: Inter Lagos FC, Ikorodu City FC

Nasarawa State: Nasarawa United, FC Basira

Niger State: Niger Tornadoes, Niger Tornadoes Feeders

Ogun State: Beyond Limit FC, Stormers Sports Club

Ondo State: Sunshine Stars, Adanimogo FC

Osun State: Osun United, Hammola Int’l FC

Oyo State: Ilaji FC, Shooting Stars

Plateau State: Plateau United, Mighty Jets

Rivers State: Rivers United, Ofirima FC

Sokoto State: Sokoto United, Jedo Academy

Taraba State: Gamji Eaglets FC, Karim United

Zamfara State: Zamfara United, Zamfara United Feeders

 

States & Representative Teams (Women Competition)

Abia State: Abia Angels, Ahudiya Nnem Queens

Bayelsa State: Bayelsa Queens, GoldenSun Sports Club

Benue State: Honey Badgers

Delta State: Delta Queens, Delta Ladies

Edo State: Edo Queens, Fortress Ladies

Ekiti State: Ekiti Queens

Enugu State: Bright Future FC, Greenfoot FC

FCT: Naija Ratels, ON Youth Academy

Imo State: Heartland Queens

Kaduna State: Kada FC, Gallant FC

Kogi State: Confluence Queens

Kwara State: Kwara Ladies FC

Lagos State: FC Robo Queens, Dannaz Ladies

Nasarawa State: Nasarawa Amazons

Ogun State: Remo Stars Ladies

Ondo State: Sunshine Queens, Onimang FC

Osun State: Osun Babes

Oyo State: Suit De Queens

Plateau State: Plateau United Queens, Mighty Jets Int’l Mata

Rivers State: Rivers Angels, Oske Lean FC

 

2024 Federation Cup: Play-Off Results

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2024 Federation Cup: Play-Off Results

Nigeria FA Cup competition hots up

Nigeria 2024 Federation Cup competition

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

. Classic FC (Adamawa) 0 Gamji Eaglets (Taraba) 0 – Gamji Eaglets triumph 5-4 after penalties

. Warinje FC (Bauchi) 0 Simon Ben Academy (Kaduna) 0 – Warinje FC triumph 3-2 after penalties

. Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) 1 PRO Line (Kano) 1 – Zamfara Feeders triumph 5-4 after penalties

. Ine Stars (Edo) 2 Crusaders FC (Bayelsa) 0

. KC FC (Kogi) 2 PCM FC (Ebonyi) 3

. Flight FC (Benue) 1 Fr. Eburuaja (Imo) 2

 

. Gamji Eaglets, Warinje FC, Zamfara United Feeders, Ine Stars, PCM FC, and Fr. Eburuaja qualify for the Round of 64

 

Twice floored South Africa is terror stricken

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Twice floored South Africa is terror stricken

 Ahead of treble clash with Nigeria

 

Face of new Nigeria strike terror Victor Boniface haunts South Africa

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Exactly four months after the Super Eagles bumped them and relegated them to the third-place match of the Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are in jitters as they will face the three-time African champions again in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo.

 

Only three days ago, the Super Falcons pushed Banyana Banyana, the reigning African champions, off the bus to this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, instead grabbing the ticket to ensure a first appearance at the glamour tournament for the first time in 16 years.

 

Nigeria’s assured victories in the two fixtures have left the hierarchy of South African football flummoxed, and there is no adequate time to recover or rejig strategies before the Bafana Bafana face the Super Eagles in a Day 3 encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Friday, 7th June.

 

With two points from their previous two matches but aware of their hold over Bafana Bafana, the African vice-champions are confident of the three points on the day, which could see them fly to the top of the pool.

 

On 7th February at the Stade de la Paix, Bouake, the Super Eagles kicked the Bafana to the third-place match of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations. Despite achieving parity late in the game, the Bafana were cut to size during the penalty shootout, with Nigeria’s South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saving two of the kicks by the Bafana.

 

South Africans’ boasts of bouncing the Super Falcons in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament fixture in revenge ended belly-up with the Banyana failing to score a goal in 180 minutes of action, with the two teams separated by Rasheedat Ajibade’s goal from the penalty spot in Abuja on Friday, 5th April.

 

Despite being a point ahead of the Super Eagles in their World Cup qualifying group, the Bafana will fall behind once they face the Super Eagles’ superior strength, skill, and savvy on another Friday in June.

 

It can be recalled that when the two teams also met at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, at the quarter-final stage, Nigeria triumphed 2-1 in Cairo.

 

The Super Eagles players are already in the mood to deliver the big punches to Bafana in Uyo in a few weeks. Only on Thursday night, top striker Victor Boniface returned from the injury that kept him out of the AFCON by coming off the bench to score in Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League quarter-final duel with West Ham of England.

 

African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen has also been unable to stop scoring for his Italian Serie A side, SC Napoli.

 

Goalkeeper Nwabali remains in awesome shape, and midfielders Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman shone brightly in Ghana’s defeat in a friendly in Morocco last month.

 

NFF names Manu Garba Golden Eaglets’ boss

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NFF names Manu Garba Golden Eaglets’ boss

Former Nigeria U-17 World Cup winner Manu Garba given head Coach role of Nation’s U-17 boys, the Golden Eaglets

 

Manu Garba

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The Board of Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former U17 World Cup winner Manu Garba as Head Coach of the Nigeria U17 boys, Golden Eaglets.

 

Garba had, in the same role, led the Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA U17 World Cup for Nigeria in the United Arab Emirates in 2013 – Nigeria’s fourth triumph at that stage.

 

Garba’s world-conquering squad in 2013 included Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Musa Mohammed, Chidiebere Nwakali and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu.

 

The squad, which finished as runners-up at the African U17 Championship in Morocco after a penalty shootout defeat by Cote d’Ivoire, defeated Mexico 6-1 in their opening game, drew 3-3 with Sweden and hammered Iraq 5-0. In the Round of 16, they ran Iran ragged 4-1, dispatched Uruguay 2-0 in the quarter-finals and trounced Sweden 3-0 in the semi-finals, before they dislodged Mexico by the same margin in the final to lift the trophy.

 

The former Nigeria international will now immediately resume the role and take charge of the team’s preparations for next month’s WAFU B U17 Championship, taking place in Ghana.

 

South Africa vs Nigeria Live | Paris 2024 Olympics

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South Africa vs Nigeria Live | Paris 2024 Olympics
Scheduled for April 9, 2024, 6:00 PM (Nigeria)

Brace yourself for WrestleMania XL Fallout!

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Brace yourself for WrestleMania XL Fallout!

Raw preview, April 8, 2024: Rhodes, Priest head to Raw after epic title wins at WrestleMania

 

WWE Photo

 

Raw Preview: Quick Hits

Raw Preview: Full Details

A legendary WrestleMania XL saw Cody Rhodes outlast Roman Reigns to claim the Undisputed WWE Universal Title in an emotional roller coaster of a championship match, Damian Priest cash in his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Title and much more.

 

With WWE seemingly entering a new era at The Showcase of the Immortals, what surprises and action can we expect on a rowdy Raw after WrestleMania?

 

Find out tonight at 8/7 on USA!

 

WWE.com

SC Gamecocks, Caitlin Clark dunk record

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SC Gamecocks, Caitlin Clark dunk record

South Carolina-Iowa NCAA championship game sets new ratings record

 

South Carolina players and coaches celebrate after beating Iowa on Sunday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)/The Washington Post

 

The South Carolina Gamecocks and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark set a new television ratings record, Geoffrey C. Arnold reports for The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The NCAA women’s national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa on ESPN and ABC drew 18.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game in U.S. history, ESPN said Monday.

The championship game was the most-watched basketball game (men’s or women’s, college or pro) since the 2019 NCAA men’s championship game, which averaged 19.63 million viewers.

 

The 2024 national championship game peaked with 24 million viewers, ESPN said.

The game featured the record-setting Clark attempting to win her first national championship in her final collegiate game. In addition, the Gamecocks were attempting to complete an undefeated season and become just the 10th team to finish the season unbeaten.

The Gamecocks’ 87-75 win over the Hawkeyes was South Carolina’s third national championship under coach Dawn Staley and they became the 10th team in women’s college basketball history to finish a season unbeaten.

 

The number of viewers for the national championship eclipsed the previous record of 14.2 million viewers who watched Clark and the Hawkeyes defeat Connecticut in a national semifinal game on Friday. ESPN reported that the viewership of UConn-Iowa peaked at 17 million viewers.

The Iowa-UConn game broke the previous record of 12.3 million viewers who watched Iowa defeat LSU in an Elite Eight matchup on April 1.

The increase in viewers isn’t all because of Clark. Games not involving Iowa averaged an increase of 74% during the tournament, according to ESPN.

 

 

 

 

Shooting Stars down Pillars in Kano

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Shooting Stars down Pillars in Kano

Pyagbara’s late goal fires 3SC to a famous win at Kano Pillars

 

NPFL Table

Nigeria Premier Football League > NPFL Table NPFL 2023/2024

 

Christian Pyagbara was on target for 3SC as his goal inside added time helped the Oluyole Warriors defeat Kano Pillars 2-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano in Monday’s only Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture, George Akpayen reports for NPFL.

 

Rabiu Ali opened the scoring by giving Kano Pillars the lead before 3SC’s comeback through second-half goals from Taiye Muritala and Pyagbara ensured they claimed the full points.

 

Five-time champions Kano Pillars began on the front foot when Ali capitalized on a sloppy play from the back by 3SC to put his team in front two minutes into the contest.

 

Kano Pillars’ early lead brought back memories of 2016 when they demolished 3Sc 6-0 in a Matchweek 13 fixture, but Gbenga Ogunbote’s men were not in Kano to sit back and soak up the pressure.

 

Despite an early setback of losing center-back Aniyikaye Adeleye to injury, 3SC finished the first half more robust, though Kano Pillars went into the locker room with their one-goal lead.

 

Central figures in 3SC’s chase for a goal in the first half were Ayobami Junior, Monday Gideon, and captain Taofeek Malomo.

 

It was no surprise that 3SC got out of the blocks faster in the second half when Ayodeji Bamidele, who replaced the injured Aniyikaye in the first half, provided the assist for Muritala to level the score at 48 minutes.

 

Stung by Muritala’s goal, the home side revived and swamped 3SC’s area. Okiemute Odah, in goal for 3SC, played his part by pulling off two big saves to deny Kano Pillars the chance to go in front midway into the second half.

 

As the game swung from end to end, Pyagbara found himself at the right place in added time to score the winner off Alex Aghahowa’s pass to help 3SC claim their second win on the road this season.

 

For Kano Pillars, it is the second time they have suffered defeat at the Sani Abacha Stadium after Abia Warriors surprisingly defeated them.

 

Ogunbote’s men, now five points behind league leaders Rangers, will face title contenders Lobi Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday, while Kano Pillars will travel to Benin City to face Bendel Insurance on the same weekend.

 

CAF announces Squad Lists for Futsal AFCON

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CAF announces Squad Lists for Futsal AFCON

Five days to kick-off of TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2024

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

With five days to kick off the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2024, CAF released the squad lists for the eight qualified teams today, CAFonline reports.

 

Ghana and Zambia will play each other in Rabat on 11 April 2024 in the opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2024.

 

The 7th edition of the competition will be played at the Moulay Prince Abdallah and IBN Yassine Halls in Rabat until the final on 21 April 2024.

 

The eight teams that will feature in the finals include hosts Morocco, Angola, Ghana, Zambia, Egypt, Libya, Namibia and Mauritania.

 

Group A comprises Morocco, Zambia, Angola, and Ghana, while Group B includes Egypt, Libya, Namibia, and Mauritania.

 

In line with the Regulations, each Participating Member Association (“PMA”) can submit a final squad of up to 14 players.

 

Click BELOW for the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON squads.

Angola

Egypt

Ghana

Libya

Mauritania

Morocco

Namibia

Zambia

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