Wolves humble Kano Pillars

A brace from Sikiru Adewale and a fine finish from Ikechukwu Ibenegbu gave Warri Wolves a 3-1 win over Glo Premier League champions Kano Pillars at the on-going Super Four tournament in Abuja.

The Warri side got the opener through Sikiru Adewale in the 13th minute after being teed up by teammate Emmanuel Omodiagbe.

Ikechukwu Ibenegbu nearly made it two after a neat interchange of passes but his shot was blocked by Promise James as Wolves began to assert themselves in the game.

Line-ups:

Kano Pillars: Theophilus Afelokhai, Promise James, Samuel Tswanya, Cletus Itodo, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Anthony Abawula, Ezekiel Mbah, Ubong Ubong Ekpai, Adamu Hassan, Godspower Enefiok, Christian Obiozor

Warri Wolves: Daniel Akpeyi, Goodluck Onamado, Ojo Mine, Semiu Liadi, Monday Osagie, Sikiru Adewale, Joseph Osadiaye, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Stanley Dimgba.

Flying Eagles thrash Dolphins

Nigeria's Flying Eagles continued their impressive showing at the Glo Premier League Invitational Tournament in Abuja with a 4-1 win over Dolphins Football Club.

Musa Mohammed nearly put the Flying Eagles ahead after a dazzling run by Taiwo Awoniyi but his effort was deflected by Ayobami Asekunowo.

The FF Kalmar attacker was proving a handful for Dolphins as his combination with Bernard Bulbwa kept the Port Harcourt side in sixes and sevens in the opening exchanges.

The Flying Eagles got the opener in the 24th minute after a well-worked move down the right flank as Obinna Nwobodo waltzed past a couple of Dolphins defenders to square back for Awoniyi to tap in past goalkeeper Adejare Adeniyi.

Line-ups

Flying Eagles: Olorunleke Ojo 21; Bello Zaharadeen 19, Saheed Abdulganiyu 6, Ali Chinwendu 13, Musa Mohammed 2, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi 12, Akinjide Idowu 4, Obinna Nwobodo 20, Bernard Bulbwa 7, Gabriel Ikechukwu 15, Taiwo Awoniyi 18

Subs: Joshua Enaholo 1, Rowland Silas 5, Alfa Abdullahi 10, Ezeh Chidera 17, Prince Aggrey 14, Tunde Adeniji 23, Usman Sale 9, Billy Auta 22, Jimoh Wasiu 8, Adamu Abubakar 16, Mustapha Abdullah 3

Dolphins FC: Adejare Adeniyi 1; Ayobami Asekunowo 6, Jonathan Zikiye 26, Emeka Atuloma 8, Victor Ezuruike 31, Cyril Oriaku 4, Chidiebere Okolie 3, David Jacques 9, Usen Ahmed 25, Tijani Adamu 20, Victor Alegbe 10

Subs: Sunday Rotimi 22, Tobins Zikalla 21, Igwe West 2, Onyekachi Akakem 35, Isiaka Olawale 7, Christian Pyagbara 17, Daniel Israel 12, Maxwell 24, Omo Johnson 32, Emmanuel Amah 34, Nonso Elum 27

Abuchi Obinwa signs for Hannover 96

USA youth international, Abuchi Obinwa took a big leap in his career when he has signed for Bundesliga side, Hannover 96 yesterday.

Obinwa signed his first professional contract as he recently turning 18 years old on the 15th of January, 2015. He joins a growing list of US nationals plying their trade in major European Leagues.Abuchi is also still eligible for Nigeria through his Parents, Nnanna and Stella Obinwa but this move will boost his chances of progressing to the senior US national team and will delight German Coach, Jurgen Klinsmann who will definately keep an eye on his progress.

The versatile 1.81m or 6 feet, 2 inches tall defensive Midfeilder and sometimes Centre was born on January 15, 1997 in Columbus, Ohio in the United states of America and his older Brother, Nathaniel Obinwa plays American Football for Colgate university.

Shola Ameobi Joins Crystal Palace

According to the club’s official website cpfc.co.uk, the Nigerian international has signed a short-term with the Eagles until the end of the season. He was a free agent after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep last month.

The 33-year-old is best known for his time with Newcastle United, where he spent 14 years after breaking into the first-team from their academy. In nearly a decade and a half on Tyneside he appeared 397 times for the Magpies, finding the back of the net 79 times, winning the Championship in 2009/10 and representing the club in the UEFA Champions League.

Ameobi has also won 10 caps for Nigeria where he was born before moving to Newcastle as a youngster. He represented the Super Eagles in the 2014 World Cup, having previously won 20 caps for the England under-21 side.

He is no stranger to Palace boss Alan Pardew, having played under him for Newcastle for four years before moving to Turkey in the summer on a free after his contract expired. He scored four times in 11 outings for Gaziantep before returning to England just before the new year.

The striker will wear the number 23 shirt during his time with Palace, and is the club’s third signing of the transfer window after Yaya Sanogo and Jordon Mutch.

Nigeria wins gold at Africa Senior Table Tennis championship

Nigeria won its first gold medal in the men’s double event of the Africa Senior Table Tennis Championship. The duo of Aruna Quadri and Kazeem Makanjuola defeated their compatriot Onaolapo Ojo and Jide Ogidiolu on Wednesday at the ongoing ITTF 2015 Africa Senior Table Tennis Championships in Cairo, Egypt. 

Reports showed that Ojo and Ogidiolu were rewarded with silver medals. The victory gave the country its first gold medal in the doubles event of the championship. Nosiru Bello, the head coach Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) said that it was a good development to see all Nigerians playing in the final of the men’s double event of the championship.

Quadri, Africa’s number one ranked player and ITTF Stars Player of the Year was favorite for the medal.

Nigeria was represented in the male events by Quadri, Ojo, Ogidiolu and home based player Makanjuola. In the women category Funke Oshonaike, Atinuke Olaide, Edem Offiong and Cecilia Otu-Akpan are representing the country. Tthe tournament served off Jan.23 and ends Jan. 29.

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Olympics: NOC strategises for All African Games, 2016 Olympics

The Nigeria  Olympic Committee (NOC) has disclosed that plans were under way to ensure the country excels at the 2015 All Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics.

Habu Gumel, President of the NOC  said after the executive committee’s meeting on Tuesday.

He said that the various federations have been instructed on what to do. NAN reports that the 2015 All Africa Games is scheduled for Congo Brazzaville between Sept. 4 and Sept. 19.

Meanwhile the 2016 Olympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21. Gumel said efforts were been made to ensure funds were released on time for the preparation of athletes for the various competitions. “We have the All African Games coming up this year as well as the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

Spanish club names stadium gate after Late Nigerian Goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare

Spanish club, Rayo Vallecano, have once again shown their love towards their late Nigerian international goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, who died in Spain after a battle with cancer, by naming one of the gates to their stadium after him.
The board of directors of the club revealed the decision after an extraordinary meeting and named the gate ‘Gate Wilfred Agbonabvare” formerly known as Gate 1 Vallecas Stadium, reports online news portal, Premium Times.
The directors on behalf of the club thanked the family of the deceased and everyone for the show of affection sent to them over the death of their former player.
Before this latest gesture from Vallecano, the club had through their #FuerzaWilfred campign raised over N4.5million to augment the hospital bills of the former Super Eagles safe hands.
The former junior international was hospitalised for several days in the Prince of Asturias Hospital in Alcalá de Henares, near the Spanish capital before he died on Tuesday.
Agbonabvare was Wednesday laid in state in Spain in the presence of Rayo Vallecano president, family, well wishers and other dignitaries in attendance.
Agbonavbare played for Vallecano in the early 1990’s for over five years.

A number of his former national team colleagues, including Stephen Keshi and Mutiu Adepoju have expressed their shock and sadness at the demise of the 48-year-old former NNB star.

Yobo, Kanu lead Jonathan campaign in Rivers

Get9jasports reports that football stars Joseph Yobo and Nwankwo Kanu were among the 

sportmen that supported the campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Wednesday. The former captains of the Super Eagles urged Nigerians to re-elect Jonathan on February 14. 

It will be recalled that an assembly of top sports stars and personalities across the country and from various sports has expressed faith in the transformation programme of President Goodluck Jonathan especially with regards to sports and called on members of the Nigerian sports community and the public to support his re-election as an imperative for the continuity of the development and progress of the sector as well as the advancement of the welfare of Nigerian sportsmen and women.

The assembly which converged at the National Stadium, Lagos, during the weekend included leading Nigerian Olympians, ex-internationals, elite and grassroots coaches across various sports, athletes and players representatives, club managers, sports administrators and sports supporters group.

Flying Eagles will win Super Four – Awoniyi

Flying Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has expressed the determination of the team to win all games at the ongoing Super Four competition holding in Abuja. The Flying Eagles remain the only team to have recorded a 100 per cent record in the Super Four event been competed for by six teams.

The League management Company, organisers of the event, brought in the Flying Eagles and the national U-23 team to boost their preparation for their respective continental campaigns.
Coach Manu Garba has led the U-20 team to whip Enyimba 2-0, beat Kano Pillars 2-1, and defeat Warri Wolves 1-0.The team has scored five goals and the only goal conceded so far is an own goal.

Awoniyi argued that the team was not near perfect yet but the players had enough understanding to clinch the Super Four. He said; “We are still working hard to get things right but in the ongoing competition, we are not ready to drop any game. We want to win all and move on. “It will be a big boost if we can achieve this as we prepare for the African Youth Championship but we still have two matches to go.
The Flying Eagles will on Friday (today) clash with Dolphin in continuation of the competition and they will also meet the U-23 team on Sunday in the last match. Meanwhile, coach Sam Okpodu of Warri Wolves has commended his players despite losing to the Flying Eagles on Wednesday. Okpodu stood in for Paul Aigbogun at the post match conference after a Musa Mohammed first half goal earned the national team its third straight victory in the competition.

SHAME: NFF dumps Keshi ?

It appears Stephen Keshi’s days as Super Eagles coach may be over, sooner rather than later, following comments posted by Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, on social media.
The NFF and Keshi have had a cat and mouse relationship since the end of the 2014 World Cup with the football body going as far as sacking the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach following the national team’s poor start to the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

President Goodluck Jonathan however ordered the NFF to reinstate Keshi for the remainder of the AFCON qualifiers which ended on a sad note for the Super Eagles as they failed to qualify for the tournament currently taking place in Equatorial Guinea.
Pinnick has never hidden his desire to get rid of Keshi though and on Thursday posted on Facebook: “Getting a new coach and Technical crew for the Super Eagles has been a sensitive issue though I will say that negotiations are ongoing and in a strict manner that sooner than expected a new coach and technical crew will be announced to the Nigeria public.”
His comment elicited a lot of comments from his facebook followers with most of them in support of the move, while some even urged the NFF to hurriedly appoint a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

One of Pinnick’s followers, Bala Akuboh, however posted: “My candid opinion about getting a new coach is that it doesn’t matter where he comes from whether indigenous or foreign but to have the structure on ground to support his work.”

Not all were in favour of the move to sack Keshi though, such as Dennis Chike Okogwu who posted: “I am still of the opinion that Keshi and co were in the process of building a new team. I want them to be retained. How long are we going to be relying on foreign coaches? We must use what we have. God Bless Nigeria.”

Kalu Uche returns to Spain, joins Levante

Nigerian forward Kalu Uche has been announced by Levante as their latest signing. He joins the Valencia-based club on an initial contract until the end of the season with an option to extend the deal for a further season if the move works out well for both player and club.
Levante will be hoping that the older brother of Villarreal striker, Ikechukwu Uche, will be able to fire them away from the relegation zone. Levante are currently 19th on the 20-team La Liga table. It will be Uche’s fourth stint in Spain having previously featured for Espanyol and Almeria, the former on two occasions.

His last stint with Espanyol in the second half of the 2011/2012 season saw the Nigerian scoring five goals in 15 appearances. He however left the Catalan side at the end of the season for Turkey’s Kasimpasa, where he found the back of the net 19 times in 34 appearances, before heading out to Qatar where he featured first with El Jaish, then with Al Rayyan.

Oboabona Happy Over Successful knee Surgery

Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona has expressed his delight following his recovery after a successful knee surgery.

The versatile defender returned to full training with his Turkish team Rizespor a week ago and featured in a Turkish Cup game at Adana Demirspor, which they drew 1-1.

He was on for the entire duration of the match.

The former Sunshine Stars captain, who underwent a knee surgery in Turkey on December 21, 2014, to correct meniscus tear and cartilage injury, told AfricanFootball.com he is happy to be back playing again.

“I am very happy and thank God that I am back in action, I started training with the rest of the team a week ago. I am feeling great and I am looking forward to play more games for my team.”

Oboabona has played eight games for Rizespor, finding the back of the net once.

Last season, the 24-year-old Oboabona scored three goals in 19 games.

3SC appoint Omokaro, Oloyede as coaches

Newly promoted Shooting Stars of Ibadan have named the duo of Bright Omokaro and Oloyede Akinde as assistant coach to replace Edith Agoye and Charles Ayodele.
The one-year contract of the duo of Agoye and Ayodele, who both assisted Franklin Howard to lead the Oluyole Warriors back to the Premier League, was not renewed paving the way for Omokaro and Akinde to be drafted into the team for the coming season.
Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, former international, Omokaro, says he is very grateful to the management of the Oluyole Warriors for deeming it fit to appoint him as a coach of the club.

“This is a club that I played for in the past, and it is a great honour to be contacted to be part of the team as a coach. “3SC is a big club in Nigeria and we need to take the club back to where it rightly belongs. Work start immediately as the league will soon resume,” he said.

Obisia offers panacea to boxing revival in Nigeria

Former national boxing coach Obisia Nwakpa has provided tips, he says, if followed could make Nigeria great again in boxing.

“It all bothers on coaching. Right now, none of those engaged as national coaches has the requisite qualifications, none has the training or experience to coaching and none of these individuals holds the expertise to train up a boxer to become a world beater,” he told Sports Vanguard in Lagos.

The former African and Commonwealth super light-weight champion explained his idea this way. “For you to have a coach who can produce world class boxers, that person must have boxed at the amateur and professional levels for years. He would not only have these, such a person must have proved himself well at these levels, winning laurels for the country and during which time he would have gathered the desired experience to pass on to aspiring boxers.

“In doing this the man must have fought at all levels of the major multi-sports events including the All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.”

He said it is through this experience the coach would have learnt the noble art of self defense, which is broken into different departments namely; principles, concepts and disciplines.

“My observation is that national coaches these days lack knowledge of the sport and are unable to train up good boxers because they do not even spend up to five years as amateur boxers or as professionals.

Tunisia 0-0 Nigeria: Dream Team Avenge Defeat To Tunisia

U23 Eagles avenged their defeat at the hands of their Tunisian counterparts as they thrashed them 3-0 in a friendly played in Tunis on Wednesday.

The coach Samson Siasia-led team lost the first game 5-3, but they avenged this defeat by keeping a clean sheet on Wednesday.

The Nigeria lads opened scoring in the 31st minute, when Oghenekaro Etebor converted a spot kick after Peter Onyekachi was fouled in the 18-yard box.

Onyekachi doubled Nigeria lead with a 56th minute strike after good work in the midfield by Azubuike Okechukwu and Oghenekaro.

Oghenekaro played a penalty kick way over the bar in the 69th minute after Stanley Amuzie’s cross was handled by a Tunisia defender.

Godwin Saviour put the game beyond the Tunisians when he fired home a canon shot in the 88th minute after running down the opposing defenders.

Basketball: Victor Oladipo among young stars in Dunk Contest

Greek 20-year-old forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota rookie guard Zach LaVine will also compete in the annual showdown of acrobatic leaps and spectacular ball-jamming staged on the eve of the annual NBA All-Star Game.

The February 14 event will highlight All-Star Saturday festivities at the Barclays center in the city of New York.

The Eastern and Western Conference top players meet in the 64th NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden in the city.

Dumping a team format used last year, the contest returns to its traditional format of two rounds with players allowed any dunk they choose and no time limits.

Players have a maximum of three attempts to complete each dunk in the first and final rounds, with judges scoring every basket between 6 and 10. After two first-round dunks, the two top scorers advance to the final, their earlier points not carrying over.

Oladipo, a guard, has boosted his scoring average from 13.8 points last season as a rookie to 16.5 points this season and improved his shooting percentage four points to 45.9 percent.

Plumlee is averaging 10.4 points and 6.7 rebounds for Brooklyn this season. The center could become only the fourth player to win the dunk contest on his own home court, joining Chicago’s Michael Jordan in 1988, Minnesota’s Isaiah Rider in 1994 and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin in 2011.

Antetokounmpo, the first Bucks player in the Slam Dunk Contest since Ray Allen in 1997, could become the first player from outside the United States to capture the dunk crown.

Newcomer LaVine ranks second among rookies with 3.4 assists a game and ranks fourth in rookie scoring with 8.0 points a game. At 19, he would be the second-youngest slam dunk champion behind Kobe Bryant, who was 18 when he captured the 1997 title.

Igbeka urges govt to support Agbonavbare’s children

Former youth international and team mate of late Nigeria goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare, Micky Igbeka has called on the Federal government to take over the responsibility of training the children of the fallen football star.

Reacting to the death of the former New Nigeria Bank goalkeeper who died Tuesday in a Spanish hospital, Igbeka described him as “a hardworking person and a very good goalkeeper. I spoke with him on phone late last year while he was in Florida. Another of our former team mates, Humphrey Edobor connected us.

“It is painful to know Wilfred is dead. But I feel government should take over his children’s education. That is the only thing that can wipe their tears,” Igbeka said.

He recalled their years in the Flying Eagles of Mexico ’83 fame. “Agbonavbare was a very good goalkeeper who gave the team and the defenders in particular, a lot of hope. He was fantastic.”

ITTF Africa: Nigeria team heads home as Quadri crashes out

Nigeria’s team will head home before the end of the on-going International Table Tennis Federation Africa Championships after all players crashed out of the remaining events. More shocking is the exit of world’s best player, Aruna Quadri, who was thrown out of the competition on Wednesday.
Quadri who was a huge favourite was stunned by Mohamed El-beiali of Egypt who beat him 8-11,6-11,11-8,11- 8,11-8,7-11,5-11 (4-3) in the quarterfinal of the men’s singles Wednesday evening in Cairo. Similarly, Nigeria’s sole representative in the women’s singles’ quarterfinal, Edem Effiong, could not progress beyond that round as she lost 4-2 to El-dawlatly Nadeen 11-6,6-11,11-6,8-11,9- 11,10-12. Also on Wednesday, Funke Oshonaike crashed out in the round of 16 while Atinuke Olaide could not make it beyond the round of 32. Nigeria will leave the tournament with one gold and one silver medal.

Legia Warzaw Reject Taiwo

Polish side Legia Warsaw have refused to offer Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo a deal after he failed to impress officials of the club.

Taiwo, who underwent trials at the club, needs to improve his match fitness according to Legia Warsaw’s President, Boguslaw Lenodorski.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old was blamed for the second goal conceded by Legia Warsaw after he uncharacteristically passed to an opponent while playing as a central defender in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Qaraba FK in a friendly.

Meanwhile, Taiwo has since revealed on his Instagram wall that he didn’t sign for the club.
“I didn’t sign with Legia Warsaw,” he revealed.

Taiwo having previously represented Marseille, with whom he won the French Ligue 1 title in 2010, also turned out for AC Milan, Queens Park Rangers and Dynamo Kiev.

Legia are currently atop the Polish league with 38 points in 19 games and take on Jagiellonia Bialystok in their next game.

Sharks Appoint Allen As New Chief Coach

Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt has intensified its preparation for the new season with the addition of former shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan handler Festus Allen as chief coach who takes over from Abdul Maikaba who has pitched tent with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

Allen who is no stranger to top flight football is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the team as Sharks takes its search for a major silver ware in the land to the new season.

The team, according to its media officer, Peter Abaje in a release made available to the media , is currently training in Ijebu Ode to perfect strategies for the new season.

NFA expresses sadness at Agbonavbare’s death

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Tuesday expressed its deep grief and that of the entire Nigerian football family at the death of former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare.

The NFA, in a statement by its Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said news of Agbonavbare’s death in the early hours of Tuesday in Spain had been broken to it.

The former senior national team goalkeeper’s affliction with cancer was reported a couple of weeks ago.

“This is very sad, coming only two days after the death of coach Musa Abdullahi.

“The NFA became aware of Agbonavbare’s affliction only a couple of weeks ago.

“But it is evident that this is another true hero gone to rest too early,’’ NFA’s acting Chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi, said in the statement.

He said Agbonavbare was a patriot of the first grade and his contributions to Nigerian football on-field could never be forgotten.

Agbonavbare played for Rubber Board FC and New Nigeria Bank (NNB) FC, both of Benin City and now defunct, in his early years.

He was a member of the Super Eagles’ squad which won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia in 1994.

Agbonavbare also made the final squad to Nigeria’s debut appearance at the 1994 World Cup finals in the U.S. as one of the three goalkeepers, alongside Peter Rufai and Alloy Agu.

He was in the first Nigerian team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals – the national under-20 male squad of 1983.

At the finals in Mexico, the team defeated the then USSR, lost 0-3 to Brazil and drew 0-0 with The Netherlands, before crashing out at the group stage.

Agbonavbare also represented the senior team at the 1984, 1988 and 1990 AFCON finals, winning silver in all three, before winning gold in Tunisia in 1994.

He also played for Spanish club, Rayo Vallecano, before finally settling down in the European country.

Super 4 Tournament: Enyimba International FC defeat Dolphins FC 1-0

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Wednesday defeated Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt 1-0 at the ongoing 2014/2015 Glo Premier League Super 4 Invitational Tournament in Abuja.

The game played at the National Stadium’s mainbowl started with both teams losing scoring opportunities in the first 14 minutes.

But Chinonso Okonkwo scored from a good shot from inside the penalty area in the 15th minute to break the ice.

Thereafter, the game became a ding-dong affair as both teams tried to outdo each other, with Abdulrahman Bashir of Enyimba missing a good scoring opportunity.

Reports showed that Enyimba International FC have so far lost one of its three matches and won two, while Dolphins FC have lost all three.

Friday Christopher, Enyimba’s Assistant Coach, told newsmen after the match that the Super 4 Tournament has been helping them for their upcoming continental club competition fixture.

The first round first leg match in the 2015 CAF Champions League is scheduled for Feb. 15 in Aba.

“As a matter of fact, this competition has helped all the four clubs, because we all just came back from the Christmas and New Year break.

“We were not expecting more from the boys. But with this, I think we are going to grow stronger into what we are known for.

“You can tell from our previous performance and what we have done today. At first, we were relaxed but now we are better,’’ he said.

Garba: We adopt a total football philosophy against Kano Pillars

Flying Eagles head coach Manu Garba has expressed delight over his side narrow victory against Nigeria Premier League champions Kano Pillars in the ongoing 2015 Super 4 to tournament.
The Nigeria U20 team defeated Pillars 2-1 in the matchday 2 encounter of the Super 4 tournament played at the National Stadium in Abuja on Monday.
The Manu Garba-led team also beat 2014 Federation Cup champions Enyimba in the opening fixture of the tourney played on Saturday.
2013 Fifa U17 Word Cup winning coach, Garba, admitted it was a tough victory but tagged his team’s wins against Nigeria two biggest clubs in the Super 4 as “sweet.”
“It was not an easy victory. For me, it was a sweet victory especially beating Federation Cup champions and league champions.
“We adopt a flexible team play, a total football philosophy,” he told media in Abuja.
The coach, however, stressed that there is still room for improvement mostly in the defense area as they are getting ready for the African Youth Championship billed for March in Senegal.

“We still have work to do in our defense and luckily, we are expecting Wilfred Ndidi who will be joining before the week runs out.
Manu Garba on the Clubs who are also getting prepared for Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup, he said “So far so good. I believe the clubs will improve as they go on and Pillars and Enyimba will do very well as they are the strongest teams in the country.
“Both teams have been assessing their players and they will eventually get the best.”

GLO NPFL SUPER 4 RESULTS
Flying Eagles (u20) 2-1 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-o Warri Wolves

Dolphins 0-1 Dream Team (U23)

NFF proud of Asisat Oshoala and Ferdinand Udoh

 

The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated the duo of FIFA-badged referee Anietie Ferdinand Udoh and African Woman Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala for deserved strides they made in the past few days.
Udoh, 28, has been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as one of the referees for the 11th African U-17 Championship taking place in Niger Republic, 15th February – 1st March, 2015.
Oshoala, 2014 African Women’s Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, recently signed a professional contract with Liverpool Ladies Football Club of England.
NFF Acting President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, give kudos and charged the duo to see their strides as calls to put in even more effort and diligence into their different vocations.
“The NFF is happy with the selection of Ferdinand Udoh for the African U-17 Championship in Niger. This underscores that the integrated efforts we are making for the general improvement of refereeing in Nigeri has not gone unnoticed by the organizations that matter.

“For some years now, we have not had a Nigerian center referee at major competitions. Now, Udoh is starting with the U-17, which we know is a stepping stone to further glory and much greater glory. Let me reiterate that our objective is to see a Nigerian referee, or referees, officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
“We congratulate Oshoala who is definitely the new poster girl of Nigeria’s women football. Her contract with Liverpool Ladies will certainly encourage her mates in the National Team to also put in more efforts to attract the attention of the best clubs in the world.”
Ferdinand Anietie Udoh, born in 1987, became a FIFA-badged referee in 2013.

Nigeria’s leading assistant referee, Peter Edibi, is presently working at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea.

Iheanacho To Resume Light Training

Manchester City youth teamer Kelechi Iheanacho, is bidding to resume light training in the coming days after being sidelined with an ankle injury since late last year.

Because of that ailment , the Nigeria youth international will not feature at the African Youth Championship, which begins in Senegal on March 8, 2015. The English Premier League champions were not obliged to release Kelechi Iheanacho for him to be assessed by national team medics since the tourney fell outside Fifa’s international window.

”Kelechi Iheanacho’s ankle injury is healing. He will soon be back up on his feet,” a source close to the Taye Academy product told SL10.ng.

”Manchester City did not want him to go under the knife, so he’s wearing a protective shoe, and he has been wearing it judiciously.

”In the next couple of weeks, between 10 – 14 days, he will start jogging.”

Kelechi Iheanacho’s dad, James Iheanacho, added: ”The injury is getting better. I can’t say the exact date when Kelechi will return to action but I think by March everything will be okay.

”He is now in England with Manchester City, and I have been informed that the club is taking care of him very well.”

It is confirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation has sent the free scoring forward’s International Transfer Certificate to Manchester City through the English FA.

Thieves Steal Onazi’s Phone, Money

Thieves have stolen Ogenyi Onazi’s mobile phone, money as well as his club’s flag after they broke into the Nigerian and Lazio midfielder’s car.

The incident ocurred shortly after Lazio defeated Filippo Inzaghi’s AC Milan 3-1 in Rome.
Onazi who was an unused substitute in the game has since reported the case to the Carabinieri police.

Meanwhile, coach Stefano Pioli has included Onazi in his squad for tonight’s Coppa Italia clash as he aims for back-to-back wins over Milan.

The 22 year old has played 10 Serie A games so far this term.

Ogu Rues Be’er Sheva’s 1-0 Loss To Haifa

Nigeria and Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfielder John Ogu has lamented his team’s 1-0 loss to Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Ligat Haal on Saturday.

Ogu however urged his team-mates to put the defeat behind them and focus on their next game on Wednesday.

“Gutted about today’s (Saturday) result, but it’s football. Cup game next on Wednesday,” the former Academica de Coimbra player twitted.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva will take on Hapoel Ra’anana away in Wednesday’s State Cup clash.

Their next league fixture is at home to Hapoel Acre on Saturday.

Enyimba Pip Warri Wolves 1-0

Federation Cup holders Enyimba bounced back to winnings way in the expanded Super 4 in Abuja on Monday as they beat Warri Wolves 1-0.

Enyimba now have three points from two games, while Warri Wolves are without any points.

‘The People’s Elephant’, who lost their first game to the Flying Eagles 2-0 on Saturday, took the lead in the 15th minute through a spot kick converted by Ifeanyi George after Oke Ogahotewho handled the ball inside the box. Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi had no chance to save the penalty.

The game was explosive as Enyimba goalkeeper Moses Ocheje pulled off a couple of good saves. He gathered a shot by Stanley Dimgba in the ninth minute.

Both teams had chances to score after Enyimba went in front.

In the 51st minute, Bartholomew Ibenegbu had his effort at goal for Wolves kept out by Ocheje, who also came off his lines shortly after to grab a dangerous ball inside the box before Stanley Dimgba could strike.

Wolves could have restored parity in the 69th minute, but Ifeanyi Anaemena cleared the danger after Ocheje dropped Ezenwa Otorogu’s shot.

In the 70th minute, Enyimba were denied a goal by Akpeyi, who stopped Ifeanyi Egwim.

Ocheje then denied Wolves an equaliser when he saved Joseph Osadiaye’s fantastic free kick five minutes from time.

Glo-Super 6: Medics battle to save player’s life

Danger was averted yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium during a Glo-Premier League Super 6 match as medics battled frantically to revive Flying Eagles defender, Izu Omeego who was eventually taken away unconscious to an undisclosed hospital.

The defender’s problem started after he stretched to clear the ball off the feet of a Pillars attacker, but the opponent matched him

on the head and he immediately went comatose. The player was motionless for some time before the medics battled to revive him with oxygen before taking him to an undisclosed hospital.

Before the incident, which happened late in the second stanza, the Flying Eagles had already taken a 2-1 lead over reigning Glo-Premier League champions Kano Pillars. In their opening match the coach Manu Garba tutored team handed a 2-0 victory over reigning Federation Cup champions, Enyimba International of Aba.

Sulieman Abdulahi got the curtain raiser after a through pass from Taiwo Awoniyi to beat Pillars’ goalkeeper, Theophilus Afeluka.

However, Pillars got a breather when Flying Eagles captain Musa Mohammed headed an aerial ball into his own net.

Awoniyi who was voted man of the match restored dominance in the 35th minute after he carefully rounded up two Pillars’ defenders to slot in a beautiful goal which turned out to be the game decider.

Earlier in the first match of the day, Enyimba International salvaged some pride when they defeated Warri Wolves by a lone goal, scored in the first half of the encounter.