The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Liverpool ‘mess up’ Awoniyi returns from injury

    Liverpool ‘mess up’ Awoniyi returns from injury

    • Iwobi, Bassey sparkle  for Fulham

    Super Eagles attacker Taiwo Awoniyi made his long awaited return for Nottingham Forest but he and his Super Eagles teammate, Ola Aina could not hold their own as they were battered 3-0 by rampaging Liverpool FC at the Anfield.

    Awoniyi has been out of action since October 1st  due to a groin complaint and was expected to return to action by November 6th  but he made a quick comeback and was introduced in the 69th  minute as Willy Bolly’s replacement. It was his eighth league game of the season and the second time he would enter as a substitute this season.

    His  presence could not stop the Reds pounding who would now return back to the City Ground to prepare for their next game.

    Read Also: El Clasico: Late Bellingham winner helps Real Madrid beat Barca

    Aina started his sixth league game of the season in the same game.

    Meanwhile,  Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey played the game of their lives for Fulham who bagged a precious point at the Amex against Brighton yesterday.

    The Seagulls dominated the first half and seemed to be in cruise control after leading 1-0 at halftime but the Cottagers returned from the halftime break reborn and got the much needed equaliser.

    Iwobi who joined Fulham from Everton at the end of the summer transfer was very impressive in the game before he was Substituted in the 91st minute while Bassey saw out the entire 90 minutes in another vintage performance from the Super Eagles defender.

  • Sanusi  urges Super Falcons to break Olympics ticket  curse

    Sanusi  urges Super Falcons to break Olympics ticket  curse

    The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, at the weekend urged the Super Falcons to work as a team and bring their A-game to tomorrow’s  2024 Olympics second round, second leg qualifier against Ethiopia at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

    Sanusi spoke after watching the nine-time African champions train at the Turf Arena in the Federal Capital, and also reminded players and officials that Nigeria has been absent from the past three Women Olympic Football Tournaments and this certainly does no credit to the country’s rating as a leading global power in women’s football.

     “The whole world still talks about how you captivated everyone at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand during the summer. The Government of Nigeria, the NFF and all stakeholders remain very proud of you. The NFF loves you and is happy with your outing and general conduct at the World Cup, on and off the field of play.

    Read Also: Haaland and Foden score as Man City beat Man Utd

     “Now, it is time to destroy this vexed issue of Olympics jinx. The last time you attended the Olympics was in 2008, in China. That was a long time ago. Missing three consecutive tournaments is enough; we have to take our place in Paris. I am happy with your game in Addis Ababa and I know you have the capacity to finish off the job here in Abuja on Tuesday.”

    he Turf Arena on Friday and Saturday before moving to the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Sunday.

     Today, both the Falcons and visiting ‘Lucy’ will have their official training sessions on the turf of the magnificent arena.

    The winner over two legs will take on the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture in the third round of the series. Uganda, who narrowly eliminated Rwanda in the first round, are in the ascendancy after defeating the Indomitable Lionesses 2-0 in Kampala on Thursday.   

  • Aruna faces Danish star at WTT Champions Frankfurt

    Aruna faces Danish star at WTT Champions Frankfurt

    After the disappointing outing at the WTT Contender in Turkey, Quadri Aruna has been drawn against Danish star Jonathan Groth in the first round of men’s singles at the WTT Champions Frankfurt in Germany.

    WTT Champions Frankfurt which began yesterday will feature a field of 32 in both the Men’s and Women’s Singles draws, competing for 1000 ITTF World Ranking points and a slice of the $500,000 prize pool.

    Aruna who is aiming to make the cut for the end-of-the-year WTT Finals involving the top 16 players in the world in men’s and women’s singles, will be aiming to halt the dominance of the Danish who has had an edge over him in all their meetings.

    The 2023 African champion who moved up to 15th place in last week’s world ranking is hoping to shore up will have his hands full against the European southpaw who recently won a WTT Feeder title.

    Read Also: El Clasico: Late Bellingham winner helps Real Madrid beat Barca

     “It is a 50-50 match against Groth because he is a great player, I respect him but I will surely give my best and hope that my best will see me through in the match,” Aruna told NationSport.“ It is the dream of every player to feature at the WTT Finals to improve ranking ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.”

    Apart from Aruna, Egypt’s trio of Omar Assar, Dina Meshref and Hana Goda are also competing in Frankfurt.

    Assar will face Sweden’s Anton Kallberg in the men’s singles while Meshref will square up against Japan’s Mima Ito while Goda will face home-girl Nina Mittelham in the women’s singles.

    Sitting on top of the Men’s Singles draw is World No.1 Fan Zhendong who picked his first WTT Champions title earlier this year in Xinxiang.

    As he looks to get his campaign for a second trophy underway, he will face Swedish sensation Truls Moregard. So far this year Moregard is yet to better his WTT Champions Macao 2022 semi-final appearance in the Champions tier, and will be up against the best of it in Frankfurt from the first point.

  • 1XBET Cup 2023: Eight teams  battle for Ikorodu Conference  tickets

    1XBET Cup 2023: Eight teams  battle for Ikorodu Conference  tickets

    Ikorodu Football Community is buzzing with excitement and expectations, as the train of the maiden edition of 1XBET Community Football Championship moves into the town.

    Ahead of the conference’s matches to be played at the Landmark College Stadium in Ikorodu, players and officials of the eight  teams selected to participate in fourth conference in the series of the 1XBET Cup Championship, that include Landmark FC, Vino Gano FC, Faith Football Academy, Victory Ones FC, Glory Boys FC, Lofty Skills FC, SLAS FC and Edunz International FC,  have been upbeat about their chances to win the conference and qualify for the final eight.

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    Meanwhile, the organisers of the championship sponsored by 1XBET, one of Nigeria’s leading betting company, Match International Limited ably led by Engr. Waidi Akanni, have promised to improve upon the organisation of the championship, has been declared as impressive and top notch, by grassroots football aficionados.

    Going forward into the final 8 of the championship, Odion Ighalo FC and De Elites FC, have both qualified as representatives of Epe conference, just as Bariga FC picked the ticket in the Mainland conference and Joint FC won the ticket in Badagry conference.

  • Winners emerge at  Providus Bank Grand Slam Laurels

    Winners emerge at  Providus Bank Grand Slam Laurels

    Nora Azubuike, Destiny Da Silva and Ayodeji Oludemi were major winners on the final day of the Providus Bank Grand Slam Tennis competition which took place at Ikoyi Club 1938.

    The event which started on October 19 ended on October 28 with interesting  and exciting contests where winners emerged.

    Azubuike defeated Ejehiwease Effiong in straight sets of 6/3, 6/1 to emerge the Ladies Singles Champion.

    The Ladies champion displayed so much skill and resilience to overcome her equally skilful opponent in the entertaining encounter.

    In the Men’s Singles A final, Destiny Da Silva defeated  Rume Dubre 6/2, 6/2 to win the title just as Ayodeji Oludemi defeated Felix Akoh  6/4, 6/2 in the final of the Men’s Singles B contest.

    Read Also: El Clasico: Late Bellingham winner helps Real Madrid beat Barca

    Da Silva had an easy ride to win in Singles A but the Singles B final kept the spectators at the edge of their seats with the keen contest.

    Chairman of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Section Akeem Mustafa expressed satisfaction about the standard exhibited by the participants of the competition.

    “It was a week full of fun and excitement as members enjoyed themselves all through. We thank our sponsors for bringing this excitement to the Club. We need more of this to further boost the bonding among members, ” Mustapha said.

    In the Men’s Veterans Final, Edet Akpaso defeated Bola Ayorinde 3/0  (Scratch) while  in the Super Veterans Finals, lnnocent Ihebuzor defeated Walter Jibunoh 7/5, 6/3.

  • Lagos backs Rotary District 9110 on sports festival

    Lagos backs Rotary District 9110 on sports festival

    The Lagos State Government has thrown its weight behind Rotary International District 9110 Sports Festival (ROSFEST).

    The event that began at the weekend in Lagos is expected to end in March 2024.

    Speaking during the maiden edition of the event, the District Governor, Rita Ejezie, said, her District decided to introduce the festival to increase blood circulation, healthy living, mental health and increase in team work of all Rotarians.

    Ejezie, who also unveiled the logo for ROSFEST and the organising committee , added that the leadership of the District also observed that their members spend much time on others without  time to ease off.

    She named football, scramble, golf, volleyball, lawn tennis,  tug of war, draught, Ayo, table tennis, badminton and chess as the sports being competed for.

    Ejezie said the goals of the competition include fostering more cordial relationship and social cohesion amongst Rotarians and to improve the physical and mental well-being of her members, adding  ROSFEST will attract and extend rotary membership to non-Rotarian sports enthusiasts; create awareness and promote the rotary brand.

    Read Also: Haaland and Foden score as Man City beat Man Utd

    The District Governor also said that the festival will help District 9110 sports teams for future and external competitions and to create entertainment, fun and relaxation for hardworking Rotarians.

    Chairman ROSFEST, Alozie Nsirimobi said that, the tournament, which is being modelled  after  inter-club sports, said the committee is collating the names of all registered participants according to clubs and sports chosen.

    He said that all registration, except the golf game, is planned to stop by November 15, 2023.

    The fixtures, according to him, would be published immediately after and the marched shall start off.

    Alozie revealed that the tournament will continue till February 2024, when expectedly, all games would have got their best six to compete for the first, second and third positions.

    According to him, March 8 and 9, 2024, slated for the grand finale and medals award, will hold at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

    On partners and sponsors, Alozie said: “We are proud to mention that we have got some good and trustworthy partners and sponsors.

    “The Lagos State Sports Commission has graciously accepted to be our technical partners.”

    He added: “Some of our sponsors are offering free all-expenses paid trips and e-visas outside the country worth millions of naira, others offering plots of land in choice locations in Lagos and many more.”

  • Excited Opeh signs off as Uzbekistan Pro Liga champions

    Excited Opeh signs off as Uzbekistan Pro Liga champions

    Former Nigeria youth international defender Samuel Opeh said he was  happy to round off his career with Uzbek side, Lokomotiv  Tashkent, as champions.

    The  hard-working centre-back who nearly made the Golden Eaglets cut to the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Chile, said he was excited about winning the Uzbekistan Pro Liga title few days back

    on his final season just as he was giddy  when he  won his first career medal  as a junior international.

     “ Winning the league  here in Uzbekistan is a  very good achievement for me,” Opeh who joined Loko Tashkent from FK Oqtepa in 2021 told  NationSports.“ This  is my  second career medal  and my  first trophy after being in  the Nigeria national U- 17 team that won the bronze medal at the Four Nation  Suwon Continental Tournament in South Korea in 2015.

    Read Also: El Clasico: Late Bellingham winner helps Real Madrid beat Barca

    “Now, I am so proud and happy being the Uzbekistan Professional League  champions  with Locomotive Tashkent in 2023.”

    The  24-year-old  who said he remained grateful to former Nigeria international striker  Peter Osaze as well as his brother Anthony for his career breakthrough, is  thrilled that he’s leaving Uzbekistan on a high.

    He said: “This is my last season with the team and I’m happy I won my first title. At the beginning of this season, I’d  prayed to God  to help me leave here as a league champion and God  did that for me.

    “My contract with the team finished  this year and I am looking forward to having  another experience and new challenges in another league

     “I pray God  take me to the right place which I strongly believe, it’s already done because God is the greatest,” he added.

  • Paris  2024: Ethiopia , match officials  arrive for Falcons

    Paris  2024: Ethiopia , match officials  arrive for Falcons

    The delegation of Ethiopia’s senior women national team arrived in Abuja yesterday, ahead of tomorrow’s Paris 2024 Olympics second round, second leg qualifying match against the Super Falcons.

    The 35-person delegation flew into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport just after noon aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight.

    Read Also: Haaland and Foden score as Man City beat Man Utd

    Also in Nigeria’s Federal Capital is the squad of match officials, led by Christine Ziga from Ghana, who will serve as the match commissioner. There is also referee Edoh Kindedji from Togo, with her compatriots Abra Sitsofe Agbedanou and Kossiwa Kayigan Awoutey who will serve as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively. Yacine Samassa from Mauritania will be in the role of fourth official.

    Daloba Oulare from Guinea will be the referee assessor

  • Bellingham  tipped to win 2023 Golden Boy

    Bellingham  tipped to win 2023 Golden Boy

    Jude Bellingham’s El Clasico double is set to confirm his imminent crowning as Europe’s finest young talent.

    England star Bellingham has been the favourite to win the Golden Boy award all year, even before his move to Real Madrid.

    But sources in Spain claimed  that Bellingham is nailed on to win the award, presented by Italian sports daily Tuttosport and now in its 21st year.

    It has been suggested that the midfielder has earned votes from 95 per cent of media outlets in the selection process.

    Bellingham’s closest rival is former Croydon schoolboy and now Bayern Munich starlet Jamal Musiala.

    It is also thought that he had competition from Manchester United’s summer signing Rasmus Hojlund and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.

    But the Englishman, who destroyed Italy in this month’s Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley and has now scored 13 goals in as many appearances for the Bernabeu outfit, appears set to be confirmed as the new Prince of European football next month.

    Bellingham would be only the third Englishman to win the prize – for players who are 21 and under at the start of the season – after Wayne Rooney in 2004 and Raheem Sterling in 2014.

    Read Also: El Clasico: Late Bellingham winner helps Real Madrid beat Barca

    Other notable winners include Lionel Messi in 2005, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in 2020.

    The award has been dominated by Barcelona over the past two seasons, with first Pedri and then Gavi scooping the prize.

    Bellingham, though, would be the first Real Madrid player to take the honour.

    The award will be announced in Turin at a ceremony on November 10.

    Bellingham’s most recent moment of glory came in the El Classico against Barcelona.

    The midfielder scored a stunning equaliser from range before going on to net the winning goal in injury time.

    Bellingham has even been compared to Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo by team-mate Vinicius Jr.

    The Brazilian said: “Jude Bellingham is incredible.

    “He always makes a difference and the fans got used to Cristiano Ronaldo and now one more has arrived for us.”

  • Adams grabs seventh goal with Montpellier

    Adams grabs seventh goal with Montpellier

    Akor Jerome Adams continued to paint the French Ligue One with goals after his brace yesterday fired Montpellier to a 3-0 win over Toulouse.

    Adams scored the game’s first goal in the 13th minute. Khalil Fayad made it two in the 63rd minute before the Nigerian notched the third in the 72nd   minute. It was Adams’ seventh league goal of the season in his debut season in the French Ligue One.

    Toulouse that lost 5-1 to Liverpool on Thursday in the Europa League have now conceded eight goals in their last two games in the last three days.

    Montpellier fuelled by Adams’ goals have moved to the 10th spot with 11 points from nine games.

    Read Also: Haaland and Foden score as Man City beat Man Utd

    Elsewhere, Paul Onuachu extended his goals drought to three games in Trabzonspor’s goalless draw at Fatih Karagumruk.

    Onuachu had scored in his opening three games for Trabzonspor who secured his services from Southampton. He played 11 games for the Saints without scoring a goal before their demotion to the English Championship.

    The Nigerian has not been able to reproduce his fantastic start in the last three games but he was able to see out the entire action as Trabzonspor got a huge away point.

    They are fifth on the log with 16 points from 10 games.