Author: The Nation

Sixteen-goal Super Falconets of Nigeria will be the favourites when they take on their counterparts from Benin Republic in the second semi -final of the ongoing WAFU B U20 Women Championship in Kumasi to night.

The encounter starts at 6.30pm local time (7:30pm in Nigeria), hours after the first semi-final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso at the same Baba Yara Stadium starting at 3pm.

Six-goal Opeyemi Ajakaye of Nigeria is the tournament leading scorer, and will seek to add to her tally when the whistle goes for kick-off on Wednesday.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Nigerien official Zouwaira Souley Sani Souley as the match referee, while Die Alse Sylla from Senegal and Ndeko Edwige Appia from Cote d’Ivoire will serve as assistant referees 1 and 2 respectively.

Togolese Edoh Kindedji will be fourth official while Naa Odofoley Nortey from Ghana will be the commissioner.

The Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos and Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode will be the host venues for the semi-finals of men’s edition of this year’s NFF/TINGO Federation Cup competition.

Bendel Insurance FC and Warri Wolves will lock horns at the MJA on Lagos Island, and whichever side is able to climb higher on the land will be eligible to play for the prestigious trophy next month.

Rangers International, who won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977 after a string of FA Cup (former name of Federation Cup) triumphs, will square up to ambitious Plateau United FC at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.

It was at Ijebu-Ode that Warri Wolves shocked Lobi Stars 2-1 to reach the semi-finals.

Rangers International pipped giant-killers Doma United 1-0 at the Akure Township Stadium in their own quarter-final, while Plateau United turned back hopeful Kwara United by the same margin in Abuja.

Bendel Insurance defeated Sunshine Stars at the Awka Township Stadium to reach the last four.

Federation Cup Semi-Finals (Men)

Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Warri Wolves (Delta) – Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos – 4pm

Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode – 4pm

The promoter of the world-class gold label Okpekpe international 10km road race , Mike Itemuagbor has described the death of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s death as a big blow to the media industry and Nigeria in general .

Dokpesi, the owner of Ray Power radio station and African Independent Television (AIT) died on Monday in Abuja.

His death was confirmed in a statement on Monday by his son and Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr.

In a condolence message, Itemuagbor hailed the impact the late Dokpesi made to the media in Nigeria.

“The Ezomo of Weppa-Wanno blazed the trail for private ownership of radio stations in Nigeria and was a great supporter of Okpekpe road race, the first road running event to get a World Athletics label status,” Itemuagbor noted. “Chief Dokpesi’s AIT has been partnering with us since the start of the race. He was an outstanding businessman and a media mogul.”

He added that the late Dokpesi has left his footprint on the sands of time; and his legacies are clear testimonies to his greatness as a man who ventured into private broadcasting and broke the ground for many who came after him.

“I condole with the family of chief Dokpesi and the government of Edo state over the death of the high chief. He died a great man who transformed the media space. May his soul rest in peace,” he noted.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is planning big for the 2023 edition of the National Women Basketball League sponsored by Zenith Bank plc.

Already, the federation has concluded plans to expand the women league with a view of improving the quality of the teams that will compete in the elite Women league.

In the new arrangement, a total of 34 women teams will compete in two Conferences billed for Benin and Zaria respectively.

Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin is the venue of the Atlantic Conference billed to start on June 1 just as the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, will host the Savannah Conference later in the month.

Eight teams are expected to qualify for the Savannah and Atlantic Conference of the Zenith Women Basketball League while the remaining will now for the Division 1 of the league.

Speaking on the development, NBBF President, Musa Kida, said it was aimed at strengthening the entire women league and the Zenith League in particular.

“The preliminaries are heldentenor to the elite one. We have teams that will qualify for the proper League teams (8 from each conference) from the 34 unequal women’s teams. The others will become Division I women while the Zenith Women League proper will start after we identify all teams that qualify from the prelims,” Kida said.

The sponsor, Zenith Bank, have expressed confidence in the new arrangement of the NBBF for the 2023 edition.

Group Managing Director of the bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “The target has always been to make the competition better with every edition and so we are happy that the NBBF is working on making the women league stronger.”

• By Hon. Ekanem Willie

National squash champions, Delight Temple Allison and Promise Ime James , were rewarded with scholarship by Esuene Foundation at a colourful event held at the U. J. Esuene Hall, Villa Marina Hotel in Uyo.

Facilitator of the Foundation, Archbishop Senator Helen Esuene, commended the duo for making Akwa Ibom State proud by winning gold medals in a recently concluded national Under-19 squash championship held in Abuja.

The scholarship program, she said, will cover all expenses throughout their first degree in any university of their choice in Nigeria.

Archbishop Esuene, who is the Chairman/CEO of Villa Marina Hotel, said she decided to host the event to celebrate squash medalists before the exit of Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration, noting that it was under his administration that Jacob Esuene Squash Club was inaugurated in 2017 by former Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke.

She added that though it wasn’t easy at the initial stage to gather children from different background into one and train them, saying she was impressed that the effort has paid off and yielded positive results with more medals at their kitty.

She hinted that from 2018 till date, the academy under Coach Ibanga Etukudo and his assistant, coach David Isaac, has won a total of 24 Gold, 19 Silver, and 25 Bronze Medals in National and Regional Tournaments, respectively.

She commended Udom Emmanuel led administration for infrastructure and sports development in the state with the construction of 18,000 capacity stadium in Eket, urging the incoming administration of Pastor Umo Eno to prioritize sports development in the state.

Archbishop Esuene further noted that they couldn’t have achieved all the feats alone without partnership and support from individuals and corporate organizations including Ibom Air, Union Bank, Grafen Integrated Oilfields Services Ltd., Converge Global Concept Technologies Ltd., Bethany Medical Centre, Villa Marina Ltd, among others.

While thanking the CEO of Jacob Esuene Squash Club, Engr. Iniobong Esuene and the coaching crew for investing their time and resources in developing the children physical and mental capacity, she thanked dignitaries who came out in their numbers to celebrate with the children, noting that they deserve the honour and encouragement.

In his goodwill message, the Akwa Ibom State Governor-elect, Pastor Umo Eno, who was represented by the SSA on Youth Matters, Aniefiok Iwaudofia, lauded the effort of Engr. Iniobong Esuene, for his investment in the children which has helped them to realize their potential at early stage.

He assured that his administration will focus more in developing and maximizing the potentials of Akwa Ibom youth for their overall well-being, which will bring more laurels to the state.

“This is what my administration will do in Akwa Ibom State. We’ll assure the people of Akwa Ibom State that, in the few months or a year to come, the young champions will be on the Guinness Book of Records, and we will support them to any level to achieve their dreams,” Pastor Eno said.

The event was attended by dignitaries including Member representing Etinan Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke represented by his media aide, Aniekan Udofia, Chief Nduese Essien and wife, Mrs. Ekaette Essien, AKISIEC Chairman, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko represented by Director of Sports, Elder Ifiok Duff, and Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong.

Others are State Director of NDLEA, Head of Security Operatives, Village Head of Atibe, Chief Udeme Unanaowo and spouse, community leaders, among others

• May face Ghana, Cameroon

The road to next year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for nine-time African champions Nigeria is haunted by Ghana and Cameroon, following the draw conducted in Cairo yesterday.

After a probable meeting with Ethiopia in the second round of the campaign in October this year, the Falcons will have to confront the winner of the ties Uganda/Rwanda and Cameroon.

Once they cross the Cameroonian hurdle, the Nigerian girls will be up against the winner of the Guinea Bissau/Benin Republic against Guinea/Ghana.

Cameroon stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics, when they edged a two-leg encounter on penalties in Yaounde.

Equatorial Guinea stopped the Super Falcons in the race to Rio 2016 Olympics while Cote d’Ivoire proved the stumbling block to the last Games held in Tokyo.

However, the Super Falcons have severally stopped the Indomitable Lionesses from reaching the FIFA World Cup, including beating them in the Women AFCON quarter-finals in Morocco last year to deny the Lionesses a spot in this year’s finals in Australia and New Zealand.

The Falcons equally defeated Cameroon right in front of their home fans in the Final of the 2016 Women Africa Cup of Nations.

The Falcons stopped Ghana from reaching the Women AFCON in Morocco last year, and have also severally been the pain in the neck of Ghana’s Black Maidens as far as FIFA World Cup berths are concerned.

Roma manager Jose Mourinho has never lost a European final while Sevilla are six from six in Europa League finals. Something has to give in Budapest tonight.

Portugal’s Mourinho has five major continental titles to his name – two Champions League wins, two Europa League trophies and last year’s triumph in the inaugural Europa Conference League with the Italian side.

The 60-year-old announced himself on the big stage in 2003 when he led Porto to the UEFA Cup, the Europa League’s precursor, and the following year he won the Champions League.

Inter Milan became champions of Europe on his watch for the first time in 45 years in 2010 and he celebrated his fourth continental trophy during his spell at Manchester United in 2017, winning the Europa League.

Twenty years on he is defying the naysayers who said his career was on the wane after a disappointing spell at Tottenham.

If Roma lift the trophy in Hungary, Mourinho will pull clear of Giovanni Trapattoni, who also won five major European trophies in his coaching career.

The much-travelled Mourinho is in no doubt he is improving with age and experience.

“Better coach, better person, same DNA,” said the Portuguese. “The DNA is motivation, is happiness. Desire for these big moments, and these are the feelings that I try to pass to the boys.

“I think you can be better and better with your experiences. I think your brain becomes sharper and the accumulation of knowledge is better with the years.

“I think you stop when you lose motivation. My motivation grows up every day. I think I am better now.”

Roma, who edged past Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals, finished sixth in Serie A but victory against their Spanish opponents this week would be a passport into the Champions League.

Mourinho’s future beyond this season is uncertain but he says for now his only focus is on today’s match at the Puskas Arena.

In order to achieve his target, Mourinho must get past Sevilla, who are kings of Europe’s second-tier competition – their tally of six wins is double that of Inter Milan, Liverpool, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.

They are 11th in La Liga but have turned on the style in Europe, coming from 2-0 down at one stage in the first leg against Manchester United to see off the English giants before beating Juventus in the semis.

It is a remarkable end to the season for the club, who flirted with relegation for much of the campaign, sacking Julen Lopetegui and then Jorge Sampaoli, before Jose Luis Mendilibar steadied the ship.

Veteran wing-back Jesus Navas is aiming to win the Europa League for the fourth time, just two months after Mendilibar took charge.

“We transform (on Europa League nights) and it’s incredible how we come out in every match,” said the former Manchester City player.

“It’s a competition that has given us a lot, and the joy it provides us every time we take part in it drives us to go as far as possible.

“What Jose Luis has done with us has been fundamental. He has brought the best out of us, and when you look at the teams we have eliminated, it’s something to be very proud of. He deserves to stay with us for a long time.

“He’s a coach who always pushes us, and who has that work ethic to train hard and get the best out of us. His arrival has coincided with an incredible turnaround in our season.”

Flying Eagles’ Head Coach Ladan Bosso believed his wards is capable of upstaging the applecart when they face much-fancied hosts and six-time champions Argentina tonight in their FIFA U20 World Cup Round of 16 duel in San Juan .

Bosso said matter-of-factly that his team will not be intimidated by the physicality of the opponents and the capacity crowd expected at the venue.

The indigenes of the Land of Pampas barnstormed through their group stage, winning all their three matches against Uzbekistan, Guatemala and New Zealand, scoring 10 goals and conceding only one. They are already among the favourites for the title, by both pedigree and current form.

Despite winning their first two matches, including beating early rave makers Italy in commanding fashion, the Flying Eagles lost to Brazil 2-0 in La Plata on Saturday and some bookmakers think they stand no chance against the pumped-up home team.

“This is the World Cup and it is wrong to under-rate any team,” Bosso said as his boys prepared for their official training session at match time (6pm Argentine time and 10pm Nigeria) , adding his Africa Cup of Nations bronze medallists will be ready to give as much as they receive in Wednesday’s encounter.“ We won two of our three matches and had the same number of points in our group as Brazil and Italy. We are no pushovers in this campaign.

“It is going to be an interesting game. We want the quarter-final ticket and the Argentines also want the quarter-final ticket.

“We will go in there and dig our feet into the ground, ” he said.

Meanwhile, USA became the first team to secure their spot in the quarter finals after a blistering 4-0 win against New Zealand in Mendoza last night.

Nigeria’s Vincent Okumagba has emerged the Vice President of Africa’s football supporters body.

Okumagba who is the founder and president of Super Eagles Supporters Club of Nigeria, was elected yesterday in an election that attracted 16 African countries.

South Africa’s Mamajoy Chauke was elected president of the body.

Confirming the development, Okumagba stated.”16 African countries came together yesterday to elect officers for Africa supporters union and I emerged as the 1st Vice President.”

Okumagba who was the FIFA fan leader for Nigeria at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, will be leading 100 members of the supporters club to Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer where they would expectedly throw their weight behind the Super Falcons.