The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • WAFU B U17 Tourney: 10-man Eaglets pip Niger Republic to go top 

    WAFU B U17 Tourney: 10-man Eaglets pip Niger Republic to go top 

    Nigeria joined Burkina Faso at the top of group B of the WAFU B U17 Championship after a lone goal defeat of Niger Republic at the University of Accra Stadium on Sunday.

    Rapha Adams’ powerful header in the 31st  minute was the difference between the two West African neighbours in a match that Nigeria played the final 27 minutes with 10 men after Chibuike Okorie was shown the red card.

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    Victory means the five-time world champions climbed to four points, same as Burkina Faso, ahead of the closing day of group B attrition on Wednesday when the Eaglets confront group whipping boys Togo at the Accra Sports Stadium, while Burkina Faso square up to three-pointer Niger Republic at the University of Accra Stadium.

    A draw against the Togolese team on Wednesday will guarantee the Eaglets a place in the tournament’s semi-finals.

  • Fresh dates announced for  remaining NPFL fixtures 

    Fresh dates announced for  remaining NPFL fixtures 

    The Nigeria Premier Football League organisers have announced the dates for the remaining games of the season with the season projected to end on June 23rd  with Matchday 38 fixtures.

    The NPFL in a circular signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Davidson Owumi, and sent to all clubs,  noted that the remaining games of the season would have to be rushed to ensure the clubs that will eventually represent the country in the CAF inter club competitions have some time to prepare.

    From the amended fixtures MatchDay 33 fixtures come up this weekend while MatchDay 34 fixtures will hold on June 2nd. MatchDay 35 fixtures hold June 9th while MatchDays 36, 37 and 38 come up on June 12th , 16th  and 23rd  in that order. 

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    “Having considered the circular from CAF scheduling preliminary club competition matches to start on August 16, we are seeking to arrange our remaining fixtures to be concluded on such a period to allow our clubs up to two months preparatory period to participate in the CAF Club matches,” the NPFL COO wrote in a press statement. 

    “Pursuant to the above, we have solicited and secured one midweek window from the NFF from their President Federation Cup fixtures. Wednesday June 12th , will thus host our MatchDay 36 fixtures, which will see the last games of the season holding on June 22/23.

    “It is our wish and expectation that there would be no further disruption of our schedule as we get going on Sunday, May 26 with MatchDay 33 fixture.

  • Eagles Tracker: Aina, Iwobi, Bassey, Samuel, Okoye star for European clubs 

    Eagles Tracker: Aina, Iwobi, Bassey, Samuel, Okoye star for European clubs 

    Super Eagles duo Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi will have another shot at English Premier League games next season following Nottingham Forest 2-1 away win at relegated Burnley to retain their Topflight status on the final day of the season.

    Aina was unavailable but Awoniyi was introduced in the 79th minute in place of Chris Wood who bagged the Reds’ two goals in the tie. Nottingham Forest finished the season in 17th  spot with 32 points as a result of the victory.

    At Brentford, Frank Onyeka missed his club’s final game of the season as a result of a knock but his teammates could not hold forte in his injury hit absence. They were beaten 4-2 by rampant Newcastle United. Brentford City already had their topflight future sorted before the game. They ended the season in 16th  spot with 39 points.

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    Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were available for 90 minutes as Fulham thrashed Luton Town 4-2 to confirm the Hatters return to the lower league after just a season. The Cottagers ended the campaign in 13th  spot with 47 points.

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    Super Eagles eligibles, Gabriel Osho, Elijah Adebayo and Chiedozie Ogbene played for Luton Town. 

    In Italy, Maduka Okoye could not keep consecutive clean sheet as Udinese were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Empoli who played without Tyronne Ebuehi. But the draw which came from a stoppage time equaliser has put Udinese in a position to remain in the topflight if they beat Frosinone on Sunday in the final game of the season. 

    Okoye’s teammate at Udinese Isaac Success was substituted in the seventh minute by Brenner owing an injury to the out of favour Super Eagles striker. 

    In Turkey, Fenerbahce defeated Galatasaray 1-0 in the top of the table clash. 

    Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel who was yellow carded in the 13th  minute saw out the entire minutes. The victory got by Caglar Soyuncu’s 71st  minute strike has delayed Galatasaray’s league title celebration in the Turkish Super Lig.

    Galatasaray are first with 99 points from 37 games and will travel to Konyaspor on Sunday but they could be overtaken by Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Fenerbahce who are currently second with 96 points, if they lose the tie and the latter beat Istanbulspor at home same day. 

    In Holland, Hamdi Akujobi’s Almere City were beaten 4-1 by NEC Nijmegen. Almere City finished the season 13th  spot on the Dutch Eredivisie log with 34 points. 

    Ajax Amsterdam with Chuba Akpom got a 2-2 draw at Vitesse to seal Europa Conference League qualification playoff spot on the final day of the season. They finished the season in fifth spot with 56 points. 

    In Spain, Umar Sadiq was absent as Real Sociedad beat Real Betis 2-0. Sadiq has not been seeing action in recent games. 

  • Organizers unveil special medals for historic 10th  Okpekpe race

    Organizers unveil special medals for historic 10th  Okpekpe race

    The medals for the 10th  edition of the Okpekpe international 10km road race have been unveiled, with just five days to go until the competition holds in Okpekpe town in Edo state. 

    Pamodzi Sports Marketing, the event’s organizers, said the design of the medals was driven by a focus on uniqueness and originality to go with the race’s status as the first road running event in Nigeria to have its course measured by a World Athletics certified course measurer and the first in West Africa to be granted a label status.

    “This is a celebration of organizing a world class race for 10 years devoid of controversies and that has always received commendations from World Athletics in terms of upgrading of the race from the bronze label we started with in 2015 to silver in 2018 and gold in 2023, a year after the race returned from a two-year Covid-induced absence on World Athletics road race calendar,” Zack Amodu, the race director stated matter-of-factly. 

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     “We are proud to set the pace for others to come and become world class like us not only in Nigeria but the entire west African region. We have unveiled a commemorative medal just for this race as it carries not just the logo of the race with the green colour of Nigeria running across its face but it was also designed around the figure 10 which easily shows it’s a celebration of 10 years of an historic event.”

    He said further  that  it was  imperative the medals connect sports, heroism and national identity and that they are all crafted from a unique brass alloy with each medal plated in gold, silver or bronze. 

    “The medals will be handed out to those who finish within a specified time as well to celebrities who will be at the race,” revealed Amodu

     “We are ready to deliver yet another spectacular race befitting of our status as the first gold label 10km road race in Nigeria. We are happy the attention of the whole watching world will be on Okpekpe race as the only world athletics label race to be run on that date all over the world.”

    The 10th  edition of the Gold Label Okpekpe international 10km road race will hold on Saturday, May 25, 2024 in Okpekpe town and it promises to show the world a true celebration of sport on a unique stage and welcomes everybody who wishes to witness a truly world class race run over hills and tarred road.

  • Diri Kicks Off Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tourney 

    Diri Kicks Off Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tourney 

    Season 6 of the Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament, the Prosperity Cup , has kicked off in Yenagoa with over two hundred teams jostling for glory in 22 centres across the eight local Government Areas.

    Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo took the symbolic kick-off to herald this year’s spectacle after the ceremonial introduction to the LOC, teams and officials ably accompanied by Her Excellency Dr (Mrs) Gloria Diri, wife of the governor and other top government functionaries.

     Diri noted that Bayelsa has taken sports as a major tool to keep the youths far off drugs, criminality and other social vices, pointing out that the successes recorded in the last edition is a testament to the important role the tournament is playing in engaging the youths meaningfully.

    According to him, the state is committed to the development of sports which has amassed numerous achievements in the last four years of the Prosperity Administration, across board particularly in football, wrestling, basketball, table tennis, athletics, para sports which has accounted for the success recorded in the last two National Sports Festival.

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    He urged fans and stakeholders to take the tournament seriously pointing out that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s endorsement of the tournament in the last two years was indicative of the global recognition accorded to the tournament.

    The state helmsman reiterated the call for multinationals and international oil companies and the organized private sector to invest in sports development, stating that by investing in sporting activities, IOCs and the corporate world would have contributed to the growth and development of society immensely.

    He stressed that sports was a veritable tool to positively channel the energies of the youths, thereby reducing the rate of crime, social vices and other forms of violence.

    The governor appreciated the sponsors including the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance, Ken Etete of Century Group, Ayalla Group, Grooming Center, Amadeus University, Red Tech, Hamilton Gardens, Phone Headquarters and Aqualina Waters.

    Earlier in an address of welcome, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon Daniel Igali, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Grace Alagoa, charged all the participating teams to abide by the rules of the game.

    In his remarks, Director-General of the Tournament, Ono Akpe, said the tournament would witness a three-in-one competition; the Para Soccer, Male Tournament and Female Edition, stressing that he was pleased with the exciting display of footballing skills by both teams in the opening match.

    The DG appreciated Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs.) Gloria Diri, wife of the Governor for her support of the female sports in the state through her Gloria Diri Foundation and in particular the foundation’s partnership with the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament in the female edition.

    Akpe explained that in the coming days, the tournament would kick off in 21 community fields in all Local Government areas of the state maintaining that Bayelsans should expect the best grassroots football in the various centres.

    Following the tournament’s tradition, Defending Champions, Krusaders FC of Peretrogbene started the tournament, and went on to beat Police Machine FC 3-0 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa in the curtain raiser of the tournament.

    Goals from Moses Anthony, Iwasoma Hansil and Paul Kememiah on 17, 28 and 45 minutes ensured that the Police Machine FC went back home empty handed.

    Also in attendance were the  member representing Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Agbedi,member representing Ekeremor Constituency 1 and the House Committee Chairman of Sports, Hon. Tare Porri, Hon Mitin, Hon A. Egba, Head of Service, Barr. (Mrs). Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, Prof Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff Government Dr Peter Akpe;

    Others are Chairman, People’s Democratic Party, Bayelsa State, Hon. Solomon Agwana, commissioners, Chairmen of Boards and Commissions, Local  government Chairmen, Permanent Secretaries, Director of Sports Sir Braveman Wodi and President of the Super Eagles Supporters Club Dr Johnson Dagana.

    Season 6 of the Prosperity Cup promises to eclipse the achievements recorded in all other editions.

  • Ardova HPL: Tojemarine, Niger United in decisive clash

    Ardova HPL: Tojemarine, Niger United in decisive clash

    Leaders Tojemarine Academy will take on second placed Niger United in a top of the table clash on Monday at the ongoing Ardova Handball Premier League in Benin, Edo State.

    The two teams are tied on 18 points having won six games apiece. However, Tojemarine with a goal difference of +58 leads the pack while United have +41 goal difference to occupy the second spot.

    With the free scoring Tojemarine hoping to secure their first league title this year, they must be at their best to beat defending champions, Niger United, who have also vowed to retain their title at the end of the season. 

    The technical acumen of the two coaches, Adewunmi Shittu of Tojemarine and United’s Adebayo Yekini will  play a crucial role while a win for any of the teams would be a strong step towards winning the title.

    In the other games in the male category, Benue Buffaloes takes on Sunshine Kings, Rima Strikers battle Adamawa Warriors, Kano Pillars lock horns with D.Defenders, Correction Boys play Safety Shooters, while Confluence Stars take on Lagos Seasiders.

    Read Also: Niger United, Safety Babes rule Ardova Handball

    In the female category, defending champions and league leaders, Safety Babes take on Plateau Peacocks.

    Safety Babes are yet to lose a game since the closing day of the 2022 season when they lost to Defenders Babes in Lagos. They are tipped to win another title this year having won all five games played so far.

    In other games, Rima Queens take all Delta Queens, Defender Babes battle Bendel Dynamos, River Queens confronts COAS Babes while Seasider Babes lock horns with Imo Grasshoppers.

  • Haaland wins second Premier League Golden Boot

    Haaland wins second Premier League Golden Boot

    Erling Haaland won his second Premier League Golden Boot in as many seasons in England as Manchester City beat West Ham 3-1 to win a fourth consecutive title.

    The Norwegian striker was absent for two months of the season through injury and struggled to match the heights of his debut campaign at City when he struck 52 times in all competitions, including a Premier League record 36.

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    The 23-year-old failed to add to his 27 Premier League goals on the final day but still proved decisive in the run-in to help City secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight crown.

    Haaland scored nine times in his final seven Premier League appearances of the season to help City edge Arsenal to the title by two points.

    Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who himself started the season at City, was second in the top scorer standings with 22 goals, one ahead of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

  • Klopp hails ‘superpower’ fans in emotional Liverpool farewell

    Klopp hails ‘superpower’ fans in emotional Liverpool farewell

    Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool’s fans as the “superpower of world football” after his final match as manager ended in a 2-0 win at home to Wolves on an emotional day at Anfield on Sunday.

    Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah scored the goals, but the game was largely a sideshow as supporters paid tribute to the German they have taken to their hearts.

    The charismatic 56-year-old, who announced in January he was leaving the club, has forged a strong bond with the Anfield faithful, who gave him a rousing welcome as he emerged from the famous tunnel.

    The fans used cards to create giant mosaics, one simply reading “Jurgen” and another saying “Danke”, with many holding scarves aloft bearing Klopp’s name during a rousing rendition of the club’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

    After full-time he returned to the pitch through a guard of honour from the players to address the crowd wearing a red top bearing the words “Thank You” on the front and “I’ll Never Walk Alone Again” on the back.

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    A stage was set up in the centre of the pitch and the club’s owners, directors and ambassadors, including Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, all welcomed Klopp onto the field, with fans chanting his name.

     “It doesn’t feel like an end,” said Klopp, who arrived at Anfield in 2015 with the club at a low ebb. “It just feels like a start. Today I saw a football team play full of talent, youth, creativity, desire, greed. That’s one part of development, that’s what you need, obviously.

    Liverpool fans hold a banner reading “Jurgen Lives Forever”

     “People say I turned them from doubters into believers. That’s not true. You did it. Nobody tells you to stop believing. This club is in a better moment than for a long time.

     “We have this wonderful stadium, training centre and you – the superpower of world football. Wow.”

    Klopp added: “We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe. We decide if we trust or don’t trust. Today I am one of you and I keep believing. I stay believing 100 percent.

    “Obviously I saw a lot of people crying and I will tonight too because I will miss people but change is good. Everything will be fine because the basics are 100 percent there.

    “You welcome the new manager (Arne Slot) like you welcomed me. You go all in from the first day. You keep believing. You push the team. I’m one of you now. I love you to bits.

     “Thank you. You are the best team in the world. Thank you.”

    Klopp then also adopted the song Liverpool fans had created for him to lead the crowd in a chant of “Arne Slot, na, na, na, na”.

    The German led the club to Champions League glory in 2019 – the sixth time they had been crowned European champions.

    The following season he secured his place as a Liverpool great by winning their first Premier League title for 30 years, the 19th time they had been crowned English champions.

    He also lifted the FA Cup and won two League Cups in his spell.

    When Klopp made the shock announcement that he was leaving earlier this year, Liverpool were chasing a quadruple.

    They won the League Cup final against Chelsea in February but crashed out of the FA Cup against Manchester United and the Europa League against Atalanta.

    Their Premier League title bid also faded quickly, but by finishing third Liverpool have qualified for next season’s Champions League.

    Pep Guardiola, the manager of Premier League champions Manchester City, paid a warm tribute to his long-time rival, saying Klopp deserved to be ranked alongside such outstanding Liverpool bosses as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.

     “He has been a huge competitor in my life,” Guardiola said after guiding City to an unprecedented fourth straight English title.

     “It’s not just about titles won and who won the most. There are personalities that when they arrive in one place they stay forever and Jurgen will depart in the level of Shankly, Paisley, these incredible legends.”

  • French Open: Rome champion Zverev wary of Djokovic ‘at his best’

    French Open: Rome champion Zverev wary of Djokovic ‘at his best’

    Alexander Zverev is gunning for the French Open after winning his second Rome Open title, but warned of the ever-present danger posed by defending Roland Garros champion, Novak Djokovic.

    World number five Zverev, also Foro Italico champion in 2017, comfortably won his sixth Masters 1000 title by beating Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 and is eyeing glory at the Paris clay-court Grand Slam, which gets underway next weekend.

    Zverev has endured a bittersweet relationship with Roland Garros.

    In the 2022 semi-finals he suffered an awful ankle injury and was forced to quit, allowing Rafael Nadal to reach the final and win the last of his 22 Grand Slams.

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     “In general it’s always the tournament that I mark down in my calendar,” Zverev told reporters.

    “This year there’s no exception. That’s the one that I want to win, the one that I look for the most maybe throughout the year. I’m going to do everything I can this year.”

    Zverev claimed his first title of the year and first since winning at Chengdu in September at the end of an unusual men’s Rome tournament in which a host of top names were either eliminated early or dropped out before the start of the event.

    Six-time Rome champion Djokovic was dumped out in the third round by Zverev’s semi-final opponent, journeyman Alejandro Tabilo.

    Last year’s winner Daniil Medvedev was stopped at the last-16 stage while Italian world number two Jannik Sinner and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz both missed the tournament with injury.

     “Nole (Djokovic) is going to be at his best. You’ll see. It’s just the way it is,” warned Zverev of Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion.“The other two (Sinner and Alcaraz), they just depend on health. If they’re healthy, they’re two of the best players in the world, for sure, and there’s no question about it.”

    Zverev succeeded in his 11th  Masters final which equalled Boris Becker’s record for the most by a German since the series began in 1990.

    Zverev’s title in the Italian capital seven years ago was the first of his career at this level and Sunday’s was his first since coming back from his ankle injury lay-off.

     “It’s all about finding your rhythm. I’m happy that I did it here right before Roland Garros,” said Zverev. “Hopefully I can take it into Roland Garros and play some of my best tennis there, as well.”

    Zverev comfortably beat Chile’s Jarry, who could not repeat his quarter-final and semi-final heroics against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Tommy Paul in reaching his first Masters final, in one hour and 41 minutes.

  • Hamdy gives Zamalek second CAF Confederation Cup title

    Hamdy gives Zamalek second CAF Confederation Cup title

    Ahmed Hamdy scored midway through the first half to give Zamalek of Egypt a 1-0 victory over Renaissance Berkane of Morocco and a second CAF Confederation Cup title.

    The two-leg final finished 2-2 on aggregate with the Cairo club winning the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League on away goals.

    The previous Zamalek triumph in the second-tier competition also came against Berkane with the Egyptians winning on penalties in 2019 after another aggregate draw.

    It was a historic triumph for Zamalek boss Jose Gomes, who became the first Portuguese coach to win the Confederation Cup.

    Zamalek made one change to the team that started the first leg in Morocco last Sunday with Senegalese Ibrahima Ndiaye replacing Nigeria-born fellow winger Samson Akinyoola.

    Berkane were unchanged with Burkina Faso centre-back Issoufou Dayo captaining the team and Senegalese Paul Bassene leading the attack.

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    A sell-out crowd in the 75,000-capacity Cairo International Stadium cheered, chanted and waved large flags as Zamalek attacked relentlessly in the early stages.

    It seemed a matter of time before Berkane conceded, and Zamalek took the lead on 23 minutes through Hamdy, a midfielder who joined the White Knights four months ago.

    An attempted clearance by Berkane was blocked and Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed pushed the ball to unmarked Hamdy, who rifled a low shot wide of goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani into the corner of the net.

    Level on aggregate but behind on away goals, Berkane came out of their defensive shell and Dayo almost levelled soon after with a far-post header after a free kick.

    Paul Bassene had his first sight of goal on 32 minutes, but blazed over, then Yassine Labhiri was much closer to equalising with a shot from just outside the area.

    Zamalek finished the opening half strongly and Berkane had to defend desperately with defenders blocking several goal attempts after Hamiani failed to grasp a cross.

    The Berkane goalkeeper nearly gifted Zamalek a second goal just past the hour mark as he initially hesitated to clear the ball and came close to being dispossessed by Seifeddine Jaziri.

    Berkane threatened with 14 minutes remaining when awarded a free kick close to the area, but a poor attempt by Ayoub Khairi sailed over.

    The Moroccans were reduced to 10 men two minutes into added time when Hamza El Moussaoui was red-carded for stamping on Zizo after fouling the winger.