Author: The Nation

A CAF delegation team will arrive in Cameroon capital, Yaoundé on Friday morning to begin an inspection tour in the country in preparation of next year’s Total Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Cameroon.

The inspection tour will begin on Saturday, 22 May 2021 in Yaoundé. The delegation will comprise of experts from various fields including competitions, eventing, marketing, broadcast/tv, media, hospitality, security and various other divisions that are key in delivering a global tournament.

Supported by FIFA experts, the delegation will assess the country’s state of preparation and also discuss with specialists from the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) the possible technical support needed. The idea is to ensure that facilities under renovation or under construction for the competition comply with CAF standards.

CAF leadership has already indicated that they want the 2022 edition of the Total Africa Cup of Nations to be one of the best tournaments ever. To achieve this lofty goal, CAF, working together with the Cameroon LOC and Federation, FECAFOOT, will have to double efforts and prepare meticulously for the event.

Nigeria’s representatives in the Basketball Africa League, Rivers Hoopers were condemned to 99-70 loss to US Monastir of Tunisia, in the second Group A game played at the Kigali Arena yesterday.

Former Toronto Raptors guard Ben Uzoh and Chris Daniels both combined for 45 points, in what was an improved performance from the KingsMen.

US Monastir started the game on a bright note, leading the first quarter 24-12.

The KingsMen fought harder in the third quarter outscoring their opponent from Tunisia with 25 points to 21.

Christopher Daniels had the best performances of the tournament scoring a double-double, 25 points 11 rebounds plus shooting 4/7 from the three point line and 5/6 from the FT line, he was closely followed by D’Tigers starman Ben Uzoh who added 20 points. Victor Anthony added some defensive spark with 4 blocks.

Rivers Hoopers still have a slim chance of qualifying, as they will need an emphatic Victory against GNBC to fall as one of the two best losers to scale through.

They will face GNBC of Madagascar on Sunday  at 1pm Nigerian time.

The Super Falcons will take on the Reggae Queens of Jamaica on Tuesday, June 10, in their opening game of the USA Summer Series.

The venue is the BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas, and kick-off is 10.30pm in Nigeria.

The Nine-time African champions will then face Portugal four days later at the same venue.

The Falcons will wrap up their participation with a final game against hosts USA on June 17 at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Nigeria will use this competition as part of their build-up for a tricky African Women’s Championship eliminator against arch-rivals Ghana, which has now been moved to October.

Meanwhile, The USA have included Nigerian goalkeeper Chituru Odunze in a 27-man squad for a friendly against Switzerland on May 30 in St. Gallen, which will serve as preparation for the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four in early June.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Leicester City, is being called to the US senior national team for the first time.

Daryl Dike, who has been outstanding for England Championship team Barnsley, is also on the squad list.

Odunze is currently playing for Leicester City’s U18 and U23 teams.

He previously played for Vancouver Whitecaps and has represented USA at U17 and U20 levels.

Nigerian international Nwankwo Simy is attracting interest from Lazio and newly-promoted Salernitana after the Crotone forward becomes the first player to score 20 Serie A goals for a relegated team since Protti’s 24 for Bari in 1995-96.

The Nigerian is very popular with the Capitolos, but not only.

According to what was reported by SkySport colleagues, in fact, the interest of the newly promoted Salernitana would also be on the striker.

Ahead of this weekend’s Serie A, Simy will be hoping to increase his goal tally as Fiorentina could still finish in 11th place, remarkable considering they were at risk of relegation until recently, but Simy’s Crotone don’t want to end up bottom.

It promises to be an intriguing final battle between hit men Simy and Dusan Vlahovic, who scored 13 and 14 goals respectively in the second half of the season, 20 and 21 overall.

Seven medical professionals have been charged with “simple homicide with eventual intent” in the death of Diego Maradona.

The prosecutors’ office in San Isidro, Argentina, which opened an investigation into the Argentine legend’s death, have requested to the judge that those individuals indicted not be permitted to leave the country.

If found guilty, those accused could face between eight to 25 years in prison.

Maradona died at the age of 60 on Nov. 25, 2020, from heart failure, two weeks after undergoing brain surgery.

Leopoldo Luque, the neurosurgeon who performed a successful brain operation on Maradona, and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who treated the former Napoli star, are among the seven individuals charged. The two have denied any wrongdoing.

Audio of private conversations between doctors and people from Maradona’s entourage were leaked to the media and have indicated that Maradona was not being properly looked after prior to his death.

Maradona’s family has demanded justice and holds Luque among those responsible for his death.

The prosecutors’ office appointed a medical board to determine if there was evidence of culpable homicide from Maradona’s medical team.

The board revealed in a report that the medical team who attended Maradona prior to his death acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner” and left him “to his own devices.”

Two nurses, a nurse coordinator, a doctor and a psychologist are also among the charged. Maradona’s autopsy determined that Maradona died in his sleep of acute pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs, because of congestive heart failure.

The toxicology report detected no alcohol or illegal substances, but psychotropic drugs used to treat anxiety and depression were present. The accused will begin to testify from May 31.

By Taofeek Babalola

Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze has handed Villarreal a major boost ahead of their Europa League final clash against Manchester United on Wednesday.

The Nigeria  international has not featured for the Yellow Submarines since he picked up an injury in the second leg of the Europa League semifinal against Arsenal.

Chukwueze sustained a suspected groin injury in the 29 minutes and was and was replaced by 18-year-old Yeremi Pino.

The injury was expected to keep him out for a month, which would’ve ruled him out of the showpiece against the Red Devils next week.

However, the 21-year-old  was pictured in training on Thursday morning with the rest of the Villarreal team. He also shared some pictures of himself in training on his Instagram stories.

The forward  also participated in the club’s Media Day event on Wednesday as part of the activities line up ahead of the final next week.

Chukwueze’s return to training comes after Villarreal manager Unai Emery revealed he’s a doubt for the league clash against Real Madrid on Saturday.

Chukwueze has registered five assists and score one goal in the Europa League this season.

Nigerian ex-Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has been celebrating “one of the happiest days” of his life after his mother was in the stadium to see him score.

Ighalo, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Shabab, netted a goal in the 5-1 rout of Al-Ainon Wednesday’s  night. In a tweet, that included a video of his mother celebrating, the 31-year-old said this was the first time that she had seen him score in his 16-year professional career.

He now has six goals and three assists since he moved to Saudi Arabia from an eventful loan spell at Manchester United.

His club remain second on the table with 51 points from 28 games.

Ighalo moved to six-time Saudi champions Al-Shabab from Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua in February.

Nigeria’s wholly-owned Internet protocol television (IPTV) has reeled out over 12 dedicated sport channels to satisfy the growing appetite of sports-loving Nigerians for top-level and live coverage of sports events around the world.

In a release signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Pipul TV, Benjamin Okoroafor, it reiterated that the fast-growing television outfit has lined up over 12 dedicated sport channels that would provide live coverage of matches played in the topmost football leagues around the world. The local streaming service provider has made it possible for subscribers to stream live TV and VOD at zero data cost nationwide, making online-based entertainment affordable and available to every Nigerian.

“Pipul TV guarantees that all her subscribers enjoy access to every live and major sporting event on the plant under our #MissNothing campaign. We feature all sports including football, tennis, basketball, rugby, racing, boxing, wrestling, golf, swimming, athletics, board games and the Olympics.”

He added: “This means subscribers can enjoy access to live football games from the top European national and continental games, as well as, every league where Nigerians play overseas, no matter the country or the continent.

“We are committed to satisfying the yearnings of sports-loving Nigerians for up-to-date sports news and events around the world. And we promise Nigerians continued sports and entertainment coverage, even as the world leagues are rounding off their respective seasons,” Okoroafor explained.

By Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

Former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde believes sports is a veritable tool for national unity at a period where insecurity and agitations for ethnic secession by a section of the country.

The veteran coach said as much after he was unveiled as the Brand Ambassador of Osun State College of Technology Academy of Science and Sport, Esa Oke, Osun State at NUJ press centre in Osogbo on Wednesday.

He said: “When you go into sport particularly football, when you raise a national team, it will comprise Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. There is no tribalism in the selection and the same thing goes for the spectators.

“If Nigeria handles sport the way it ought to be, I tell you that it will address a lot of problems like political, security and social problems.

“My people are now agitating of exiting Nigeria, I pity them most, I have talked with some of the people that are leading this agitation ; I ask them that you are looking for freedom but if it leads to war can anybody assure me that Modakeke and Ife will go the same way, Ijebu Remo and Ijebu Ode; Offa and Erin-Ile and others are they going to go the same way?

“Sports will engender unity in Nigeria,” he advised.

He noted that exercise is part of human development. He lamented that parents at times have destroyed many talents stressing that sports can enhance nation’s development.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Melvin Pinnick has mandated members of the Federation’s Women’s Football Committee to reflect deeply and enact policies and strategies that would spur the development of Nigeria women football from the grassroots.

Speaking at the formal inauguration of the committee, Pinnick, who was represented by the Member of Executive Committee and Chairman of the Kano State Football Association, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, noted that Nigeria has remained at the very top of the women’s game in Africa for the past three decades but must now break through into the global elite circle and creditably challenge for honours at that level.

“We know the quality of each and every one of you and what you are capable of; that is why we have appointed you into this venerable committee. The NFF will give you all the support to meet regularly and come up with policies that will drive Nigeria women football to a higher pedestal.

“We have won everything that is there to be won in Africa; it is time to challenge for honours at the FIFA World Cup and the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.”

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi assured the committee of the NFF Secretariat’s full support in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities, saying the entire NFF leadership is passionate about women’s football.

Responding, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran thanked the NFF Executive Committee for the confidence reposed in the members, and pledged that the members would work hard towards taking women’s game in Nigeria to higher heights.

“We are aware that the President and the leadership of the secretariat are passionate about women’s football. Approval for us to hold this physical meeting is prove of the leadership’s good intention towards this panel, and are determined to justify the confidence reposed in this committee.”

Other members of the committee are Ms Aisha Falode (Vice Chairman); Mrs Margaret Icheen (Member); Mr Harry Awurumibe (Member); Mrs Chisom Ezeoke (Member); Mrs Sa’adatu Mukhtar (Co-opted Member); Mrs Thelma Agara (Co-opted Member); Mrs Cecilia Omorogbe (Co-opted Member) and; Mrs Timinepre Jombo Idoko (Co-opted Member). NFF’s Head of Women Football, Mrs Amina Sani Daura is Secretary.

Also at the inauguration were NFF’s Director of Finance and Administration, Charity Kadiri; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire and; Ag. Director of Competitions, Ruth David.