Author: The Nation

Arsenal and Newcastle are among a number of clubs to have expressed an interest in Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo.

Scott Parker’s side were relegated last week following a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Burnley and as the Cottagers begin preparing for a return to the Championship, they must brace themselves for the prospect of losing some of their most talented players.

Danny Ings, Tosin Adarabioyo]

Adarabioyo joined the Londoners from Manchester City on transfer deadline day last October, having come through the ranks with the Premier League champions, in a deal worth £1.5m.

The 23-year-old has gone on to make 31 appearances in the top flight this season and it appears his displays have caught the eyes of both Mikel Arteta and Steve Bruce among others.

The Nigeria Football Federation has sent a message of congratulations to much-respected former Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala, who attained the platinum age of 70 on 17th May 2021.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi praised the towering goaltender for his glorious service to fatherland in the round leather game, delivering his best anytime he turned out for both the Senior Men Team (then known as Green Eagles) and Rangers International FC of Enugu.

“We all remember the heroic feats and unforgettable deeds of the great Emmanuel Okala. He served Nigeria to the best of his ability and we commend him for his patriotism, discipline, dedication and sense of duty. We wish him a happy Platinum anniversary celebration and many pray that he lives many, many more years in good health and in joy,” Sanusi said in Abuja.

Okala, an imposing figure between the sticks at 6feet 5inches, emerged during an era that Nigeria produced a long line of exceptional goalkeepers, including Inua Rigogo, Peter Fregene, Amusa Adisa and Eyo Essien. He earned his first cap in a friendly against Tanzania in Lagos that Nigeria won 3-2, and was in the team that won All-Africa Games football gold in Lagos in 1973, took bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1978 and finished as runners-up at the All-Africa Games in Algiers four months later.

Okala was also in the Green Eagles’ squad that won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980. He was named Africa’s best goalkeeper by the Africa Sports Journalists Union in 1975 and was in the Rangers FC squad that won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.

Sanusi also sent messages of congratulation to Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala whose team, FC Barcelona defeated Chelsea FC of England to lift the UEFA Women’s Champions Cup on Sunday evening.

Also celebrated were the duo of Leon Balogun and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, whose club, Glasgow Rangers FC won the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

Nigeria Para-Athletics team to the just concluded 2021 World Para-Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil Switzerland dazzled amidst array of tops teams that featured in the tournament.

Nigeria claimed 11 gold and five silver medals at the Championship with multi-gold medalist Flora Ugwunwa led the medal haul with three gold medals while Chituru Nwaozuzu, Eucharia Iyiazi, Onyegbule Lovina, Ahiaukwu Joy, Lauritta Onye, Amon Abraham and Edosomwan Osahon accounted for the rest of the gold medals.

The silver medals came from Chituru Nwaozuzu, Eucharia Iyiazi and Michael Olushola that had two silver medals at the week-long championship that lasted from May 11 to 17 in Nottwil, Switzerland according to the president of the Nigeria Para-Athletics Federation, Amobi Chikwendu.

The president while congratulating the athletes for making Nigeria proud at the global Championship, equally thanked the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare who ensured that the team featured at the championship that also served as Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games qualifiers.

Nigeria went with 10 athletes under the supervision of two coaches, Patrick Anaeto and Divine Jemerigbe.

With each of the athlete returned with a medal as Nigeria won 16 medals at the event.

Already five para-athletes had already booked their tickets to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, while more are still expected to berth in Tokyo.

By Olalekan Okusan

Nigeria international Quadri Aruna yesterday  confirmed kits sponsorship for  six table tennis players for a period of one year as continuation of his philanthropic gesture.

In an audio message, the Oyo State-born athlete said the gesture was borne out of his desire to groom more top players ,

“I am using this opportunity to thank the table tennis family for their support in this trying time and to urge us to stay safe as we continue to fight this pandemic globally. In my usual way of giving back to the society as well as supporting new talents in Nigeria and I will be supporting some players at the 2021 NTTF National Championships and I wish all the players best of luck and let the tournament begin,” the Portugal-based star said.

Speaking during the presentation in Lagos on Monday, the Chairman of ITTF Nomination Committee, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, said Aruna has become a shining light in table tennis with his gesture toward young players in the country, while urging other top players to take a cue from him.

Oshodi also announced the four new players who distinguished themselves during the National Championship would also benefit from Aruna’s gesture during the grand finale on Saturday, May 22.

World number one in U-13 Musa Mustapha and his sibling, Mustapha Mustapha from Borno State as well as Kabirat Ayoola of Oyo State and Aishat Rabiu were the four cadet players that will be kitted by Aruna for one year. The duo of Taiwo Mati and Azeez Solanke got renewal for their kits sponsorship for another year.

A delighted Mati commended Aruna for the support while promising to continue to work harder to emulate the African champion.

Other players that have benefited from Aruna’s kits sponsorship include Sukurat Aiyelabegan (Kwara), Muiz Olanrewaju (Oyo), Nurudeen Hassan (Lagos), Olajide Omotayo (Lagos), Fatimo Bello (Lagos), Abdulahi Afolabi (Lagos), Taiwo Balogun (Lagos), Ademola Abiola (Oyo) and Tobi Falana (Kwara).

Also Paralympics debutants – Isau Ogunkunle (Ogun) and Faith Obazuaye (Delta) have benefited as well.

Each of the players is expected to get two pairs of rubbers, blade, t-shirts, shorts, tracksuit, shoe, socks, towel, bat case, backpack and cap.

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has announced a multiyear partnership with Flutterwave that makes the payments technology company an associate partner of the BAL.

The inaugural BAL season tipped off on Sunday at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with 12 teams from across Africa competing in the new professional league.  The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30.

Flutterwave, which was founded in 2016 and recently named among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies, provides innovative payment solutions to more than 290,000 businesses and has an infrastructure reach in more 33 African countries, including Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The partnership will leverage the BAL and Flutterwave’s shared commitment to driving economic growth across the continent through the launch of a digital campaign that will provide select African entrepreneurs and small businesses with the opportunity to travel, connect and engage with other African markets.

“As a lifelong Basketball fan, I am excited that we are able to team up with the BAL as it tips off its inaugural season,” said Flutterwave Chief Commercial Officer Ifeoluwa Orioke.  “There’s progress going on in Africa, and this is the time to tap into the enthusiasm of young people to unite the continent and open doors for young Africans through sports.”

Nigeria and Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala has been left lost for words after becoming the first African winner of the European Women’s Champions League.

The Four-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year starred as a second-half substitute as Barcelona Femenino blew Chelsea away 4-0 to win their first Women’s Champions League title in the Swedish city of Gothenburg.

The Nigerian captain, 26, had a last-gasp goal ruled out for offside as the Spanish side’s triumph brought an end to Lyon’s run of five Champions League titles in a row.

“It was very important not to make the mistakes of the past [4-1 loss to Lyon] but to learn from it,” Oshoala, who has now won back-to-back Spanish League titles with Barcelona, told BBC Sport Africa.

“I can only thank God who has made everything possible through sheer hard work, by playing alongside this incredibly talented group that creates a lovely family atmosphere. It’s is a great feeling and I can’t really put my emotions into words because it has been a tough journey to get here.

“I hope this will continue to inspire other young girls in Africa and motivate everyone around the world that you can achieve whatever you put your mind to and work hard for it.”

Two years ago Oshoala claimed another notable first as she became the first African to play and score in the Women’s Champions League final as they lost 4-1 to Lyon.

The chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode has commended the La Liga Women’s Department for their consistent drive to develop women’s football in Nigeria and by extension in Africa.

Falode was speaking at the recent NWFL/ LaLiga ‘Show Your Other Side Challenge’ held at the Elegbeta Sports Ground, Apongbon, Lagos Island on Sunday.

“We thank LaLiga for its strategic partnership in building the blocks of making the Nigerian Women Football League strong and a force in Women Football League in the world,” Falode said.

“One of such collaborations is responsible for this event, and with many more purposeful relationships like we have with LaLiga, we’ll go further towards our goal.”

She urged football stakeholders and fans to key into the NWFL as the women’s league evolves into a global brand, admitting it would take time before getting to the finished product.

“The NWFL is  building the blocks of confidence of the Nigeria football lovers to buy into our vision of  evolving into a global league brand eventually. We won’t get there all at once,” Falode added. It’s taken so much to get to where we are today, and it’ll take so much more to arrive at our desired destination. This is why it is important to get the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders-  the fans are a major part of the collaboration.” She concluded.

By Olalekan Okusan

The two best table tennis players in the country will be up against each other as the battle for the N4.5m prize money for the 2021 Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships begin  today at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Azeez Solanke  edged Taiwo Matti to win  the 14th  Aso Cup Championships held in Abuja last week and the duo are also in Lagos to outwit each other for the top spot on the podium. The battle in the men’s singles will be explosive as National Sports Festival champion Amadi Umeh as well as Usman Okanlawon are also in the race for the top prize.

At the press briefing to herald the commencement of the tournament, the Tournament Director, Adesoji Tayo said the aim of the tournament was to continue the momentum which started from the 20th  National Sports Festival to the concluded 14th Aso Cup held in Abuja.

By Oluwamayomikun Orekoya with agency reports

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has credited Nigeria international duo, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, for the Foxes brilliant season.

The Foxes will secure a return to the Champions League with victory tonight against Chelsea, the team they beat to win their first FA Cup on Saturday.

At the beginning of the season, with reliable center back Jonny Evans out with injury and newly recruited Frenchman Wesley Fofana not yet in the club, the Northern Irishman had to appeal to Wilfred Ndidi to play a defensive role at newly promoted West Brom on match day one.

The Foxes were able to win the game 3-0 and then the next one 4-2 at the King Power Stadium.

“First game of the season, going to West Brom knowing that it was going to be a tough game against a newly-promoted team. That was a challenge for us,” Rodgers said. Wilf (Ndidi) played there at home to Burnley too and was exceptional.”

“The start of the season involved putting players in positions that maybe they don’t play so much but he was someone I have always had immense trust in. He has all the attributes.

“Making that good start was important for us.”

On Iheanacho, the former Liverpool boss praised the  productive partnership between the 24 year-old and Jamie Vardy, adding that suggestions that he had little choice but to turn to Iheanacho was misguided.

“Picking him (Iheanacho) was one thing. Finding a way to help him to score 12 goals in nine games was another.”

“Again, that was a case of looking at the assets that were not available,” Rodgers stated.

“We had to get goal scorers in the team and have that creativity because there is no point playing a similar system if you do not have the players to play it the way you want. You can say that it was forced on us,” he added. “But we could very easily have continued playing the same system and it would not have worked.”

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has conveyed his goodwill message to former goalkeeper of the Nigerian senior national football team, Emmanuel Okala, as he clocked 70 years of age.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari described Okala one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

According to him, the former national goalkeeper, who was party of the Nigerian team that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, represented the best of Nigerian talent and dexterity.

“President Muhammadu Buhari joins sports loving Nigerians in wishing one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Emmanuel Okala, a happy 70^th  birthday.

“As a goalkeeper for the senior national football team in his prime, President Buhari recalls that Okala represented the best of Nigerian talent and dexterity.

“The President thanks the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Winner for inspiring many with his brand of patriotism and dedication to duty each time he donned the national colours on duty.

“The President believes that Okala is worthy of honour and celebration as a coach and mentor who has helped many footballers succeed in their chosen careers.

“He prays Almighty God to grant the elder statesman more memorable years of health and fulfillment in all his endeavours”, the statement said.

Equally, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has described former Green Eagles goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala as one of the greatest goalkeepers Africa ever produced whilst thanking the former Enugu Rangers star for  his services to his fatherland.

The minister said this in a statement in Abuja yesterday while congratulating the football legend as he clocked 70.

“On behalf of the Nigerian football family, let me sincerely congratulate Emmanuel Okala as he turns 70.On this your special day, I wish you God’s guidance, protection, mercy, favour and good health, happy birthday,” Dare said.

He described him as an icon whose place in the history of Nigerian and African football would not be forgotten.