Author: The Nation

Former Nigeria International and Atlanta Olympic Games’ football gold medallist, Nwankwo Kanu, has stated that the special recognition award given to Sports Minister Sunday Dare at the Maldives 2023 Sports Awards was a big boost to Nigeria.

Kanu said he was particularly elated when the citation for the award was read out to a global sports audience at such a big event.

The citation stated inter alia: “During the outstanding tenure of Mr. Sunday Akin Dare, he has made giant strides towards the development of sports infrastructure and Nigeria’s results in international stage have been phenomenal.

“Mr. Sunday Dare has received the most prestigious awards which include the highest order of Sports Administrator Awards by Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and he also received the Public Service Award of Excellence presented to him by the President Muhammadu Buhari and numerous awards including the Most Innovative Minister Award by New Telegraph Newspapers, during his great career as a Sports Minister.

“To appreciate and celebrate the support to the sport community, we are honoured to present this Special Recognition Award to the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development of Nigeria, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare.”

The former Arsenal player added that he was overwhelmed with joy that an administrator in Nigeria was so honoured at an international stage before current and former sports icons.

“I was so elated that a Nigerian got such recognition. Somehow the people of Maldives are aware of the good works of our sports minister and that is a big plus for us. I pray that the template he will leave behind will be followed by those coming after him. Nigerians should be proud of this man,” Kanu said.

Incidentally, Kanu was also a recipient of football icon award along with Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro and England’s David James.

“I am happy to receive the icons award together with other top ex-footballers in my generation. It is good to always put in efforts in all we do. Maldives 2023 awards was a blast for Nigeria,” Kanu stressed.

Premier League and English Football League (EFL) officials have been asked to provide an opportunity for players to break their fast during evening games across Ramadan, sources have told ESPN.

There are a number of players including Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan who are expected to fast for a month during daylight hours in accordance with one of the five pillars of Islam.

Ramadan begins this week and sources have told ESPN that following consultation with the relevant league administrators, referees body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has informed officials to explore whether any players or staff will be affected when clubs exchange team sheets before kick-off during this period.

A natural stoppage in play will then be created to allow fasting club staff, players and match officials to come to the side of the pitch and take on liquids or energy supplements.

The match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace in April 2021 was believed to be the first in the division to be stopped to allow Muslim players to eat and drink mid-game.

Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Emmanuel Adebayor has called time on his playing career, aged 39.

The ex-Togo international also represented Tottenham and Crystal Palace over the course of a nomadic and rarely dull 10-year stint in the Premier League.

Adebayor’s nomadic career also took in spells at Real Madrid and several clubs in Turkey before he finished his playing days back in his homeland.

In typically charismatic style, Adebayor announced he was hanging up his boots with a video on Instagram in which he signed a piece of paper with the message ‘Thanks for the blessings!!!’.

The footage continued with arguably most contentious goal in Premier League history which saw Adebayor score for City against Arsenal, before he ran the entire length of the field to celebrate in front of the fans who once adored him.

“SEA, from the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey,” read that caption that accompanied Adebayor’s farewell video. “Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I’m feeling so grateful for everything, and excited for what’s to come!”

The animosity that still exists between Adebayor and Arsenal dates back to 2009 when it had been expected that, after two prolific seasons, he was ready to spearhead a new-look attack and fully accept the responsibility of stepping into Thierry Henry’s shoes.

Much to Arsene Wenger’s disappointment, Adebayor was tempted by the riches on offer at the Etihad Stadium and ditched the man who had brought him from obscurity to England.

“I had a meeting with Arsene Wenger in his office when he told me I had to leave because he doesn’t see my future anymore in Arsenal. I have to move on in my life,” Adebayor told TRT World back in 2018.“I was like ‘I’m going to stay.’ He was like ‘no there is not even a fight organised. We are not going to organise any fight for you. You move out or you stay here and don’t play any games.

“So I didn’t have any other choice than joining Man City which I was very happy to join.

“And the next day when I joined Manchester City I saw him doing a press conference in London saying that I wanted to leave because the money was big and everything, and since that day that is where the hate for Arsenal came from.

“Not the fans because the fans are the first English fans to sing my name in London. Even today when I watch them play I want them to win but at the same time I want them to lose because the anger in me is too big.’

Tickets for Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Djurtus (Wild Dogs) of Guinea Bissau have been calibrated in price ranges of N2,000 and N10,000 for ordinary and VIP seats respectively.

The tickets are available at the secretariat of the NFF at the Package B of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Old Parade Ground, NFF’s former office at Wuse Zone 7 and other designated places which details will be announced on broadcast stations nationwide.

Nigeria, on six maximum points from their previous two matches, take on Guinea Bissau in a top-of-the-table fixture that will largely determine the swing of the pool, with the Super Eagles favoured to pick all six points and guarantee their passage to Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

Egyptian referee Mahmoud Elbana will be in the centre, with his compatriots Youssef Elbosaty, Sami Halhal and Ahmed El-Ghandour to function as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the match commissioner and his compatriot Kotey Alexander will be the referee assessor.

Twenty-four hours before his wards are due to take on Guinea’s Olympic squad in a final qualifying fixture, first leg duel at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Head Coach Salisu Yusuf said his Nigeria U23 boys are very much up to the task of grabbing one of the tickets to this year’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“I am satisfied that we have been able to work hard these past days and are now set for action. The players know that reaching the Africa Cup of Nations presents them a tremendous opportunity to fight hard for a ticket to the Olympics, which is a global tournament.

“We have invited a number of players from overseas that we believe can help us stake a very strong claim to the ticket, and we will be aiming for a good win on Wednesday. The second leg is on neutral ground, but we don’t want to entertain that in our minds. We have the objective of working assiduously to wrap up things in this first leg.”

Guinea’s U23 squad had their official training at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Saturday evening, hours before the Olympic Eagles took to the same pitch for their final workout ahead of the encounter.

Nigeria have won all the available medals in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, taking the gold in Atlanta, USA in 1996 and the silver medal in Beijing, China in 2008. Eight years later, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the squad led by John Mikel Obi won the bronze.

The return leg of the Nigeria/Guinea has been scheduled for the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan starting from 7pm Morocco time (8pm Nigeria time) on Tuesday, 28th March.

For today’s encounter in Abuja, CAF has appointed Sabri Mohamed Fadul from Sudan as referee. His compatriots Abdelgabar Mohamed Abdelgabar and Ahmed Subahi will serve as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively, while Ring Akech Malong from South Sudan will work as fourth official.

Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the match commissioner.

• Agent of Nigerian ace to meet PSG

Italian Serie A side Napoli have reportedly jerk the transfer figure for Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen to €150million (about N74,449,223,370.00) ahead of the Summer Transfer Window amid growing interest from several English Premier League (EPL) teams particularly Chelsea and Manchester United.

Leading news outlet Il Mattino yesterday claimed Osimhen’s name is on the shortlist at United for a while now and the Red Devils are looking to make a huge offer to service the Nigerian’s services, Napoli will only want a fee in the region of €150 million should they want to part with the striker.

Currently regarded as one of the hottest strikers in Europe , Osimhen’s impressive 25 goals in 29 appearances has helped Napoli into the Champions League quarter-finals and leading Serie A by 18 points.

Napoli’s President Aurelio de Laurentiis who is a great admirer of the former Lille striker, is not under compulsion to sell his most prized possession with words rife that the Gli Azzuris have a solid account balance .

“150 million euros, no less; otherwise De Laurentiis and Giuntoli wouldn’t even sit down in a chair to start talking,” a writer who likened Osimhen to Ulysses(epic) noted in Il Mattino yesterday .“ Because the blue bomber is a value for today, but above all for tomorrow. And so if someone really intends to take him away from Naples, he will have to show up at Castel Volturno with a mountain of money. “

In a related development, PSG’s sporting consultant Luís Campos is reportedly set to meet the agent of the Napoli striker during the upcoming international break .

PSG, who are constricted by financial fair play, may find that asking price hard to meet. However, Campos, whose PSG future is uncertain, is set to meet with Osimhen’s entourage during the international break.

Les Parisiens, according to Foot Mercato, are very interested in the player, despite the price, and Campos knows Osimhen’s agents well.

Manchester United, who are also looking at Harry Kane and Randal Kolo Muani, would be more willing to pay the asking price demanded by Napoli, whilst Chelsea are also in the mix. Like PSG, the Stamford Bridge club aren’t in a position of strength, according to Foot Mercato.

Osimhen himself is dreaming of a move to the Premier League and is reportedly wary that a move to PSG would harm his chances of achieving that dream in the short term.

• ..urges the Beninese side to fight like Cheetahs

Immediate Super Eagles ‘ foreign manager  Gernot  Rohr  will begin  a new lease of life today  as he leads  out neighbouring  Republic of Benin  against  visiting  Rwanda in a crucial  2023 Africa Cup of Nations  (AFCON).

The vastly travelled  German  who was recently  contracted by the Benin Football Federation, told  NationSport , that he  would be expecting his wards to fire  on all cylinders  and lived up  to their  new monicker  after  they recently  swapped  their long-known Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels)    to Les Guépards (The Cheetahs).

Benin have not qualified for the prestigious AFCON since their last appearance at Egypt 2019 and Rohr’s job is already cut out as they tried to pull their chestnuts from the fire in the 2023 Qualifying Group L section where they are currently bottom of the section behind Senegal, Mozambique and Rwanda after losing their opening two matches to Senegal (3-1 away) and 1-0 home loss to Mozambique.

Their  double header against third -placed Amavubi (The Wasps) of Rwanda starts today at the Stade de l’Amitie  (Friendship Stadium) in Cotonou  and the 69-year-old trainer said the Beninese side  would be  fast and furious b  to pull their chestnuts from the fire since cheetahs are widely regarded as the fastest land animals.

“ Benin are no longer  The Squirrels but are now Les Guépards (The Cheetahs),”the former Bordeaux and Nice coach  told NationSport.“ Of course, The Cheetah is a better name; more aggressive.”

Incidentally,  the former  Niger and  Gabon coach  had earlier  told  NationSport exclusively  that  he was not oblivious of the challenges  ahead  after signing a three-year deal to tinker the Beninese side.

He said: “ Yes, it would be difficult (to qualify for the next AFCON) because they have already lost the first two matches. Of course, the games against Rwanda would be decisive and we must do our best to win the next game at home on March 22 and the reverse fixture in Kigali on March 27.

“ And we also know that the second game away to Rwanda will also be difficult but you know,  I’m not afraid of the difficult work.”

• 21 players undergo second training session

Super Eagles  coach Jose Peseiro now has a  full house of invited  players for the doubleheader 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau following the arrival of Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen  even as Porto’s left back Zaidu Sanusi  was expected last night   to the team’s Abuja camp.

Yesterday, 21 players took part in the second training session held under the Portuguese handler at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja  with the  earlier arrival of additional six players including Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice), Victor Sochima (Rivers United), Calvin Bassey (Ajax), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal) and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City).

By  late evening, the Super Eagles had a full house with the arrival of  free scoring Osimhen who banged in two goals last weekend against AC Torino.

It is expected that all the 23 invited players will train today together for the first time with barely two days to the AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau.

Meanwhile, Peseiro  said he has picked the best players ahead of the qualifiers with Guinea Bissau, adding  he has  trusts in the invited  players and  his desire to build a  formidable team would be deterred should he be assembling  new players at every turn.

“I want to build a team. I prefer to choose the best players,” he noted.“I have called them because I believe in them. I have been in contact with their coaches and they have given them clean bill of health. I would have chosen others if I was told they were not injured. 

“Sticking to the same set of players who are not injured will give room for team bonding, spirit and unity. We are building a team for a long term,” he added.

Nigeria defeated the same Guinea Bissau 2-0 at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon in a group game and they will slug it with the same Djurtus on Friday before the return leg in Bissau on Monday.

The Eagles are seeking a third consecutive appearance at the AFCON  after missing out on the 2015 and 2017 editions in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon respectively. They were in the 2019 and 2021 competitions held in Egypt and Cameroon.

Following his quarterfinal finish at the just concluded WTT Singapore Smash, Quadri Aruna has jumped to 13th position in the latest world ranking released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

In the week of 12 of 2023 made public by the world table tennis ruling body, Nigerian continued his dominance in Africa as the highest rated player from the continent after amassing 350 points from WTT Singapore Smash to displace Germany’s Patrick Franziska to 14th place on the ranking.

Aruna is among the elite players in the world that are above the 2000 ranking points in the ITTF ranking.

The German who was booted out in the first round of the WTT Singapore Smash dropped from 13th to 14 for Aruna to rise by a step to 13 while WTT Singapore Smash defending champion Fan Zhendong of China remained the best player in the world with 9700 ranking points above compatriot Ma Long who has 5800 points.

Aruna who has been listed among the elite stars heading to China next month for the WTT Champions will be hoping to improve his rating through the tournament in his bid to be among the top seeds for the 2023 World Championships taking place in Durban, South Africa come May.

With 1045 ranking points, Egypt’s Omar Assar maintained his status as the second-best ranked player in the world rated 27 in the world, while the inactiveness of Assar’s compatriot – Ahmed Saleh aided his slide to 78 in the world.

Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw also dropped to 82 while Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa rose to 90th in the world.

Taiwo Mati remains Nigeria’s second-best ranked player in the world and sixth in Africa to 110 in the ranking.

Meanwhile, China’s Qian Tianyi was a breakthrough star last week in Singapore as her consistency has been key for her climb. She has participated in an incredible 14 events during the current ranking period and has three WTT titles to her name. But her latest performance has sent her into the stratosphere. Her run to the final at Singapore Smash moved her to the top 10 and a career high ranking.