The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cup’

  • FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets assigned jersey numbers

    FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets assigned jersey numbers

    Players of Nigeria U-20 female team (Falconets) have officially been assigned their respective jersey numbers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

    The assignment of the jersey numbers came-by after head coach Peter Dedevbo named his final 21 players for the tournament.

    Captain of the side Patience Okaeme and defender Maryam Ibrahim received their favourite numbers 9 and 5 shirts respectively.

    While midfielders Asisat Oshoala, Halimat Ayinde and Yetunde Adeboyejo were also assigned the numbers 4, 10 and 11 shirts respectively.

    One of the shinning light of Costa Rica U-17 World Cup, Uchenna Kanu, takes her place in Dedevbo’s team with the magic number 12 after impressing with three goals in her side’s four games at the tournament earlier this year. She is joined by her club team mate Chinwendu Ihezuo (jersey number 19), who has been capped at the senior level.

    Hardworking Gladys Abasi wasn’t left out as she got the jersey number 18, while big duo Courtney Dike and Uchechi Sunday received 8 and 20 jersey numbers respectively.

    The full squad and numbers are as follows:

    1.Sandra Chiichii [Ibom Angels FC]

    2.Ebere Okoye [Nasarawa Amazons FC]

    3.Idike Jiroro [Delta Queens FC]

    4.Asisat Oshoala [Rivers Angels FC]

    5.Maryam Ibrahim [Nasarawa Amazons FC]

    6.Nnodim Sarah [Delta Queens FC]

    7.Loveth Ayila [Rivers Angels FC]

    8.Courtney Dike [Oklahoma State University]

    9.Patience Okaeme [Delta Queens FC]

    10.Halimat Ayinde [Delta Queens FC]

    11.Adeboyejo Yetunde [Bayelsa Queens FC]

    12.Uchenna Kanu [Pelican Stars FC]

    13.Yetunde Aluko [Sunshine Queens FC]

    14.Osarenoma Igbinovia [Ibom Angels FC]

    15.Ugo Njoku [Rivers Angels FC]

    16.Ibijoke Sangonuga [Delta Queens FC]

    17.Victoria Aidelomon [Pelican Stars FC]

    18.Gladys Abasi [Ibom Angels FC]

    19.Chinwendu Ihezuo [Pelican Stars FC]

    20.Uchechi Sunday [Rivers Angels FC]

    21.Chiudo Ehiudo [Delta Queens FC]

  • WOMEN FED CUP: Delta Queens ready for Rivers Angels

    Delta Queens head coach Zannas Pele Eleta has said that his side are focused and well prepared ahead of the Women Federation Cup semi final clash against Rivers Angels in Abuja on Friday.

    Delta Queens booked their semi final ticket after defeating Pelican Stars 5-4 on penalties in the quarter final last week.

    Eleta, in an interview, heaped praises on his players for their resilience so far in the competition as he expressed confidence of reaching the final.

    “I was not with the team last year when we played Pelican Stars but I was told we lost to them at the quarter final stage. I told the players to go all out against Pelican and that they can do it. I thank God that they played according to our game plan and we made it to the next stage,”Eleta said.

  • Pepe targets Super Cup glory

    Real Madrid centre-back Pepe believes the European champions have a “responsibility” to win the UEFA Super Cup.

    The Portugal international was in action as UEFA Champions League holders Real drew 1-1 with Inter in the International Champions Cup in California on Saturday, before losing 3-2 on penalties.

    Real are partaking in the pre-season tournament as they prepare for the new campaign.

    Pepe revealed that coach Carlo Ancelotti is working the team hard in pre-season, but the 31-year-old accepts that will stand them in good stead for their quest for trophies in 2014-15 – which starts with the Super Cup against Liga rivals Sevilla on August 12.

    “The truth is the coach demands a lot of us,” he is quoted as saying by Marca.

    “We’re here to pick up the pace. We will be ready for the Super Cup. It’s a trophy and we have a responsibility to everyone. We want to win it.

    “Madrid, on the pitch, always has to win. We know that we have to go game by game and each game is very difficult, but we have to prove ourselves on the field.”

    Pepe also spoke of his excitement at playing in a side that will contain Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.

    “Gareth’s had two weeks training and he looks great,” he added. “He’s got incredible ability and will be a very important this year.

    “Cristiano had time to relax and unwind with his family. He’s well and I think he’ll be at his best.

    On Rodriguez, who joined from Monaco for a reported fee of around €80million last week, he added: “He’s a very talented player. I saw him when he played at Porto and he has a very good left foot.

    “It’s amazing that Madrid have signed such a great player.”

  • FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets land in Canada

    FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets land in Canada

    Nigeria’s U-20 women team the Falconets, arrived Canada 12.15 am yesterday for their training tour ahead of the 2014 FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup billed for Canada.

    The second batch of 14 players and 6 officials landed at Moncton airport at 12.15am that is, 7.15am Nigerian time.

    The two batches left Abuja on 24th and 25th of August and made a stop over at Frankfurt and Toronto before moving to their training base in Moncton Canada.

    The flight took about 16 hours, 6hours from Abuja to Frankfurt, 7 hours from Frankfurt to Toronto and 2.30 minutes from Toronto to Moncton.

    The team is camping at Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Down Town Moncton and will be there till August 1st.

    Addressing the team, NFF chief technical officer, Siji Lagunju said the team needs to be more focused in their training for positive results.

    “You have to put behind you all that is happening in the NFF and concerntrate on how to win trophy. Yes your training tour was cut short, but that does not mean you should relax, no! This is an opportunity for you to justify your stay in camp. I urge you to aim towards lifting the trophy” said Lagunju.

    Nigeria he stated has never dropped out in the group stage and thus this year must not be different.

    “We are here to win and that we must do”

    In the meantime, the only professional player invited to camp, Courtney Dike has joined the team from her base in USA.

    The player came in on Saturday and is determined to fully intergrate with her team mates.

    Currently there are 22 players in camp with the inclusion of Eyebhoria Winifred of Pelican Stars.

    The team had its first training at the Rocky stone Turf Centennial park, Moncton.

  • Federation Cup: Enyimba, Giwa clash in Abeokuta

    Federation Cup: Enyimba, Giwa clash in Abeokuta

    • Dolphins tackle Prime FC in Abuja

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has moved next Thursday’s Federation Cup semi final clash between holders Enyimba FC and fellow Professional Football League side, Giwa FC to the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

    Although there was a desire to ensure both semi final matches are played at the same venue for reason of close monitoring and the probability of Supersport television broadcasting both games live, officials have  decided to move one of the matches to ensure equidistance for both competing sides.

    Ruth David, Head of Federation Cup unit, stated: “We have now moved the match between Enyimba FC and Giwa FC to Abeokuta. Abuja, the venue picked earlier, is much closer to Jos, home of Giwa FC than it is to Aba, the base of Enyimba FC.”

    However, four –time champions Dolphins FC and Prime FC will still square off at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, also on Thursday. Both matches kick off at 4pm.

    There was also a change in the women’s event, with the match between Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons now to take place in Lokoja, on Friday. Rivers Angels and Delta Queens retain their FIFA Goal Project, Abuja venue for the same day.

     

  • Sundowns give Uzoenyi extended World Cup break

    Sundowns give Uzoenyi extended World Cup break

    South African club Mamelodi Sundowns expect Nigeria winger Ejike Uzoenyi to join them at the end of July when the extended World Cup break they gave him ends.

    The 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) Most Valuable Player has been training with Enugu Rangers since after the World Cup in Brazil, where he was a last-minute replacement for injured Elderson Echiejile.

    Rangers spokesman Foster Chime told AfricanFootball.com Uzoenyi will join Sundowns at the end of the month.

    “He is training with Rangers for the time being and will join Sundowns at the end of the month. His club have given him an extended break after he featured at the World Cup in Brazil,” Chime informed AfricanFootball.com.

    The left winger was given a 15-minute run-out in the group game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which Nigeria won 1-0.

  • Haruna confident despite Cup loss

    Dynamo Kiev midfielder Lukman Haruna is still confident ahead of the Ukrainian League campaign which kicks-off this weekend, despite losing in the Super Cup.

    League champions Shakhtar Donetsk beat Dynamo 2-0 on Tuesday in the Super Cup and Haruna, who came on as a second half substitute, tells the club site that he feels it is too soon to have concerns ahead of the new season.

    “We tried very hard and did everything possible to win the Super Cup, but unfortunately lost. However, this is only the beginning of the season, I believe that this year we will win the championship,” he said.

    It’s been five years since Kiev won the League title.

  • U-20 World Cup: Falconets finally depart in batches tonight

    U-20 World Cup: Falconets finally depart in batches tonight

    Nigeria U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, will finally depart for Moncton, Canada through Frankfurt in two batches aboard Lufthansa Airlines flight on Thursday and Friday from Abuja.

    A training tour of Canada was called off following the recent crisis that rocked the country’s football.

    Meanwhile, coach Peter Dedevbo has released his final list of 21 players for this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals, including full international Asisat Oshoala and former U-17 stars Patience Okaeme, Halimatu Ayinde, Jiroro Idike, Uchenna Kanu and Yetunde Adeboyejo.

    There are three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six strikers in the squad that Dedevbo said will stun the world in Canada.

    Dedevbo, who steered the U-17 girls to the quarter finals at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 and in Azerbaijan in 2012, has also included US–based college star Courtney Dike, younger sister of Nigeria forward Bright Dike. The tall and spritely forward from Oklahoma State University is the only overseas –based player in the squad.

    Nigeria has featured in every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, since the inaugural edition, also in Canada, in 2002. They reached the Final in Germany four years ago and also made the semi-finals in Japan in 2012.

    This year, Dedevbo’s maidens will clash with Mexico, Korea Republic and England in Group C, with the first two games coming up in Moncton, before they travel to Edmonton to slug it out with England.

     

    THE FULL LIST

    Goalkeepers:

    Sandra Chiihii (Ibom Angels); Ibijoke Sangonuga (Inneh Queens); Chiudo Ehiudo (Delta Queens).

     Defenders:

    Ebere Okoye (Nasarawa Amazons); Jiroro Idike (Delta Queens); Maryam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Sarah Nnodim (Delta Queens); Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels); Victoria Aidelomon (Pelican Stars); Gladys Abasi (Ibom Angels).

    Midfielders:

    Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels); Patience Okaeme (Delta Queens); Halimatu Ayinde (Delta Queens); Yetunde Adeboyejo (Bayelsa Queens); Osarenoma Igbinovia (Inneh Queens).

    Forwards:

    Loveth Ayila (Makwada Babes); Courtney Dike (Oklahoma State University, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Pelican Stars); Yetunde Aluko (Sunshine Queens); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pelican Stars); Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels).

  • FEDERATION CUP: Olayinka: Crown ‘ll beat Giwa

    FEDERATION CUP: Olayinka: Crown ‘ll beat Giwa

    Crown FC General Manager,Fatai Olayinka has stated that the Ajilete Boys‘ players have vowed to go all the way in this year’s Federation Cup having qualified for the quarter final.

    The Ogbomosho side eliminated Nasarawa United on penalties at Aba in the Round of 16 and are up against Giwa FC  on Wednesday at Onitsha.

    Olayinka in an interview with SportingLife, said the players have resolved to stay in touch and ensure that they pay Giwa FC for the defeat they suffered in their hands in Jos in the first stanza of the league.

    He reckoned that the Ajilete Boys would fire on all cylinders in their bid to pick a slot in the semi final of the Federation Cup since  cup success would guarantee them a continental ticket at the end of the season.

    He said Crown FC do not fear Giwa FC and they would strive to get through to the next round from where anything could happen from there.

    “We are glad with our progress in the Federation Cup this season but we would like to go all the way now that we are through to the quarter final. We know Giwa FC too well and the last time we played in the league they beat us 2-0. We are ready for our own pound of flesh and on a neutral ground we would be more than motivated to beat them,” Olayinka said.

  • 2015 Cup of Nations ticket: Babayaro banks on Enyeama

    2015 Cup of Nations ticket: Babayaro banks on Enyeama

    Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro has continued to praise the heroic performances of Eagles stand-in Captain and first choice in goal Vincent Enyeama at the last World Cup in Brazil.

    He has again tipped the Lillie Football Club of France star to again lead the Eagles to defend their crown in the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco next January.

    He emphasised on the number of saves the former Enyimba International goalkeeper made in each of the four matches Nigeria played in Brazil before the team was ousted by France in the round of 16.

    “I always ask my journalist friends and some group of people some questions any time they say we (Nigeria) tried at the last World Cup held in Brazil. I asked them did you see how many saves Enyeama made in the match against Argentina and other matches played at the World Cup? Imagine if it was a regular goalkeeper what the score would be.

    “In each of the four matches the Eagles played at the World Cup Vincent Enyeama made not less than six (6) to eight (8), 100 per cent close saves,” Babayaro disclosed.

    He, however, threw his weight behind the Lillie of France star to continue to lead the Eagles to future successes.

    “Enyeama will surely continue from where he stopped at the Brazil 2014 World Cup and help the country get the ticket for the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco next year,” the Atlanta Olympics gold medalist told Sportinglife.