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Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • AHEAD FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: Eaglets to depart for Brazil training tour October 8

    The national U-17 side, Golden Eaglets, are expected to leave the country on 8th October for Sao Paolo, Brazil for the final build up to the FIFA U17 World Cup billed for South American nation.

    This much was disclosed  by the team’s head coach, Manu Garba through the team’s media officer, Francis Achi who explained that 30 players would  make the trip to Brazil before the final 21-man list  is selected.

    Garba was quoted as saying  that the closed camping in Sao Paulo will afford the technical crew the chance to fully access all the 30 players before a decision is made on the 21 that will don Nigeria colours in Brazil.

    Read Also: CAF Champions League: Enyimba’s Abd’Allah takes lessons after exit

    The coach, according to Achi,  commended the UEFA/CAF tournament in Turkey and stressed that the three games they played have enabled them to notice errors that must be corrected before the start of the World Cup.

    “It was a very good exposure for the boys especially after the last AFCON played in April,” Garba said.

    “Since April the team has not played any international  match and they met very stiff competition from almost all the teams that  took part in the tournament  in Turkey.”

  • Zenith Bank Basketball League: Air Warriors, Customs in early lead

    Air Warriors Women team continued from where they finished at the Abuja Zone of this year’s Zenith Bank Basketball League as they whipped Adamawa Super Flames in the four quarters to lead the Savannah Conference.

    The Air Warriors coached by Samson Sotiminu drubbed the Adamawa Babes 25-3, 49-14, 68-21 and 80-24 to establish the lead at the Conference.

    “Our goal is to go all out and clinch the title for the first time. We are prepared but we know it is not going to be easy but we are prepared for it,” Sotiminu said after the victory.

    Read Also: IAAF 2019 World Championships: Oduduru: I’m frustrated with AFN

    Also through yesterday are the Nigeria Customs ladies who narrowly defeated Plateau Rocks 53-49 and Blackgold Queens who defeated a sloppy Nigeria Army side 73-60.

    Meanwhile, the League continues on Wednesday with Plateau Rocks playing Adamawa Flames while Blackgold Queens take on Air Warriors.

    The other two matches are between Kaduna Angels and Nigeria Customs while Nigeria Army slug it out with Taraba Hurricanes in the last match of the day.

  • Fleet-footed Dennis’ brace nearly ruined Real Madrid

    Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis was the cynosure of all eyes at the Bernabeu on Tuesday as he scored a first half brace against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League but the Belgian side couldn’t hold to their lead.

    Real Madrid were battered by Paris Saint-Germain in the opening match of their Champions’ League group and their game at home against Club Brugge was expected to set them back on course in the competition, but Zinedine Zidane’s side suffered a nightmare start.

    Dennis put his side ahead after just nine minutes with a goal that was initially ruled out for offside, before VAR came to their rescue, and doubled the lead with a deft chip over Thibaut Courtois on 40 minutes.

    Ramos headed the Spanish side back into the game after 55 minutes despite the fact he’d initially looked offside from the cross, but VAR confirmed it was indeed a goal.

    Read Also: Olayinka leads Slavia Prague against Dortmund

    Ruud Vormer was sent off after 84 minutes for a second bookable offence and Casemiro made it 2-2 from the resulting free kick.

    Dennis’ first goal for Club Brugge is the fastest they have ever scored in a Champions League game (8 minutes, 9 seconds) and the 23-year-old became the third Nigerian to score against Real Madrid in the competition, after James Obiorah and Ayila Yussuf.

    Compatriot David Okereke was not listed for the Belgian side despite scoring a brace last weekend and was replaced in the team by South African international, Percy Tau.

  • IAAF 2019 World Championships: Oduduru: I’m frustrated with AFN

    Following the criticisms that trailed his absence in the men’s 100m at the IAAF 2019 World Championships, Divine Oduduru has opened up on his frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

    In an interview posted on YouTube yesterday, the America-based sprinter said: “I was frustrated with my federation as IAAF has nothing to do with what happened to me because, if my country does what they are supposed to do, IAAF won’t have issues with us. I am not going to say I lose faith in IAAF because it’s a system that we need to go through.

    “There are rules that guide everyone, so if we don’t want to follow the rules, things are not going to go right. We don’t expect to think we can change the rules, rules are made for everyone to follow, so that my country does not do what they are supposed to do does not mean that I would have to lose faith in the people that are following the rules and regulations.”

    Read Also: Fleet-footed Dennis’ brace nearly ruined Real Madrid

    Revealing his frustration, he added: “It was in the afternoon of the day we were to run the 200m that I found out I was going to run and I think they have been working towards ensuring that I was listed for the event, so when they said I can run finally I just have to get my body ready.”

    The athlete that failed to make the 200m finals, further lamented the neglect of athletes by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), saying: “Now nobody wants to know what happened, nobody wants to understand what happened, people just going around, saying all sort of things. Sometimes they should listen to we athlete because we are the ones that are doing these events.

    “The way I was proud to put on my school clothes to run is the same way I’m proud to put on my country clothes to run. I don’t want to pay my flight ticket to meet and sit down and watch. This is the biggest meet in my career, so you’re not going to call it a joke.”

    Meanwhile, Oduduru said he was looking forward to new season in readiness for Tokyo 2020.

    “I’m not going to lie; I came here to get a medal because I was ranked number two in the world this year,” he said. “The next thing for me is to go back, sit down, meditate, get good rest and get ready for next season.”

  • Olayinka leads Slavia Prague against Dortmund

    Super Eagles new boy, Peter Olayinka, will be looking  forward  to  a good outing yet again as  Slavia Prague continue their good start in the UEFA  Champions League tonight as they welcome German giants, Borussia Dortmund, at the Sinobo Stadium.

    The Czech side came within a whisker of earning three points at Inter Milan, taking the lead through Peter Olayinka before Nicolo Barella rescued a point for Inter in stoppage time.

    Slavia are unbeaten in the league after 11 games, winning 9 of them with Olayinka scoring the only goal in their last match against Mlada Boleslav.

    Read Also: Meet Olayinka, Eagles’ new invitee

    Olayinka, 23, has scored four goals in 10 games for the Czech champions this season.

    The Champions league this evening will also see as Lille’s red-hot Victor Osimhen battle English giants Chelsea at home at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

    Lille would hope Victor  Osimhen is in fine form to help them get over the 3-0 away loss to Ajax on Matchday 1.

    In Belgium, Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey would hope to get some playing time against Italian side Napoli.

    Onuachu was on for just five minutes in Genk’s 2-6 humiliating defeat to Salzburg in Austria two weeks ago while Stephen Odey was not dressed for the game.

  • Rohr fecilitates with Nigeria at 59

    Super Eagles German coach, Gernot Rohr has offered felicitation and salutation to Nigeria and indeed fans of the national team on the occasion of the country’s 59th Independence Day Anniversary which was celebrated on Tuesday.

    Rohr definitely shares so many things in common with Nigeria’s anniversary month.

    Apart from resigning his coaching appointment as manager of Niger’s national football team in October 2014, the former Bayern Munich defender actually made history on 7th October 2017 when his Nigeria-led team became the first African side to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 1–0 win against Zambia in Uyo.

    “Nigeria at 59? That’s a great anniversary,” the 66-year-old Rohr who has supervised the country’s 45 international matches told NationSport exclusively. “Today, Nigeria can be proud of freedom and democracy.”

    Read Also: Letter to Gernot Rohr

    Under Rohr, the Super Eagles have won an impressive 26 matches; drew 10 and lost 9.

    Apart from qualification for Russia 2018 World Cup, the Super Eagles also made it to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where his young side won the bronze medal.

    “The youthfulness of the Super Eagles is the mirroring of the nation,” Rohr noted in his goodwill message.

    Meanwhile, Rohr has disclosed that he might be forced to name a replacement for injured Super Eagles’ newly capped Joe Aribo ahead of the eagerly awaited international friendly against Brazil in Singapore on 13th October.

  • Makinde: I won’t interfere in Ibadan chieftaincy system

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has promised not to interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.

    The governor spoke during the 86th birthday anniversary and chieftaincy celebration of Mrs. Theresa Oyekanmi, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    Oyekanmi was recently installed as the 14th Iyalode of Ibadan land after the death of Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.

    Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. Funmi Orisadeyi, said: “As your son, I am reassuring you of my support for the progress of Ibadan. Let me re-state that I will not interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.”

    Read Also: Independence Day: Makinde calls for orientation change

    The governor solicited the support of traditional institutions for his administration in transforming the state, and congratulated Chief Oyekanmi.

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, prayed that his reign and that of the Iyalode would last and bring growth to Ibadan land.

    The event was attended by prominent sons and daughters of Ibadan.

    Among those present were Oba Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land; Chief Lekan Alabi, Agbaakin of Ibadan land; and Chief Sarafadeen Alli, a former secretary to  the state government.

  • Ndume: repair Borno’s bad roads

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) has urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate major roads in Borno State.

    Ndume addressed reporters after meeting with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, with lawmakers from the state.

    The lawmaker said the intervention would remove the harrowing experience commuters face as a result of poor roads.

    He said work on Biu-Gombe, Biu-Maiduguri, Biu-Damaturu, Biu-Gombi, Bama-Gwoza-Mubi, Gwoza-Damboa-Buni Yadi, captured in previous budgets and awarded, had not taken off fully.

    Ndume said no serious work was done on the roads, adding that a journey that should take one and half hours often took more than six hours.

    He said: “I and other lawmakers from the state met the minister of Works to intimate him of our experiences. We came to beg the minister to intervene to take the hardship away from the people; we hope serious work would begin on those roads.

    “There is only one connecting road that is motorable. From Maiduguri to Biu is 186 kilometres drive, which is about one and half hours, but because of the insurgency, the road is completely closed. Travelling that road now takes six hours.

    Read Also: Be patient over bad roads, Sanwo-Olu appeals 

    “The sad story is that the road from Biu to Buni Yadi is so bad. The road leads to Sambisa forest and if anyone should travel there, the person has to slow down and you know what that means. The only road we started using since last week is Biu-Potiskum-Damaturu road.

    “So Maiduguri is locked. The only exit is through Borno South and that is not good considering the traffic in that axis.”

    Ndume urged the Federal Government to prioritise road work to ease the pains of a people ‘who are already devastated by insurgency’.

  • Kogi 2019: PDP seeks redeployment of REC, police chief

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has called for the transfer of the Commissioner of Police Hakeem Busari, and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. James Apam.

    PDP made the resolution in Lokoja Local Government after its stakeholders meeting yesterday.

    The party said removing Busari and Apam would guarantee fairness, equity and justice.

    Read Also: Kogi 2019: INEC expresses worry over possible violence

    Signed by the party Chairman in Lokoja, Abubakar Idris, the communiqué warned against deploying Dr. Amina Zakari, national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to oversee the election.

    The party, however, passed a vote of confidence in the Nigerian Army (Records) Command and the DSS in Lokoja, saying they had lived up to their billing in the conduct of elections in the state.

    It restated its commitment to ensure victory for the party and its candidate, Musa Wada, and called on members to work for him.

  • AbdulRazaq donates to special needs’ school

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq on Tuesday donated audio books to visually impaired pupils of the state’s special needs’ school. The governor congratulated the pupils on Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary.

    A statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the governor visited the school after the pupils returned from the Independence parade at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin.

    AbdulRazaq inspected the renovation of two blocks of five classrooms, which he had pledged to upgrade when he visited the school in July.

    The headteacher, Mrs. Faoziyah Aroyehun, praised the governor for the books which she said would be useful for the pupils.

    She said: “These audio books are particularly useful for the visually-impaired students, and we appreciate … the kind gesture. We also thank him for the ongoing interventions in the school.”