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Tag: Stephen Keshi Stadium

  • 8th  National Youth Games: Stephen Keshi Stadium wears new look 

    8th  National Youth Games: Stephen Keshi Stadium wears new look 

    • Team Bauchi to showcase ‘My Bauchi Agenda’ in Asaba

    After  successful hosting of  the 7th  edition of the Youth Games last year with virtually all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in attendance, the  Governor  Sheriff Oborevwori-led  Delta State  government is looking forward to hold a bigger and better event between  September 9 and 19. 

    Chairman of the Local Organising committee (LOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, stated that all logistics needed to host a successful event had been put in place.

      Specifically, Ogba, a former Commissioner for Sports in Delta State, and two-time President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said that this year’s edition of the National Youth Games would be a talking point in history of Nigeria sports.

      The Stephen Keshi Stadium, which is the main venue for the Games,  is now wearing a new look with new facilities to add colour to the Games.

      From the main bowl of Stephen Keshi Stadium, to the swimming pool, and the two indoor sports halls, the impact of the state’s  readiness for the event is clearly on the wall as the  countdown  to next Wednesday’s opening ceremony in  gets underway. 

        Meanwhile, smarting from their outstanding performance at the North-East Zonal elimination for   Asaba 2024, the Bauchi State Director of Sports, Usman Yusuf, said the state contingent is set to project the ‘Bauchi Agenda’ of  Governor Bala Mohammed  at the competition.

      Team Bauchi which competed in 13 events at the zonal elimination held in Jalingo, Taraba State, finished with 5 gold and 8 silver medals, qualifying them to compete in as many as 10 ball sports when the Youth Games opens in Asaba.

    Read Also: Ronaldo breaks down in tears, becomes first player to score 900 goals

      “Our athletes’  outstanding performance out shone our opponents, which qualified us to represent the zone in cricket male team, rugby male and female, volleyball female team, handball female team, basketball male and female teams, hockey female team and beach volleyball male and female teams at the National Youth Games,” Yusuf enthused.

      According to him, the success story of the 222-man Team Bauchi at the North East Zonal Elimination,  derived from the moral and financial support rendered by the state Governor, commending him for his keen interest and desire to develop the state sports industry for purposeful development of the youth and his consideration of sports as a viable profession, socio-political instrument for national unity, in line with his ‘My Bauchi Agenda’.

      He therefore assured the government and people of Bauchi State that the state contingent to the  forthcoming National Youth Games under his watch, will not take the victory at the zonal elimination for granted, but will consolidate on the efforts to record more success at the Youth Games to justify government’s huge investment in the project.

      Yusuf also commended the Bauchi State Commissioner of Sports, Mohammed Salis Gamawa, for his exemplary leadership and for being a good ambassador of Governor Bala Mohammed by uplifting sporting activities and ensuring revival of Bauchi State in maintaining its glorious name as Mecca of Sports in Nigeria.

      It will be recalled that Bauchi hosted one of the best National Sports Festival in the year 2000, where Team Delta emerged winner for the first time. Bauchi had earlier hosted the National sports festival in 1991

  • Olympic Eagles beat Sudan 5-0 qualify for AFCON U-23 tourney

     

    Nigeria U-23 team Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba took their Sudanese counterparts to the cleaners thanks to a 5-0 demolition in front of appreciative fans.

    The Imama Amapakabo tutored side had lost the first leg by a lone goal in Al-Merreikh with Walaa Eldin Musa’s 45th minute goal making the whole difference. But the return leg turned out to a nightmare for the Sudanese as the Nigerian boys went goal crazy  starting with Taiwo Awoniyi’s 8th minute opener which

    Leveled aggregate at 1-1. Awoniyi’s goal turned out to be a ginger as Nigeria from then on took charge with Ndifriek Effiong scoring a brace.

    The team grabbed two more goals to seal the victory at 5-1 aggregate.  The victory hands Nigeria qualification to the Under 23 AFCON in Egypt in November. The tournament in Egypt will be an 8-team championship   with two teams expected to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

    Taiwo Awoniyi opened scoring in 5-0 defeat of Sudan

    An elated oach Coach Amapakabo gave kudos to his boys for rising to occasion. The team according to him will not be afraid of any opponent in Egypt adding that the target is to pick Olympic ticket.

    “I had the full complement of my team and the boys played well and deserved to win.  We will be heading to Egypt with one thing in mind which is to pick Olympic ticket” he enthused.

     

     

     

  • 2nd Memorial Lecture: Rohr, 25 Eagles players honour Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, led no fewer than 25 players in the team’’ camp in Asaba to the 2nd Stephen Keshi Memorial Lecture held in the Delta capital on Friday.

    Keshi died in June, 2017 and the memorial lecture was instituted by the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF).

    The Eagles are currently camping in Asaba ahead of the friendly match with the Warriors of Zimbabwe today at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

    Rohr, at the side line of the event, lauded the qualities of late Keshi, and told newsmen that he (Keshi) made a mark in Nigerian football and abroad, as a player and a coach. He expressed delight that the lecture held at a time when the Eagles were camping in Asaba ahead of the African Nations Cup tournament beginning on June 21 in Egypt, and for a friendly match with Zimbabwe in Asaba.

    “I commend the association of professional footballers for keeping date with Keshi. Such association is necessary to seek the welfare of members after retirement from active play. It is important that I bring all the players here as mark of respect and honour to Keshi,’’ Rohr said.

    Read Also: Eagles impress Rohr in training

    The Chairman, Delta Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, said that the lecture was to expose the younger generation to the times and achievements of Keshi, which made the state government to name Asaba Township Stadium after him.

    He said the lecture was a pointer to the fact that all players must prepare for life after football, adding that it may be challenging to those who failed to prepare for their future.

    According to him, like Keshi, the footballers must be dedicated, be objective and have a clear vision of what legacies they will leave behind.

    “Keshi started as a footballer, became the captain of the team, and later a coach of the Super Eagles, which he played for.’’

    On his part, General Secretary of NANF, Austin Popo, said the occasion was to keep alive the legacies and memory of Keshi. He said that the lecture was among the promises the new leadership made after their election in 2018 to reposition the players’ union to truly represent and promote players’ right and interest in Africa and the world.

    “The annual Stephen Keshi memorial lecture and the youth football tournament is one of such programmes. We are already discussing plans on how both bodies can make the second edition of the Stephen Keshi U-17 and U-21 national football tournament a success, with Delta government providing support,’’ he said.

    The theme of the memorial lecture is “Life after Football: What Does the Country Owe Our Ex-Internationals?”

  • Police allegedly kill IPOB member in Delta

    There was pandemonium, Tuesday, in Asaba metropolis after police shot dead a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    The Nation gathered that the IPOB members who were on a peaceful demonstration along Nnebisi road were accosted by policemen by the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

    Although details of the clash were sketchy, an eyes witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the victim was reportedly shot by the police who were detailed to disperse the IPOB members.

    READ ALSO: Our members never burnt police station in Anambra – IPOB

    Delta Police image maker, ASP Chuks Orisewezie denied that a protester was killed,adding  that the police arrested four IPOB members, adding that one protester was seriously injured.

    He said, “The IPOB members this morning started protesting and attack our men at A Division, Asaba, on that process they were arrested. They assembled at Logos- Asaba expressway, and marched to Nnebisi road to launch attack on the police station”

    He said Items recovered from IPOB members included pump action, 4 jack knives, charms, a Biafran flag and cans of fuel.

  • Super Eagles ready for AFCON, says Ikpea

    Ikpea told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the win in the international friendly against Egypt showed that the team was ready for the competition.

    He said that the team was in good stead to do well at the AFCON football tournament holding in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.

    “I am particularly impressed with the Super Eagles performance and the skills exhibited by the boys in the friendly match against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday in Asaba.

    “When the team scored the only goal, one of the fastest ever scored by a Super Eagles, the Egyptians came hard on our boys.

    “It was really a good game which also brought out the best in our boys as they did not give their opponents room to equalise,” he said.

    He said there was need to further encourage the national team in their buildup toward adequate preparations for the competition to enable them perform credibly and lift the AFCON trophy.

    The NFSC Chairman said that arrangement was in progress to drum and cheer the Super Eagles as part of its tradition whenever the national team was featuring in football tournaments.

    “On our part, we have begun our mobilisation toward ensuring that our members, both home and in the Diaspora stormed Egypt in large numbers to support our boys to ultimate victory.”

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles defeated the Pharaoh of Egypt 1-0 in an international friendly match on March 26, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta.

  • Super Eagles 70 % ready

    Nigeria’s senior soccer team manager Gernot Rohr has stated that the Super Eagles are 70 per cent ready for the battles arising from matches slated for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stressing that Pharaohs of Egypt game on Tuesday inside the late Stephen Keshi Stadium was great.

    Although Eagles’ striker Paul Onuachu’s first-minute strike raised hopes of a likely goal-scoring spree, which never happened since the goal decided the game.

    But Rohr argued further that: “We decided to make a fast start. It was a planned goal from the kickoff. We have a tall striker from Denmark (Onuachu), he did very well but he has to improve still. We made five changes with two local players making their debut. It will be good for them and their career.

    Read also: Okowa boosts Super Eagles with $50,000

    “All the time we must improve but let us enjoy this wonderful moment. We scored a wonderful goal. Tomorrow, we will analyse this game and go back to work on the team we have to make them better. I think the team is 70% ready but I like the number 69.

    “The match was a great match for us and when you play a great team like Egypt, which for me is one of the favourites for the AFCON and win, it feels good. What was interesting for me also in Asaba was that we had three wonderful victories. First, we beat Seychelles, the U-23 team also trounced Libya and now we beat Egypt. So it was a good week for us,” Rohr said without stating who his best players were over the two matches against Seychelles and Egypt.

  • Delta proud of football fest –Ebie

    The Government of Delta State is proud of the recent football fest in which the state hosted three international matches within five days.

    Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chiedu Ebie, told journalists that the ‘football fest’ had justified the position of Delta as the leading state in sports.

    Ebie said: “Our governor is passionate about sports and that is why we could do this effortlessly. It is good for the state because we have shown that we are good enough to stage international sports events. The Stephen Keshi Stadium hosted athletics last year without a problem and now three big football matches within five days. We are so proud of this.

    Read also: Success sparks revolution in Delta education sector

    “Next week, we will also host the final of the Principals’ Cup for secondary schools, which is a developmental event. At the last two editions of the National Sports Festival, our athletes emerge overall first on the medals table and these are enough to exhibit our strength in sports.”

    Ebie added that it was the wish of Governor Okowa to see Delta athletes, especially footballers dominate various cadres of the national teams in the nearest future.

    The Super Eagles took on Seychelles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on March 22 and after recording a 3-1 win, the U-23 team also engaged Libya in an AFCON qualifier for that cadre on March 25.

  • Ighalo, Onyekuru, Simon on target

    The Super Eagles defeated the Pirates of Seychelles 3-1 in their final qualifying match of the 2019 African Cup of Nations played yesterday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

    Goals from Odion Ighalo, Henry Onyekuru and substitute Moses Simon helped the Nigerian team defeat the underdogs in yesterday’s clash.

    Being well-placed at the top of the log, Gernot Rohr’s men came into the clash as huge favourites but showed less than what was expected of them in the first 45 minutes of the game.

    Odion Ighalo scored the opener for the Eagles via a spot kick in the 35th minute after Wilfred Ndidi was brought down in the Seychelles box.

    The Pirates then benefitted from a howler from Nigeria’s goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who failed to effectively punch a cross, to snatch an equaliser through Rody Melanie’s strike in the 41st minute.

    Read also: Season of harvest for Super Eagles and company!

    The Eagles came back better in the second-half and just five minutes after the restart, went into the lead through a header from Henry Onyekuru. The Galatasaray forward nodded into the net from a Jamilu Collins cross to send his effort past the Seychelles goalkeeper from close range.

    Moses Simon, who was introduced late in the second period, put the icing in the cake for the Eagles with a pin point strike in the box on the stroke of 90 minutes. The winger picked up a pass from Collins, twisted and turned, before blasting in at the near post for the Eagles third.

    Nigeria thus finish Group E as winners with an unassailable 13 points regardless of the outcome of Monday’s game between group mates Libya and South Africa.

    The Eagles will now have their attention turned to an international friendly against AFCON hosts Egypt on Tuesday.

  • AFCON Qualifier: Ighalo, Iwobi, Ajayi early birds in Eagles’ camp

    Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi, and Semi Ajayi were among the first arrivals in the Super Eagles’ camp in Asaba on Monday ahead of Friday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Seychelles.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three-time African champions, Nigeria, have already booked a place in the AFCON holding in Egypt in July, with the encounter against Seychelles hardly more than an academic exercise.

    But the Eagles have spoken of the need to end the qualification series on a high and maintain their reputation while using the game to kick-start preparations for the continental competition.

    They take on the Pirates of Seychelles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium from 4p.m. on Friday.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire NFF’s Director of Communications said that nine players including forward Ighalo, and midfielders Iwobi and Ajayi were among first arrivals at the team’s camp in Asaba.

    “Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi are all in town, as well as home –based professionals Ikouwem Utin, Ndifreke Effiong and Valentine Ozornwafor.

    Read Also: Ighalo: Eagles need to prepare well for 2019 AFCON

    “The bulk of the invited group of 23 will come in on Tuesday, with the international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday next week also in mind,” Olajire said.

    NAN also reports that Technical Adviser Gernor Rohr called up 23 players for the two matches, with Ikouwem Utin and Effiong leaping onto the list as a result of injuries to Samuel Kalu and Ola Aina.

    NAN

     

  • AITEO Cup:10,000 Rangers’ supporters to storm Asaba

    National Chairman of Rangers International FC Supporters’ Club of Enugu Ibuchukwu Nwodo on Tuesday said that the club would storm Asaba with over 50 buses and 10,000 die-hard fans to watch the final of AITECO clash.

    This is to enable them support the club during the clash between it and Kano Pillars FC in the final of 2018 Edition of the AITEO Cup (Federation Cup) on Oct. 24 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba in Delta.

    Nwodo told the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu that the supporters’ club would mobilise members from all the branches in Nigeria to travel to Asaba to support the ‘Flying Antelopes.’

    According to him, a five-man committee has been put in place to mobilise supporters across the country for the trip to Asaba.

    “We expect a tough challenge from Kano Pillars but with the way our team has been playing, I do not see us letting the cup slip through our fingers.

    “We, members of the supporters club, have put a committee in place to help us organise a smooth movement to Asaba and back with the trophy.

    Read Also: Anti bomb Squad, others for AITEO Cup final

    “With the arrangement on ground, we hope to depart Enugu with at least, 50 buses comprising Marcopollo, Coaster and mini buses conveying our supporters to Asaba.

    `Our branches in Nnewi, Abakaliki, Onitsha and others have indicated interest to be in Asaba as well.

    “We are looking forward to mobilising over 10,000 of our members to storm Asaba, to drum support for our darling Rangers to a resounding victory, “he said.

    Nwodo is also a Special Assistant to the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Rangers Matters.

    On the qualification of Rangers for the Aiteo Cup final after eleven years, Nwodo said that it was a thing of joy.

    He said that the achievement had gone a long way to show the level of motivation the governor had extended to the club since he came to power.

    Nwodo said that Ugwuanyi was a strong supporter of the club and had never hidden his love for Rangers.

    “It is almost a dream come true and this is pay-back period from the players, for the cup to come back to Enugu after a long while.’’