The Nation Newspaper

Tag: WAFU

  • WAFU B U17 organisers pick two Nigerian referees

    WAFU B U17 organisers pick two Nigerian referees

    The organizers of the 2024 U17 WAFU Championship have released the list of the officials invited  for the upcoming tournament in Ghana and two of Nigeria referees made the cut.

    Seven countries including the host Ghana and the defending champions Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are in two groups of three (In Group A)  and four teams in Group B.

    From the list of arbiters made public by  WAFU Zone B, 14 officials have been earmarked for the competition including seven centre referees and seven assistant referees.

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    Nigeria’s Salihu Basheer was listed as one of the centre referees while Muhammad Yakubu was given the assistant referee role.

    There were two referees picked from Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Ghana and Niger Republic and Cote D’Ivoire also.

    The championship will run between May  16th  and 3oth with the finalists going ahead to represent WAFU Zone B at the CAF U17 AFCON later in the year.

    Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets are expected  to depart  for Accra  this  weekend for the tournament.

  • WAFU FINAL: Ghana defeats Nigeria

    WAFU FINAL: Ghana defeats Nigeria

    The Black Stars of Ghana have defeated the Super Eagles 4-1 at the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations final which was held on Sunday at the Cape Coast Stadium Ghana.

    However, Niger had claimed the bronze medal earlier in the day after it beat Benin 2-1 in third place game.
    In a report by allnigerisoccer.com, ‘both sides had clashed in Group A match last week with Nigeria winning 2-0 but the hosts overpowered their rivals in the final played at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday.

    The Black Stars started the game sharper than they did in the semifinals win against Niger on Thursday.

    Super Eagles number 10 Rabiu Ali had a sight of goal but Samuel Sarfo blocked his shot to corner.

    In the 33rd minute, goalkeeper Ezenwa Ikechukwu pulled a great save to deny Isaac Twum.

    The Super Eagles suffered a crushing blow when hardworking defender Adeleye Aniyikaye was injured and Ariwachukwu Emmanuel took his place.

    Sarfo made the dominance of Ghana count with a clinical finish after he cooly controlled the ball on the edge of the box and fired in a low shot in the 44th minute. There was no chance for Ezenwa.

    Early in the second half, Super Eagles coach Yusuf Salisu threw on Gabriel Okechukwu for Ubong Friday, who was on a yellow card.

    The switch didn’t deter Ghana who continued to run down the Nigerian team.

    The Black Stars had the chance to increase their lead, when substitute Patrick Razaq was tripped in the box.

    Vincent Atinga sent Ezenwa the wrong way from the penalty spot to make the scoreline 2-0 two minutes before the hour mark.

    The woes of Nigeria increased as Sarfo kept his cool to put his spot kick past Ezenwa in the 77th minute.

    The Black Stars were reduced to ten men in the first minute of additional time when Atinga was sent off for a second bookable offense.

    Ghana continued to be ruthless and added another goal. Winful Cobbinah tapped home following a lovely work from Patrick Razak.

    Nigeria reduced the deficit with what seemed to be the last action of the game thanks to Ali.’

  • WAFU Cup: Dalung leads Pinnick, Rohr, others to Ghana

    WAFU Cup: Dalung leads Pinnick, Rohr, others to Ghana

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, will lead a delegation of top officials to cheer the Super Eagles in Sunday’s WAFU Cup of Nations final against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    A statement issued on Saturday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Dalung would be accompanied on the trip by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick.

    The statement reads: “Also in the delegation to the Cape Coast Stadium is NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who arrived in the Ghanaian capital on Friday.

    “Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, also flew into Accra on Saturday and will be in the stands.

    “Head Coach of Super Eagles B, Salisu Yusuf, is Chief Coach of the A team where Rohr is technical adviser.”

    The statement noted that Dalung has been ever-present in Super Eagles matches in the last one year.

    “He undisputedly brings a rich vein of fortune around the team with the Eagles now only one win away from a sixth appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals,’’ it added.

    NAN

     

     

  • WAFU CUP: Nigeria Show Character, Mali Dominate

    WAFU CUP: Nigeria Show Character, Mali Dominate

    Super Eagles played to a goalless in the WAFU Nation Cup group opener against their Eagles opponent from Mali.

    The first shot on goal in the Thursday game at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium; Ghana came from the Malian Mohamed Traore, in eighth minute into the march.It was a goalmouth scramble inside the Nigerian box but the attacker volleyed the 16-yards shout over the bar.

    Ten minutes later, it was the Super Eagles had their first shot on goal when Uche Akas fired a straight 22-yard free-kick into the arms of the Malian keeper.

    Eleven minutes after Nigeria came close to scoring again when Stephen Eze met a corner-kick with a strong header, but his ten-yard effort was well-saved by the goalkeeper.

    Neither side could break the deadlock before the half time whistle.

    The second half started very slowly with the first attempt on goal only coming on the hour mark when Boubacar Samassekou met a free-kick from the left, but his ten-yard header sailed over the Nigerian goal.

    In the 69th minute Moussa Kone was afforded a great chance to score when he drove into the box, but with just Ikechukwu Ezenwa to beat he fluffed his shot and the Super Eagles keeper made a comfortable save.

    A minute later Olamileka Aniyikaye came to the rescue for Nigeria when he cleared a 12-yard shot from Mandala Konte off the goalline with his head.

    Nigeria threw players forward in the final ten minutes of the game and nearly stole the win in the 85th minute when Friday John met a free-kick from the left, but his 14-yard header skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar.

    The match ended goalless.

    Nigeria’s next Group A match will take place on Saturday, September 16 against Guinea while Mali will face Ghana on the same day.

    Mali (0) 0

    Nigeria (0) 0

    Teams

    Mali coach: Nouhoum Diane

    Mali: 16. Diarra, 13. I Samake, 4 Samassekou, 15. I Traore, 14. L Samake, 17. M Traore (2. Bah 64’), 6. Konte, 8. Coulibaly, 7. Malle (10. Niangadou 77’), 11. Kone, 9. Kida (18. Dieng 65’).

    Nigeria coach: Salisu Yusuf

    Nigeria: 1. Esenwa, 2. Okoro, 6. Eze, 5. Ariwachukwu, 3. Akas, 4Aremu, 8. Ifeanyi (17. Ashadi 62’), 10. Ali, 7. John, 14. Gabriel (9. Okpotu 76’), 18. Eduwo (11. P Moses 61’).

  • Amuneke expects Mali’s fight back

    Amuneke expects Mali’s fight back

    • Allays injury worries

    Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has warned his wards to be wary of Mali when they meet for the second time in as many days at the WAFU B Under-17 Tournament in Togo today at the Stade Municipal.

    Nigeria and Mali were left in Group B following the withdrawal of Niger from the tournament and today’s match slated for 3:00pm local time ( 4:00pm Nigerian time) would determine who tops the group. Golden Eaglets had already recorded 2-0 win on Monday and would need at least draw to secure their position of the group with a chance of meeting Group A’s runner-up in the semi-final on Friday.

    “The game on Monday gave us better ideas about the Malians and I must confess, they are a very good side,” Amuneke said after Eaglets’ training session on Tuesday.

    “We had thought the Malians were going to parade big players like they did when we played them during the qualifiers for the 2013 CAN Championship in Morocco but I’m quite impressed with the young boys they brought here.”

    The former African Footballer of the Year said his desire at the tournament was to win all his matches and has therefore warned his boys to expect fight back from the Malians.

    He said: “Of course, the game on Wednesday (today) would be a total different one because the Malians would want to avenge their defeat but what we just have to consolidate on our position.”

    Meanwhile, Amuneke has allayed fears over any injury in the team after some players suffered cramp in Monday’s game, adding that all the 18 players would be available for selection.

    “Having such pains is normal and we should not forget that we have prepared these boys under two weeks for the competition but we just finished training and every one of them is ready,” he revealed.

    “Again, this competition has given the players the opportunity to know what is demanded at this level and by the grace of God; they would be at their best against Mali on Wednesday.”

  • Lobi Stars flaunt home ground

    Lobi Stars flaunt home ground

    • Set for action

    As clubs await the kick-off of the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season, Lobi Stars appear to be banking on their new-look home ground of natural grass to do exploits this season.

    The Makurdi-based side that finished in the 14th position last season with 52 points in 38 matches appear to be itchy to host their first opponents at the venue, even as they proudly reminded anyone who cared to listen that the venue is one of the few in the country with a natural grass surface.

    “Did you know @LobiStars home ground is one of the few venues with natural grass in the Glo Premier League?,” the club asked Tuesday on its Twitter handle.

    The coach Evans Ogenyi-tutored side with a league title won in 1999, FA Cup clinched in 2003 as well as a Nigerian Super Cup crown won in 1999 in the kitty, will be hoping to take their performance to greater heights when hostilities begin this season and possibly have a shot at the opportunity to represent the country once more either in the CAF Champions League or the Confederation Cup.

    The Dominic Iorfa-led club has made one appearance in the Champions League in 2000, crashing out in the group stage, two appearances in the Confederation Cup 2004 and 2006, kissing the exit in the second round and one appearance in the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Championship in 2010, crashing out in the first round. Baring any last minute change of plans, the 2013/2014 season which was postponed from February 21, will now kick off March 7.