Sports
… NFF Hopeful Of Team’s Good Outing
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday in Abuja expressed cautious optimism on the draws for the 2011 African Youth Championship (AYC).
Nigeria were drawn alongside defending champions Ghana, 1995 winners Cameroon, and Gambia in Group B, while Group A has hosts Libya, Mali, Egypt and Lesotho.
The championship is scheduled for March 18 to April 1 in Tripoli and Benghazi with the semi finalists qualifying to represent the continent at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia later in the year.
Reacting to the draw, the NFA Acting General Secretary, Mr Musa Amadu, acknowledged that the Flying Eagles have tough opponents ahead of them.
“It is a tough draw and the Flying Eagles have a big task ahead of them at the AWC in Libya,” he told our correspondent in a telephone interview.
Amadu pointed out that the group had countries with teams, having pedigree at youth football level and also had impressive qualification records.
“Both Ghana and Cameroon are regular participants at the competition, with Ghana being three-times winners in 1993, 1999 and 2009 and also runners-up in 2001 and in 1991 they emerged third.
“Cameroon have won the competition once in 1995 in Nigeria here, and were losing finalists twice in 1993 and 2009 and were third in 1999.
“Gambia were third in their only appearance so far in Congo in 2007, and were one of the best teams on the road during the qualifiers. So, the Flying Eagles are in a tough group and must work hard,” he said.
The NFA Acting General Secretary, however, said the Flying Eagles could perform well in Libya and qualify for the Colombia world event if they hit the path to success early.
“If we win our opening game against defending champions Ghana on March 19 and go on to beat Cameroon on March 22, our final group match with Gambia on March 25 will only be a formality,” he said.
Amadu said the NFA’s major target was for the team to qualify for the FIFA championship and to ensure that the team and its handlers were given necessary support to achieve the goal.
“We will do all we can to assist the team and its handlers because we know they can do it. I am confident we will qualify for Colombia,” he said.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
-
Opinion5 days ago
Ozoro Festival: Tradition or Tyranny?
-
News2 days ago
Decentralizing Pipeline Surveillance Poses Greater Dangers To Niger Delta …. Group Warns
-
Politics2 days agoAPC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide
-
Rivers2 days agoCourt Rules Out Interim Administration In Jumbo House, Bonny
-
Politics4 days ago
RIVERS WOMEN RALLY SUPPORT, CONTINUOUS PRAYERS FOR TINUBU
-
Politics4 days ago
AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR
-
Business2 days ago33 Banks Raise N4.65tn As Recapitalisation Ends
-
Politics4 days ago
Viral 2027 Nomination Forms Price List Fake, Misleading – APC