Sports
U-20: Rep Wants Eaglets To Fight For Shirts
The Golden Eaglets
should not be given “automatic promotion” to the Flying Eagles just because they won the world cup, a member of the House of Representatives has said.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Mr Godfrey Gaiya, told newsmen in Abuja that the U-17 players should fight for shirts to make it to the U-20 national team.
“Football is about competition; today’s player may not be there tomorrow, and I believe in merit.
“I do not believe that success is that because you won U-17 (World Cup) you must be guided to become a Super Eagles player.
“You must justify whatever calling that is coming to you; so for me, there are 160 million Nigerians; everyone is looking for a chance to excel.
“Give other people a chance; if you cannot keep your position, for God’s sake go; somebody else will come.
“So, I do not succumb to the thinking that you must pamper them, shield them, isolate them and promote them; I do not think so.
“They must go and compete and get a club; we monitor them in their various clubs.
“If they still continue to play at the level they were playing before they were invited to the U-17 team, we will bring them to the U-20 team.
“I do not believe in automatic promotion for the sake of it.“
Gaiya said the money given to the Golden Eaglets was neither too much nor too small, adding that it was given to them to enable them to “wash” their jerseys.
He advised the victorious Golden Eaglets to remain humble and aim for higher glory.
“We wish them well and urge them to remain calm and humble because they still have a long way to go and they should not see this as the end but the starting point.
“They should focus on the task ahead and must achieve their full potentials.
“I was happy with Mr President for the token he gave them. For me, the amount of N2 million is very good judgment because the boys have parents.
“They left whatever they were doing for the months they were away; and after succeeding they are going home with N2 million.
“I do not see it as too much and I do not see it as too little,” he said.
Leeds yesterday beat Birmingham in a penalty shootout to squeeze into the FA Cup fifth round for the third time in four years.
Goalkeeper Lucas Perri denied Tommy Doyle before Patrick Roberts, who scored a stunning equaliser in the 89th minute, blazed over.
Up stepped Sean Longstaff to score Leeds’ fourth spot-kick from four and send Daniel Farke’s side into the last 16.
Defeat was tough on Chris Davies’ Birmingham side, who pushed their Premier League opponents all the way before falling to only their third home defeat of the season.
The hosts, whose fans applauded owner Tom Wagner as the American continues his recovery from a stroke, deserve huge credit for their display.
And with their cup dream over for another year the ambitious Blues, who are two points off the Championship play-offs, will turn their attention to ending their 15-year exile from the top flight.
In one of the games of the week, Ajegunle United SC edged Best of Best International FA 2–1, courtesy of Ajibola Malik’s 12th-minute strike and James Solomon’s decisive penalty in the 40th minute. Lukman Jaiyeola had earlier equalised from the spot for Best of Best in the 23rd minute. Solomon’s match-winning effort earned him the Man of the Match award.
Pure Talents FA produced one of the standout performances of the week, thumping Sharp Talent FA 4–1. Igbowu Adeleke stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, scoring in the 26th, 36th, and 40+1 minutes, while Isah Ibrahim added another.
Suliamon Ibrahim had briefly given Sharp Talent the lead in the 4th minute, but Adeleke’s heroics sealed the win and the Man of the Match accolade.
Divinely Blessed FA cruised to a 3–0 victory over Coal City FA, with Mahmud Musa netting twice in quick succession (30th and 34th minutes) and Amadu Daniel adding another in the 32nd minute. Daniel’s commanding display earned him the Man of the Match award.
Young 11 FA and Moree Wins FA battled to a goalless draw, with Akachukwu Uzoma of Young 11 FA recognised as Man of the Match for his solid performance among others.
Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji has claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Para-Badminton World Championship in Bahrain following the conclusion of the women’s SL3 final on Saturday,.
Bolaji put up a spirited performance in the final but fell to Japan’s Shino Kawai, settling for second place in what marks her first-ever World Championship podium finish.
Despite the final result, Bolaji’s run in Bahrain was nothing short of outstanding. The reigning African champion powered into the final with a dominant semi-final victory over China’s Gaoying Yuan, winning 21-12, 21-16 at the New Capital Indoor Hall.
Throughout the tournament, the Nigerian star showcased remarkable consistency and class, recording impressive straight-set victories over Australia’s Caitlin Dransfield, Brazil’s Adriane Ávila, France’s Milena Surreau, and Turkey’s world number five Halime Yildiz.
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