Sports
LOC Working Hard To Host U-23 Match – Iyaye
Chairman of the Local
Organising Committee (LOC) for the U-23 Olympic qualifying match, Boma Iyaye has said that arrangements were in top gear to ensure a successful hosting on July 19.
The match will pit Nigeria’s U-23 team against their Congolese counterparts at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Government inaugurated the committee to ensure successful hosting of the match in the Garden city.
Iyaye told sports journalists in Port Harcourt that the stadium was undergoing some final retouching for the game.
“The brand new stadium that the government is planning to showcase to the world is undergoing some retouching to ensure it met international standards.
“Every other thing is in place, security and mobilisation of fans as well as publicity. So, everything is in top gear to ensure that we have a successful hosting on July 19,” he said.
Iyaye, a former commissioner for sports, said it was not true that the state could not host the senior national female team, the Falcons.
He said the truth was that the match between the Falcons and Equatorial Guinea would be organised by FIFA, while the U-23 match was being handled by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).
“FIFA in their wisdom said we did not inform them, six months in advance that we are going to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
“They said we needed to have given them enough notice but CAF did not mind, so that is why you have effected, the change of venue,” he said.
Abuja National Stadium will host the Nigeria/Equatorial Guinea Olympic qualifying match on the 18th.
Meanwhile, the Dream Team currently tuning up for the game with their Gongolese counterparts Port Harcourt will today play a trial match against Nigeria Nationwide league side, Go Round FC of Omoku at the Shell Residential Area football field. The game is part of preparation by the U-23 team for the Olympic qualifier next week.
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CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.
He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.
According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.
“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.
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FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.
Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.
Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.
Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.
The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.
Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.
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