Sports
Heartland Departs Today For TP Mazmbe
Officials of Heartland FC of Owerri disclosed yesterday that the team’s contingent to tomorrow’s CAF Champions League final match against TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo will leave today aboard a chartered aircraft from the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The Nigerian flag–bearers won the first leg 2-1 in Owerri on Sunday and countenance a huge battle on their hands against a side that parades the bulk of the DR Congo home–based squad that won the inaugural African Nations Championship in Ivory Coast earlier this year.
“We are going by chartered flight because it would be much better for us. If we have to go by regular flight, we would have to first fly to another country, Ethiopia or Kenya or elsewhere before connecting Lubumbashi. And it would not be good for us,” said the official.
Enyimba FC of Aba is the only Nigerian Club to have won the most prestigious Club marble on the continent, when she did a double in 2003 and 2004.
Enugu Rangers, Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC of Owerri (fore–runner of Heartland FC) are the only other Nigerian Clubs to have played in the Final of the biggest club championship on the continent.
In 1988, Iwuanyanwu Nationale defeated Setif of Algeria 1-0 in Ibadan only to lose 4-0 in Algiers.
The Nigeria Football Federation has written to the Nigeria Embassy in DR Congo to make arrangement for special protection for the Heartland FC contingent and also mobilize Nigerians within and around Lubumbashi to support Heartland at the Stade de La Kenya on Saturday.
NFF President Sani Lulu Abdullahi, 1st Vice President Amanze Uchegbulam and General Secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who cheered on Heartland FC in the first leg in Owerri, will also be in Lubum-bashi.
Sports
CAFCL: Finidi Laud Players Over Impressive Performance
Sports
Umuahia Hosts Africa Para- Badminton Championship
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Sports
FIFA U20: Flying Eagles Narrowly Loss to Norway
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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