Sports
Korea Rep Hit Four Goals Past Ghana
Korea Republic grabbed another three points in an enthralling struggle between two skilful, spirited sides in Dresden and booked their place in the quarter-finals. For Ghana, who twice had the lead before succumbing to a 4-2 defeat, the situation is more complicated as they have only a single point to show from their two games in Group D.
Ghana led 2-1 early in the second half but allowed their opponents to score three times in the final 28 minutes with the fourth coming from Ji So-Yun, her second of the game adding to the hat-trick she scored in the 4-0 win over Switzerland on Wednesday.
Early on Ghana succeeded in keeping the talented Ji quiet, one, two and even three defenders quick to close her down. However she did manage to evade her markers in the 7th minute as she got on the end of Kim Jin-Young’s cross but in came Juliet Acheampong with a great block.
The game really got going in the 26th minute when Kim Hye-Ri and then Ji had a sight of goal but finished too high. However it was the African team who then went away and scored, a neat pass from Mercy Myles putting Deborah Afriyie in position to the left of goal and she managed to loft a shot out of the reach of Moon So-Ri.
In the 41st minute it was back level pegging again as Kim’s inswinging free-kick saw Ji get the slightest touch on it to score. In added time Elizabeth Cudjoe struck the post for Ghana with a low shot.
Korea found it easier to create opportunities in the second half. There were two good openings for Lee Hyun Young at the far post during the second period which she snatched at and they looked to be costly misses when in the 56th minute Ghana went ahead again when Cudjoe scored from a loose ball.
The lead lasted just six minutes and this time an outstanding free-kick from Kim brought the scores level again. It gave Korea Republic a surge of belief and they went on to score two more to finish well in front.
In the 70th minute good combination work from Ji and Jung Hae-In put in Kim Jin-Young who stabbed the ball home. Madson and Afriye came close in the same move and then with three minutes remaining Ji popped up to score with a precise header to make the game safe for Choi In Cheul’s side.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.