Sports
Minister Savours F/Eagles Victory
The Sports Minister, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has said that Nigeria’s victory over Cameroon last Sunday in Johannesburg is a further demonstration of the country’s capability.
“It is a demonstration of the fact that with total commitment, unity of purpose and good leadership, Nigeria can rule the world in all aspects of human endeavour,” he said.
The minister who spoke as the head of a federal government delegation to receive the victorious Nigerian team in Lagos earlier in the week, said that determination gave it the victory.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles had beaten the Cameroonian men’s under-20 football team 3-2 after extra time in the South African capital city.
The victory was in the final match of the 17th CAF African Youth Championship (AYC), giving Nigeria her sixth title in the competition since its inception in 1979
The Flying Eagles whose last title win was in 2005 at Benin Republic had taken a 2-0 lead late into the second half of the match at the Dobsonville Stadium.
But Cameroon had stormed back to draw level for the match to go into extra time, with substitute Terry Envoh’s 92nd minute goal clinching victory for the team.
Adedoja noted that the victory showed that Nigerians can always achieve all they set out to do with determination and patriotism.
“For the Nigeian team to come back and beat the Cameroonian team which had beaten them 1-0 at the first round group stage, it is a demonstration of determination and true patriotism.
“It shows that Nigeria can achieve her goal of being one of the top 20 countries in the world by the year 2020,” he said.
The minister then charged the Flying Eagles to see their victory as a step towards winning the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup later this year in Colombia.
Adedoja who is also Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) praised President Goodluck Jonathan “for the immense support and good guidance he has given Nigerian sports”.
He equally praised the team for fulfilling its promise to Jonathan to win the AYC, promising that the NSC would give the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) the required assistance.
“We will do all that is required to enable all national football teams do well in all international competitions,” the minister said.
He disclosed that the federal government would continue to develop sports and all other activities that would enable Nigerian youths achieve their full potentials in their chosen fields.
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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.
Sports
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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