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Director Confident Of Flying Eagles’ Qualification

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Director of Competitions,
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, has said he was confident the Flying Eagles would qualify for the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC).
Sanusi expressed the hope in an interview with the newsmen on the team’s preparation for the competition.
He commended the Flying Eagles for beating their Tanzanian counterparts 4-1 in Kaduna on Saturday in the second leg of the qualifying match.
The national U-20 team had defeated the Tanzanian 2-0 in the first leg of their encounter in Dar-es-Salaam.
With the victory over to Tanzania, the Flying Eagles have qualified for the third and final round against Lesotho.
It would be recalled that Lesotho edged out Angola 4-1 on aggregate after their home and away encounters.
Sanusi told newsmen that the Flying Eagles’ performance in the AYC qualifiers had been outstanding, adding that no team could stop them from picking the 2015 AYC ticket.
“The boys have done very well so far in the qualifiers.
“There is cohesion in the team stemming from the fact that the crux of the players came from the U-17 team that conquered the world.
“Also the introduction of some new discoveries added to the strength of the team.
“And I believe just as the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elebeleye once said, this is a team that can conquer the world,” he said.
He also commended the Flying Eagles technical crew for a job well done.
The NFF director, however, restated the fact that there were no longer pushovers in the game.
“There is no pushover in the game of football anymore, so, the Flying Eagles must continue their fine run by ensuring that they win the two-leg final round match against Lesotho,’’ he said.
The national U-20 team will host the Southern Africans on August 16 in the first leg clash, while the return leg is slated for Lesotho two weeks later.
The overall winners will qualify for the 2015 AYC to be hosted by Senegal in March.

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European Giants Circle For Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race

Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.

Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.

According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.

“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.

“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”

Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.

The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”

It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”

The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.

Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.

His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.

Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.

The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor

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Tennis Event Boosts Grassroots Development Push

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A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.

The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.

On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.

In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.

Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.

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W/Cup Qualifier: Flamingos In Impressive Opener

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Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.

The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.

Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.

Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.

The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.

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