Sports
AYC: F’Eagles, Cote d’Ivoire To Top Group-Coach
Flying Eagles coach
Manu Garba has tipped his team and Cote d’Ivoire to qualify from a tough 2015 AYC first round group, which also has hosts Senegal and Congo.
“Our group seems to be tougher than the other group which has Ghana, Mali, Zambia and South Africa, but I believe we will qualify to the semi-finals along with Cote d’Ivoire,” predicted Manu.
“But this is not to say that all the eight teams are not good enough to win the competition and so we will expect no favours from any of them.
“There will be no easy groups or matches. We therefore have to prepare very well and be motivated to achieve our targets.”
The Flying Eagles class of 2015 are built around the country’s U17 team who won the FIFA U17 World Cup last year in the United Arab Emirates.
Last year, they suffered defeats at the hands of African U17 champions Cote d’Ivoire at the U17 championship in Morocco.
However, Manu has insisted they will not be seeking revenge when both teams clash again in Senegal.
“We are not driven to avenge the loss in Morocco because this will be a different competition and we will have two different teams from the ones from last year,” he argued.
“We respect Cote d’Ivoire because they have a great footballing culture, but we hope to beat any team we come up against.”
The African Youth Championship will be played between March 8 and 22.
The Flying Eagles have won a record six AYC titles with their last triumph being in 2011. They finished third last year in Algeria.
The semi-finalists will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.
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.
-
Sports4 days ago
Group Plan To Discover Africa next football stars
-
News4 days ago
Make in Nigeria conferences and Exhibitions; PHCCIMA, others laud organisers for boosting SMES
-
Sports2 days ago
Alarm Bell Raised Over Conditions At 2026 W/Cup
-
Oil & Energy4 days ago
“PENGASSAN Orders Halt Of Gas Supply To Dangote Refinery
-
Education4 days ago
Students Eulogises PGSA Leadership Role in RSU dev
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Navy Dismantles Six Illegal Refining Sites In Delta
-
News4 days ago
Nigeria At 65: RSG Holds Special Church Service …Cleric Calls For Peace
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Delta, Tantita Security Services Inaugurate Classrooms for Inmate Education