Sports
MFM FC Targets Continental Ticket
Celebrating their 2-1 defeat of Rangers International FC of Enugu on Friday in a match played under floodlight, Lagos-based MFM FC players say they are aiming at a continental ticket after the season.
The players told newsmen in Lagos that the club would aim at finishing in the top four in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
That, according to them, will make their dream of securing a ticket to play in any of the African Football Confederation (CAF) Championships come through.
The players spoke on the sidelines of the rescheduled Match Day 6 of the NPFL between MFM and Rangers International at their soccer temple, Agege Township Stadium.
Tidesports gathered that MFM’s defeat was courtesy of a wonder goal from Sikiru Olatunbosun in the 26th minute and Stephen Odey’s brilliant strike in the 65th minute.
Rangers’ goal came from Bobby Clement in the 81st minute after a momentary loss of concentration by MFM players.
On their expectations of the season, Olatunbosun said that the team had resolved to play in a continental championship next season.
“Our target is the top four because we want to play in a continental competition. We don’t want what happened last season to repeat. We will try to win all our home matches.
“We will not allow any team to look down on us this season, we will try our best. For me, I have a personal target, last season, I scored seven goals, but this season, I want to score more.
“I have three goals already and I am looking forward to score more,’’ he said.
Teenage striker, Odey, said playing Rangers was a tough task due to their current form but added that the team was happy to surpass last season’s achievement.
“It was a tough game because Rangers are the defending champions of the league and they are also playing in a continental championship. Picking up a win against them means much to the team.
“We want to play in the continent, so all the points are important to us. Last season, we are unable to beat them, but we are able to do that this time around.
“We have been accused of not beating any top club at home but we have shown that we can do that this season judging from our last two matches against Kano Pillars and Rangers.
“This is our season and our fans should expect better performances from us. The fans should rally round us in both home and away matches,’’ he said.
Odey, who won the NPFL Player of the Month for his stellar performances, said he dedicated the award to the team and fans of the club.
Tidesports also gathered that it was MFM’s first win over the Ima Amamakpabo boys. The win earned the team second place on the NPFL log with 16 points and a game in hand.
The Olukoya Boys have played eight matches, with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
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”.