Sports
We Expected Falconets’ Victory Against South Africa — Coach
Nigeria U-20 female coach, Christopher Danjuma, says the Falconets’ victory over the Besetsana of South Africa in the second leg U-20 World Cup qualifier is not a surprise to him.
Danjuma, who spoke after the 6 -0 bashing of his opponent, said he expected more goals but was satisfied with the ones scored by his girls.
Tidesports source reports that Falconets trashed the South Africans 6-0 on Saturday at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, to qualify for the U-20 World Cup in France.
The Falconets, who had in the first leg walloped their opponents 2-0 in South Africa, qualified on an-eight goal aggregate to book a place in France which would hold between August 5 and August 24.
Danjuma said with the first leg away victory, he told his girls to go about to express themselves in Saturday’s match.
“I was sure of victory and had even expected more than six goals but I am, however, okay with the number of goals the girls scored today.
“I am very much satisfied with the way the girls played tonight. They played according to instruction but quite unfortunately, one of my players had a red card in the course of the victory.
“Now that we are over the qualifier, we will now go back to begin to prepare proper for the World Cup,” he said.
Tidesports reports that Saturday’s match saw the Nigerian team scoring five goals in the first 45 minutes of the game.
In the encounter, the Besetsana were hardly a match for their Nigerian opponents who clearly dominated proceedings right from the blast of the whistle.
The obviously one-sided game saw the Nigerian goal keeper on holiday as she only had a feel of the ball just twice all through the first half of the match.
A brace each by Ajibade Rasheedat and Monday Gift and Imo Anam, ensured the Falconets resumed the second half on a comfortable lead.
Rasheedat’s goals came at the 21st and 32nd minutes of that match while Monday Gift’s brace came at the 5th and 39th minutes with Imo Anam scoring at the 26th and 73 minutes.
On resumption of the second half, the South Africans became more aggressive and even came close to scoring in the early minutes but were however denied the opportunity by the Nigerians keeper, Annadozie Chiamaka.
In the second half which appeared more balanced, Monday Gift got a red card and also sustained injury at the same time, following a goal-mouth scramble in the South African vital area.
Sports
Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
Sports
ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
Sports
DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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