Sports
Under-15 Boys Beat S’Falcons In A Friendly Match
Samson Komolafe’s 35th minute goal was all the national under-15 male football team needed to beat the Super Falcons in a friendly game at the weekend in Abuja.
Both teams resumed camp last month in Abuja in preparation for their various continental assignments and used the game as a test match ahead of the events.
The game played at the training pitch of the National Stadium witnessed a beautiful display from both sides as the Baby Eagles’ defence proved to be a solid one.
In spite of the presence of foreign-based players in the Falcons’ team, the women side could not draw level.
They even had the chance to go ahead, when France-based Desire Oparanozie created a chance in the 30th minute through a header which was inches off target.
U.S.-based Lateef Omidiji impressed for the Baby Eagles, but his header hit the woodwork before Onome Ebi’s swift clearance for safety.
At the end of the game, the Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby, said the opponents’ speed was better than that of his players.
“The first 20 minutes of the game was even and the next 10 minutes of the second half was probably the best period for the Falcons. We had two scoring chances.
“The boys used their speed, as they were faster than us. But the team defended well and that is one of the positives we will take to The Gambia.
“In the end, the game was okay,” Dennerby said.
Assistant coach of the under-15 team, Haruna Ilerika, said the game was to expose how well the players had trained.
“The game showed how well the players have learnt, as well as the team spirit and more.
“We are glad we won, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” he said.
Falcons are preparing for the first leg game of their 11th African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against The Gambia tomorrow in Banjul.
On their part, the national under-15 male side are in camp ahead of the 2018 African Youth Games in Algeria next month.
The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.
But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.
Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.