Sports
Angola Crowned Cosafa U-17 Champions …Earns Nation’s Cup Spot
Angola was crowned the Cosafa Under-17 champion last Sunday in the southern African regional tournament to book their place at next year’s Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania.
The Palancas Negras won the Cosafa crown with a 1-0 victory over South Africa in the final, on a cloudy afternoon in Port Louis, Mauritius.
The crucial goal came in the fifth minute when Osvaldo Capemba beat Bontle Molefe from close range to earn his nation their first title in this age-group.
Angola’s Zito Luvumbo, who tormented the Amajimbos’ defence, was named the best player of the tournament.
Angola’s chef de mission, Alcino Jorge, said the achievement shows how they have benefitted from their government’s financial support.
“We are doing a lot with these boys like their academics and football and they are doing very well,” Jorge told Tidesports source.
“We have brought 17 players here in Mauritius and expect more to train for the U-17 Nations Cup in Tanzania which will be our main objective next year”.
For the first time, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) is organising the U-17 Nations Cup qualifiers according to its regional zones.
Each of the six zones will qualify a team for the continental championship, with Tanzania getting the opportunity for a dress rehearsal for next year’s Nations Cup when they stage the Cecafa tournament from 11 to 26 August.
The qualifiers for the Central Zone will be held in Equatorial Guinea from 3 to 12 August and Tunisia will host the North Zone event from 20 to 28 August.
Niger has replaced Ghana as hosts of the West B tournament from 2 to 15 September, and Senegal will stage the West A event from 9 to 18 September.
Mali, the defending champions, will contest a place from the West A region – where two places are on offer.
Hosts Tanzania will complete the eight-team line-up.
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.”
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.
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