Sports
Ebonyi Sports Commissioner, Others Hail Eaglets
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Charlse Akpuenika and other soccer fans have congratulated the Golden Eaglets for winning the 2018 WAFU Zone B U-17 AFCON in Niger Republic at the weekend.
Tidesports source reports that the team defeated the Black Starlets of Ghana 3-1 on penalties after full time scores stood at 1-1, thereby earning the zone’s sole ticket for the U-17 AFCON in Tanzania, in 2019.
The fans told newsmen yesterday on Sunday that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) should permanently check the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan issue that had bedeviled the nation’s cadet teams in recent times.
Akpuenika, the Sports and Youth Development Commissioner, commended the fighting spirit of the Eaglets, noting that they rekindled the Nigerian “never-say die” attitude while pursuing national causes.
“The team’s victory at the competition in spite of all obstacles has shown that with determination, courage and patriotism, Nigerians will excel in any endeavour or cause they seek to propagate.
“I, however ,urge the NFF to ensure that the MRI Scan which once again, reared its ugly head during the competition is permanently nipped to save the country the embarrassment which follows it,” he said.
Supporting his assertion, Hillary Obiesie, Ebonyi Sports Council Secretary, noted that the Eaglets deserved special recognition for winning the competition in spite of the initial challenges that confronted the team.
“Two of its outfield players were disqualified for failing the mandatory MRI Scan which left the team with only 18 out of the stipulated pool of 20, with only 15 of them being outfield players.
“The team was also written off by many soccer fans in the country after losing its first match 2-3 to lowly-fancied Burkina Faso and positing a below-par performance,” he said.
Chinedu Chiaha, a Soccer Historian, recalled that the MRI issue which had bedeviled the team started in 2013 and wondered why the NFF could not solve the problem.
“The Super Star Wilfred Ndidi among other players were disqualified by CAF in the 2013 U-17 AFCON for failing the MRI Scan and it took CAF’s special regard for Nigeria not to suspend it from the competition.
“Nigeria also failed to qualify for the 2017 U-17 AFCON after 80 per cent of Manu Garba’s Eaglets failed the same test with days to its qualifier against Niger Republic in Abuja,” he said.
Dr Francis Mezie, a Medical Doctor, noted that it was shameful for the medical department of the NFF not to ensure a credible MRI Scan for Eaglets players before competitions.
“The NFF will tell Nigerians that all selected players passed the test but we discover that many had actually failed it before the qualifiers and the competitions proper.
“The entire medical department of the NFF should be overhauled to save the country of further embarrassment as it may suffer outright suspension if the malaise continues up to the world stage,” he said.
Mrs Adaora Oboh, a youth activist urged the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick to fulfill his promise of taking the team on a training tour of Qatar and other countries for effective preparation.
“Coach Manu Garba should not alter the cup-winning team but only fill areas of lapses with players who suit his technical ideology.
“The NFF must as a matter of urgency, employ the best MRI Scan modalities to ensure that players who will represent the country in Tanzania pass the test before leaving the country.
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”.