Sports

Go Round Secures Point In Maiduguri

Published

6 years ago

May 6, 2019

El-Kanemi Warriors were held to a 2-2 by Go Round FC of Umoku in one of Nigeria Professional Football League Match day 17 , played at the Sports Complex in Maiduguri, at the weekend.
The hosts began with an early incursion by Kabir Balogun, which saw the visitors clearing succession of shots with goalkeeper, Godwin Dede and Ebuka Akobundu the big performers in defence for the away team
Chinedu Ohanachom had also combined well with Sani Abbani before the latter’s acrobatic kick was kept out by Dede.
GO Round made their first attempt at goal through Sadiq Ololade Rilwan, whose low strike was saved by George Michael seven minutes from start.
El-Kanemi came close to scoring in the 15th minute, Balogun blasted wide from close range having received a through pass from Sunday Anthony.
Three minutes later, Sunday Anthony curled in from a free kick to send the home fans into massive jubilation, it was indeed a superb curler that left Dede rooted.
It became more interesting with the hosts leading by a lone goal, the visitors came out stronger, Akobundu turning his defence into attack with several crosses. While Chiebonam Nwogbaga and Onukwube had wide attempts.
Warriors almost doubled their lead on 26 minutes when Sani Abbani took out two defenders from a jinking run, but his shot was deflected into corner by unrushing Dede.
Go Round levelled scores a minute before half an hour as Nwogbaga Chiebonam converted a free header from Philip David’s perfect delivery. Nwogbaga was cautioned afterwards for pulling out a corner flag in a jubilant mood.
Both teams made more frantic efforts as the game headed for the interval, Sunday Anthony and Yeful were involved in close range strikes which was kept out by goalkeeper Dede.
At the other end, Nwogbaga almost stole the show with another free header off Akobundu’s delivery that missed target by few inches, which was the last chance of the first half.
El-Kanemi Warriors took the lead once more with their first attempt at goal. Ohanachom’s header was poorly cleared by Philip David before Jamiu Alimi blasted home from close range to make it 2-1.
Alimi was subsequently shown a yellow card for kicking at the corner flag.
The visitors responded ten minutes later with a well taken shot by Stanley Worlu who capitalised on a defensive error by Maamo Joseph to put his side on level terms for the second time.
On the hour mark, the Omoku landlords almost went ahead in the game, this time Onukwube provided for Nwogbaga after El-Kanemi goalkeeper George Michael went down, but the delivery was slightly higher than the waiting head of the lanky striker.
Razaq Aliyu in a bid to get his team back in front headed from Sunday Anthony’s corner, kudos to Dede who parried into safety. Yeful’s bullet strike was also saved in the process.
It became a lengthy second half when Go Round goalkeeper Dede was injured twice in the final moments of the game. He was knocked down in an aerial collision at one time and later collided with Ohanachom.
But every other attempt by the hosts was either saved by Dede or wasted by the Warriors until the final whistle.
El-Kanemi Warriors have moved temporarily to the top of NIgeria Professional Football League Group B table with 29 points and await the outcome of other matches yesterday.

Sports

IAUE VC Football Cup Final Holds In PH, Wed

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2025

The Tide

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, in Rivers State, will be at the centre stage on Wednesday as the VC Cup final, both male and female categories will be played at the prestigious Stadium in the school.

The both final matches promises to be exciting, as arrangements have been concluded to watch one of the best VC football Cup finals in the history.

VC Cup tournament is an annual sporting event that involves all students in various facilities.

According to the Chief coach of the University football team, David Egbiri, the female will final will kick off 2pm between faculty of Human Kinetics and Management Sciences, while the male will kick off by 4pm between Social Science and Natural Applied Science

Egbiri, who was former coach of Abiola Babe FC and Concord FC, lauded the Vice Chancellor. Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu for releasing funds on sports development, saying that he has never also failed the School in terms of infrastructural development.

“The VC who is also a sports personality has not failed to release funds for this tournament, apart from that he has not also disappointed in terms of developing the school in all ramifications.

“I want to say that my major reason for accepting to coach the school football team is to develop the youth through sports”, Coach Egbiri said.

The former Eagle Cement Coach, explained that he was not encouraged the way and manner the young ones are going about sports because there is no discipline and so much quest for quick money.

” Honestly, the way young players are looking money was just too much. Looking for short cuts always to make money that is more reason some of them don’t go far and end up badly

” In our days we first of all think about how to make name and we are passionate about it. I went to school and saw myself in sports, while my initial intention was to read electrical engineering” he stated.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Gov. Decries Delta’s Poor Performance At 2025 NYG

Published

5 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Pix: Team Delta State

The Delta State Sports Commission has come under scrutiny following the state’s disappointing performance at the just-concluded National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, where Lagos dethroned Delta to clinch top spot.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, visibly displeased with both the poor outing of Team Delta and the organizational lapses witnessed during the Games, summoned an emergency meeting with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) immediately after the closing ceremony.

Delta, which had dominated the NYG by finishing first in the last eight editions, only managed second place this time — a result the governor described as “totally unacceptable,” especially given the state’s significant investment in the event.

According to a reliable source privy to the meeting, Governor Oborevwori expressed deep disappointment, stressing that his administration had provided all necessary support to the Sports Commission and the LOC to ensure Delta retained its traditional top position.

In a decisive move, the governor demoted his Executive Assistant on Sports and former Director-General of the Sports Commission, Festus Owhojero, under whose leadership the Games were organized. Owhojero was reassigned from Executive Assistant (EA) to Senior Special Assistant (SSA) with immediate effect.

The governor’s action, our source revealed, reflects his zero-tolerance stance on incompetence and underperformance within his administration. Mr. Owhojero thus becomes the first high-profile casualty of the governor’s resolve to reposition sports in Delta State.

Furthermore, Oborevwori directed the Sports Commission and LOC officials to submit a detailed report on the Games, outlining what went wrong and providing recommendations for improvement. The governor emphasized the need for urgent reforms to restore Delta’s dominance, especially as the state is set to host the next edition of the Games under an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Sports

WCQ: NFF Denies Post Match Statement

Published

5 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Pix: Super Eagles players in celebration mood.

The Nigeria Football Federation has distanced itself from a post-match statement that criticised some Super Eagles players following the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The statement, issued by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, singled out forward Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong for criticism.

It accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Ekong for the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.

However, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday that the statement did not represent the official position of the Federation.

“I saw the release just like everyone else did. Nobody in the Federation is happy with it,” Sanusi said.

“The NFF did not authorise that statement. We have great respect for all the players. Blaming an individual for a team result is unfair.”

He added that the Federation regards the South Africa match as a collective effort and will not support attempts to scapegoat any player.

“When we win, it’s a team victory. When we lose, it’s also collective. No player should be singled out,” Sanusi said.

He described the targeted criticism of Troost-Ekong as unjustified, noting that the defender had previously been celebrated as the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

“It was an unfortunate own goal. His intention was to clear the ball. Anyone who knows football understands that such things happen,” he said..

Sanusi also expressed confidence in the team’s unity, revealing that efforts were ongoing to regroup and refocus ahead of the remaining qualifiers and AFCON.

“Our house is in order. We’re preparing for the rest of the qualifiers and the AFCON in Morocco,” he said.

“There’s no problem with our players or coaching crew. Our relationship remains cordial. The government and the NFF are proud of the players’ efforts.”

The Federation had initially praised Calvin Bassey for his equalising goal and lamented the team’s failure to convert second-half chances.

But Sanusi made it clear that internal disciplinary action would be taken over the unauthorised release.

“I can assure you the NFF will take action on the matter,” he said.

Nigeria currently sit third in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 11 points from eight matches. South Africa lead the group with 17 points.

The Super Eagles must now win their remaining games against Lesotho and Benin Republic and hope other results go their way to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.