Sports
AFCON Qualifier: S’Eagles Aim To Build On Perfect Start

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be aiming to build on their strong start to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers when they host Sierra Leone at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The Eagles head into back-to-back matches against the Leone Stars having accumulated a maximum of six points from their opening two Group L matches. The three-time Afcon champions followed a 2-1 win over Benin in Uyo with a 4-2 thumping of Lesotho in Maseru last year.
Head coach Gernot Rohr said that he and his wards will not be underestimating their opponents and is hoping for a good game from his troops at the newly renovated stadium in Edo State.
“We are expecting a tough match because our opponent, Sierra Leone have quality players too. It will not be an easy game because they have professional players,” said Rohr.
“My work is to first explain to the players that this will not be an easy game. We cannot underrate this Sierra Leone team.
He continued: “I see that it’s a new stadium but the most important for the players is to have good grass and then to see a good football game. We want to give joy to Nigerians in this very special period and we want to be happy with a good win.”
Sierra Leone sits bottom of the group after two rounds of fixtures. A 1-1 draw at home to Lesotho was followed by a 1-0 defeat away to Benin in their most recent outing but the Leone Stars have received a timely boost with veteran forward Kei Kamara having confirmed his return to the senior national team.
His presence will add another dimension to John Keister’s team’s attack as they prepare for a Super Eagles side that boasts a plethora of attacking talent.
The teams will meet again in Freetown on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen has stressed that they would give their all to emerge victorious in the encounter but conceded the Leone Stars will be tough.
In AFCON qualifiers, the Napoli striker is the joint-leading scorer alongside Sao Tome and Principe’s Luis Leal, Senegal’s Famara Diedhiou and Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri scoring three goals in two outings.
He returns to the Super Eagles fold having missed October’s friendlies against reigning African kings Algeria and Tunisia as he was excused to settle down at his Serie A outfit.
“It’s really a good feeling to be back to the squad, I’m really happy and I think the squad is ready to go today,” Osimhen told NFF media.
“To be realistic, the game will never be easy so we have to prepare well – which we have been doing, we are all ready and we will give our all for this win.”
Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Development had announced that the fixture billed for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City will be played without fans, as per the directive from the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
Sports
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Sports
Umuahia Hosts Africa Para- Badminton Championship
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.”
Sports
FIFA U20: Flying Eagles Narrowly Loss to Norway
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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