Sports
Babangida Makes Case For Home-Based Players

Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida, has blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Committee (LMC) for non-inclusion of home-based players national teams.
He explained that from the beginning, NFF and LMC should have told the Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, that they wanted at least three home-based players in every match.
Babangida, Nigeria President of Players Union (NPPU) said this on Wednesday, in an interview with sports journalists, shortly before Rivers United and Akwa United filed out at the ongoing Governor Wike preseason tournament, at the Sharks Football Stadium, Port Harcourt.
According to him, there are good players in the NPFL; just that Rohr has not taken his time to scout for players in Nigerian Leagues.
“How will the home-based players be happy when they are not given chance to showcase their talents in the National team.
“As I am watching today’s game, I have discovered one or two good players and I will introduce them to him, so that he can invite them to the national team.
That will give confidence to other home-based players to do more”, Babanigida said.
In the same vein, the president, described the match between Rivers United and Akwa United as a derby, stressing that Rivers United should up their game, hences they are billed to represent the country in the continental campaign.
At the end of the game Rivers United forced Àkwa United to two all draw.
Kiadum Edookor
Sports
CAFCL: Finidi Laud Players Over Impressive Performance
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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