Sports
Eunisell Boot: Mbaoma, Abdulazeez Intensify Goal Race
With 10 more games before the season ends, five top players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have hit double digits with goals, as Victor Mbaoma of Enyimba and Gombe United Star,Yusuf Abdulazeez mount pressure on leading scorer, Ishaq Kayode.
The NPFL Goal king will at the end of season receive the Eunisell Boot award which carries a cash prize of 200,000-naira premium per goal.
With 28 games gone, NPFL’s rave of the moment, Ishaq has netted 14 goals. Interestingly, Mbaoma who had just six goals a few matches ago now chases closely with 12 goals. Abdulazeez who had also scored only six goals as at match day 21 now boasts of 11 to his credit, with both trailing the Rivers United striker closely.
In a media chat on Wednesday, an excited Mbaoma said, “I believe I can win the Eunisell Boot. My priority is to concentrate on scoring goals to help my team and I hope at the end, it counts for me to win the Eunisell Boot.”
He however added that he was not under any pressure whatsoever. “I only want to do my best and be better than I was yesterday. I want to score as many goals as possible because that is what completes my joy and basically helps my team, “ the 25-year-old former Remo Star and Akwa United striker insisted.
Mbaoma, who has been Enyimba’s top scorer for two seasons has been the shining light in the eight-time champion’s squad with a total of 47 NPFL goals since he started his professional career with Remo Stars.
For Gombe United winger, Yussuf Abdulazeez, fans should expect more goals as he hopes to, through that, push his team to the top of the log.
“Of course, any striker will want to win the Eunisell Boot. Thank God I am still in the race for it so I will try and work harder if I can win it. I am not on any pressure presently I am just enjoying the games as they come, “ the 20-year-old stated.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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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