Sports
F’ Eagles Coach To Submit AFCON Final List Jan 20
Flying Eagles head coach, Ladan Bosso, will submit his final squad list of 23 players to the Confederation of African Football latest January 20, ahead of the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations finals scheduled for Egypt.
The tournament is billed to hold from February 19 to March 11 with seven-time champions Nigeria drawn against hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A of the competition.
“We expect the list of players for the tournament to be sent in latest January 20th,” a team official told Tidesports source..
Meanwhile, Bosso stated that the team would resume the final phase of camping for the forthcoming tourney on January 7.
He also revealed that their preparations for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations would be in Spain or Morocco.
“The camp will resume January 7 and the training tour will either be in Spain or Morocco,” Bosso said.
Bosso also disclosed he would be looking to add some experience in defence and attack, with the invitation of more overseas-based professionals.
“We need experience in attack and defence and even if any overseas-based player will join the team, they will be from these departments,” he said.
He also spoke about the tough-looking U-20 AFCON first-round group, adding that all teams were worthy of their places.
“It’s a normal group. Every team that qualifies for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations is hopeful of qualifying for the World Cup,” Bosso said.
“So, whether we are in a tough group or not, if you want to qualify for the World Cup, you must play against the top teams at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We will take it step by step. We won’t put any country first, we must respect every country in our group and we’ll work towards it.
“This team is not Bosso’s team, it’s Nigeria’s team. So, I want everyone to pray for the team now that the draws have been made.”
Bosso said his target was to reach the semi-finals, which would qualify the Flying Eagles for the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed Nigeria’s bid to host the 2031 African Games, as delegates from the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) prepare to arrive in the country for an official inspection tour.
The high-level visit is scheduled to take place in Abuja from March 30 to 31, 2026, marking a critical milestone in Nigeria’s quest to secure the hosting rights for Africa’s premier multi-sport event.
If the bid scales through, it will be the third time Nigeria is hosting the African Games, after 1973 edition in Lagos and Abuja 2003.
The NSC noted that Nigeria’s bid reflects its strategic vision to consolidate its status as a leading sporting nation on the continent. The Commission emphasised that the country’s rich history of hosting major international competitions, coupled with ongoing investments in sports development, positions Nigeria as a strong contender.
During the visit, members of the AUSC delegation will assess key sporting facilities, supporting infrastructure, and Nigeria’s overall preparedness to host the Games. The inspection will also provide an opportunity for the country to demonstrate its organisational capacity, technical expertise, and commitment to delivering a world-class sporting event.
The delegation comprises senior officials and technical experts responsible for evaluating bidding nations in accordance with established standards for hosting the African Games.
Furthermore, hosting the 2031 African Games is expected to stimulate infrastructure development, create economic opportunities, and enhance youth participation in sports across the country, while strengthening Nigeria’s influence within the African sporting community.
Heman Afaramai and Damilola Agunbiade delivered standout performances in the Boys’ 16s, finishing the round-robin stage unbeaten to lead the race for final spots.
Afaramai of Ikeja Police College Tennis Club will face Joel Michael of Mainland Tennis Club in one semifinal, while Agunbiade of Calabar Sports Club takes on Wisdom Effiong of GEUF Tennis Academy, Uyo, in the other.
In the Girls’ 12s category, Amira Mohammed of Kwara State will square off against Venus Babalola of Oyo State, while Pinky Onyemenam of Abuja faces fellow Abuja-based player Chimdiuto Obiora in the second semifinal.
The Boys’ 12s event will see tournament favourite Gideon Peter of LekMak Tennis Academy, Ekiti, battle Best Babalola of Oyo State, while Moroti Sowemimo of Lagos meets Kingronnie Onyemenam of Abuja in the other semifinal.
One of the standout performers of the tournament, Barakat Ganiyu, has impressed by qualifying for the semifinals in both the Girls’ 14s and 16s categories after being allowed to compete above her age group.
Ganiyu, who won all her matches in her age group and lost just once in the Girls’ 16s, will face top seed Gloria Samuel of LekMak Tennis Academy. In the second semifinal, Favour James of GEUF Tennis Academy will take on Omoyinka Ayinla of Ogun State.
In the Girls’ 14s, Ganiyu will also battle Pinky Onyemenam, who similarly stepped up from the Girls’ 12s to reach the semifinals. The other semifinal will feature Khadijat Wuraola against Sinmi Olaniyan.
The Boys’ 14s semifinals will see Alaba Adesina of Oyo State face Mohammed Jubril-Abdulkarim of Kwara State, while Divine Ezaka of Mainland Tennis Club takes on Godwin Afaramai of Ikeja Police College Tennis Club.
The CBN Junior Tennis Championship, which has run for over two decades, continues to play a key role in developing Nigeria’s strong junior tennis pipeline.
The grand finale will be held at the Ikoyi Club on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.
The chase gradually slipped away as dot balls mounted and the required run rate climbed. Nigeria’s bowling unit shared the workload effectively, with captain Piety particularly influential, finishing with two wickets, while Adekunle, Amusa and Akhigbe delivered economical spells.
Rwanda struggled to build partnerships, and although a few batters attempted to steady the innings, Nigeria’s field placements and execution ensured there were no easy scoring opportunities in the closing overs. With 10 runs needed off the final over, Nigeria held their nerve, conceding just four runs to secure the title in dramatic fashion and spark celebrations among the home supporters.
Usen was named Player of the Match for her decisive contribution, picking up her third award of the tournament.
The victory mirrored Nigeria’s 2023 triumph — also a nine-run win inspired by Salome Sunday. Similarly, Rwanda had beaten Nigeria in the round-robin stage that year before losing in the final.Tidesports source reports.
In a low-scoring contest that kept spectators on edge, the hosts posted 80 runs in their allotted 20 overs before producing a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Rwanda to 71 for nine, sealing a hard-fought victory.
The Female Yellow Greens won the toss and elected to bat first.
Coach Theophilus Ibodeme sent Kehinde Amusa and Victory Igbinedion to the crease as openers, as the hosts absorbed pressure in the powerplay, losing just one wicket.
Esther Sandy top-scored for Nigeria with 26 off 28 balls, but the innings began to falter after she was run out in the 11th over by Alice Ijuzwe and Rwanda captain Diane Bimenyimana.
Captain Lucky Piety also struck a few spectacular shots in her brief stay, but the innings never truly gathered momentum afterwards, as experienced batter Salome Sunday, alongside Sarah Etim, Lilian Ude, Shola Adekunle, Peace Usen and Anointed Akhigbe, all fell, leaving Nigeria to defend a modest total of 80.
The Rwandans, buoyed by their earlier win over Nigeria in the group stage, entered the chase with confidence but were immediately pegged back by tight Nigerian bowling and sharp fielding.
Key breakthroughs in the powerplay set the tone for Nigeria, with Usen dismissing three batters, including Gisele Ishimwe, Uwase Merveille and record-breaker Fanny Uwagushimaninde.
The chase gradually slipped away as dot balls mounted and the required run rate climbed. Nigeria’s bowling unit shared the workload effectively, with captain Piety particularly influential, finishing with two wickets, while Adekunle, Amusa and Akhigbe delivered economical spells.
Rwanda struggled to build partnerships, and although a few batters attempted to steady the innings, Nigeria’s field placements and execution ensured there were no easy scoring opportunities in the closing overs. With 10 runs needed off the final over, Nigeria held their nerve, conceding just four runs to secure the title in dramatic fashion and spark celebrations among the home supporters.
Usen was named Player of the Match for her decisive contribution, picking up her third award of the tournament.
The victory mirrored Nigeria’s 2023 triumph — also a nine-run win inspired by Salome Sunday. Similarly, Rwanda had beaten Nigeria in the round-robin stage that year before losing in the final.
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