Sports
WAFU B Qualifiers: Wike Assures Angels FC Of Reward
Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike has assured players and officials of Rivers Angels of massive reward if they win the WAFU UFOA B trophy and bring it back to Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Commissioner For Sports, Hon. Boma Iyaye, conveyed this on Wednesday on behalf of the governor via a phone call to the team,
He assured the players that the Governor is following their progress in the competition and also watched their match on Tuesday.
He also encouraged them to work hard and do everything within their means to get to the finals so that they can lift the trophy. He promised that he will send a high powered delegation to Abidjan for the finals if the team qualifies.
“The governor has asked me to speak to you on his behalf. The State is watching the progress of the team as it relates to the WAFU competition, last night we watched the game and we saw the success that you have recorded so far.
“By the time you qualify for the finals, we will send a high powered delegation from the State to attend and watch you next week Friday. When you come back with the trophy, the State will appropriately encourage you for winning the trophy.”
Captain of the team, Catherine Kenneth thanked the Governor on behalf of the team and also that the team will continue to fly the flag of Rivers State high in Abidjan.
“On behalf of the team, I want to say a big thank you Sir for your support so far, we thank you for prayers and encouragement. We will do our best to keep the flag of the State flying and we won’t disappoint because we want to see you people here with us on the final day in Abidjan,” said Kenneth.
“We want to promise you that we will do our best to get to the final because we want to see you all in Abidjan during the finals.”
Rivers Angels will play the second place team from group A in the semi finals on Monday, 2nd August, 2021.
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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