Sports
Brazil 2014:C’River Solicits Support For Super Eagles
The Cross River State Government has appealed to soccer fans to turn out in large numbers to cheer the Super Eagles when they take on the Harambee Stars of Kenya in their World Cup qualifying match.
The match is scheduled for March 23 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
The Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Patrick Ugbe, made the appeal in an interview with Tidesports in Calabar, ahead of the match.
The commissioner said a large crowd would be important for the match because the Eagles would also showcase the Africa Cup of Nations that it brought back from South Africa in February.
“We want the supporters, Eagles fans and residents of Calabar, to prepare to come out to support the team — the African Champions.
“They should not forget that the team is also bringing the trophy they won at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa to Calabar.
“The trophy will be displayed at the stadium on match day, so they should come out en masse to be a part of the AFCON experience by witnessing the trophy in Calabar
He said that the government was doing everything within its powers to ensure a successful hosting of the World Cup qualifier.
“We are preparing; we are doing the normal thing to ensure that the stadium is ready for the team. At the last friendly between the Golden Eaglets and the Diamond Zebras of Botswana, we used the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar to test run the facilities.
“We think we are ready to host the Super Eagles/Harambee Stars match on March 23. Everybody was impressed, The stadium is lush green; it is part of our culture to ensure that we maintain it regularly,’’ Ugbe said.
He added: “We are home to the Super Eagles because all the time they have come here, they get good results. We are happy that the support base that they have here is one they can hardly find anywhere else.
“These are supporters who back the team from the beginning to the end; they are patient with the team. When the goals are hard to come by, they remain with the team.
“That factor of support, warm reception and the hospitable nature of the people count here and then the facilities themselves are of world standard.’
The Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, which began with the first phase in Benin City months ago, before the second phase in Lagos which ends with a finale that the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, ably represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Ardova PLC, Mrs Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, described as delightful to watch in her speech.
For Safety Shooters, it was a historic moment as they clinched the men’s title for the first time since 2020, completing a dominant campaign that saw them finish top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches while Safety Babes also etched their name deeper into Nigerian handball history, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s championship, reaffirming their status as the league’s most dominant team, not just in the women’s category but in the history of handball premier league in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Safety Shooters finished the season in style, beating COAS Shooters 43–32 (20–10) to cap off a dominant outing in Phase 2.
Their final-day victory ensured they remained clear at the summit with an impressive 18 wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling a superb goal difference of +214 after scoring 638 goals and conceding 424.
The organisers of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters Tournament have earmarked N4 million as the prize money for this year’s edition.
?The Chairman of the tennis section of Ikoyi Club, Diran Famakinwa, stated this at a briefing, highlighting the activities for the second edition of the tournament.
?The tournament, which is in collaboration with MegaMound Investment Limited, is endorsed by the Nigerian Tennis Federation.
?According to Famakinwa, the male and female champions will receive N500,000 each, while the runners-up in both categories will go home with the sum of N350,000 each, with the remaining money to be shared among the semi-finalists and other participants.
?Sixteen players, which includes the eight top ?male and eight top female players, will feature in the one-week event, which started on December 5, and run till Saturday, December 13.
?The female final will be held on Friday, December 12, while the male final will take up on Saturday, December 13.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NSC described the defender as “Captain Fantastic” and praised his decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, highlighting a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty.
“After a decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, Troost-Ekong leaves behind a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty,” the NSC stated.
The commission noted that, as one of the most capped defenders in Super Eagles history with 83 international appearances since his debut in 2015, Troost-Ekong served as a pillar of leadership across multiple tournaments and qualification campaigns.
“His exceptional outing at the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals and was named Player of the Tournament, remains one of the most remarkable achievements by a defender in AFCON history,” the NSC added.
The statement further emphasised that Troost-Ekong’s “Nigeria first” mindset, discipline and exemplary conduct set a standard for the next generation of athletes, with his influence within the national team extending beyond the pitch to inspire unity, resilience and professionalism among his teammates.
Meanwhile, Troost-Ekong has dismissed rumours that he was forced to retire by the country’s football administrators as punishment for leading a revolt against the NFF.
The 32-year-old’s announcement came less than a month before the AFCON, and he was named in the 54-man preliminary list. His decision sparked speculation, particularly as he had led a strike in protest against unpaid bonuses during the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
One fan speculated on social media, suggesting that Troost-Ekong was pressured to quit after exposing the NFF. The Al Khoolood defender offered a sharp retort, establishing that he unilaterally made the decision to retire.
“Not true! My own choice/decision and on my own terms. No one ever asked/tried to force me out. If anything, the opposite when I shared my decision. I wish the team all the best and support them together with all Nigerians for the upcoming AFCON to go all the way,” he wrote on X.
The NSC concluded by wishing Troost-Ekong the very best in the next chapter of his career and commending him for representing Nigeria with honour.
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