Sports
National Coaches, Others For CAF Course
No fewer than 200 individuals including three serving and over 40 former national coaches have registered for the forthcoming CAF B-Licence coaching programme scheduled for this month in Abuja.
The advance coaching programme, which is one of the three courses being organised by CAF, will hold from March 11 to March 25.
The course was introduced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last year, and the continental football governing body has recommended it to all Africa-based coaches.
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) is jointly organising the course with CAF.
The three serving national coaches are Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi, the head coach of the Golden Eaglets, Manu Garba, and Flamingoes’ head coach, Peter Dedevbo.
Others are Austin Eguavoen, Stanley Eguma, Okey Emordi, Kadiri Ikhana, Benedict Iroha, and Erasmus Onuh, all former handlers of the national under-23 male team.
John Obuh, Alphonsus Dike and Hassan Abubakar, all former Eaglets coaches, as well as ex-Super Eagles assistant coaches Bitrus Bewarang, Salisu Yusuf and Amusa Adisa, have also registered for the course.
The list also has Oladunni Oyekale, Ladan Bosso, Usman Adams, Sunday Eresulesi, Monday Odigie and Lawrence Akpokona, who have at one time or the other handled national teams.
Also participating are Niyi Akande, Emmanuel Deutch, Godfrey Esu, Ben Duamlong, Moses Ajala, Solomon Adedara, Ndubuisi Nduka, Julius Alhassan, Abdulganiyu Mustapha, Jimoh Imam and Aliyu Muzambilu.
Others are Danladi Nasidi, Justin Tenger, Taiye Yusuf, Harrison Okagbue, Gbenga Ogunbote, David Egbiri, Samson Unuanel, Samuel Adingi, Andrew Agu, Tunde Sanni, Evans Ogenyi, Bernard Ogbe and Tony Ottah.
The women team coaches who registered for the course are Egan Adat, Ntiero Effiom, Ann Chiejine, Daniel Evumena, Rolandson Odeh and Bala Nikyu, all former national coaches.
Former national players such as Dominic Nwobodo, Jide Dina, Fancy Ewulu, Henry Nwosu, Lookman Oshun and Fatai Amoo have also registered for the course.
CAF has demanded that coaches must hold one of its three categories of certificates before they can sit on the bench of any team or club in any of its organised competitions.
The C-Licence course, the first of the three certificates, was held in October 2011 in Abuja with 80 coaches, drawn from across the country in attendance.
The B-Licence course is a follow-up to the C-Licence course, while the A-Licence course is a more advanced course.
The A-Licence course is not expected to hold in Nigeria until after the country has produced a good number of coaches with the B-Licence.
Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race
Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.
Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.
According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.
“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”
Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.
The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”
It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”
The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.
Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.
His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.
Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.
The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor
A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.
The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.
On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.
In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.
Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.
The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.
Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.
Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.
The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.