Wolves humble Kano Pillars

A brace from Sikiru Adewale and a fine finish from Ikechukwu Ibenegbu gave Warri Wolves a 3-1 win over Glo Premier League champions Kano Pillars at the on-going Super Four tournament in Abuja.

The Warri side got the opener through Sikiru Adewale in the 13th minute after being teed up by teammate Emmanuel Omodiagbe.

Ikechukwu Ibenegbu nearly made it two after a neat interchange of passes but his shot was blocked by Promise James as Wolves began to assert themselves in the game.

Line-ups:

Kano Pillars: Theophilus Afelokhai, Promise James, Samuel Tswanya, Cletus Itodo, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Anthony Abawula, Ezekiel Mbah, Ubong Ubong Ekpai, Adamu Hassan, Godspower Enefiok, Christian Obiozor

Warri Wolves: Daniel Akpeyi, Goodluck Onamado, Ojo Mine, Semiu Liadi, Monday Osagie, Sikiru Adewale, Joseph Osadiaye, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Stanley Dimgba.

Flying Eagles thrash Dolphins

Nigeria's Flying Eagles continued their impressive showing at the Glo Premier League Invitational Tournament in Abuja with a 4-1 win over Dolphins Football Club.

Musa Mohammed nearly put the Flying Eagles ahead after a dazzling run by Taiwo Awoniyi but his effort was deflected by Ayobami Asekunowo.

The FF Kalmar attacker was proving a handful for Dolphins as his combination with Bernard Bulbwa kept the Port Harcourt side in sixes and sevens in the opening exchanges.

The Flying Eagles got the opener in the 24th minute after a well-worked move down the right flank as Obinna Nwobodo waltzed past a couple of Dolphins defenders to square back for Awoniyi to tap in past goalkeeper Adejare Adeniyi.

Line-ups

Flying Eagles: Olorunleke Ojo 21; Bello Zaharadeen 19, Saheed Abdulganiyu 6, Ali Chinwendu 13, Musa Mohammed 2, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi 12, Akinjide Idowu 4, Obinna Nwobodo 20, Bernard Bulbwa 7, Gabriel Ikechukwu 15, Taiwo Awoniyi 18

Subs: Joshua Enaholo 1, Rowland Silas 5, Alfa Abdullahi 10, Ezeh Chidera 17, Prince Aggrey 14, Tunde Adeniji 23, Usman Sale 9, Billy Auta 22, Jimoh Wasiu 8, Adamu Abubakar 16, Mustapha Abdullah 3

Dolphins FC: Adejare Adeniyi 1; Ayobami Asekunowo 6, Jonathan Zikiye 26, Emeka Atuloma 8, Victor Ezuruike 31, Cyril Oriaku 4, Chidiebere Okolie 3, David Jacques 9, Usen Ahmed 25, Tijani Adamu 20, Victor Alegbe 10

Subs: Sunday Rotimi 22, Tobins Zikalla 21, Igwe West 2, Onyekachi Akakem 35, Isiaka Olawale 7, Christian Pyagbara 17, Daniel Israel 12, Maxwell 24, Omo Johnson 32, Emmanuel Amah 34, Nonso Elum 27

Abuchi Obinwa signs for Hannover 96

USA youth international, Abuchi Obinwa took a big leap in his career when he has signed for Bundesliga side, Hannover 96 yesterday.

Obinwa signed his first professional contract as he recently turning 18 years old on the 15th of January, 2015. He joins a growing list of US nationals plying their trade in major European Leagues.Abuchi is also still eligible for Nigeria through his Parents, Nnanna and Stella Obinwa but this move will boost his chances of progressing to the senior US national team and will delight German Coach, Jurgen Klinsmann who will definately keep an eye on his progress.

The versatile 1.81m or 6 feet, 2 inches tall defensive Midfeilder and sometimes Centre was born on January 15, 1997 in Columbus, Ohio in the United states of America and his older Brother, Nathaniel Obinwa plays American Football for Colgate university.

Shola Ameobi Joins Crystal Palace

According to the club’s official website cpfc.co.uk, the Nigerian international has signed a short-term with the Eagles until the end of the season. He was a free agent after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep last month.

The 33-year-old is best known for his time with Newcastle United, where he spent 14 years after breaking into the first-team from their academy. In nearly a decade and a half on Tyneside he appeared 397 times for the Magpies, finding the back of the net 79 times, winning the Championship in 2009/10 and representing the club in the UEFA Champions League.

Ameobi has also won 10 caps for Nigeria where he was born before moving to Newcastle as a youngster. He represented the Super Eagles in the 2014 World Cup, having previously won 20 caps for the England under-21 side.

He is no stranger to Palace boss Alan Pardew, having played under him for Newcastle for four years before moving to Turkey in the summer on a free after his contract expired. He scored four times in 11 outings for Gaziantep before returning to England just before the new year.

The striker will wear the number 23 shirt during his time with Palace, and is the club’s third signing of the transfer window after Yaya Sanogo and Jordon Mutch.

Nigeria wins gold at Africa Senior Table Tennis championship

Nigeria won its first gold medal in the men’s double event of the Africa Senior Table Tennis Championship. The duo of Aruna Quadri and Kazeem Makanjuola defeated their compatriot Onaolapo Ojo and Jide Ogidiolu on Wednesday at the ongoing ITTF 2015 Africa Senior Table Tennis Championships in Cairo, Egypt. 

Reports showed that Ojo and Ogidiolu were rewarded with silver medals. The victory gave the country its first gold medal in the doubles event of the championship. Nosiru Bello, the head coach Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) said that it was a good development to see all Nigerians playing in the final of the men’s double event of the championship.

Quadri, Africa’s number one ranked player and ITTF Stars Player of the Year was favorite for the medal.

Nigeria was represented in the male events by Quadri, Ojo, Ogidiolu and home based player Makanjuola. In the women category Funke Oshonaike, Atinuke Olaide, Edem Offiong and Cecilia Otu-Akpan are representing the country. Tthe tournament served off Jan.23 and ends Jan. 29.

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Olympics: NOC strategises for All African Games, 2016 Olympics

The Nigeria  Olympic Committee (NOC) has disclosed that plans were under way to ensure the country excels at the 2015 All Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics.

Habu Gumel, President of the NOC  said after the executive committee’s meeting on Tuesday.

He said that the various federations have been instructed on what to do. NAN reports that the 2015 All Africa Games is scheduled for Congo Brazzaville between Sept. 4 and Sept. 19.

Meanwhile the 2016 Olympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21. Gumel said efforts were been made to ensure funds were released on time for the preparation of athletes for the various competitions. “We have the All African Games coming up this year as well as the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

Spanish club names stadium gate after Late Nigerian Goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare

Spanish club, Rayo Vallecano, have once again shown their love towards their late Nigerian international goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, who died in Spain after a battle with cancer, by naming one of the gates to their stadium after him.
The board of directors of the club revealed the decision after an extraordinary meeting and named the gate ‘Gate Wilfred Agbonabvare” formerly known as Gate 1 Vallecas Stadium, reports online news portal, Premium Times.
The directors on behalf of the club thanked the family of the deceased and everyone for the show of affection sent to them over the death of their former player.
Before this latest gesture from Vallecano, the club had through their #FuerzaWilfred campign raised over N4.5million to augment the hospital bills of the former Super Eagles safe hands.
The former junior international was hospitalised for several days in the Prince of Asturias Hospital in Alcalá de Henares, near the Spanish capital before he died on Tuesday.
Agbonabvare was Wednesday laid in state in Spain in the presence of Rayo Vallecano president, family, well wishers and other dignitaries in attendance.
Agbonavbare played for Vallecano in the early 1990’s for over five years.

A number of his former national team colleagues, including Stephen Keshi and Mutiu Adepoju have expressed their shock and sadness at the demise of the 48-year-old former NNB star.

Yobo, Kanu lead Jonathan campaign in Rivers

Get9jasports reports that football stars Joseph Yobo and Nwankwo Kanu were among the 

sportmen that supported the campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Wednesday. The former captains of the Super Eagles urged Nigerians to re-elect Jonathan on February 14. 

It will be recalled that an assembly of top sports stars and personalities across the country and from various sports has expressed faith in the transformation programme of President Goodluck Jonathan especially with regards to sports and called on members of the Nigerian sports community and the public to support his re-election as an imperative for the continuity of the development and progress of the sector as well as the advancement of the welfare of Nigerian sportsmen and women.

The assembly which converged at the National Stadium, Lagos, during the weekend included leading Nigerian Olympians, ex-internationals, elite and grassroots coaches across various sports, athletes and players representatives, club managers, sports administrators and sports supporters group.

Flying Eagles will win Super Four – Awoniyi

Flying Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has expressed the determination of the team to win all games at the ongoing Super Four competition holding in Abuja. The Flying Eagles remain the only team to have recorded a 100 per cent record in the Super Four event been competed for by six teams.

The League management Company, organisers of the event, brought in the Flying Eagles and the national U-23 team to boost their preparation for their respective continental campaigns.
Coach Manu Garba has led the U-20 team to whip Enyimba 2-0, beat Kano Pillars 2-1, and defeat Warri Wolves 1-0.The team has scored five goals and the only goal conceded so far is an own goal.

Awoniyi argued that the team was not near perfect yet but the players had enough understanding to clinch the Super Four. He said; “We are still working hard to get things right but in the ongoing competition, we are not ready to drop any game. We want to win all and move on. “It will be a big boost if we can achieve this as we prepare for the African Youth Championship but we still have two matches to go.
The Flying Eagles will on Friday (today) clash with Dolphin in continuation of the competition and they will also meet the U-23 team on Sunday in the last match. Meanwhile, coach Sam Okpodu of Warri Wolves has commended his players despite losing to the Flying Eagles on Wednesday. Okpodu stood in for Paul Aigbogun at the post match conference after a Musa Mohammed first half goal earned the national team its third straight victory in the competition.

SHAME: NFF dumps Keshi ?

It appears Stephen Keshi’s days as Super Eagles coach may be over, sooner rather than later, following comments posted by Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, on social media.
The NFF and Keshi have had a cat and mouse relationship since the end of the 2014 World Cup with the football body going as far as sacking the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach following the national team’s poor start to the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

President Goodluck Jonathan however ordered the NFF to reinstate Keshi for the remainder of the AFCON qualifiers which ended on a sad note for the Super Eagles as they failed to qualify for the tournament currently taking place in Equatorial Guinea.
Pinnick has never hidden his desire to get rid of Keshi though and on Thursday posted on Facebook: “Getting a new coach and Technical crew for the Super Eagles has been a sensitive issue though I will say that negotiations are ongoing and in a strict manner that sooner than expected a new coach and technical crew will be announced to the Nigeria public.”
His comment elicited a lot of comments from his facebook followers with most of them in support of the move, while some even urged the NFF to hurriedly appoint a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

One of Pinnick’s followers, Bala Akuboh, however posted: “My candid opinion about getting a new coach is that it doesn’t matter where he comes from whether indigenous or foreign but to have the structure on ground to support his work.”

Not all were in favour of the move to sack Keshi though, such as Dennis Chike Okogwu who posted: “I am still of the opinion that Keshi and co were in the process of building a new team. I want them to be retained. How long are we going to be relying on foreign coaches? We must use what we have. God Bless Nigeria.”