Get9jaSports: 2015-02-22

Friday, 27 February 2015

Iheanacho out, as Manu picks 21 for AYC

Teen sensation Kelechi Iheanacho, has been left out of the Nigerian team for the upcoming Africa Youth Championship by Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, who has picked 21 players for the tournament taking place in Senegal from March 8 to 22. Iheanacho, who emerged as the most valuable player of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, had been tipped to

Dolphins new signing, Christian Pyagbara, has made a bold call on his personal target saying he wants to score 20 goals this season.

Despite admitting to the pressure of replacing Emem Eduok, who scored 20 league goals last season, Pyagbara said he would shrug off the weight of expectation to put in a massive shift for the

Super Falcons captain and defensive midfielder Evelyn Nwabuoku is optimistic that her side will overcome Mali to book their All Africa and Olympic Games tickets.

The African champions will be the guests of Mali on Sunday, March 22, in Bamako for a place at the 11th All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Nwabuoku said her side want to qualify for the championships to erase the ugly memories of their absence from the immediate past games.

“Mali can’t stop us from going to the All-Africa Games as well as the Olympics no matter how hard they fight.

“Of course, none of us wants to remember the fact that we didn’t qualify for the last All-Africa Games and Olympics. It was a sad occurrence in our history that nobody wants to repeat.

“Mali are actually a good side, I remember clearly that we encountered the side in 2010 and they gave us hell, but we eventually defeated them.

“We’re not going to underrate the Malians nor any other side at any stage of the competition.

“We just commenced training for the match against Mali in Bamako, team spirit is quite high as everybody is responding very well and eagerly looking forward to the clash,” said the captain of Nigeria Professional Football League (NWPL) side, Rivers Angels to supersport.com.

The decisive fixture will be held in Nigeria with the aggregate winners going ahead to cement a spot at the quadrennial multiple sports fiesta.

The reigning African champions will also contest with Mali the ticket for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

Wikki achieved at NNL Super Four

Wikki Tourists head coach, Abdul Maikaba has said his side achieved their aim at the just concluded Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four tournament in llorin.

The Bauchi-based side lost both matches at the three-day football showpiece to eventual winners, Gabros FC and hosts, Kwara United.

Maikaba said it will be erroneous and outright misrepresentation to measure the side’s strength

Nigeria’s chances of getting Jordon Ibe to don the green and white of the Super Eagles looks set to be checkmated by the Liverpool forward’s country of birth with reports suggesting that England are set to fast-track the 19-yearold’s call-up to the senior national team to keep him from Nigeria’s clutches.
Ibe, who in recent weeks has posted a string of impressive displays for Liverpool, has

The Athletic Federation of Nigeria on Thursday released the final list of the athletes that will be represent Nigeria at the 12th edition of the African Junior Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The athletes, who have been in camp for two weeks under the tutelage of some of the best coaches in the country, will be looking forward to make the country proud in Ethiopia. Making this declaration was the Technical Director of the AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye

The most valuable player from the women world cup, Asisat Oshoala (MON) shared photos of her in training. Checkout more photos at the training ground; see more photos...

Veteran, Funke Oshonaike, has said that she is confident of claiming the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour tagged Lagos Open title.
Oshonaike made the last four in 2013 but she was knocked out in the quarterfinal in 2014. However, the former African champion is determined to lead Nigeria team to revenge

Ghana, Togo, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire have confirmed their participation in the maiden Lagos International Junior Open Championship from March 13 to 15, 2015 at Ikeja Golf Club The tournament is organized by the Nigeria Golf Federation in conjunction with the Lagos State Government.
The 54 – holes competition is open to junior players ages five to 19 and it is a gross event

…indict government for over pampering football

With few days to the 12th edition of the African Junior Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nigerian athletes in camp have cried out over non-payment of their allowances.
When New Telegraph visited their Sagamu camp on February 18, the athletes decried the deplorable condition of their camp while also revealing that they had not been paid their allowances since the start of the camping exercise two weeks ago.
But another visit to the camp on Wednesday February 25 revealed that the situation

Meshref eyes Egypt’s dominance at Lagos ITTF Tour

Egypt table tennis star, Dina Meshref, has expressed confidence leading the 14-man Egyptian to medal hauls at the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour, Lagos Open billed for next month.
With the absence of defending champion, Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawlatly, the 20-year-old

One of the youngest athletes in the Sagamu camp of the Team Nigeria preparing for the African Junior Championship in Ethiopia, Omotayo Abolaji, has said she is targeting 11.5secs finish in the women’s 100m.
Speaking with our correspondent in Sagamu on Wednesday, Abolaji said she had been training hard to achieve her goal.
“During the World Junior Championship in the USA before the Commonwealth Games, I failed to win a medal but this time around I have learnt a lot and I am looking forward to winning the gold medal in Ethiopia,” she said.
“I have been exposed to some of the best coaches in the country since I came into camp, and I am raring to go in Ethiopia.”
Abolaji who finished secondary school in 2014 however said she would be concentrating on her studies immediately she returns from Ethiopia as she intends to sit for JAMB this year.
She missed admission last year due to the Africa Youth Championship in Botswana where she represented Nigeria in the 100m. Abolaji said: “In as much as I want to excel in my chosen career as an athlete, I need to concentrate on my studies too and achieve something with my life as an individual.

“I missed my JAMB last year because I was in Botswana, but I want to sit for the exams this year and hopefully gain admission into the university at the end of the year.”

Standard Chartered launches ‘Road to Anfield 2015’

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited has launched a football tournament dubbed ‘Standard Chartered Trophy: Road to Anfield 2015’. ‘Standard Chartered Trophy’ is an international 5-aside football tournament organised by the Bank in partnership with Liverpool FC that offers football fans a once in a lifetime ‘Money Can’t Buy’ opportunity of playing at

Coaches Coordinator, Seigha Porbeni, has said they are targeting nine gold medals in Ethiopia as Team Nigeria attempts to defend the title they won two years ago in Mauritius.
According to Porbeni, the enthusiasm and attitude to work by the athletes have given the coaches such hope ahead of the African Junior Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Flying Eagles’ Head Coach Manu Garba (OON) has released a list of 21 players who will represent the country at the 19th African Youth Championship in Senegal.
Skipper Musa Muhammed, who led the U-17 squad that won for Nigeria a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, will lead the pack, supported by fellow U-17 world champions Akinjide Idowu, Izuchukwu Omego, Abdullahi Alpha, Dele Alampasu, Chidera Ezeh and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Nigeria play host Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the tournament scheduled for March 8 – 22 in the Senegalese cities of Dakar and M’Bour.
Ghana, Mali, South Africa and Zambia play in Group B. All four semi finalists will fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand, scheduled for May 30 – July 20 this year.
THE FULL LIST

Joshua Enaholo, Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Akinjide Idowu, Saheed AbdulGaniyu, Izuchukwu Omego, Bernard Bulbwa, Alhassan Ibrahim, Christian Pyagbara, Abdullahi Alfa, Saleh Usman, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Samuel Okon, Obinna Nwobodo, Ifeanyi Mathew, Dele Alampasu, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bello Zaharadeen, Wasiu Jimoh, Olorunleke Ojo

CAF U-17: Amajimbos dumps Nigeria's Eaglet in semis

The South African National Under-17, the Amajimbos, sailed into the final of the 2015 Caf U-17 African Youth Championships with a 1-0 win over Nigeria in the Niger capital of Niamey on Wednesday.

It was a solid performance from the South Africans who are now 90 minutes away from being crowned African junior champions.

Schools Athletics Championships: Elegbeleye backs Mobil sports concept

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has identified with the concept of the Akwa Ibom State/NNPC/MPN Schools Athletics Championships.
On Tuesday in Abuja, he reacted to an invitation to attend the grand finale by commending the project.
When told that the programme was in its 14th consecutive year and was geared towards the

International Table Tennis Federation Star Player of the Year, Aruna Quadri, is eyeing a move away from his Portuguese club, GD Toledos. The player has played an influential role as Toledos continues to dominate the Portuguese league.
He has led them to both the Portuguese League Cup and the Portuguese Super Cup. He said that that he was happy to have done well at Toledos since he moved to the club from

Two former players of newly promoted Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Yinka Adedeji and Meschak Chukwubuikem, have returned to the club.
The players left Shooting Stars some seasons ago but found their way back after the outfit gained promotion back to the elite division at the end of last term.

“We have started training sessions, but we are expecting two more players. Bartholomew Ibenegbu and Abu Azeez, both players of Warri Wolves, have been allowed to remain with their clubs until they play their CAF Confederation Cup second leg match this weekend,” Ejo said to the sporting media.

Abu Azeez scored Warri Wolves’ lone goal in the away win over Racing Club Bobo-Dioulasso of
Burkina Faso in their first leg, first round match penultimate weekend. Ibenegbu, nicknamed Mosquito, is also a regular with the Warri –based side.

The Supersand Eagles will fly to Durban next week Wednesday for the Power Horse Tournament, taking place March 6-8, and will return to Nigeria on March 9 for the first leg qualifier against Libya at the Elegusi Beach in Lagos on March 14.

The return leg takes place in Tripoli on Friday, March 20.

Contract Issues: Onazi Faces Italy Tribunal

Nigeria midfielder Ogeyi Onazi is facing a disciplinary tribunal in Italy following a contractual wrangle involving agents.

Reports in Italy say the federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has referred the Lazio star to the National Disciplinary Tribunal for not honouring an agreement with an agent.

Onazi allegedly signed a new contract with Lazio three years ago with agent Kevin Fioranelli facilitating the deal, while another agent had been earlier involved in working on the deal.

Lazio have also been dragged to the tribunal for their part in the dispute.

Fioranelli has been charged with conflict of interest “for doing factual assistance and advice in favor of the player Onazi, at the conclusion of the renewal contract with the Company SS Lazio S.p.A. which occurred on 11.07.2012, despite being in force mandated by footballer Onazi to another agent. ”

Lazio Sports Director Igli Tare is also facing the tribunal “for failing to carry out the necessary checks during the contract negotiations and signing.”

Man City Chase Eaglets Captain

Klay Ekeocha, the agent of Nigeria Under 17 international Kelechi Nwakali, has confirmed that Manchester City have made contact with him over the signing of the attacking midfielder.

But the Belgian-based agent has admitted that The Citizens face serious competition from other English Premier League powerhouses and clubs based in Spain for the 16-year-old’s signature.

Great weather and greater football was the theme of the day as we witnessed Day 2 of the Quarter Finals of GTBank Lagos State Principals Cup. Government Senior College, Agege and Oriwu Senior Model College picked up the 2 remaining tickets for the semifinals girls category with convincing wins.

In the boys category, Birrel Avenue, Sabo continued their fairy tale run as they made semifinals while defending s Dairy Farms could not confirm their pedigree and were defeated by Ifako Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Ifako who secured the last slot with the help of their captain Joshua Akpudje.

Follow the matches on www.gtbank.com/football and #GTBankPrincipalsCup

Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has revealed his plans to visit Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho and Manchester boss, Manuel Pellegrini.
Pinnick was in North London last week to meet Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger and many questioned the reasons for such a visit.
“I've heard people saying why should I go and visit somebody like Arsene Wenger, the beauty of

Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo, continued his superb scoring run for Watford in the English Championship by scoring a couple of goals in his side's 3-0 win over Rotherham United on Tuesday.

The former Udinese man scored his goals, which sandwiched that of Troy Deeney, inside the hour mark to help his English club stay within playoffs in the standings.

KAA Gent attacking winger Moses Simon's younger brother has become the target of some of Europe's top clubs, supersport.com has been informed.

Thankgod Daddy Simon is a gifted winger like his older brother Moses, who has been hogging the headlines in Europe as one of the hottest young talent following his switch from AS Trencin to Belgian Jupiler side KAA Gent.

The 17-year-old is now scheduled to leave the famous GBS Academy in Jos, Nigeria, for

Players of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Warri Wolves have began a warning strike to press for their unpaid wages, supersport.com has been informed.

The angry players boycotted training on Tuesday evening after honouring the morning session, it was learned.

Wolves have failed to pay their players salaries for the month of January, and the players fear that

Dolphins defender Victor Ezuruike has said his side will upturn the slim 0-1 defeat at Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea in the Caf Confedration Cup competition.

The Garden City host the West African challengers in the reverse fixture on Saturday at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Ezuruike said his teammates have decided to put aside the domestic difficulties to win big for

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal clash against the Amajimbos of South Africa, Eaglets Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, says that it will be a keen contest.
We are okay and first, we are grateful to God that we are privileged to be in the semifinal.
If you remember we were to play them in a friendly match in Kaduna but unfortunately, it did

Throw back Pix: Sam Okwaraji, Stephen Keshi, Rufai back in the day

Before the Super Eagles of Nigeria know today, there were the Green Eagles who played for passion and got peanuts.

They were content because they were not moved by money and they were

Italy based Nigeria international footballers Ogenyi Onazi and Nnamdi Oduamadi were in the home of the duo when they decided to compose a rendition of Osita Osadebe’s song.

Out of excitement, Oduamadi exclaims ‘Jesssussssss’ while Onazi declares they are working on their album.

Arsenal FC of England teenager Alex Iwobi’s father has expressed the enthusiasm of the entire Iwobi family for the player to represent Nigeria.
“Alex is very, very keen and the entire family is enthusiastic for him to represent Nigeria. He was born here in Nigeria but we took him as a four-month old baby to England and he has been there ever since.

Coach Audu Adamu Ejo is awaiting only two players in his camp at Aivoji Beach, Badagry as the team kicked off training programme on Tuesday ahead of the Power Horse Invitational Beach Soccer Tournament in South Africa and the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship qualifying fixture against Libya, all next month.
“We have started training sessions, but we are expecting two more players. Bartholomew Ibenegbu and Abu Azeez, both players of Warri Wolves, have been allowed to remain with their clubs until they play their CAF Confederation Cup second leg match this weekend,” Ejo said.
Abu Azeez scored Warri Wolves’ lone goal in the away win over Racing Club Bobo-Dioulasso of Burkina Faso in their first leg, first round match penultimate weekend. Ibenegbu, nicknamed Mosquito, is also a regular with the Warri-based side.
The Supersand Eagles will fly to Durban next week Wednesday for the Power Horse Tournament, taking place March 6-8, and will return to Nigeria on March 9 for the first leg qualifier against Libya at the Elegusi Beach in Lagos on March 14.

The return leg takes place in Tripoli on Friday, March 20.

Aiming for the Brass Ring without Brass Knuckles- Lateef Kayode’s Journey So Far

From the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, through the 9th All-African Games in Algiers, where he won silver medal in the -91kg category, undefeated heavyweight, Lateef ‘power’ Kayode, is long settled into the Wild Card Boxing Gym, Los Angeles, USA- a “home” away from home.
As faith will have it, Nigerians wait for another heavyweight champion since Samuel ‘the Nigerian nightmare’ Peter remains

In a poll conducted by fans of Arsenal football club on the website, the Nigerian striker and two-time African Footballer of the Year winner was voted 13th best out of a total of 50 players.
Kanu appeared 198 times for the Gunners, and scored 48 goals during his stay from 1999 to 2004. He won the FA Cup and Premier League title.

See Full List Greatest 50 Players:

Women’s singles defending champion of the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour tagged Lagos Open, Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawlatly, will not feature in this year’s edition due to injury, an official has confirmed.
According to the President, Egypt Table Tennis Federation, Alaa Meshref, El- Dawalatly has

Flying Eagles midfielder Musa Yahaya has been ruled out of next month’s African Youth Championship in Senegal due to a knee injury.
The Tottenham Hotspur youngster suffered the injury during the Flying Eagles’ second test match against Ghana Black Satellites last week in Tema and scan has revealed that he will need at least six weeks to recover.
Coach Manu Garba who broke the news on Monday said it was unfortunate that the player will not be available for selection for a tournament that starts on March 8. He said Yahaya’s absence is a big loss to the team but they would move ahead without him.
“The scan result shows that Musa Yahaya would not be available for the AYC,” disclosed Garba. “It’s a great loss for the team as he is a key player, but we have no choice but to forge ahead without him now.
“We wish him quick recovery and hopefully he will join us for the World Cup when we qualify.” The player himself has taken his injury setback philosophically, saying it is the will of Allah.
The Nigeria Football Federation has also contacted the player’s English Premier League club on the latest development.

Manu is expected to announce a final 21-man squad latest Thursday midnight for onward transmission to the Confederation of African Football CAF.

Peoples' Elephant await Olabiyi boost

As Enyimba readies themselves for the second leg of the Champions League first round clash against Buffles du Borgou FC of Benin Republic one player who Kadiri Ikhana will be arms-outstretched and praying for his fitness is defensive midfielder Rasheed Olabiyi.

Olabiyi missed that first leg in Aba not due to injury but because he was severely lacking in match fitness. He probably was the last senior player to return to camp this season and hence there was

Dolphins have wrapped up deals for two Cameroonian defenders ahead of the 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The Pride of Rivers have snapped up Kingsley Ashu and Yannick Njoh for the season.

Ashu played for Lobi Stars last season and the left-back will have to tussle with Jonathan Zikiye for that role.

The first vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi has urged journalist to abandon their assignment over the delay in the appointment of the new coach of the Super Eagles just one month till the nation’s national team host Bolivia in a friendly game against Bolivia in Uyo.

ROAD RACE: Organisers target gold label for Okpekpe race

Organisers of the annual Okpekpe Road Race have said the target this year is to upgrade the label for the race from Bronze to Gold medal. Speaking with our correspondent, the coordinator of the race, former international, Yusuf Alli, said the organisers were working hard to make this year’s edition a success and by next year a

Zambia’s U-23 side will be the Dream Team’s next opponents in the race to the 11th All-Africa Games after they must have seen off Gabon, following the withdrawal of Madagascar.
Siasia’s wards lashed the Gabonese 4-1 in Libreville on Saturday with the return leg set for Abuja on March 7. The winner of the two-leg fixture is billed to play the winner between Zambia

Egypt’s Sports Minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz has confirmed his country has abandoned its bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
“We have decided to withdraw our application and will support that of Algeria,” he explained.
Gabon and Ghana have also made bids, the Confederation of African Football will announce the hosts on

South Africa emerged Nigeria’s semi-final opponent at the CAF U-17 Championship after they defeated Cameroon 3-1 in their last Group B match on Sunday.
The Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets had defeated Zambia by the same score line on Saturday to emerge top with seven points in Group A while South Africa managed five points to

Jacob Hails Mega Handball Veterans

Renowned sports promoter and philanthropist, Barrister Mark Jacob has hailed the efforts of Handball Mega Veterans, who are currently camping the senior national male and female teams in preparation for All Africa Games qualification competition in Niger Republic from March 7. Jacob, who is chairman of Mega Handball Veterans, said the aim is to keep the players fit and ready for the tournament as handball have not being doing well in recent years. He disclosed that they decided to camp the players early enough before National Sports Commission (NSC) will come in, as is expected, and pointed out that the gesture will go a long way towards further enhanced development for the sport. He equally stated that funding the teams camping have not being easy as most of the Mega Veterans deny themselves comfort to fund the camp. The Handball national male and female team are currently camped at Civil Defence Training camp, where Jacob says they have to be made to feel comfortable, as they await the NSC to release funds once the federal budget is passed "We ex-players of this game formed this association to revive the game of handball in Nigeria. It’s a game that has brought fame to most of us and most of the current players are breadwinners of their families. “We can't sit and watch while the game nosedives. It’s very bad. The players have being in camp for two weeks now so far so good. The team is taking shape gradually, by the time we leave for Niger we are good to go. “We will make sure that both teams will not only qualify for All African games but do well in the competition,” Jacob said.

Onaolapo, Omotayo upbeat on Lagos ITTF Tour

Italy-based players, Ojo Onaolapo and Olajide Omotayo, are confident that the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour tagged Lagos Open provides Nigeria an ample chance to confirm her superiority in the sport.
Onaolapo, who was part of Nigeria team to the last

Arsenal star rues Nigeria’s debut miss

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi will be invited for the Super Eagles friendly match against Bolivia on March 26 after the youngster failed to make his much awaited debut for Nigeria at the weekend.

Moses Daddy Simon continues to do good things in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League as he netted his fifth league goal of the season on Sunday.

The 19-year-old scored in the 22nd minute of KAA Gent’s 2-1 win over the leaders, Club Brugge in the top-of-the-table clash on match day 27 of the competition.

Simon controlled the ball with his chest and out-thought his markers with frightening pace before unleashing a shot which beat the Brugge goalkeeper, Matthew Ryan for the game’s opening goal.

His exploits and all round performance on Sunday in front of 19,736 supporters at the front of GHELAMCO-arena underlines his status as one of the rising stars of world football.

The Flying Eagles striker has been in great form this season, scoring a fantastic hat-trick against Lokeren on February 1 before following it with another well-taken goal against Westerlo on February 7.

Sunday’s win keeps Gent on the coattails of Brugges as they stay in second place on the league standings with 48 points from 27 matches.

Niger 2015: Eaglets secure World Cup ticket, beat Zambia 3-1

Nigeria’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, have secured a ticket to the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Chile after a flattering 3-1 win against Zambia in their final Group A match at the ongoing African Championship in Niger.
The Golden Eaglets played their hearts out against the Junior Chipolopolo and were rewarded with three sublime goals, including a brace by

Last season's Federation Cup finalists, Dolphins FC, have completed the signing of goalkeeper Godwin Anyalogu for the NPFL season, supersport.com has been informed.

The Port Harcourt club moved to acquire the goalkeeper as back up for first-choice and captain, Sunday Rotimi and also bolster their goalkeeping ranks.

Dolphins also have two other goalkeepers in Adejare Adeniyi and Joseph Onwuga, who joined from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Kano Pillars, in the off-season.

"We have tidied up papers to add goalkeeper Godwin Anyalogu to our team. The coach (Stanley Eguma) believes this is one area that needs to be fortified and that is why we have brought in Anyalogu, who is very experienced having played in the top division for a number of season with Rangers and most recently Sunshine Stars.

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Friday, 27 February 2015

…indict government for over pampering football

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Monday, 23 February 2015

Sunday, 22 February 2015

Arsenal star rues Nigeria’s debut miss

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