Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt has intensified its preparation for the new season with the addition of former shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan handler Festus Allen as chief coach who takes over from Abdul Maikaba who has pitched tent with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.
Allen who is no stranger to top flight football is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the team as Sharks takes its search for a major silver ware in the land to the new season.
The team, according to its media officer, Peter Abaje in a release made available to the media , is currently training in Ijebu Ode to perfect strategies for the new season.
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Tuesday expressed its deep grief and that of the entire Nigerian football family at the death of former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare.
The NFA, in a statement by its Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said news of Agbonavbare’s death in the early hours of Tuesday in Spain had been broken to it.
The former senior national team goalkeeper’s affliction with cancer was reported a couple of weeks ago.
“This is very sad, coming only two days after the death of coach Musa Abdullahi.
“The NFA became aware of Agbonavbare’s affliction only a couple of weeks ago.
“But it is evident that this is another true hero gone to rest too early,’’ NFA’s acting Chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi, said in the statement.
He said Agbonavbare was a patriot of the first grade and his contributions to Nigerian football on-field could never be forgotten.
Agbonavbare played for Rubber Board FC and New Nigeria Bank (NNB) FC, both of Benin City and now defunct, in his early years.
He was a member of the Super Eagles’ squad which won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia in 1994.
Agbonavbare also made the final squad to Nigeria’s debut appearance at the 1994 World Cup finals in the U.S. as one of the three goalkeepers, alongside Peter Rufai and Alloy Agu.
He was in the first Nigerian team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals – the national under-20 male squad of 1983.
At the finals in Mexico, the team defeated the then USSR, lost 0-3 to Brazil and drew 0-0 with The Netherlands, before crashing out at the group stage.
Agbonavbare also represented the senior team at the 1984, 1988 and 1990 AFCON finals, winning silver in all three, before winning gold in Tunisia in 1994.
He also played for Spanish club, Rayo Vallecano, before finally settling down in the European country.
Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Wednesday defeated Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt 1-0 at the ongoing 2014/2015 Glo Premier League Super 4 Invitational Tournament in Abuja.
The game played at the National Stadium’s mainbowl started with both teams losing scoring opportunities in the first 14 minutes.
But Chinonso Okonkwo scored from a good shot from inside the penalty area in the 15th minute to break the ice.
Thereafter, the game became a ding-dong affair as both teams tried to outdo each other, with Abdulrahman Bashir of Enyimba missing a good scoring opportunity.
Reports showed that Enyimba International FC have so far lost one of its three matches and won two, while Dolphins FC have lost all three.
Friday Christopher, Enyimba’s Assistant Coach, told newsmen after the match that the Super 4 Tournament has been helping them for their upcoming continental club competition fixture.
The first round first leg match in the 2015 CAF Champions League is scheduled for Feb. 15 in Aba.
“As a matter of fact, this competition has helped all the four clubs, because we all just came back from the Christmas and New Year break.
“We were not expecting more from the boys. But with this, I think we are going to grow stronger into what we are known for.
“You can tell from our previous performance and what we have done today. At first, we were relaxed but now we are better,’’ he said.
Flying Eagles head coach Manu Garba has expressed delight over his
side narrow victory against Nigeria Premier League champions Kano
Pillars in the ongoing 2015 Super 4 to tournament. The Nigeria U20 team defeated Pillars 2-1 in the matchday 2 encounter
of the Super 4 tournament played at the National Stadium in Abuja on
Monday. The Manu Garba-led team also beat 2014 Federation Cup champions
Enyimba in the opening fixture of the tourney played on Saturday. 2013 Fifa U17 Word Cup winning coach, Garba, admitted it was a tough
victory but tagged his team’s wins against Nigeria two biggest clubs in
the Super 4 as “sweet.” “It was not an easy victory. For me, it was a sweet victory especially beating Federation Cup champions and league champions. “We adopt a flexible team play, a total football philosophy,” he told media in Abuja. The coach, however, stressed that there is still room for improvement
mostly in the defense area as they are getting ready for the African
Youth Championship billed for March in Senegal.
“We still have work to do in our defense and luckily, we are
expecting Wilfred Ndidi who will be joining before the week runs out. Manu Garba on the Clubs who are also getting prepared for Caf
Champions League and Confederation Cup, he said “So far so good. I
believe the clubs will improve as they go on and Pillars and Enyimba
will do very well as they are the strongest teams in the country. “Both teams have been assessing their players and they will eventually get the best.” GLO NPFL SUPER 4 RESULTS Flying Eagles (u20) 2-1 Kano Pillars Enyimba 1-o Warri Wolves
The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated the duo of
FIFA-badged referee Anietie Ferdinand Udoh and African Woman Player of
the Year Asisat Oshoala for deserved strides they made in the past few
days. Udoh, 28, has been selected by the Confederation of African Football
(CAF) as one of the referees for the 11th African U-17 Championship
taking place in Niger Republic, 15th February – 1st March, 2015. Oshoala, 2014 African Women’s Player of the Year and Most Valuable
Player at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, recently signed a
professional contract with Liverpool Ladies Football Club of England. NFF Acting President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, give kudos and
charged the duo to see their strides as calls to put in even more effort
and diligence into their different vocations. “The NFF is happy with the selection of Ferdinand Udoh for the
African U-17 Championship in Niger. This underscores that the integrated
efforts we are making for the general improvement of refereeing in
Nigeri has not gone unnoticed by the organizations that matter.
“For some years now, we have not had a Nigerian center referee at
major competitions. Now, Udoh is starting with the U-17, which we know
is a stepping stone to further glory and much greater glory. Let me
reiterate that our objective is to see a Nigerian referee, or referees,
officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. “We congratulate Oshoala who is definitely the new poster girl of
Nigeria’s women football. Her contract with Liverpool Ladies will
certainly encourage her mates in the National Team to also put in more
efforts to attract the attention of the best clubs in the world.” Ferdinand Anietie Udoh, born in 1987, became a FIFA-badged referee in 2013.
Nigeria’s leading assistant referee, Peter Edibi, is presently
working at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea.
Manchester City youth teamer Kelechi Iheanacho, is bidding to resume light training in the coming days after being sidelined with an ankle injury since late last year.
Because of that ailment , the Nigeria youth international will not feature at the African Youth Championship, which begins in Senegal on March 8, 2015. The English Premier League champions were not obliged to release Kelechi Iheanacho for him to be assessed by national team medics since the tourney fell outside Fifa’s international window.
”Kelechi Iheanacho’s ankle injury is healing. He will soon be back up on his feet,” a source close to the Taye Academy product told SL10.ng.
”Manchester City did not want him to go under the knife, so he’s wearing a protective shoe, and he has been wearing it judiciously.
”In the next couple of weeks, between 10 – 14 days, he will start jogging.”
Kelechi Iheanacho’s dad, James Iheanacho, added: ”The injury is getting better. I can’t say the exact date when Kelechi will return to action but I think by March everything will be okay.
”He is now in England with Manchester City, and I have been informed that the club is taking care of him very well.”
It is confirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation has sent the free scoring forward’s International Transfer Certificate to Manchester City through the English FA.
Thieves have stolen Ogenyi Onazi’s mobile phone, money as well as his club’s flag after they broke into the Nigerian and Lazio midfielder’s car.
The incident ocurred shortly after Lazio defeated Filippo Inzaghi’s AC Milan 3-1 in Rome. Onazi who was an unused substitute in the game has since reported the case to the Carabinieri police.
Meanwhile, coach Stefano Pioli has included Onazi in his squad for tonight’s Coppa Italia clash as he aims for back-to-back wins over Milan.
The 22 year old has played 10 Serie A gamesso far this term.
Federation Cup holders Enyimba bounced back to winnings way in the expanded Super 4 in Abuja on Monday as they beat Warri Wolves 1-0.
Enyimba now have three points from two games, while Warri Wolves are without any points.
‘The People’s Elephant’, who lost their first game to the Flying Eagles 2-0 on Saturday, took the lead in the 15th minute through a spot kick converted by Ifeanyi George after Oke Ogahotewho handled the ball inside the box. Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi had no chance to save the penalty.
The game was explosive as Enyimba goalkeeper Moses Ocheje pulled off a couple of good saves. He gathered a shot by Stanley Dimgba in the ninth minute.
Both teams had chances to score after Enyimba went in front.
In the 51st minute, Bartholomew Ibenegbu had his effort at goal for Wolves kept out by Ocheje, who also came off his lines shortly after to grab a dangerous ball inside the box before Stanley Dimgba could strike.
Wolves could have restored parity in the 69th minute, but Ifeanyi Anaemena cleared the danger after Ocheje dropped Ezenwa Otorogu’s shot.
In the 70th minute, Enyimba were denied a goal by Akpeyi, who stopped Ifeanyi Egwim.
Ocheje then denied Wolves an equaliser when he saved Joseph Osadiaye’s fantastic free kick five minutes from time.
Danger was averted yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium during a Glo-Premier League Super 6 match as medics battled frantically to revive Flying Eagles defender, Izu Omeego who was eventually taken away unconscious to an undisclosed hospital.
The defender’s problem started after he stretched to clear the ball off the feet of a Pillars attacker, but the opponent matched him
on the head and he immediately went comatose. The player was motionless for some time before the medics battled to revive him with oxygen before taking him to an undisclosed hospital.
Before the incident, which happened late in the second stanza, the Flying Eagles had already taken a 2-1 lead over reigning Glo-Premier League champions Kano Pillars. In their opening match the coach Manu Garba tutored team handed a 2-0 victory over reigning Federation Cup champions, Enyimba International of Aba.
Sulieman Abdulahi got the curtain raiser after a through pass from Taiwo Awoniyi to beat Pillars’ goalkeeper, Theophilus Afeluka.
However, Pillars got a breather when Flying Eagles captain Musa Mohammed headed an aerial ball into his own net.
Awoniyi who was voted man of the match restored dominance in the 35th minute after he carefully rounded up two Pillars’ defenders to slot in a beautiful goal which turned out to be the game decider.
Earlier in the first match of the day, Enyimba International salvaged some pride when they defeated Warri Wolves by a lone goal, scored in the first half of the encounter.
