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Eaglets Ready Arsenal for Sparrow Hawks despite Injury Report at WAFU Youth Tourney
Golden Eaglets’ dependable defender Boluwatife Ekishola is highly likely to miss Nigeria’s final group B clash in the West African Football Union WAFU Zone B Under 17 Tourney.
Ekishola was injured in the game against Niger on Sunday and is doubtful for Nigeria’s next encounter today 22 May against Togo.
In the possible absence of Ekishola, gangling striker Rapha Adams has promised the Eaglets will defend, attack and score as a team against their Togolese opponents.
According to the Sporting Supreme FC of Abuja attacker, the Nigerian team will do all they can to beat Togo’s Sparrow Hawks Cadets and qualify for the semi- final, noting that winning will be the collective effort of all the players on the pitch.
“We thank God for the victory over Niger. It was a tough game. No game is easy and we know that the game against Togo will be another tough one as well,” Adams told thenff.com in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday evening.
“We have been working hard in training and we will work harder on match day. Our coaches have been teaching us a lot and if we can interpret everything we have been taught very well against Togo, we will come out victorious.”
Nigeria have four points from two games, the same number of points with Burkina Faso that sit atop on goals difference of plus two, while Nigeria has plus one.
Eaglets will file out against Sparrow Hawks at 5pm Nigeria time.
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Black Princesses Pocket Juicy Cash Award for African Games Gold Medal Win over Falconets
After beating their Nigerian counterparts in the African Games women’s football gold medal game, Ghana’s under 20 side the Black Princesses have finally received their bonus payment.
According to Joy Sports each member of the team has been paid the equivalent of $3,000 in Ghanaian Cedis.
The Princesses beat Nigeria’s Falconets 1-0 to clinch gold at African Games back in March in Accra.
During the quadrennial competition, the Sports Ministry had announced a bonus structure, with gold medalists set to receive $3,000, while silver and bronze medalists were to receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
However, a day after their victory, the Black Princesses were informed that this promise did not extend to team sports.
This sparked media outrage, prompting the Sports Ministry to honor the initial agreement of $3,000.
Despite this payment, the Black Princesses are still awaiting their bonuses for qualifying for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Promised $6,000 each before the African Games, the team has yet to receive this amount. -
Tojemarine Tighten Grip on Ardova Handball League’s Top Position
The top two clash in the Ardova Handball Premier League today ended in a victory for table toppers, Tojemarine.
The Lagos based Marines survived a fight back from Rima Strikers to eke out a 30-28 win in one of the morning games.
The loss means Strikers drop down to 3rd while defending champions Niger United move up to second with a 35-24 demolition of Sunshine Kings.
There were wins for Rivers Queens and COAS Babes in the women’s category.
The tables in both the men’s and women’s categories are expected to witness movements when evening games conclude.
LATEST MATCH DAY 8 (21/05/24) RESULTS OF ARDOVA HANDBALL LEAGUE (MORNING SESSION) IN BENIN CITY:
FEMALE:
1) COAS Babes–Seasider Babes 30–25.
2) Imo Grasshoppers–Plateau Peacocks 22–27.
3) Delta Queens–Rivers Queens 29–35.
MALE:
1) Kano Pillars–Pillars–Confluence Stars 10-00 (W/O).
2) Adamawa Warriors–Lagos Seasiders 32–26.
3) Sunshine Kings–Niger United 24–35.
4) Benue Buffaloes–Correction Boys 29–29.
5) Tojemarine Academy–Rima Strikers 30–28.
6) D:Defenders–Safety Shooters 29–29. -
NLO Selects New Dates, Venues for 2024 Playoffs
The Nationwide League One NLO has rearranged dates and venues of this season’s first round playoffs.
The playoffs will run from 27th to 29th May, 2024 across all designated centres.
The NLO who made this known in a memo sent to participating teams also hinted that all the matches will be live-streamed and transmitted live on television.
According to the NLO the new dates were necessary in order to curb any unwholesome practice by clubs during the competition.
Ibadan, Ado Ekiti, Ilorin, Kwale, Akure, Lafia and Bwari are the venues selected to stage the playoffs.
Twenty teams expected to participate in the competition. -
President Federation Cup Returns with Round 32 Fireworks
This year’s President Federation Cup Round of 32 matches will hold across the country this Wednesday and Thursday.
Former champions Lobi Stars and Shooting Stars battle in Awka while holders Bendel Insurance are up in arms against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as Plateau United and Sunshine Stars test might also in Abuja.
In other selected fixtures, Katsina United square up to Bayelsa United in Abuja as well, while CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finalists Rivers United throw their weight up against Niger Tornadoes.
Giant-killers Hammola FC and Inter Lagos are at each other’s jugular in Ibadan, while former CAF Champions League winners Enyimba must guard their loins against free-scoring FC One Rocket in Yenagoa, and Enugu is the battleground for the confrontation between Warri Wolves and Kwara United.
MEN’S ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES:
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Abuja Area 3 – 22/05/24 – 4pm
EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Ilorin – 22/05/24 – 4pm
ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi) – Abuja Goal Project – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) – Abuja Bwari – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Awka – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu) – Benin City – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Hammola Int’l (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Ibadan – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Enugu – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT) – Benin City – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto) – Kano – 22/05/24 – 4pm
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia) – Yenagoa – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Abuja Goal Project – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger) – Auchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Abuja Bwari – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Bauchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm -
Golden Eaglets Target Outright Win to WAFU Under17 Semis
Chief coach Manu Garba has reiterated that Nigeria’s U17 boys will go for a win in Wednesday’s group B final encounter at the West African Football Union WAFU Zone B youth championship.
Even though a draw will be good enough to see the five time world champions through to the semi finals, Garba still insisted on a win in Accra.
“We are not here to be drawing matches. I am not happy that we drew our first match against Burkina Faso. We should have scored a number of goals especially towards the end but we cannot be crying over spilt milk,” the world cup winning said.
“We got the three points against Niger Republic, and we have to keep at the winning mentality. We cannot afford to gamble; a win is what we are going for. Even though they lost their first two matches, we cannot afford to under-rate the Togolese. They got two goals against Niger Republic, even though they eventually lost, so they are not a team to be taken for granted.”
Tournament’s reigning champions Golden Eaglets will finish top of the pile if they win against the Togolese at the Accra Sports Stadium and fellow group leaders Burkina Faso fail to get the better of Niger Republic at the University of Accra Stadium in games that will be played simultaneously.
Victory for Nigeria, and draw or defeat for the Burkinabes, will mean the Eaglets avoid a last four meeting with in-form Black Starlets of Ghana, who are expected to top group A.NFF Media
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Tojemarine Down Reigning Kings in Ardova Handball Premier League
Tojemarine Academy extended their lead in the men’s standings following a well earned victory over defending champions Niger United on day 7 of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024 phase 1 in Benin City, Edo State.
The Lagos based club led by Coach Shittu Adewunmi Agboola tactically ensured that they outwitted United with a well played 31-23 victory yesterday.
The win extends the lead of Tojemarine Academy in the log.
In other matches Benue Buffaloes defeated Sunshine Kings 25-22 while Rima Strikers had the biggest victory in the category as they comfortably saw off Adamawa Warriors with a 42-21 win.
Elsewhere, Safety Shooters came back to winning ways following their 31-28 victory over Correction Boys just as former champions Kano Pillars continued their new found form as they defeated De Defenders 27-24.
In the women’s category, defending champions Safety Babes beat former champion Plateau Peacocks 29-23 while Defender Babes inflicted a 39-20 victory over hosts Bendel Dynamos.
Rima Queens easily saw off Delta Queens with an emphatic 40-19 victory while Rivers Queens and COAS Babes played out a pulsating 25-25 draw.
Imo Grasshoppers’s fine form in the league this season continued as they defeated Seasider Babes 26-21.
RESULTS OF MATCH DAY 7 MATCHES (20/05/24)
FEMALE::::::
1) Rima Queens–Delta Queens 40–19.
2) Defender Babes–Bendel Dynamos 39–20.
3) Rivers Queens–COAS Babes 25–25.
4) Seasider Babes-‐Imo Grasshoppers 21–26.
5) Plateau Peacocks-Safety Babes 23–29.
MALE:::::::
1) Benue Buffaloes–Sunshine Kings 25–22.
2) Rima Strikers–Adamawa Warriors 42–21.
3) Kano Pillars–D:Defenders 27–24.
4) Correction Boys–Safety Shooters 28–31
5) Confluence Stars–Lagos Seasiders 00–10 (W/O).
6) Tojemarine Academy–Niger United 31–23. -
Serial Winners Show Strength in Nigeria Women’s Football Top-flight
Rivers Angels and hosts Bayelsa Queens overtook opening day leaders Edo Queens, with their respective wins today on matchday 2 of the Nigeria Women’s Football League NWFL Super Six tournament.
First half strike by Florence Alexander in the 10th minute and an own goal by Edo Queens’ Valentina Uroko on 30 mins earned the 7 time champions Rivers a 2-1 win over their opponents who halved the deficit through Emem Essien’s 32nd minute effort.
Angels, with the highest number of goals scored, now top the standings on 4 points same as second placed and 5 time holders Bayelsa who needed a last minute strike by Mercy Itimi to beat Nasarawa Amazons 1-0.
Matchday 2 results
Elsewhere, Confluence Queens rebounded from their opening day heavy loss to beat Heartland Queens 2-0 in the last match of the day.
Meritt Offor and Feranmi Odutade scored respectively in the 76th and 87th minutes to condemn Heartland to the loss, leaving them bottom of the table.
The competition goes on a second break tomorrow while action resumes with matchday 3 hostilities on Wednesday 22 May.
The top team at the end of the round robin tournament will emerge winners of this season’s women’s top-flight. -
Rivers Hoopers Land in Kigali, Hits Gym for Continental Basketball Playoffs
Nigeria representatives Rivers Hoopers have commenced training today after landing in Kigali for the Basketball Africa League BAL 2023/24 Playoffs.
The Ogo Odaudu tutored side left Nigeria yesterday and will play Senegalese side AS Douanes on Saturday 25 May for a chance to qualify for the quarter finals of this year’s tourney.
The classification matchup is a repeat of Sahara Conference ties between both teams in Dakar, Senegal.
To qualify for the playoffs, Hoopers notched up 4 wins and 2 losses to top the Sahara Conference table of the championship.
The Playoffs and Finals will begin with a classification round where the top team will play against the next best team.
The next phase will be the Quarterfinals and losing teams will be eliminated from the tournament.
The BAL 2024 Playoffs and Finals will run from 24 May to 1 June at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
The top eight teams from the regular season to compete in the Playoffs and Finals are, Al Ahly Ly (Libya), Al Ahly SC (Egypt), AS Douanes (Senegal), Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), FUS Rabat (Morocco), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) and US Monastir (Tunisia).
The eight sides have been ranked based on the points accumulated in the conference phase.
Here’s how teams rank ahead of the classification round:
No.1 – Al Ahly SC (5-1)
No.2 – FUS Rabat (3-1)
No.3 – Rivers Hoopers (4-2)
No.4 – AS Douanes (3-3)
No.5 – Petro de Luanda (2-2)
No.6 – US Monastir (3-3)
No.7 – Al Ahly Ly (3-3)
No.8 – Cape Town Tigers (1-3)
And here is a breakdown of the 12 games that will determine the winner of the season.
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Island Titans, FGC Warri Win Big as Club Cricket Committee League Rounds Off in Lagos
Stakeholders are excited at the level of play exhibited by teams in the just ended Club Cricket Committee CCC League in Lagos.
Following six months of intense bowling and batting, the Agedo Eghosa captained Federal Government College FGC Warri sent sent packing Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club by 7 wickets to emerge winners of the Super 4 ceremonial final, played yesterday at the Tafawa Balewa Square Oval in Lagos.
In his assesment of the standard of the championship, an elated chairman of the Nigeria Cricket Federation Uyi Akpata pointed out the numerous improved statistics in this year’s tourney, compared to previous editions.
“This year has been huge. Last year I think the average score was about a 110, this year it went up to about 150, so it means that our teams are begining to learn about how to play the T20 game,” Akpata stated.
“The grounds are better. People scored a couple centuries. There were about 24 half centuries. So the standard is really high, top-notch.”
Inland Titans Cricket Club of Lagos drew the biggest attention on the final day of the championship after they lifted the glittering giant trophy reserved for the Super Six winners.
Joining the elite party next season are MRI who won the division two of the League.
While describing the competition’s African regional status, the chairman CCC League Akin Dentin underlined the importance of the championship in national team development.
“This league is the biggest league in Nigeria. Arguably the biggest league on the West Coast of Africa,” remarked Dentin.
“We have nine teams in division one, 12 teams in division two playing active cricket. This season started in December and we are rounding off today, so we’ve played six months of very active and competitive cricket. So we are a major hub for cricket development in Nigeria because it’s from this league that the national team picks players that they use in the eventual competition they play outside of the country.”
The organisers of the Lagos League gave out various individual and team awards on the day to draw the competition to a close.
Selim Salau of FGC Warri emerged the star of the championship after carting away three individual awards including tournament’s Most Valuale Player honour.
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