SPORTS
“83 Flying Eagles Beg Buhari to Redeem FG Promise to them
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By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
The first set of Nigeria National football team to qualify for FIFA competition, the 1983 set of Flying Eagles have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari extends the same gestures he did to 1994 Super Eagles and 1985 Golden Eaglets to them.
Buhari recently fulfilled the Federal Government promises and gave houses to the players of Super Eagles who conquered Africa in the 1994 African Nations in Tunisia.
He also did same to the 1985 set of Golden Eaglets.After several failed attempts, Nigeria qualified for the first FIFA organised competition in 1983 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament.
The players were promised scholarships by the then President Shehu Shagari but he was overthrown from office through coup by President Muhammadu Buhari, rendering the promise unfulfilled.
The players are now pleading to the APC-led government to extend the same gestures extended to Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets to them.
Speaking on behalf of the team in Abuja, Tajudeen Disu, said, “It was in 1983 when we were invited to Flying Eagles camp that was to qualify Nigeria for the elusive World Cup tournament that we’ve never been. I remember the likes of Segun Odegbami and Christian Chukwu, they could not do it. We were all dedicated to the reasons we were in camp and at the end of the day . They promised us, remember vividly it was semi-final match against Guinea. A must-win game which we won on home soil and qualified Nigeria for the world cup.
“The president of Nigeria then, Alhaji Shehu Shagari who we visited in Lagos, said, “Go there and qualify Nigeria for the World Cup, we will give all of you scholarships because we heard all of you are still in Secondary School, we won’t give you guys money but scholarships to further your education.”
“The then, sports minister then and secretary general of Nigeria Football Association, Patrick Okpomo read the statements of the President to all Nigerians on National TV.
“We have done a lot to make sure that the promised are fulfilled but till date we’re still pushing for it. We graduated to the senior national team, upto now, Nigeria never fulfil their promise, if Shagari was not overthrown then, probably he would have done it. Fortunately, it was this present goverment that took over, he too promised the ’85 set before he was removed but now he redeemed that, he has given the ’85 set their dues, now he just did one for the 94 set why not ’83 set, because government is continuous.
Ghadafi as he’s fondly called still believes that all hopes are not lost, he added that most of them are now grandfathers while some are dead and that the scholarship could be monetised or be replaced with house gifts.
“I think he is still owing us, first time Nigeria flag was raised in any FIFA tournament. They owed us, so I’m appealing on behalf of the team that we still believe they will call us to redeem that pledge definitely nobody want scholarship anymore, we want monetary or they should give us houses just as he gave the nations cup team. I want to use this opportunity to thank the government did well for the fact that they remembered that set and what we did in 37 years ago and now some of us are no more alive but their families are there. We are still hoping, we believe they will do it,” he concluded.
SPORTS
Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles Hand Mali First Win in 49 Years
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The Super Eagles were given a reality check by Mali’s Les Aigles as they succumbed to a 0-2 defeat in a friendly game in Marrakech, Morocco on Tuesday.
Reports says that the rare win by the Malians against Nigeria was their first in 49 years.
Goals by El Bilal Toure and Kamory Doumbia sealed the win for Mali.
The last time Mali defeated the Super Eagles was on Sept.
5, 1975, also in a friendly which ended 4-1.Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Eagles were unbeaten in eight straight fixtures against the Malians, recording five wins and three draws.
Interim coach, Finidi George, gave starting shirts to Jamilu Collins, Raphael Onyedika, and Kenneth Omeruo.
The trio replaced Bruno Onyemaechi, Frank Onyeka and Benjamin Tanimu, who all featured in the 2-1 win against Ghana on Friday.
The Malians dominated the early stages of the game and almost took the lead less than five minutes into the game, but were denied by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The breakthrough for Mali eventually came in the 14th minute as El Bilal Toure capitalised on a defensive error by Nigeria to score.
The Eagles were forced into a first half change as Moses Simon went off injured in 34th minute and was replaced by Cyriel Dessers.
The early part of the second half saw the Super Eagles start brightly but the Malian defence held firm.
Despite starting the half on a positive note, it was Mali who almost doubled their lead but the Eagles defence intercepted a dangerous cross from the left.
Dessers was presented an opportunity in the 65th minute as he was sent through on goal but blasted his shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Iheanacho had a chance of his own barely a minute later, but took a low shot which was parried away for a corner.
With 12 minutes left, the Eagles won a freekick in a decent position but Iheanacho’s floated attempt was again cleared away by the keeper.
Mali then doubled their lead in the 87th minute thanks to Kamory Doumbia who raced into the Eagles’ 18 yard box and fired past Nwabali to earn his side a well deserved win.
Up next for the Super Eagles is the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June against South Africa who held Algeria to a 3-3 draw at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Tuesday. (NAN)
SPORTS
Wrestling : 4 Nigerian Wrestlers Secure Olympic Qualification in Egypt
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Four Nigerian Wrestlers on Saturday qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics in their various events at the ongoing African championships and Olympics qualifiers in Alexandria, Egypt.
Reports says that the wrestlers will now join Odunayo Adekuoroye, who secured qualification in 2023 after winning a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg category at the World Championships in Belgrade.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist Blessing Oburududu booked a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a 2-0 pinfall victory over Uilau Tarkong of Palau in the 68kg.
World Military Champion, Hannah Reuben Pipped Amy Youin of Cote D’Ivoire 6-0 in the 76kg category to secure Olympics slot in Paris .
Esther Kolawole joined the list of Nigerian athletes going to Paris for the Olympics after overcoming Angelina Rodrigues of Cape Verde 10-0.
African Games champion, Christiana Ogunsanya in the 53kg category overpowered Egyptian Shaimaa Mohamed 10-0 to secure qualification.
However, Mercy Genesis narrowly missed out on Paris Olympics in this window after a 5-7 defeat to Nada
Mohamed of Egypt in the 50kg weight class.
Reports says that five female wrestlers will represent the country in the Paris 2024 Olympics .
NAN reports that Nigerian male freestyle wrestlers will hope to join their female counterparts on Sunday when they take to the mat.
Sunday will be the final day of this window’s qualifiers.
NAN reports that the remaining Olympic slots will be decided on May 9 to 12 at the 2024 World Qualification Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.
NAN reports that the African championships and Olympic qualifiers which started on Monday in Alexandria, Egypt is expected to end Sunday.(NAN)
SPORTS
Flying Eagles Crash Out of African Games
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The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been knocked out of the men’s football event of the 2023 African Games in Ghana after a 3-2 defeat by Senegal.
Reports says that the Flying Eagles took an early lead in the second minute through Charles Agada in the match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening.
Idrissa Traore, however, equalised for Senegal in the 21st minute when his low shot beat the time in the encounter.
Chibuzor Izuogu put Nigeria back into the game when he equalised to make it 2-2 through a brilliant free kick.
Pape Diouf converted from the spot for the winning goal to send Senegal to the semi finals.
The Flying Eagles ended their campaign with only one victory against South Sudan, losing their opening match 2-1 to Uganda and 3-2 to Senegal.
Nigeria finished third in the group behind Uganda and Senegal, with South Sudan coming fourth.
After the match, Bosso said he was disappointed at the result and blamed poor preparation for the performance.
“I’m disappointed because this game was the best we have played so far in this tournament.
” I didn’t have enough time to scout for players and what I did was to watch few games in Uyo and other places .That’s where I saw the two Enyimba players, Daga and Chibueze,” Bosso said.
Nigeria won the men’s football silver at the last African Games in Rabat, Morocco in 2019 after a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in the final.(NAN)