SPORTS
FIFA Scribe Commends Aisha Buhari Cup
Fatima Samoura, the Secretary-General of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), on Monday commended the display of skills and the level of competition at the ongoing 2021 Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos.
Samoura made this known in Lagos after the match that saw the Black Queens of Ghana defeat the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 2-0.
She said she was delighted to see the level of improvement in competitive football for women at the ongoing tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island.
She also expressed satisfaction over the level of organisation at the ongoing Aisha Buhari Cup aimed to prepare participants for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in the female category.
“I am so delighted about what I have seen so far in the competition, there has been a high level of skills and competitiveness.
“Indeed, the tempo of the game is standard and each participating teams has shown some level of ball development than ever before.
“The organisers have done well indeed, the competition would go a long way in adding more value and class to women football in Africa as a whole,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the entertaining match was was also a good contest as both teams worked their socks off to repel any form of domination during the Day 5 of the showpiece.
The match, however, ended goalless in the first half as all efforts to record a breakthrough goal were in vain for both teams.
The two teams came out firing from all cylinders in the second round with Ghana’s star player, Pricella Adubeau, getting the all important breakthrough in the 59th minutes.
She connected a pass from Elizabeth Owusuaa, outpaced Cameroon’s defence from the left flank, to release a shot that beat the the Cameroonian goalkeeper for their first goal.
Ghana played with more flexibility and intensity after the goal to ensure that they defeated their Cameroonian opponents
They got their second goal through Vivian Konadu in the 89th minute of the game.
Konadu broke away from the defence while chasing a loose ball, outpaced three opposing players to blast a shot through Cameroon’s goal keeper’s right-hand side.
Coach Mercy Tagoe of Ghana expressed happiness over the result and called for more support from the fans back at home.
She said that it was a very tough game considering that both teams were powerhouses of football in Africa adding that she was delighted to get the all-important win.
Tagoe also said that the team showed their quality and erased any doubt following their humiliating 0-3 loss to Bayana Bayana of South Africa in their first game. (NAN)
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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