SPORTS
Aisha Buhari Cup: Dare Urges Super Falcons to Keep Heads up in Defeat
Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, on Tuesday urged the Super Falcons to raise their heads up in spite of the 2-4 defeat by the Banyana Banyana of South Africa at the just-concluded Aisha Buhari Cup.
Dare stated this when he visited the subdued Randy Waldrum ladies in the dressing room after a disappointing result against their arch rival, the South African team.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Banyana Bayana emerged the winners of the Aisha Buhari Cup after they clipped the Super Falcons wings.
The highly entertaining match was played at the newly renovated Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly Onikan Stadium.
Dare urged the Super Falcons to put their pieces together for the next challenge ahead of them.
“You have the potentials, but there are some lessons to be learnt here and l’m sure it has been learnt.
“l’m glad that you did not sustain any injury so that you can continue to play for your club and your country.
“Raise your heads up, you have proven yourselves and you will have more opportunities and give yourself a challenge for the next matches,” he said.
The President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, also said that the defeat should not be seen as a setback, but a proof that the Super Falcons were no more invincible.
He also assured the team of the NFF support: “No matter what happens, NFF will always support you as a team, you have played with a purpose.
“The take home is that we are no more invincible and we need to up our games.
“With the NFF support, you have the necessary trainings scheduled, the one in Turkey, the U.S., and Australia. Government will do everything in its power to support you.
“You need to give yourselves the challenge, beat Ghana home and away, also beat Cote d’Ivoire home and away, clean yourself up and forget about today’s match,” Pinnick said.
NAN reports that the Super Falcons conceded thrice in the first half of the match before they came back with a brace in the second half, only for the Banyana Banyana to put icing on the cake.
The South Africans took the lead courtesy of an own goal by Nigeria’s Alozie Chidi in the first five minutes of the game.
The Hugo Broos-tutored team surprisingly were two goals up in the 17th minutes after a foul in the box 18-yard by Nigeria’s Onome Ebi resulted in a penalty.
The pressure on the Nigerian side resulted in the third goal in the first half of the game as Salgado Gabriel pounced on a loose ball just before the half time whistle.
The Super Falcons, however, came stronger in the second half to reduce the score line through the efforts of the substitute Vivian Ikechukwu in the 47th minutes.
Ikechukwu made it a brace in the 52nd minutes to rekindle her team’s hope of a comeback.
The Banyana Banyana confidence were rewarded with the second penalty of the day when Motlhalo was brought down inside the box for Mamello Makhabane to send the ball into the far corner of the Nigerian goal.
The goal put the South Africans back in full throttle as they went ahead to lift the Aisha Buhari Cup and silence the boisterous Lagos fans.
The Special guest of honour and Chief host, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the Minister of Sports and NFF President presented the trophy to the Banyana Banyana. (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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