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Qatar 2022 Qualifier: 21 Super Eagles Train in Tangier for Lone Star

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Captain Ahmed Musa and 20 other invited players were at the Super Eagles’ first training session in the city of Tangier on Tuesday ahead of their FIFA World Cup African qualifying encounter against Liberia.

The Super Eagles take on the Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Morocco in a Qatar 2022 qualifier on Saturday.

A statement by Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday, said the Super Eagles had a gym session at the hotel in the morning and were scheduled to train in the evening at the venue of the match.

Stade de Tanger (also known as Stade Ibn Batouta, a 45,000 –capacity facility that was opened in April 2011), would sadly be empty when Nigeria and Liberia tackle each other for three precious points on Saturday.

This is because ‘hosts’ Liberia have made no move to get the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to approve crowd attendance at the Day 5 game.

“As at lunchtime on Tuesday, only forwards Victor Osimhen and Odion Jude Ighalo, as well as newly–drafted goalkeeper John Noble, were being expected in the camp,” Olajire said.

With nine points, Nigeria needs all three points from the encounter with the Lone Star in order to stay in contention to star in the knockout phase of the World Cup qualifiers, set for March 2022.

Only the group winners will proceed to the knockout phase that will be a home-and-away exercise to produce Africa’s five flag bearers in Qatar.

Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks, who hosts Central African Republic in Mindelo on Saturday, have seven points and will be hoping the Super Eagles stumble in North Africa.

However, the Super Eagles have scaled the hurdle in their last three major qualifying campaigns with matches to spare.

They are confident they could reach the knockout round before the final day of the qualifiers by beating Liberia, and hoping Cape Verde are unhinged on home soil by the Beasts.

Nigeria reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals with a match to spare; a feat repeated in the qualifying series for the 2019 AFCON.

For the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, the Super Eagles qualified with two matches to spare.

The statement added that the delegation of Liberia’s Lone Star also arrived in Tangier on Monday. The team includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and five forwards.

The Lone Stars, bottom of Group C of the African series with three points, have a very remote chance of qualifying even though they play their final two matches at ‘home’ in Tangier.

The Liberians opted for the venue as home ground after CAF ruled that there was no venue in the whole of Liberia fit and proper to host international matches.

Nigeria, the group leaders, already have nine points (the maximum that the Lone Star can amass in this campaign, if they win their last two matches).

But the Super Eagles have a home game against second–placed Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday next week.

After the session with the three–time African champions, the Lone Star will remain in Tangier for their final game of the campaign, against the Wild Beasts of Central African Republic, on Tuesday next week.

Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks, with seven points, are at home to the Beasts on the island of Mindelo, hoping to garner another three points that could make the final Group C encounter with Nigeria in Lagos a cliff-hanger.

FULL LIST OF EAGLES FOR LONE STAR & BLUE SHARKS

Goalkeepers: John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

FULL LIST OF LONE STAR FOR SUPER EAGLES

Goalkeepers: Derrick Julu (Watanga FC); Tommy Songo’s (LISCR FC); Boison Wynney de Souza (FC Somesul Dej, Romania)

Defenders: Sampson Dweh (LPRC Oilers); Alvin Maccornel (Watanga FC); Ben Benaiah (LPRC Oilers); Carlos Williams (Watanga FC); Prince Balde (FC Drita, Kosovo); Jamal Arago (Sabail FK, Azerbaijan); Mark Pabai (PEC Zwolle, The Netherlands)

Midfielders: Abraham Soumaoro (Paeek FC, Cyprus); Seth Kanteh Hellberg (IK Barge, Sweden); Allen Njie (FC Aarau, Switzerland); Marcus Macaulay (Sahab FC, Jordan); Oscar Murphy Dorley (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Justin Salmon (Degerfors IF, Sweden); Abu Kamara (FC Makedonija, North Macedonia)

Forwards: Peter Wilson (Olympiakos Nicosia, Cyprus); Moussa Sanoh (CS Mioveni, Romania); Van-Dave Harmon (KF Laci, Albania); Kpah Sherman (Kedah FC, Malaysia); Sylvanus Nimley (Llves, Finland). (NAN)

SPORTS

NPFL: Nasarawa Utd pip Lobi Stars 1-0 in North Central Derby

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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)

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SPORTS

NTTF Hosts National Coaching Seminar

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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)

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SPORTS

Rivers United Return to NPFL Top Spot after Remo Stars’ Defeat by Katsina United

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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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