SPORTS
Falcons to Tackle Japan Women Team in Friendly
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
Nine-time African champions and FIFA World Cup ever-present Nigeria will take on the Senior Women National Team of Japan in a prestige international friendly match at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday, 6th October this year. The date falls within one of the FIFA Women International Windows for this year.
Nadeshiko Japan, which is the alias of the Women National Team of Japan, are rated 13th in the world, while the Super Falcons are 39th.
Both teams have clashed only once at competitive level – at the 2004 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Nadeshiko pipped the Falcons 1-0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on 14th August 2004.
Two back-to-back friendlies in 2013 were won 2-0 each by Nadeshiko.
Japan’s entertaining girls won the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2011, beating Team USA in a pulsating penalty shoot-out after regulation time ended 2-2. Nadeshiko thus became the first team from Asia to win a senior FIFA World Cup trophy.
The Super Falcons are perennial champions of the African continent and have participated at every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991, reaching the quarter finals in 1999.
Eaglets go for broke against Junior Elephants in semi final clash
Head Coach Nduka Ugbade has assured that Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will go all out against their Ivorian counterparts in Tuesday’s first semi final match of the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana.
Both teams take to the pitch of the 15,000 –capacity facility at 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time) before the second semi final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso at the same venue.
“The match against Cote d’Ivoire is of high importance to us. In fact, I have reminded the players that this one is the biggest match of their lives. They must win to secure a ticket to the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, and from there to the U17 World Cup, and from there to several opportunities and possibilities.
“Whatever we have done here (beating Ghana and Togo) will not mean much if we don’t go all out and grab our ticket to the AFCON and to the Final. We will throw everything into the fray.”
The Eaglets, five-time world champions, decimated Ghana’s Black Starlets 4-2 in the tournament opener and then eased past Togo’s Young Sparrowhawks 3-1 to finish as Group A winners. The Ivorians finished as runners-up of Group B, dominated by Burkina Faso’s Young Etalons.
Victory in Tuesday’s encounter will send the Eaglets into the Final and with an opportunity to reclaim the WAFU B U17 title they won in Niamey, Niger Republic four years ago. It also provides the Nigerian youngsters a revenge platform against the Ivorians, who defeated them in the Final of the same competition in Lome early last year. Both Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire qualified for the Africa U17 Cup of Nations from that tournament but the event was cancelled as hosts Morocco developed cold feet with the covid-19 pandemic still biting in some countries.
Meanwhile, President of the Ghana Football Association, Simeon Kurt-Okraku on Sunday visited the camp of the Golden Eaglets in his capacity as President of WAFU B region. He reminded the lads that Nigeria belongs to the top echelon of football –playing nations on the African continent, and has produced so many world–class players. He charged the boys to always adhere to the instructions of their coaches in order to grow, advance and excel in the beautiful game.
By Torough David, Abuja
D’Tigers power forward Chima Moneke has joined Serbian franchise Crvena Zvezda on a two-year deal from Spanish outfit Saskia Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz ahead of the new season.
The 29-year-old Nigerian takes his trade to Serbia following his impressive outing for Baskonia where he became one of Euro League’s most sought-after forwards.
He enjoyed a fruitful 2024/25 season with Baskonia in the Euro League, where he averaged 14. 0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while shooting 64.5 per cent from two-point range and 81.3 per cent from the free-throw line.His average minutes per game stands at 28.2, making an average of 0.
88 steals and 0.27 blocks per game, though his turnover rate was recorded at 1.85 per fixture.Moneke was the subject of interest from other franchises before agreeing to join Zvezda following several rounds of negotiations. He will reportedly earn an annual salary of €1.7m euros per season in the Eastern European country.
Zvezda are currently embarking on an ambitious summer rebuild, with the aim of dominating both in the country and on the continental stage. They recently tied down their Greek head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos to a new two-year deal, which will run until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Moneke has been on a nomadic journey ever since his arrival on the European basketball scene, though his rise has been swift and impressive. He was named MVP of the Basketball Champions League in the 2021/22 season and had a short spell in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings in the 2022/23 campaign.
He returned to Europe where he had a short stint with AS Monaco in early 2023, before landing at Baskonia, where he built a reputation as one of the league’s elite players.
 | ReplyReply allForwardAdd reaction |
By Torough David, Abuja
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been charged with drink driving and failing to co-operate with police after a car crash in April.
The 29-year-old was arrested after a grey Mercedes A Class crashed into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire.
Thames Valley Police said he has been charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and one count of failing to co-operate with a preliminary test at the roadside.
“The charge is in connection with a single vehicle road traffic collision around 12.05 BST on Sunday 27 April this year when a grey Mercedes A Class left the road and crashed into a tree,” police said in a statement.
Murphy, a four-time champion jockey, is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 3 July.
He was charged on 19 June, the day he rode two winners at Royal Ascot.
A British Horseracing Authority statement read: “The BHA is aware of an update issued by Thames Valley Police this afternoon regarding Oisin Murphy.
“We are now seeking to gather as much information as possible in order to consider what, if any, implications there are as a result of this development.”
In October Murphy spoke about how he had been having counselling, saying it had helped him greatly.
He returned from a 14-month suspension in March 2023 having been banned for breaches of Covid-19 rules and twice failing racecourse breath tests for alcohol.
Former Nigerian international Sunday Oliseh has advised Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to play in the Premier League if he wants to remain in the limelight.
The Galatasaray star has been a major transfer target for clubs in Europe and in the Saudi Football League this summer after his impressive display in the Turkish league.
Speaking with, the former Super Eagles head coach described Osimhen as a huge asset to Nigerian football.
“I think he (Osimhen) is a huge asset to Nigerian football. But like every top asset, we all have our shortcomings. We have to be able to find solutions and work around it,” Oliseh told Lagos Talks.
“This is a player that if he wants to continue to be in the limelight, he has to go to the Premier League.
“Nigerians want to see him there. He has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea for a long time.
“But for him to play that way, for him to become that big, there are many things he has to change.”
Breaking: George Akume remains SGF – Presidency
ShareThe presidency says there has been no change in the status of Senator George Akume, as Secretary to the Government...
SDP State Chairmen Back Gabam’s Suspension
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have declared full support for the suspension of...
Benue is Bleeding: The Demand for Justice by Benue Peoples in Diaspora Must be Heard
ShareBy Benue Diaspora Groups Deep in the heart of Nigeria’s North Central geo-political zone, precisely in Benue state, a humanitarian...
Anambra Guber: APC ’ll Deploy Grassroots-based Campaign to Sweep Poll – Ukachukwu
ShareTorough David, Abuja The Anambra All Progressive Congress (APC) said it will deploy a grassroots-based campaign strategy to sweep the...
INEC Resumes CVR in Anambra July 17, Nationwide Aug. 18
Share Torough David, Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in Anambra...
Diri Campaigns Against Drug Abuse, Trafficking
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri yesterday, led a campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking...
Nigeria Can Lead Africa’s Economic Growth – CIoD
ShareThe outgoing President, Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria (CIoD), Alhaji Tijjani Borodo has expressed optimism that Nigeria will likely lead...
WTO DG Commends Nigeria Customs for Strides in Trade Modernization
ShareThe Director-General (D-G), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its remarkable...
Ally of Cameroon President, 92, Quits ‘Broken’ Government to Challenge Him
ShareIssa Tchiroma Bakary – a prominent minister and long-time ally of President Paul Biya – has quit Cameroon’s government, in...
Crash Kills 29 Pupils Taking Exams after Blast in Central Africa
ShareTorough David, Abuja Twenty-nine children who were taking their school exams in the Central African Republic have been killed in...
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish