SPORTS
Aiteo Cup: Heartland Face Rivals Enugu Rangers
An oriental derby is on the cards in the 2022 Aiteo Federation Cup as Rangers square up against Heartland in one of the competition’s Round of 32 Men’s fixtures.
Newsmen report that the Rangers International FC, Enugu versus Heartland FC, Owerri game will hold on Aug. 3 at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Benin. Kickoff is 4.00 p. m.Rangers have the bragging over their rival going into the derby clash, after handing Heartland a back-to-back defeat at the just-concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The Flying Antelopes are looking for redemption after their push for a continental ticket in the NPFL failed to see the light of the day.
They will therefore take this game as a make-or-break affair, as they intend to end their campaign with a trophy in their cabinet.
Newsmen also report that Rangers last won the oldest club competition in the country in 2018.
In another round of 32 fixtures, two NPFL giants are set to clash as Niger Tornadoes brace up against Enyimba International of Aba in Ijebu Ode.
The Ikon Allah Boys do battle against the Elephants, the most successful team in the NPFL in what promises to be a cracking game.
However, on recent form, Niger Tornadoes will feel they can nick this one after holding Enyimba to a 1-1 draw in Aba, before edging the reverse fixture at home 2-1 in the 2021/2022 NPFL season.
ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES (MEN)
Bayelsa United Vs Green Beret– Enugu – (03/08/22) – 2 00 p.m.
Enyimba International Vs Niger Tornadoes– Ijebu-Ode – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Doma United Vs Lobi Stars– Jos – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Akure City Academy Vs Bendel Insurance Feeders– Nnewi – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Rangers Int’l Vs Heartland FC– Benin City – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Sunshine Stars Vs Rovers FC– Aba – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Cynosure FC Vs Katsina United– Makurdi – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Remo Stars Vs Akwa United– Enugu – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Kogi United Vs Kanta United– Minna – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
DMD FC Vs Housing Corporation – Abuja – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Zamfara United Vs Kano Pillars – Kaduna – (03/08/22) – 2.00 p.m.
Fulfill FC Vs El-Kanemi Warriors– Gombe – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Kwara United Vs Wikki Tourists– Abuja – (03/08/22) – 4pm
Bendel Insurance Vs Ottasolo FC– Ilorin – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
Sokoto United Vs Nasarawa United– Kaduna – (03/08/22) – 4.00 p.m.
. Dakkada FC already qualified for Round of 16
ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (WOMEN)
Bayelsa Queens/Kada Queens Vs Niger Amazons – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m. (Venue TBD)
Abruka Queens Vs Abia Angels – Benin City – 04/08/22 – 4 00 p.m.
Naija Ratels Vs Nasarawa Amazons – Jos – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m.
Immaculate Queens Vs Confluence Queens – Makurdi – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m.
Honey Badgers Vs Delta Queens – Owerri – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m.
Heartland Queens Vs Dannaz Ladies – Warri – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m.
Osun Babes Vs Royal Queens – Abuja – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m.
Edo Queens Vs Awka Angels/FC Robo Queens – 04/08/22 – 4.00 p.m. (Venue TBD). (NAN)
SPORTS
Results of Match Day 2 Fixtures in 2024/2025 NPFL
Following are the results of Match Day 1 fixtures in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday and dates of the remaining fixtures:
Akwa United FC 1-1 Abia Warriors FC
Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Kano Pillars FC
Katsina United FC 1-1 Bendel Insurance FC
Niger Tornadoes FC 0-0 Nasarawa United FC
Shooting Stars FC 1-1 Plateau United FC
El Kanemi Warriors Vs Kwara United FC (postponed )
The following Match Day two fixtures
Would be played on Sept.
25:Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers international FC
Enyimba international FC Vs Lobi stars FC .
(NAN)SPORTS
Match Day 1 Remaining Results in 2024/2025 NPFL
Following are the results of remaining Match Day one fixtures played on Sunday in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)Heartland FC 1-3 Enyimba international FCKwara United FC 1-2 Niger Tornadoes FCBendel Insurance FC 0-0 Rivers United FCPlateau United FC 1-0 Katsina United FCKano Pillars FC 3-0 Ikorodu City FCSunshine Stars FC 3-0 Bayelsa United FCAbia Warriors FC 0-2 Remo Stars FCNasarawa United FC 1-1 Shooting Stars FC.
(NAN)SPORTS
Morocco 2025: Super Eagles can Beat any Team, Eguavoen Boasts
The interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, said his team can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.
Eguavoen stated this after his team spanked the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
“We have quality players to beat any team but we respect team anyway.
Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceived your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,“he said.
Equavoen attributed the victory to the formation adopted by the technical crew, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.
“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know with the caliber of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation.
“Football is about you win, lose and draw, I don’t believe we have a poor result,” he said.
He, however, said that the former Super Eagles coach didn’t do a good job but it has to do with believe, what is at stake and what you want to achieve.
“Psychologically as a group, we are agreed, where we are and where we are going to be. We will definitely achieve it,” Equavoen said.
He commended the performance of the defence , describing it as superb, adding that the team had been training together for one week.
The coach said that asking six players to warm up for the second half was to buy time, adding that there was no need to rush to change.
He said the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a good team, adding that they came with a good game plan.
Report says that Eguavoen was appointed interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and coach Bruno Labbadia failed.
NFF explained in a statement that it failed due to the stringent regulations of German tax authorities.(NAN)