SPORTS
Botswana, Eswatini Book Quarterfinal Berths
Botswana and Eswatini booked their places in the quarterfinals of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2022 after impressive victories in their final pool games played in Durban yesterday.
Botswana have set up a quarterfinal meeting with Zambia at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Tuesday (kick-off 17h00 CAT) in what is a repeat of the 2019 final, also played in Durban, that Chipolopolo won 1-0 to claim their fifth title.
Eswatini advance to take on Senegal in what is a repeat of the 2021 semifinal that was won on penalties by the west African guest nation.
That match is on Wednesday at 14h00 CAT.It will leave the last of the quarterfinals between defending champions South Africa and Mozambique, another repeat of last year’s semifinal that Bafana Bafana won 3-0.
The match will kick-off at 17h00 CAT.Botswana sealed their knockout berth with a 1-0 Group A win over Angola, in doing so winning three Cosafa Cup matches in a row for the first time in their history.
Angola perhaps had the better of the opportunities in the game but could not take their chances, and the three points hinged on a penalty midway through the second half.
Angola defender Gaspar was adjudged to have handled the ball when a header hit him from point-blank range, though replays suggested it had in fact struck him in the face.
It was a moment of good luck for Botswana and Goitseone Phoko duly drilled home the penalty that took them to the top of the table and into the next round.
The Indian Ocean island nations of Seychelles and Comoros met in the other match in the pool that was played for pride, with the latter coming out on top.
They took the lead early on through Abdallah Sadad, but Seychelles levelled 10 minutes before halftime through Ryan Henriette.
But Comoros would not be denied as Ali Moudhoiffar netted the winner on the hour-mark as they recorded their first points of the competition.
Eswatini topped Group B as they got the victory they needed over Lesotho, claiming a 2-0 success at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
They took the lead through Sandile Gamedze as he poked the ball home from close-range after Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane had spilled an attempted catch from a cross.
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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