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Football: We Will not Underrate CAR in Second Leg – Coach

Christopher Danjuma, the Head Coach, Under-20 national female team, has said they will not underrate the Central African Republic (CAR) in their second leg encounter.
Danjuma disclosed this late Tuesday at the end of the team`s training session at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Falconets earned a thumping first leg win that should make the return leg a mere formality.
Two-time runners-up of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s Falconets fired from all cylinders as they hit CAR`s U-20 girls 7-0 in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Africa first round, first leg encounter in Douala, Cameroon on Saturday.
He said the team would not be distracted in order to qualify for the World Cup.
“We are preparing for the second leg of the match against CAR and by the grace of God we are focus and it will be a smooth journey.
“We are making sure that we are not distracted by anything, we are looking forward to the second leg which will end with victory,” he said
He said the team would start preparation early enough to have a better results in the second leg match and the subsequent make to come.
“Thank God that this time we started preparations early enough and it is giving us a lot of opportunities to see what we need to really build in our team.
“We continue to work hard and to make sure that we will qualify by the grace of God. We are going to have a better team that will go to the world cup,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the team and also believe in them.
“We urge Nigerians that they should continue to pray for us and continue to support us, believe in us and we believe that by God’s grace we will make everybody happy,” said.
NAN reports the return leg has been scheduled for Oct.6, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The Falconets have appeared at every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since it debuted as FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2002.
They featured at the 2004 edition in Thailand, Russia 2006, Chile 2008, Germany 2010, Japan 2012, Canada 2014, Papua New Guinea 2016 and France 2018.
The 2020 edition, planned by FIFA to be co-hosted by Costa Rica and Panama, did not hold owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)
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Tottenham Interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze

Tottenham FC are exploring a deal for Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze.
Thomas Frank is looking to bolster his options in the final third after attacking midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
South Korea forward Son Heung-min left the club after 10 years earlier this month having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, while midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is still out after knee surgery.
Thus Eze has scored 14 goals across all competitions for Palace last season, including in their 1-0 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The 27-year-old made his England debut in 2023 and has won 11 caps for the Three Lions, including three appearances at Euro 2024.
Tottenham are also in talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinhobut multiple sources have indicated that Eze is now emerging as a player of serious interest for Spurs.
There is no confirmation whether Tottenham will look to progress with deals for both Brazil winger Savinho and Eze.
Arsenal also have an interest in Eze but are currently looking at trying to move players on, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira set to leave.
However, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham’s active interest in Eze results in Arsenal accelerating a move for the England international.
Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m in 2020 and has scored 40 goals in 168 appearances.
His contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire in the summer of 2027.
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Liverpool Stepping up bid to Sign Palace’s Guehi

Liverpool are stepping up their attempts to sign Crystal Palace and England center-back Marc Guehi.
Palace captain Guehi has a year left on his contract, but Chairman Steve Parish said earlier this week he could be sold this summer to avoid him moving on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.
Sources have said that Liverpool have held initial talks with a view to signing the 25-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts.
Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.
The 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.
Guehi was the subject of bids worth up to £65m from Newcastle last year.
The FA Cup winners are believed to want £40m for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.
The Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.
They have also had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though sources have said the Swede remains determined to move to Anfield.
Signing Guehi and Isak would take Liverpool’s summer spending above £400m.
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Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.
Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.
7 and Aug. 10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.
Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.
He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.
Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.
“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.