SPORTS
LSSC says Two Hundred And Ninety-Nine athletes ready for 2023 National Youth Games in Asaba
The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) on Friday said the registered young and vibrant athletes for the 2023 National Youth Games in Asaba were ready for the challenge.
The Director of Public Relations, LSCC, Mrs Titi Oshodi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview upon the arrival of the contingent in Asaba that the team was in high spirit.
“We are doing well as we have arrived Asaba for the games which will officially commence tomorrow,” she said.
NAN reports that athletes and officials of Team Lagos arrived Asaba, Delta, on Thursday ahead of the 7th National Youth Games.
The contingent is led by the management staff of the Lagos State Sports Commission and lodged at Dennis Osadebe University.
4,500 athletes from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are expected to participate in the youth’s sports fiesta, which features no fewer than 35 sports.
Screening, accreditation and technical meetings continue today, while the opening ceremony will hold on Saturday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Oshodi said Lagos State would be represented by 299 athletes and compete in 33 individual and team sports events.
The National Youth Games is for athletes who are 15 years and below.
“We are with the hope of improving on the team’s second placed finish at the last edition,” she said.
The Director-General, LSSC, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, charged athletes and officials to reflect excellence during the 7th National Youth Games.
He also urged the athletes to give their best while assuring that the state government would continue to support talents to reach the pinnacle of their careers.
“We have advised our athletes to please stay away from drugs, and also coaches should put in more efforts to ensure that Lagos surpasses previous achievements at the games.
“Lagos State will compete fairly with eligible athletes and consolidate on the progress made by the state through various grassroots development programmes and talent discovery initiatives.
“Our athletes are within the stipulated age and so we expect that Lagos will do well at the Games,” he said.
NAN reports that Team Lagos finished second behind Team Delta with 72 medals at the last edition of the games held in 2021 in Ilorin, Kwara.
The 10-day fiesta will end on Sept. 30.
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)