SPORTS
Nigeria Beat Sierra Leone 3-2, Qualify for 2023 Nations Cup
The Super Eagles of Nigeria booked their spot in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations yesterday, following a dramatic 3-2 win over Sierra Leone at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Sunday night.
While star striker Victor Osimhen scored a first-half brace, Sierra Leone fought back through goals by Mustapha Bundu and Augustus Kargbo, with the score being tied at 2-2 until deep into stoppage time.
It took a 95th minute effort by Kelechi Iheanacho for Nigeria to bag maximum points in Paynesville.
As a result, the Super Eagles sealed their place in the upcoming tournament, while Sierra Leone missed out on Afcon qualification.As the referee blew the whistle for the first-half, Nigeria eased themselves into the tie with accurate build-up play from deep positions.
In having more of the ball, the Super Eagles flexed their authority on the tie early on.Nigeria created a number of goal scoring opportunities during the first 15 minutes of the encounter, with Victor Osimhen proving to be a tricky customer to deal with.
The travelling side’s pressure then paid off soon before the 20th minute mark, as Osimhen got his name on the scoresheet. Played through on goal, Osimhen noticed the on rushing goalkeeper and subsequently lobbed the ball into the back of the net to give his nation the lead.
Nigeria continued to put Sierra Leone on the back foot as the half-hour mark approached and created a couple of goal scoring opportunities along the way, this time with Samuel Chukwueze coming close to doubling his side’s advantage.
Osimhen then scored his second goal of the evening in the 32nd minute, with his right-footed shot from the centre of the box beating Ibrahim Sesay between the sticks. Despite being in a favourable position, Sierra Leone pulled one back four minutes before the break, as Mustapha Bundu got his name on the scoresheet with a left-footed finish inside the area.
The Super Eagles looked sharp after the restart and held more of the ball during the opening exchanges of the subsequent half. However, Sierra Leone did not sit back and provided Nigeria with a couple of awkward moments when defending their quarters.
Sierra Leone continued to soak up Nigeria’s pressure and looked to catch the visitors on the break. With an hour of football played, the Super Eagles made it difficult for their opponents to make any kind of advancements up field.
In a swift move against the run of play, Sierra Leone drew level in the 84th, courtesy of a brilliant individual effort by Augustus Kargbo on the edge of the Nigeria box. Finding himself in a bit of space just outside the penalty area, the attacker navigated his way through traffic before unleashing a right-footed shot that beat the Super Eagles goalkeeper.
Nonetheless, it was Nigeria who had the last say in the tie with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the winner in the 93rd minute. After a darting run inside the Sierra Leone half, Zaidu Sanusi made it all the way to the by line before squaring the ball to Iheanacho, who guided the ball into the back of the net.
The duo of Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming up from 28th August to 8th September.
According to the Badminton World Federation, Multiple African Champion, Mariam Bolaji will represent Nigeria in the Women’s Singles Standing Lower 3 (SL3) while Jeremiah Chigozie represents Nigeria in the Men’s Singles Standing Lower 4 (SL4).
An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria said the qualification of Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie is a testimony of hard work, consistency and perseverance.
Orbih who was full of joy revealed that Nigeria stands a good chance to make history by winning medals in para badminton in her debut appearance.
He said, “Today, history has been made as two players for the first time will be representing Nigeria in the para badminton event at the Paralympic Games. I am full of joy because the sacrifices of the players and the Federation were not in vain.
“Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have consistently attended the African Championship winning gold medals in the singles and doubles events. Last month, Mariam Bolaji won two gold medals at the Spanish Internationals in Victoria and Toledo putting her in a better position to make it to the Paralympics; which has become a reality.
“With adequate camping, foreign tours and proper funding, I believe Nigeria will win a medal in the Para Badminton event when we make our debut this year”.
Orbih once again, called on well meaning individuals to support the Badminton Federation of Nigeria in ensuring the athletes get maximum support ahead of the Olympic/Paralympic Games in Paris next August.
He said, “I will not get tired of calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the private sector to key into our brand and give more support to the Badminton Federation of Nigeria. We have athletes who are marketable and will sell their brands to the world with their sterling performances”.
Mariam Eniola Bolaji shocked the world by winning her first gold medal at the Spanish Para badminton International 2021 beating Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine.
Bolaji won the women’s singles SL3 at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023, All African Para Badminton Championship 2023 (Doubles and Mixed Doubles).
She won gold medals at the 5th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023, Egypt Para Badminton International 2024, World Para Badminton Championship 2024 in Thailand and Spanish Para Badminton International 2024.
Bolaji is also the first African player to be ranked among the top 10 in the BWF world rankings as she is currently ranked number 5 in the world.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Chigozie won bronze medal at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023 and three gold medals at African Para Badminton Championship 2023
He played a lesser number of championships compared to Eniola; playing in Egypt, Dubai, and World Championship in Thailand.
Chigozie got to the quarter finals in the men’s singles SL4 category in Thailand and currently ranked number 16 in the recent BWF para Badminton ranking.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s table tennis pacesetter, Aruna Quadri, on winning the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup title.
Quadri achieved a resounding victory in the final match of the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Rwanda, reclaiming his title and sealing his place as Africa’s table tennis champion.
The President commended the table tennis star for his dogged pursuit of excellence even in the face of gnawing obstacles, declaring that the zeal for distinction, the hardiness to succeed, and the inventiveness to solve complex problems are the exceptional qualities that define Nigerians.
The President also noted the recent progress in the nation’s sports sector, with remarkable performances in the African Games, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Relay Championships, and emphasized that his administration will continue to foster the growth and development of sports in the country.
The Board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, the Super Eagles.
A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, on Monday said the NFF approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint George.
Reports says that the ace winger spent 20 months as assistant to José Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post after guiding the team to silver medal at AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
George took charge of the squad in acting capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
He was a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia.
The team also emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year.
George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward made a scoring debut for fatherland in an AFCON qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos, on July 27, 1991.
He also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe.
He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA, on 19th June 1994.
George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October, 1993.
The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks.
The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.(NAN)
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