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Osinbajo: Government of Nigeria fully supports 2020 Women World Cup Bid
By Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has given the world football governing body (FIFA) the assurance that the Federal Government of Nigeria is 100 per cent in support of the bid by the country to host the 10th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in 2020,
Nigeria’s number two citizen spoke when a team from world football governing body, FIFA and accompanying officials of the Nigeria Football Federation and members of the Bid Committee paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa.
“The Government of Nigeria guarantees to back the bid 100 per cent. We are actually excited with the prospect of hosting the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2020.
For us, football is a unifying force. Government interest in hosting is beyond commercial; football is a measure of unity and well –being of our people as diverse as we are.”Osinbajo promised that the Government will mobilize every apparatus to ensure a successful hosting, in the areas of infrastructure, security and other logistics.
The Vice President also stated that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) is an ardent football lover and is excited about Nigeria hosting the tournament and is in full support of the bid, while thanking the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the NFF leadership and the Bid Committee for putting forward a strong bid for Nigeria.
Earlier, NFF President Pinnick had informed Vice President Osinbajo about the excellent facilities present in the four proposed host cities – stadia, training sites, hotels, hospitals, road network, security and seamless air travel.
“We had warm welcome from their Excellencies the Governors and people of the four States, who had worked tirelessly to put in place the appropriate structure to host a successful and memorable tournament. Hosting the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2020 will leave a lot of legacies beyond the physical; it will impact on humanity.”
Pinnick traced the history of the U20 Women’s World Cup, saying Nigeria had been an ever-present, and highlighted how the competition served as discovery forum for players like Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Rasheedat Ajibade who are now the leading lights of African women football and are known globally, and are also giving back to the next generation of young girls through NGOs and direct investment in the Nigeria economy. He thanked FIFA for considering Nigeria as a strong contender to host.
Leader of the FIFA team, Heyral Kaj Jurgen praised Vice President Osinbajo for the warm welcome the team received in all cities visited. With him were Christopher Exley (Security) and Kliment Taseski (Tournaments and Events).
The delegation to Vice President Osinbajo was led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Olusade Adesola accompanied by the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel, and also included Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (NFF 1st Vice President); Mallam Shehu Dikko (NFF 2nd Vice President); Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (NFF General Secretary); Ms Aisha Falode (Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League); Alh. Mainasara Illo (Bid Coordinator); CP Umar Baba (NFF/Bid Committee Security Adviser); Dr. Paul Onyeudo (Medical); Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme (NFF Deputy General Secretary) and; Chikelue Iloenyosi (SA to NFF President).
The FIFA team, which arrived in Nigeria through Lagos on Monday evening, inspected facilities in Lagos, Benin City, Asaba and Uyo, meeting with Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Godwin Obaseki, Ifeanyi Okowa and Udom Emmanuel, who variously assured them of the keen interest and desire of their various governments and peoples to meet FIFA requirements for hosting the competition.
Jorge Nogueira, Captain of Guinea Bissau, says his team had a lot of respect for Nigeria, but did not allow the ‘big names’ in the Super Eagles’ squad intimidate them on the pitch.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau on Friday stunned the Super Eagles 1-0 in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Nogueira told newsmen during a post-match conference that in as much as his team respects the Super Eagles, they went into the game with the mentally that names don’t play football.
“First and foremost, I will like to dedicate this victory to the good people of Guinea Bissau.
“We respect all Nigerian players, but the truth is that names don’t play on the pitch.
“So, they (Super Eagles) tried to do everything to break the will and spirit of our team as they created a lot of scoring opportunities, but our defence was up to the task.
“We remained strong, resolute and were optimistic that we could cause an upset here in Abuja,” he said.
The captain added that the quality of the pitch complicated issues for his team as it was very tough to play on and curtail the incessant attacks from the Super Eagles.
NAN reports that the Wild Dogs play hosts to the Super Eagles in the reverse fixture of the qualifiers in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
Guinea Bissau have Morocco as home venue for now as they do not have a Confederation of African Football (CAF)-approved playing turf.
They currently top Group A of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, with seven points from three matches, while Nigeria with six points, drop to the second position.
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are in third position with two points, while Sao Tome and Principe, with one point, sit at the bottom of the log. (NAN)
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
Abuja-based young tennis star, Chukwudubem Amassiani, has emerged a kid on the block, as he swept through his round-robin groups in the Boys 12 and 14s to qualify for two semi-finals in the ongoing CBN Junior Tennis Championship in Lagos.
Amassiani, the 12 and Under champion on the junior circuit was given a chance to play up one age group, a strategy used by the International Tennis Academy, organisers of the tournament, to fast-track the development of the top juniors.
The winner of that match will play against the winner of the second semifinals between top seed David Edwards, just back from the African Junior Championships in Togo and Sulaimon Samod from the host club.
The Iorlumun sisters Eunice and Mary, who emerged top of their groups have been coincidentally drawn to meet in the semifinals of the Girls 16s. The other semifinal will feature Alice Paul from Ondo and Etioro Bassey from Akwa Ibom.
In the meantime, nine year-old Karina Opuene from Bayelsa has been the attraction of the Girls 12 event as she showed tremendous skill and determination to win two matches in her group – one of which was a decisive 6-0 thrashing of Barakat Ganiyu from Oyo State.
The tournament taking place at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club is scheduled to end on Saturday.
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
Iorlumun sisters, Eunice and Mary, from Benue State, yesterday recorded impressive victories in the opening round robin matches at the CBN Junior Tennis Championship taking place at the prestigious Lagos Lawn Tennis club.
Playing in the Girls 16 event, Eunice, the older of the two, defeated Oyin Samuel from Lagos 6-2 while Mary overcame Alice Paul from Ondo state in a long drawn out one set decider, 6-4.
In other group matches, Wisdom Effiong from Akwa Ibom beat Adepesi Paul from Ekiti 6-2 and Seyi Ogunsakin overpowered Joseph Daniel to ensure they are on track for semifinal places in the Boys 14 event.
Other players who made wining starts were Roseline Nana from Lagos, who defeated Mofunfu Atitola from the host club 6-3, and Barakat Ganiyu from Lagos, who edged Karina Opuene from Bayelsa 6-0 in the Girls 12 event.
The International Tennis Academy organisers of the tournament said the round robin format ensured that players who have come from far and near play a minimum of three matches to deepen their match experience and hasten their progress in the game.The tournament which is featuring singles matches in boys and girls 16s, 14s and 12s is scheduled to end on Saturday with a grand finale starting at 12 noon and open to all-comers.
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