Tag: General Sports

The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman, was elected as the 1st Vice Chairman, National Association of Physical, Health, Education, Recreation and Dance, (NAPHER-SD), Abuja Chapter.

Abdulrahman was voted into office in Abuja on Monday.

Over 45 members of the body of professional sports administrators and athletes voted overwhelmingly for the NNL top-gun to become one of the executives that will run the affairs of the body for the next four years.

Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman who is a specialist in Sports management bagged his PHD from the renowned Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. He also had a B.Sc in Education at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). He is currently an Assistant Director with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Speaking to NNL Media shortly after his election, he said, “It is a teamwork for us , we are ready to hit the ground running to enable us to revitalize the Association and sports ,expect great and new innovations in Abuja”

His administrative journey has also seen him serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL).

Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman now the 1st Vice Chairman of NAPHER -SD alongside Dr. Esther Toyin Aluko, will assist Dr. Ali Durotoye who emerged as the new chairman of the professional sports body.

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Abeokuta’s Stormers Sports Club chairman, Chief Bukola Olopade, has vowed a swift return to the Nigeria National League (NNL) following their relegation to the Nationwide League.

Olopade believes proper restructuring, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment from players and coaches will propel the team back to professional football.

Stormers’ 2023/2024 NNL campaign ended in disappointment. They finished bottom of their 12-team Group A with a meager 24 points, managing only 7 wins, 3 draws, and a staggering 12 losses. Their 16 goals scored paled in comparison to Group A champions Madiba FC, who netted 30 more goals and secured promotion with 40 points.

Olopade, a former Ogun State Youth and Sports Commissioner, acknowledges the team’s shortcomings. “Stormers’ performance fell below expectations,” he declared from his Lagos office. “Positive changes are necessary to return to greatness.”

He assigns blame for the relegation to both players and the technical crew. However, Olopade remains optimistic about the future. “A new plan is underway for the 2024/2025 season,” he revealed. “Stormers will return to the NNL sooner than anyone anticipates. Our ultimate goal is promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) – and we’ll achieve it through hard work and investment in young talent who see their future with Stormers.”

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Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, are finalizing their preparations for the West African Football Union (WAFU) B U-17 AFCON qualifiers kicking off in Accra, Ghana on Thursday.

The Eaglets’ campaign begins against Burkina Faso at the University of Ghana Stadium on Thursday, May 16th, at 4:00 PM. They’ll then face Niger Republic on Sunday, May 19th, and Togo on Wednesday, May 22nd.

Head coach Manu Garba has put his team through rigorous training sessions. Today’s session marks their third consecutive day on the pitch, with one final training session scheduled before the Burkina Faso clash.

Ghana will host the tournament, with the opening match between them and Côte d’Ivoire kicking off Group A play on Thursday.

As defending champions of the WAFU B qualifiers, the Golden Eaglets aim to retain their title and secure a coveted spot in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The top four teams from the continental tournament will advance to the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Qatar next year.

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Nigeria’s king of table tennis, Aruna Quadri has reclaimed the International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF African Cup title after a resounding 4-0 win over Egypt’s Mohammed El Beiali.

Competing in his fourth consecutive final after three successive losses, Quadri made light walk of Beiali to reassert his legendary status on the African continent.

An excited Aruna Quadri said after the triumph:

“I never gave up on my dream, it doesn’t matter where you come from, I came from a small place in Oyo state in Nigeria, and it was really difficult growing up, I just want to tell them that something great is very possible to happen in every individual.”

Quadri, champion in 2017, put aside another Egyptian, Abdelaziz Yousef 4-1 to seal a place in the final, while his opponent, Beaili beat Nigerian, Olajide Omotayo in his semi-final.

The win is Quadri’s first in seven years and his second in the competition.

With this win, Quadri is expected to garner more points to push for an improved position on the ITTF rankings.

He is currently ranked 19th in the world and second in Africa, only behind Egypt’s Omar Assar, who is 15th in the world.

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Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia wrapped up their season and entered their off-season break following the conclusion of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League (NNL) regular season.

Club Chairman, Chief Boniface Alozie Uche, through Secretary/Admin Mr. Haycith Ezindu, thanked the players for their dedication and strong team spirit throughout the campaign.

“On behalf of the chairman, Board Members, Club management, Coaches and Staffs, we want to thank you (Players) for a successful season and the team spirit that you showed throughout the campaign,” Mr. Ezindu said.

“However, even as we were unable to make it into the NNL Playoffs position, it was still a successful season for us, finishing 5th showed that we did a lot of good and there’s still room for improvement, which will be focus on more for next season,” he added.

“The Chairman, also wished you all a successful journey back home and that you stay safe in any activities that you are going to do were at home, and also wait until whenever the league organizer announces the date for the commencement of the 2024/25 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

“So, we wished you all a successful long season break and pray that we see you all back in good health for us to challenge again next season,” he concluded.

Abia Comets concluded their season in 5th place of the Southern Conference Group A with 32 points and now embark on a well-deserved break.

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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is about to get a serious jolt as four clubs from the Nigeria National League (NNL) – Beyond Limit FA, Ikorodu City FC, Inter Lagos, and Madiba FC  aim to secure promotion through the NNL Super 8 playoffs in Enugu.

Beyond Limit, a youth development powerhouse is the first African team to conquer the prestigious Viareggio Cup in Italy this year. After conquering the NLO last season, they’re on a mission to join their senior affiliate, Remo Stars, in the NPFL, creating a remarkable vertical integration story.

Inter Lagos, despite being a 2023 upstart, have enjoyed a dream debut season in the NNL. Their journey to the playoffs was sealed with a convincing 2-0 victory over Ijebu United, a testament to their quick adaptation and ambition.

Ikorodu City FC represent the value of perseverance. After a nail-biting escape from relegation in their inaugural season and a heartbreaking stint in the relegation playoffs last year, they’ve emerged stronger. A dominant 4-0 victory in their final regular-season game secured their playoff spot, showcasing undeterred determination.

While these four clubs represent a wave of fresh energy and ambition in Nigerian football, the upcoming NNL Super 8 playoffs promise to be an electrifying battle, with the top four teams earning spots in the NPFL spotlight next season.

The NPFL elite should be on high alert. The fearless NNL quartet is ready to shake things up, and only time will tell if they can rewrite the script and become the next big thing in Nigerian football.

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Rivers United’s struggles in the NPFL continued on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunshine Stars marking a worrying four-game winless run for the reigning champions, who last experienced such a drought in May/June 2021.

Their record-breaking 2021-22 title raised expectations, but their current form falls short as the recent draw extends their winless run to four matches (a draw and three losses), causing concern among fans.

Their inability to secure victories has seen them slide down the table and are currently 11th-placed on the log.

The Port Harcourt boys have secured only one point from a possible twelve and will hope to maximize their last two outstanding matches against Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes.

With long-serving Eguma Stanley no longer at the helm, Ogenyi, his assistant, will be expected to charge the boys to two crucial victories before 25th May, the set date for the resumption of the Nigeria Premier Football League. The League had been paused to allow Rivers United to play matches accumulated during their CAF Confederations campaign.

List of Rivers United Outstanding Matches and Results

Remo Stars Vs Rivers United on May 5

Kwara United vs Rivers United on May 8,

Sunshine Stars vs Rivers United on May 11

Abia Warriors vs Rivers United on May 15

Rivers United vs Niger Tornadoes on May 19.

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Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Chelsea have entered negotiations to secure the services of Nigeria Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli.

According to Fabrizio Romano in his latest updates, Chelsea has initiated discussions with the agent representing Osimhen regarding a potential move to West London.

The Blues are among several top European clubs interested in signing the Super Eagles forward during the upcoming transfer window.

However, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the French giants, present stiff competition in the race to acquire Osimhen.

PSG are reportedly eyeing Osimhen as part of a revamped attack following the departure of Kylian Mbappe, who played his final home match last weekend before winning the Ligue 1 Player of the Season award.

Despite the allure of becoming the new big star in Paris, Osimhen is said to favor a move to the Premier League over returning to Ligue 1.

Romano also revealed that Chelsea’s proactive approach to strengthening their squad includes reaching out to Osimhen’s agent.

He explained that Chelsea has a shortlist of potential targets for each position and is actively exploring various opportunities, including discussions with agents representing players like Victor Osimhen.

Fabrizio Romano wrote “They (Chelsea) have a shortlist of players, maybe four or five names for each position, but you still don’t know who is the top target. But at the end of the day, you are already speaking to agents to discuss opportunities. For example, Chelsea spoke to different agents for the striker position—the agents of Sesko, Osimhen, the agents of different players.”

As Victor Osimhen considers his options for the upcoming transfer window, a busy and consequential summer awaits the 2023 CAF Player of the Year as he decides on his future destination.

READ ALSO: Fabrizio Romano confirms Chelsea, Newcastle are interested in Fulham star

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New Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach, Finidi George says he is “not afraid” of the challenges that come with his job with the team.

During his unveiling, at an event attended by Nigeria’s Sports Minister and the NFF President, Finidi expressed his readiness to face these challenges head-on.

Despite the pressure associated with the role, Finidi pointed out that he does not fear it, highlighting his confidence and determination to succeed.

In his press conference, Finidi made it clear that he views pressure as an inherent part of football, but he remains undaunted by it. He stressed the importance of support from various stakeholders, including the media, in achieving the team’s goals.

For Finidi, the immediate focus is on the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin. He acknowledged the significance of these games and stressed the importance of securing positive results to set the tone for the team’s future success.

Finidi stated: “Selection of players? You have to be playing at your club and you must have that commitment.

“We all said the pledge and for me as a coach, that’s what I’m going to do. For me, Nigeria is first because I have been out of this country and I know the treatment we get outside of this country.

“I put Nigeria first and that is the same commitment and loyalty from each and every player that is invited. If you can do that, you are good to go.”

As Finidi George prepares to announce his team list for the qualifiers, the NFF has also confirmed the appointments of Daniel Amokachi as assistant coach and Abiden Baruwa as goalkeeper coach.

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Pyunik FC named Nigerian-born midfielder Solomon Udo as their official Player of the Match for their crucial 3-1 victory over FC Van in the Armenian Premier League on Thursday. The Yerevan club announced Udo’s award on their Instagram handle on Sunday after collating fan votes via poll.

Udo played the entire match, surpassing Brazilian winger Vagner Goncalves, Russian centre-back Mikhail Kovalenko, and former Moldovan midfielder Eugeniu Cociuc in the fan vote. According to Pyunik’s statistics, Udo completed 67 touches and maintained an impressive 85% passing accuracy. He also made two crucial interceptions to disrupt FC Van’s attacks.

The 28-year-old, who joined Pyunik in January, has been a rock in midfield for the 15-time Armenian League champions’ push for the title and Champions League qualification. Pyunik maintains a perfect record when Udo sees the final whistle – they haven’t lost a single game where he played the full 90 minutes.

With three crucial games remaining, Pyunik sits in second place with 73 points, just one behind rivals FC Noah. Between facing Alashkert and Shirak, Pyunik will clash with Noah in a top-of-the-table showdown.

These upcoming matches will be a crucial test for Solomon Udo and his teammates as FC Noah will be determined to hold onto their lead and secure their first-ever Armenian League title and a historic Champions League debut.

Udo, who has made 18 appearances for the Armenian national team since his debut against Estonia in October 2020, has not been called up by Ukrainian manager Oleksandr Petrakov since his appointment in January 2023. Petrakov has recorded two victories in 12 matches and will push for a third when Armenia faces Slovenia and Kazakhstan in friendlies in June.

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