Tag: General Sports

Ere Na Bririgwe of Owerri West stole the spotlight in the 2023 Ikukuoma Mbiase U-20 Football Tournament on Matchday two, stunning Obizi Community from Ezinihitte with a 1-0 victory on Friday, February 2nd, 2024, in a Group A clash.

The thrilling encounter unfolded at the Ezeagbogu Central School Field in Ezinihitte, Mbaise. Within the first four minutes, Ere Na Birigwe took an early lead as Ononauggbo Cyprian expertly slotted home a delightful volley, leaving the Obizi Community goalkeeper helpless. This early strike proved to be decisive as Ere Na Birigwe secured a hard-fought 1-0 win, claiming the maximum points.

Nguru Nweke 0-1 Nnaramba Ward

In the second match of the day, Nnaramba Ward (Ahiazu) notched their first victory in the tournament with a 1-0 win over Nguru Nweke (Aboh Mbasie) in a Group H opener.

Uwazie Chibueze showcased remarkable individual skill with a decisive run from the box, netting a goal within two minutes. Nnaramba Ward held onto their 1-0 lead going into halftime. Despite Nguru Nweke’s efforts in the second half, they failed to level the score, resulting in a defeat in the Group H opening clash.

The triumph propels Nnaramba Ward to the top of the Group H standings, and a win in the next game would likely secure their spot in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Today’s Fixtures

Group B Matchday 2

• Ihitte Ward (Ezinihitte) vs. Mpam Ekwereazu (Ahiazu)
• Mbieri Mbaitoli vs. Emil Owerri North

These results set the stage for an exciting tournament, with teams showcasing their skills and determination on the field. Fans are eagerly anticipating the next Matchday two fixtures in the group stages.

Tweets by TheAthleticNG

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Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro is on the course of winning the 2023 AFCON with Nigeria.

The Portuguese has guided Nigeria to the semifinals of the tournament after beating Angola 1-0 last night.

Nigeria currently boasts the best defense in the tournament after only conceding one goal in 5 matches played so far. Peseiro switched his team system to a 3-4-3 after the Equatorial Guinea game and the team has become arguably the most compact team at this year’s AFCON, keeping consecutive cleNigeriaan sheets and reaching the last four of an unpredictable AFCON.

Jose Peseiro has come off a lot of criticism in his previous friendly games for Nigeria, which many taught he was not the right man for the Super Eagles Job. However, before the 2023 AFCON, football fans and the media criticized Peseiro’s team for their poor performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho in Uyo and Zimbabwe in a neutral venue in Rwanda. The team also lost their only competitive pre-AFCON game against Guinea in Abu Dhabi and failed to beat Equatorial Guinea in their first AFCON game in Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria has become one of the most feared teams in the 2023 AFCON, thanks to Jose Peseiro’s tactics, and with their latest win against Angola last night, they are tipped as the favorite to win the 2023 AFCON trophy, a trophy they last won in 2013 under the late Coach Stephen Keshi.

The Portuguese has successfully delivered the target and clause in his contract which was stated in the official communication; A semi-final (Top 4) finish at the 2023 AFCON.

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31 years old, Karl Toko-Ekambi has announced his retirement from the Cameroon National Team after nearly a decade of service.

The top star who participated in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory made the formal announcement via his official Instagram page

“A fourth African Cup of Nations chapter is closing, the end of a story. Forever an indomitable lion.”

He made his international debut for Cameroon in 2015 and subsequently won the AFCON trophy in 2017.

The French-born striker hung up his boots having earned 61 caps for the indomitable Lions, registering 15 goals and three assists in the process.

Toko Ekambi, who recently joined Al-Ettifaq from Abha has played for Villareal, Lyon, Rennes, Sochaux, and Angers.

Cameroon endured a horrible AFCON campaign in Ivory Coast after exiting the tournament in Round 16 and has therefore decided to end his career with the Indomitable Lions.

Chosen by Rigobert Song to participate in this edition of the AFCON, the former Stade Rennais player scored a goal and played in all four matches. However, Cameroon’s journey ended in the round of 16 after their defeat by Nigeria.

He played an integral role as Cameroon won their fifth AFCON title. During his 61 caps, Toko Ekambi scored 15 goals for his country. His greatest moment was undoubtedly the World Cup qualifying goal against Algeria, scored in the last seconds of the match. This historic moment earned him the nickname “Air Conditioner of Blida.”

Since August 2023, Toko Ekambi has been playing in Saudi Arabia with Abha Club, which was then second to last in the Saudi Pro League. However, he chose to stay in Saudi Arabia, recently signing with Al-Ettifaq, led by Steven Gerrard, where he will be reunited with his teammate Seko Fofana.

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Despite concerns over a knee injury sustained in the previous match against Cameroon, Stanley Nwabali has been confirmed as the starting goalkeeper for the Super Eagles in their quarter-final clash against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Chippa United’s Nwabali was a doubt for the quarter-final after the injury in the 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the round of 16.

However, Nigeria’s manager Jose Peseiro has decided to maintain faith in the players who started the previous match, expecting them to deliver a positive result against Angola.

The Super Eagles will stick to the 3-4-3 formation, with William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey forming the defensive shield in front of Nwabali. Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi will operate on the right and left flanks, respectively.

In the midfield, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka will take charge, while the attacking trio will feature Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon.

The quarter-final match is scheduled to kick off at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan at 6 pm on Friday, Febuary 2, 2024. The Super Eagles will aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the prestigious AFCON tournament.

READ ALSO: Moses Simon expresses determination ahead of Super Eagles AFCON clash vs Angola

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Abia Comets defender Benjamin IIuyomade, has revealed his team’s readiness ahead of Saturday’s Nigeria National League (NNL) Matchday 11 home clash against Vandrezzer FC.

The NNL encounter which is slated to take place at the Umuahia Township Stadium, would see Comets’ look to extend its five-game unbeaten streak in the second tier.

Speaking with Abia Comets media shortly after the team’s training session on Friday, Febuary 2, 2024, the stand-in captain declared he is confident that Comets will secure all maximum points and put up a good performance against Vandrezzer FC on Saturday.

“Yes, as you can see the team generally is in a high spirit, after playing five matches unbeaten you could see the confidence is fully back. Everybody want to give it all and that was the reason why we had that vital result in our last away game,” he told Abia Comets Media.

Speaking further he said: “We have always done to keep our minds calm in any situation and will continue to stay focused.”

The lad who has registered two assists this season explained that the players know what is at stake ahead of the cracker against Vandrezzer.

“Of course, in our last home match, you could see that the spirit was high and everybody now see every game as a final. The coaches have really done a great job to put the team in a better position to produce good performances in games, so I believe that we are going to be victorious at the end of the day,” lluyomade continued.

“We are not going to take Vandrezzer for granted or underrate them because they are also a good side, because in their last three matches they got good results, so it is not going to be an easy game.”

“Beating table toppers Madiba showed the quality in their team. But we are fully ready for the game and I believe we will not spare them,” he concluded.

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Nigeria secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 1-0 victory over Angola on Friday, Febuary 2, 2024.

Ademola Lookman scored the decisive goal in the 41st minute, securing Nigeria’s fourth win in five games at the tournament.

The winning goal unfolded as Moses Simon skillfully maneuvered past a defender, entered the box, and provided a pass to Ademola Lookman, who clinically finished to put Nigeria in the lead.

Before Nigeria took the lead, Angola had an early chance denied by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who made a crucial save from Mabululu’s glancing header in the fourth minute.

Despite efforts from the reigning CAF Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, Nigeria dominated the first half, and Lookman’s goal provided a 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Osimhen had a goal disallowed after VAR review confirmed he was in an offside position when scoring from a powerful header.

The hard-fought match ended with Nigeria securing the 1-0 victory, advancing to the semi-finals. Nigeria will face either South Africa or Cape Verde in the next round.

While Angola’s hopes of reaching their first AFCON semi-final were dashed, Nigeria continues its quest for continental glory in the prestigious tournament.

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Chima Okendu produced a remarkable man of the match performance with a brace as Aguneze Community (Ahinazu) picked a comfortable 2-0 win over Onicha Nwankwo in Group F opener.

In a thrilling encounter held at the Ezeagbogu Central School Field Ezinihitte, Mbaise, saw Aguneze dominated their opponent in a one-sided affair with two unreplied goals as the recorded their first win in the tournament, over Onicha Nwankwo, in a Matchday 1 Group F clash on February 1st, 2024.

Okendu strike the first goal of the game, in the 31st minute, by beaten off two Onicha’s defenders to slotted it home as they went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, Aguneze Community continued to show their dominance as Chima Okendu scored his second goal of the game, with a close range finish from outside the box to make it 2-0, in the 52th minute as they secure all maximum points.

The victory moves Aguneze Community top in Group F standing on three points.

Obokwu Community 2-2 Oru Community

In the second match of the day, Obokwu Community (Ezinihitte) came back from a 2-1 down to hold Oru Community (Ahinazu) 2-2 in a Group G clash.

Amaechi Chidiomimi gave Oru Community the lead with a delightful individual finish from outside the box, in the 30th minute. Before Ajero Chibueze levelled it 1-1 for Obokwu Community, two minutes before half time.

In the second half, Oru Community restored the lead again, through Njoku Chiadikaobi’s 56th minute strike to make it 2-1, but the lead could not last for long as Emeneogu Ifeanyi strike helped to secure a vital point for Obokwu Community.

The closely contested match saw both sides sharing the points as they kicked off their campaigns in the 2023 Ikukuoma Mbiase U-20 tournament.

These results set the stage for an exciting tournament with teams showcasing their skills and determination on the field, leaving fans eager for the next matchups in the group stages

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Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, remains unaffected by the criticisms directed at him by football fans ahead of the 2023 AFCON quater-final clash vs Angola .

Despite facing scrutiny since assuming the role two years ago, Peseiro has steered the team to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

During his tenure, the Super Eagles struggled against seemingly easy opponents, leading to doubts about Peseiro’s ability to inspire confidence in the team. However, the ongoing AFCON has seen an improvement in the team’s performance, winning three out of four games and conceding just one goal.

Despite this progress, some fans continue to express dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, and the pressure could intensify if Nigeria fails to overcome Angola in the upcoming quarter-finals on Friday.

Nevertheless, Peseiro remains resolute and unfazed by the ongoing criticisms. In a statement to the press, the 63-year-old coach expressed his indifference, citing his extensive experience and a resilient mindset.

“If it was 20 years ago, it’s possible that fans’ influence would affect me. But at this moment of my career, 63 years old, I’ve taken too much vaccine for good. But it is both ways- whether the comments are bad or good- the key point is to keep the balance. No coach deserves everybody to speak well about him like a god or a Superman,” Peseiro remarked.

With Nigeria currently considered favorites at the AFCON, Peseiro has guided the team to the quarter-finals, facing Angola as the underdogs on paper. The coach believes in maintaining a balance amid the varying comments and understands that success on the field, particularly winning the competition, could silence many of his critics. The Super Eagles have an opportunity to advance to the semi-finals, providing Peseiro with a chance to prove his coaching prowess on the continental stage.

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Ukaegbu Sabinus’ Early Strike Secures Victory for Okpofe/Ezeagbogun (Ezinihitte) in Group D Opener

In a thrilling encounter at the Ezeagbogu Central School Field, Ezinihite, Mbasie, Okpofe/Ezeagbogun (Ezinihitte) emerged victorious with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte) in a Group D Matchday 1 clash on January 31st, 2024.

The lone goal of the match came in the early minutes as Ukaegbu Sabinus showcased his brilliance with a remarkable strike from outside the box, eluding the Umuoree Eziudo goalkeeper to find the back of the net. The individual effort by Sabinus proved to be the decisive moment, securing three points for Okpofe/Ezeagbogun (Ezinihitte).

Following this victory, Okpofe/Ezeagbogun (Ezinihitte) takes the top spot in Group D with three points, while Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte) finds themselves at the bottom of the group standings after Matchday 1.

Ihiagwa Ward 6 and Ibeku Ward (Ezinihitte) Share Spoils in Group E Opener

In the second match of the day, Ihiagwa Ward 6 and Ibeku Ward (Ezinihitte) battled to a 1-1 draw in a Group E Matchday 1 encounter.

Ejike Praise opened the scoring for Ihiagwa Ward with a goal in the 7th minute, providing an early lead. However, Chimaobi Arugo of Ibeku Ward (Ezinihitte) responded swiftly, leveling the scoreline 1-1 just two minutes later. The closely contested match saw both sides sharing the points as they kicked off their campaigns in the 2023 Ikukuoma Mbiase U-20 tournament.

These results set the stage for an exciting tournament with teams showcasing their skills and determination on the field, leaving fans eager for the next matchups in the group stages.

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Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali took part in a full training session with his Super Eagles teammates on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming quarter-final clash against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro mentioned in his pre-match conference that Nwabali would undergo a late fitness test ahead of the game.

However, the shot-stopper participated in all drills alongside goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Ojo Olorunleke.

The 27-year-old Nwabali, who has been in impressive form, is now a contender to start the crucial quarter-final match against Angola. He has kept three clean sheets in four appearances for Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON tournament.

The Super Eagles will face the Palancas Negras in the quarter-final clash, which is scheduled to take place at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Friday. The availability of Nwabali adds depth to the goalkeeping options for Coach Peseiro as Nigeria aims to progress further in the tournament.

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