Sport
Friday, 08 September 2017 03:33
NFF announce Nigeria squad for WAFU Cup of Nations
Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have announced Super Eagles squad for 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Ghana between 9th-24th September. Salisu Yusuf, Nigeria assistant coach, will be in charge of the squad at the West African tournament. The tactician has selected goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye, and 16 other players for the competition. Nigeria will play Sierra Leone in the first round of the tournament (which is a knock-out) on Saturday, before eight teams emerge for a group phase competition. Nigeria squad Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United) Defenders:…
Thursday, 07 September 2017 02:33
FIFA orders South Africa-Senegal qualifier to be replayed after ref banned
FIFA has ordered the World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal, played in November 2016, to be replayed after the referee was banned for life. FIFA said in March that Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey had been banned for life after they found him guilty of unlawfully influencing a match result following South Africa's 2-1 win over Senegal in African Group D. FIFA did not give further details but African soccer's governing body (CAF) said at the time that Lamptey had wrongly awarded a penalty to the South Africans and suspended him for three months.The life ban for Lamptey was…
Wednesday, 06 September 2017 03:51
Super Eagles to get full match bonus despite draw with Cameroon
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has opted to pay players and officials of the Super Eagles full match bonus for Monday’s crunchy 2018 FIFA World Cup encounter against Cameroon in Yaounde. According to a statement from NFF, the players and officials will receive their full match bonuses even though the tie in Yaounde ended in a draw. The statement noted that NFF President Amaju Pinnick disclosed this to the team on board the ARIK Air Bombadier CRJ 1000 aircraft that flew the Nigerian delegation back from Yaounde on Tuesday morning. It noted that excited players and officials applauded as Pinnick insisted…
Tuesday, 05 September 2017 03:31
2018 World Cup qualifier: Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria - As it happened
Welcome to as-it-happened coverage of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Nigeria from Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde. Commentary:
All times CAT 90+8' - Full time - It ends 1-1 in Yaounde, probably a fair result given Cameroon's improvement in the second half. The result means Nigeria cannot secure qualification in this round of matches, but they remain very much on course for Russia 2018. 90+5' - Yellow card - Fai is booked for a challenge on Moses. 90+3' - Some tactical time wasting from Ezenwa as he receives treatment for the earlier collision with Fai. 90+2' - …
Tuesday, 05 September 2017 03:25
Africa champion Cameroon misses out on World Cup
The African champion won't be in Russia for next year's World Cup.Cameroon was the first team to be eliminated in the final round of qualifying in Africa after drawing with Nigeria 1-1 at home on Monday. While the result put group leader Nigeria's hopes on hold, it definitely ended Cameroon's, meaning the one-time World Cup quarterfinalist's revival to win the African Cup of Nations in February was short-lived. The draw that sealed Cameroon's World Cup fate came three days after it was beaten in Nigeria 4-0, a result that did not befit the African titleholder. There was one other qualifier…
Monday, 04 September 2017 03:35
Nigeria vs Cameroon: Businessman promises Super Eagles $20,000 per goal
A businessman, Mr Aka Udofia, has offered the Super Eagles $20,000 for each goal they score in Monday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup second-leg qualifying cracker against Cameroon. In a statement from Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, the young businessman from Akwa Ibom made the promise as he briefly greeted players and officials inside the chartered ARIK Bombadier CRJ 1000 aircraft just before take-off at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo on Sunday afternoon. He said “I am a good friend of NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick, and I am happy that I am here in time to see you guys before take-off…
Monday, 04 September 2017 03:34
Nigeria League title race goes to the wire; NPFL Match Day 37 results
Winner of Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2016/17 season will only be decided on the final day of action following results from the penultimate games of the season played on Sunday. Plateau United who are still the table toppers going into final day of action were beaten 1-0 on Sunday by Wikki Tourists. That means the Jos-based team stay on 63 points after 37 games. Plateau United are now condemned to win their last fixture for the season which is a home game against Enugu Rangers to be assured of winning a historic league title. Should they lose, then…
Saturday, 02 September 2017 03:29
Super Eagles ride Indomitable Lions 4-0
Nigeria put in a superb performance to humble African champions Cameroon 4-0 in the teams’ 2018 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo on Friday evening. The victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium - secured thanks to goals from Odion Ighalo, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho - saw Super Eagles open a seven-point lead over Indomitable Lions at the head of Group B and put them firmly on course for Russia 2018. Cameroon started the stronger of the two teams, settling quickly into a passing rhythm and also pressing high up the pitch to make it difficult for…
Saturday, 02 September 2017 03:28
Serena Williams gives birth to baby girl
Serena Williams has given birth to a baby girl, the first child for the former world number one tennis player, her coach Patrick Mouratoglou said on Twitter on Friday. The 35-year-old American, who is engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has not competed since winning the Australian Open in January but has posted several videos to social media showing her hitting balls during her pregnancy. "Congratulations @SerenaWilliams for your baby girl. I am so happy for you and I feel your emotion," Mouratoglou wrote. "Btw ... I wish you a speedy recovery... we have a lot of work ahead of…
Friday, 01 September 2017 02:37
I'll pay $10,000 for each goal scored by Super Eagles - Akwa Ibom Gov
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has pledged a sum of $10,000 to the Super Eagles for every goal they score against Cameroon. Udom told the players: “We are here because there is nothing as good as appreciating people, especially when the people are working for the general good. A love not expressed is a love wasted and so we are here to tell you that we appreciate what you are doing for Nigeria. “I also want to tell you that no matter how wild a cat is, there is a place you will hold it and it…
More...
Wednesday, 30 August 2017 03:29
Nigeria v Cameroon: Three key battles
Nigeria and Cameroon will meet for an eagerly anticipated 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Friday night. We take a closer look at three key battles which could go a long way in deciding the match. Elderson Echiejile v Christian Bassogog Elderson Echiejile is the veteran in an otherwise relatively inexperienced Nigerian defence and it will be the 29-year-old’s job to bring composure and discipline to the Super Eagles’ rearguard. One of the main threats he will have to deal with is Cameroon’s Christian Bassogog, the Player of the Tournament at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. The 21-year-old’s…
Wednesday, 30 August 2017 03:28
Report reveals high level of drug use in athletics
Over 30 percent of athletes who competed at the 2011 world championships admitted to having used banned substances in the past, according to a World Anti-Doping Agency-commissioned study released on Tuesday. The study, conducted by researchers from Germany's University of Tuebingen and Harvard Medical School in 2011, found that more than 30 percent of world championship participants and over 45 percent of athletes at the 2011 Pan-Arab Games said they had taken banned drugs. The researchers asked a total of 2,167 athletes whether they had used banned substances. A combined total of 5,187 athletes competed at those two events. The…
Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:07
Mikel, Akpeyi, Ezenwa, Ighalo hit Uyo from Abuja
Officials of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF have disclosed that they expect a full house tomorrow in the Super Eagles training camp in Uyo ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Cameroon, just as skipper Mikel Obi will lead part of the squad out of Abuja to camp yesterday. Eagles spokesman Toyin Ibitoye said Mikel, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa joined early bird Odion Ighalo in the team’s hotel in Abuja. Goalkeeper Akpeyi, for one, has recovered from a knock which forced his South African club Chippa United to rest him recently. The players in Abuja will now fly out to…
Monday, 28 August 2017 03:25
Rivers United delay Plateau United’s title celebration; other NPFL Matchday 36 results
Plateau United could have sealed the Nigeria Professional Football League title on Sunday but that has been delayed. With MFM FC losing 1-0 in Umuahia against Abia Warriors in their Match Day 36 tie, a victory for the Jos-based team would have all but confirmed them as the new NPFL Champions, but they could only play out a 1-1 draw against Rivers United. With two games left to play this season, Plateau United have 63 points while MFM FC have 59 points. On their part, while Enyimba are out of contention for the title, they gave their continental aspirations a…