Sport Angle Int'l- SAI SPORTS

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By Tolu Atobatele

 

Super Eagles head Coach Gernot Rohr has listed team captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, forwards Moses Simon and Victor Osumhen, as well as 16 others for Nigeria’s closing Group C games of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African race against Liberia and Cape Verde this month.

 

The Super Eagles will tackle the Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13^th November and then fly into Lagos for the final group game against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, 16^th November.

 

Top of their pool with nine points but hotly chased by seven-pointer Cape Verde who host Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo, the Eagles need the three points against the Lone Star on the neutral turf of Morocco’s principal northern city to remain on firm ground when hosting the Blue Sharks three days later in Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital.

 

Leicester City of England’s midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the last round of games home-and-away against Central African Republic, is back in the trough, just as fellow Premiership boy Alex Iwobi and Spain-based forward Samuel Chukwueze.

 

Coach Rohr has this time extended invitation 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ top scorer Odion Jude Ighalo, who announced his retirement from the international game following that AFCON feat in Egypt.  

 

The invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are to report directly to the city of Tangier on Monday, 8^th November while technical officials from Nigeria are to report in Tangier the same day.

 

EAGLES FOR LONE STAR & BLUE SHARKS

 

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

 

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

 

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)

 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

By Tolu Atobatele

Football stirs the imaginations and brings controversy sometimes.

It unites and divides people through their opinions and ideas while it remain the world’s best means of communication.

In football, we have seen great and talented players grace the game of football and mesmerize the world with artistic football displays, score a whole lot of goals, some were match-winners and to some extent strike fears into the spine of their opponents at the mention of their names but quit the scene when the ovation was at its loudest.

At every mammoth gathering, the discussion has been the returning of erstwhile Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo back to the team to help navigate through the hurdle posed by Liberia and Cape Verde in matchday 5 and 6 of the FIFA 2022 world cup qualifiers holding next month.

Is bringing back Ighalo what the team needed right now. Even, his possible return to the team does not guarantee an easy passage to the playoff.

The glut of strikers in the team has not fared badly given the non-existence of creativity in the team midfield which is been regarded as the soul and heart of a team yet the coach has continued to ignore the area and refused to search for a playmaker to fill the void.

Meanwhile, one might conclude that the Super Eagles under Rohr has become nothing but ordinary. The team play without focus and direction while it is difficult for every avid soccer fan to point out the team pattern of play.

Ighalo have played his part well and served his fatherland meritoriously and should be allowed to enjoy his retirement while focus and concentration should be on how to effectively bring the team midfield to life because if it functions well the striker’s workload reduces.

However, taking a step forward and twenty steps backwards will do no good than damage to the team and the question that may probably be on the lips of football fans is; what team is the coach building by bringing back an already retired player.

This writer hopes and beliefs that Ighalo will not be the scapegoat if eventually the unexpected happens because it’ll be better for a village drummer to know when and not to beat the drum.

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By Tolu Atobatele

Football governing body in the country, the Nigeria Football Association, NFF, has sent a congratulatory messages to the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, for scaling the hurdle of Black Queens of Ghana to reach the final round of the qualification series for next year’s Women African Cup of Nations finals slated for Morocco, following a lone goal defeat to their Ghanaian counterparts in Accra on Sunday which rendered the fixture a 2-1 aggregate triumph for Nigeria.
 
However, General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi contended that there is room for improvement in the team’s entire output over the two legs of the fixture with the Black Queens, and that the NFF has concluded arrangements to reinvigorate the team technically, and also strengthen the playing body.
 
“I will start by congratulating the team for the victory over the Black Queens of Ghana. It was a sweet one given the rivalry between our two countries in the game, which dates back to 70 years. Notwithstanding, there are deficiencies that we must deal with squarely and without any ambiguity in order that the team will be ready for the challenges ahead.
 
“The Super Falcons can, and should, exhibit far greater marksmanship. We have the players at home and abroad to outrun and outplay any team on the African continent, and even compete favourably on the world stage. That is why we have to make the move to reinvigorate the team ahead of the final round of qualifiers against Cote d’Ivoire. The rejuvenation is with an objective for better focus, commitment and productivity.”
 
Cote d’Ivoire’s Lady Elephants, it can be recalled, eliminated the Falcons from the race to the Women’s Football Tournament of the Tokyo Olympic Games which held two months ago.
 
In their side of the qualifying campaign, the Lady Elephants walloped their counterparts from Niger Republic 9-0 in the first leg, making the return leg a mere formality.
 

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By Tolu Atobatele

Newly established Sports Journalism body in the country Sports Journalists Association of Nigeria (SPOJAN) has elected Canada based Adewale Ajayi as the inauagural president of the Association. The hitchfree election was conducted on Saturday 23rd, October 2021 as members elect officers into various executive positions.

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SPOJAN is an Association of Nigerian journalists residing within and outside Nigeria with aim of providing enabling environment for its members by offering trainings, seminars, and most importantly taking in to cognisance welfare of members.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected president of the Association, Wale Ajayi thank members for the opportunity bestow on him to lead the Association while also admitting the skepticism arrogated to the Association but promises to steer the course to a desireable destination.

The acceptance letter reads in part:
“A journey of a thousand miles has started in earnest with a big step. With great humility and with a heart full of joy, I say thank you to everyone that participated (in the voting exercise) and to everyone that voted for me.

“I also want to thank my big brother Mr. Dapo Sotiminu for believing in me and in this dream and for having the humility to step down for a younger brother to climb.”

SPOJAN is an apolitical Association and became a doctrine of necessity owing to series of challenges facing Nigerian journalists which the Association is commited to finding a lasting solution to.

“I want to sincerely thank everyone that voted today. We have all taken the first step towards re-writing and redefining our story as sports journalists. There are too many opportunities out there that most of us are not aware of. This is the time to explore and discover these opportunities. We are in this together and together we shall rediscover ourself in a profession that promises so much but offers so little.”

Contrary to misconception by many, SPOJAN has no plan to set up a parallel group against the constituted journalist’s body rather the Association is ready to be affiliated to the parental body which is the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

Wale Ajayi reiterate the need to create opportunity for Sports journalists as this was echoed in the concluding part of his acceptance speech.

“Many are willing to learn so we must create opportunities for them to learn and acquire more knowledge. It is a massive task, a huge responsibility but these group of men and women elected as your SPOJAN executives are not shy of responsibilities or scared of challenges.

“This is a new dawn for sports journalism in Nigeria. Many are scared of this movement and many are also skeptical. There are a few among us that don’t want to be seen as joining a rebel group and are cleverly playing save.

“This is not a rival or rebel group, this is a movement of strong progressives and we are ready to take our destinies into our own hands. We are in SWAN, we are with SWAN but we not tied to that string that has tied us to a world of uncertainties.

“Journalism is big. It is a big profession and in it, there are business opportunities. Let’s go out there and explore.

Other elected executive members are
Arafat Aliu (1st Vice President, Diasporal), Enitan Obadina (Vice President, Nigeria), Kisu Sulola (Secretary), Ikenna Nwokedi (Assistant Secretary), Aleshinloye Owolabi (Treasurer), Mike Osarieme (Financial Secretary), Olawale Quadry ( Public Relation Officer), and Tobi Adepoju (Welfare Officer).

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By Tolu Atobatele

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has approved the re-instatement of Coach Salisu Yusuf to his position as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles and Head Coach of the Super Eagles B team, with effect from 1st November 2021.
                  
General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed on Thursday that the re-instatement of the former Kano Pillars, Enyimba FC and Rangers International FC gaffer by the NFF Board was on the recommendation of the NFF Technical Department.
 
Highly respected for his match –reading ability, calm demeanour and proficiency in talent discovery and development, Yusuf, in his playing days featured for Rancher Bees of Kaduna and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, among others.
 
Yusuf’s return to the three-time African champions coincides with the closing stages of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying second round phase and the commencement of preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cameroon early next year.

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By Tolu Atobatele

Super Eagles average striker and Liecester City bench warmer  Kelechi Iheanacho exhibited his lack of morality when he physically assaulted ‘Brila FM’ reporter, Yinka Oyedele, during the  team training  session at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday evening.
According to reports, the media was given access to talk to the players after their training session with Oyedele one of the reporters at the training ground ready to have a session  with Iheanacho   but was shocked when he was physically shoved aside and assaulted by the average player who call himself senior man despite his lack of home training and respect for other profession.
According to the Brila FM reporter, Oyedele, The media was given permission to talk to players after training and when I approached Kelechi Iheanacho to talk to him after training, he decided to shove me aside despite the session being an open one,” Oyedele said.

“He actually ended up not talking to the press in what was a sheer show of ill manner.”
An eye-witness at the scene, Tobi Peters of ‘TVC’, said it was a sheer arrogance from the player and there was need to put an end to insults from the players to journalists.
Peters said Oyedele really showed maturity because no one would accept such attitude from someone who is younger than you and also in the line of your duty.
He added: “I don’t think personally that I would accept such an attitude from any player.
“They need us more than we need them because without God and publicity, some of them won’t be where they are today and I will say this, I was highly disappointed in Iheanacho and they need to call him to order.”
Meanwhile, most journalists were left disappointed with the way and manner an NFF official  came with gun-totting soldiers to threaten and ask journalists  to leave the pitch side while the team trains.
Incidentally, CAF and FIFA have already made their position clear that arms and ammunition are not permitted within vicinity of a football arena – something the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF officials failed to accept.

 The Eagles will be a guest of  Central African Republic on Sunday, October 10 in Douala, Cameroon for the reverse fixture of their world cup qualifier having lost the first leg 0-1 to the Les Favues.

By Tolu Atobatele

Lagos SWAN coach, Ojeikere Aikhoje has listed Adepoju Tobi, Suleiman Adebyo Pooja and 20 others for the international break game between Lagos SWAN and SWAN Selected slated for the Legacy Pitch on Wednesday at 3pm.

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SWAN Selected comprises of journalists based in different states in Nigeria, and this will be the second meeting between both sides. SWAN Selected won the first encounter at the Soccer Temple, Agege 1-0 in 2019.

Lagos SWAN will be playing their second game this year and the gaffer is optimistic his team will return to winning ways on Wednesday.

“I am happy we have this game to work with our young team, we had an amazing performance in our last game and we were just unlucky with an individual error. It was a team defeat, and we won’t blame any individual. We had a lot of positives from the game and it will help our confidence on Wednesday. I am optimistic, we will return to winning ways, this is our second meeting and we are ready to fight for the Lagos SWAN badge,” said Aikhoje.

THE FULL LIST:

Goalkeepers:
 
Seun Ajidagba, Jerome Obuninta.
 
Defenders:
 
Tobi Adepoju, Owolabi Aleshinloye, Pius Ayinor, Raymond Nwaduba, Adetola Adeola Faruk, Steve Dede, Afolabi Ibukun, Victor Modo.
 
Midfielders:
 
George Gift, Olusola Adebayo, Israel Ojoko, Tunde Oyedele, Chinedu Onwunali, Fajimi Kehinde, Sulaiman Alao, Atobatele Tolulope Taiwo.
 
Forwards:
 
Olawale Olatoye, Emmanuel Josiah, Sulaiman Adebayo ‘Pooja’, Ogundairo Oluwaseun.

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By Tolu Atobatele

Fast rising youngster in Nigerian football Oluwafemi Famuyiwa, has caught the attention of some NPFL coaches and foreign scouts following his outstanding performance all through the season for his Abakaliki based team, Cynosure Football Club.

His hard work during practise sessions and match games has attracted lots of attention to him from both the foreign and local football scouts and as well may be invited to Nigeria male U20 (Flying Eagles) team.
Oluwafemi, 19, may be handed an invitation to the Nigeria U20 team if he maintains his current form.
His aerial duel ability, composure in front of goal and ability to find the back of the next from the tightest of angle has endeared him to his teammates, coaches and soccer fans.
His ball passing ability and good positional play is second to none whilst his mastery in ball control is a delight to watch.

Oluwafemi, who play as a striker is a player to look out for because he’s an embodiment of raw talent and has the potential to play at the highest level as far as the round leather game is concerned.
Ozil as the youngster is called due to his genius on and off the ball is a utility player as he can also operate from either side of the flank to open up play and allow his teammates do the damage.

The Cynosure FC striker will be a good addition to the national U20 team.

By Tolu Atobatele

Super Eagles gaffer Gernot Rohr has listed team captain Ahmed Musa, Wlliam Ekong and 21 others for the double header FIFA World Cup qualifying encounters against the Central African Republic in Lagos and Douala next week. The match day 3 encounter will hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Thursday, 7th October with the Day 4 match in Douala, Cameroon (presently the ‘home’ of Central African Republic national teams) on Sunday, 10th October.

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With the maximum six points from their first two matches of the campaign (against Liberia in Lagos and against Cape Verde in Mindelo earlier this month), the Eagles countenance another six points against the central Africans and Franco-German Rohr has largely kept faith with the troops that delivered in a September to remember.

Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi return, just as defenders William Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, Leon Balogun, Jamilu Collins, Olaoluwa Aina and Kenneth Omeruo. Added to the rearguard now are Kevin Akpoguma, who missed the last games as a result of illness, and new call-up Calvin Ughelumba of Glasgow Rangers FC in Scotland.

With enforcers Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo out injured, the lot falls on Frank Onyeka and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo to replicate their firm handling of things in the middle in Mindelo, when Central African Republic comes calling on Thursday and in Douala on Sunday. Rohr has now listed England –based duo Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho in the midfield.

Captain Musa leads the line at the fore, with in-form France –based Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Chidera Ojuke, Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu also called.

Victory in both games will all but guarantee the Super Eagles’ passage to the all-important knockout rounds scheduled for March 2022, which will produce Africa’s five flagbearers in Qatar.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Calvin Ughelumba (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF, Sweden); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Kalu (FC Bordeaux, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)

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Lagos will play host to the maiden edition of the Ottasolo Pre-season football Tournament with the top football teams in Nigeria set to compete for supremacy in Lagos.

According to the Coordinator of the pre-season Tourney,  Kola Daniel the event is meant to prepare teams for the 2021-22 football season.

“The tournament is aimed at helping to prepare NPFL teams and Ottasolo FC adequately for the new campaign and to also give them the opportunity to assess all their new recruits”.

He said 23rd to 30th October has been proposed for the tournament at Agege Stadium.

Mr Gabriel Davies is the financier of the Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament. He is the Proprietor of Ottasolo International Football Club, a team that will participate in the Nigeria National League next season.

The beauty of Pre-season matches and competitions in Nigeria includes having teams play in superb atmospheres where the players and clubs have a more conducive ambiences to show how good they are.

Pre-season games offer fans the opportunity of glimpsing the true quality of players and teams in Nigeria and this will be the case in Lagos State, when clubs participate at Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament.

Ten clubs have been pencilled down for the tourney which includes Ottasolo International.

According to Kola Daniel, the quartet of Shooting Stars, Kwara United, MFM FC and Sunshine Stars have signified interests in the tournament.

These clubs have engaged in aggressive players recruitments in the last few months and have been fine-tuning preparations for the league. The Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament will be a major avenue to test how they are shaping up as it promises lots of thrills.

“We are good to go as far as organising this competition is concerned. Lagos is in good shape and the good people of Agege await with excitement the top clubs,” Kola Daniel told Ottasola Media.

“Lagos is a major national football hub, hosting big international football matches and competitions.

“Fans should be ready for good football at the Soccer Temple in this pre-season competition. The invited teams all have quality players and with the conducive environment that Agege offers, this is a fantastic opportunity for good football,” he added.