PAMOJA 2027 Race: Chelle Says Eagles Will Not Under-rate Wild Dogs

 

PAMOJA 2027 Race: Chelle Says Eagles Will Not Under-rate Wild Dogs

 

Head Coach Éric Chelle has declared that three-time African champions Nigeria will take nothing for granted when they confront Guinea-Bissau’s Djurtus (Wild Dogs) in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Day 2 qualifying match in Bissau on Tuesday.

 

“We respect them because they are a strong team; I have followed their progress over the years. They also won away in Tanzania on Friday and will be confident playing on home ground tomorrow.

 

“Our objective is to take the three points, and to do that, we must approach the game with a strong mentality. We have to be at our best to earn victory,” Chelle said at Monday’s pre-match press conference.

 

The Franco-Malian refused to dwell on the poor state of the pitch of the 24 September Stadium, saying his team will make the best of the terrain for the 90 minutes.

 

For 65 minutes on Monday evening, the Super Eagles had their official training at the match venue, under a light shower of rain, with all 24 invited players involved in the session.

 

SUPER EAGLES TO TAME WILD DOGS

 

Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England); Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio, Italy); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)

 

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Isaac James (Alverca FC, Portugal); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford FC, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)

 

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Frank Onyeka (Coventry City, England)

 

Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, England); Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); George Ilenikhena (Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia); Moses Usor (LASK

Osun To Get Football Factory, Talent Academy As Governor Meets UK Investors

 

 

Osun To Get Football Factory, Talent Academy As Governor Meets UK Investors

Governor Ademola Adeleke today hosted a team of investors focused on sports industry development in Osun state, restating his commitment to the transformation of the state from civil service to an industrialised subnational entity.

The governor gave the assurance while hosting the investors led by Dr Bob Olukoya, Country Director, Alive and Kicking Nigeria Limited and Mrs Joanne Macrae, a Director, Amos Sports Business School, London and Business Development Director, Alive and Kicking Nigeria Limited at his London residence.

The governor narrated the investment friendly policies and programmes of his administration and assured the investors that the Osun Free Trade zone is ready for investors with excellent ease of doing business.

Accompanied by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev Bunmi Jenyo, the Governor directed the ministry to treat with urgency the submission from the Alive and Kicking firm, assuring that Osun is in a hurry for industrialisation.

Speaking earlier, Dr Olukoya and Mrs Macrae had told the state governor that their company is interested in building a factory for production of football to service the massive football needs of Nigeria, Africa and the whole world.

The team noted that the ministry has already treated its application for a land space at the Osun State Free Trade Zone and that preparation is already in top gear for commencement of work on the allocated site.

The team further told the governor that it has finalised a football talent academy to train and develop young Osun footballers for participation in local and international leagues.

The firm while explaining huge opportunities that abound in the field of sport business promised to submit detailed proposal on the talent hunt idea.

NUJ Assures Afiju FM Staff Of Support, Urges Ethical Journalism

 

NUJ Assures Afiju FM Staff Of Support, Urges Ethical Journalism

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, has paid a courtesy visit to Afiju FM Radio in Osogbo, the Osun State capital. The visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the union and the radio station.

He was accompanied by some members of the Osun NUJ leadership and other journalists. They were received by the General Manager of Afiju FM Radio, Mr. Dayo Oderinu, who expressed delight over the visit and noted that the station had been anticipating the union leadership's presence.

Oderinu said the visit created an opportunity for direct interaction between the station's management and staff and the NUJ leadership. He highlighted some concerns affecting staff, particularly journalists, and appealed to the NUJ Chairman to intervene and continue supporting the welfare, unity and professional development of journalists in the state.

The General Manager also disclosed the station's commitment to producing people-oriented programmes that reflect the language and culture of the community. He noted that Yoruba is widely spoken across Osun State and suggested that more Yoruba programmes could attract greater listenership, engagement and wider reach for the station.

Some staff members of Afiju FM also appreciated the NUJ Chairman for the visit and presented their requests and concerns. In his response, Comrade Aboderin thanked the management and staff for the warm reception and said the visit was part of efforts to connect with media organisations and listen to journalists' concerns.

Aboderin assured the staff that the NUJ would continue to protect journalists' interests and promote their welfare and unity, while urging them to uphold professional ethics and practise responsible journalism. He promised that the concerns raised would receive attention, as both sides expressed commitment to stronger collaboration.

PAMOJA 2027 Race: Eagles fight back to pluck three precious points off Barea in Uyo

 

PAMOJA 2027 Race: Eagles fight back to pluck three precious points off Barea in Uyo

Debutants George Ilhenikena and Moses Usor scored to steer Nigeria past a feisty Madagascar as the race to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations kicked off with three points in the bag for the Super Eagles.

A sizable crowd watched the Super Eagles recover from one go down after 15 minutes to turn the game on its head as Saudi Arabia-based Ilhenikena and Austria-based Moses Usor joined the growing list of Nigerian players who scored on their debut.

 

The match was only 70 seconds gone when Ilhenikena, who was in the thick of most Nigerian efforts in the first period, saw his scissors kick from a cross by Bruno Onyemaechi fly away from goal.

 

Samuel Chukwueze also saw his weighted pass to Ademola Lookman collected by visiting goalkeeper Geordan Dupire, but in the 16th minute, the Barea breached the Super Eagles’ barrier when Clement Couturier headed the ball from a pull-out past Stanley Nwabali, who thought the forward was off-side.

 

In the 34th minute, Nigeria put the ball in the visitors’ net after Dupire dropped from a pull-out, but the effort by Alex Iwobi was ruled out for a preceding foul.

 

Ilhenikena, energetic and largely unstoppable, pulled Nigeria level in added time of the first half when he latched on to the ball at the edge of the visitors’ box to slot past Dupire from close range.

 

The Saudi Arabia-based forward powered another header over the sticks a minute later, but Nigeria went into recess on the ascendancy.

 

Stanley Nwabali came up with a big save in the 50th minute to keep the scoreline even, and in the 64th minute, debutant Usor collected the ball on the counter-attack, raced past two defenders and dummied two others before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed grounder to which Dupire had no answer.

 

In the 72nd minute, another substitute Tolu Arokodare rocked the upright with a vicious strike, and though Nigeria continued to press and unleash, there were to be no more goals on a historic evening.

 

The match was Madagascar’s 100th game in qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations, but in the Nigerian camp, the excitement of Moses Simon’s 100th cap for the fatherland added to the joy of victory.

 

The energetic forward, introduced in the 58th minute, was presented with a framed jersey bearing his name by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and; SSA to Mr. President on grassroots sports Development, Mr. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye.

 

Victory took Nigeria joint-top of the group with Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs, who defeated Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam.

 

On Tuesday, Nigeria and Guinea Bissau meet in a top-of-the-table clash at Bissau’s 24 September Stadium, while Madagascar host Tanzania.

 

86 Caps, 5 WAFCON Titles: Osinachi Ohale Calls Time On Super Falcons Career

Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has announced her retirement from international football following 16 years of dedication to the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

The 34-year-old defender was the team’s longest-serving player and played a pivotal role during the just-concluded African Women’s Nations Cup in Morocco.

Osinachi Ohale was capped 86 times by the Super Falcons during her international career. She represented Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and featured in seven Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournaments, winning five of them with the Super Falcons.

Her international career spanned more than a decade, making her one of the longest-serving players in the history of the Nigerian women’s national team.

In her retirement message posted on Instagram, Ohale wrote:

“MY FINAL WHISTLE FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

There are moments in life when words are simply not enough. Today is one of those moments."

"After 16 years of wearing the Nigerian jersey, representing my country, and giving everything I had to the beautiful game, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football."

"From the young girl who first dreamed of wearing the green and white, to the woman who had the honour of doing so for 86 caps, I can only look back with a heart overflowing with gratitude."

"I have stood on the biggest stages in the world, representing Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and seven WAFCON, and I am incredibly proud that we lifted the African title five times."

"But beyond the numbers and trophies are the memories that will stay with me forever — the tears, the celebrations, the difficult moments, the victories, the defeats, the friendships, the sacrifices, and every time I stood proudly with my hand over my heart and heard the Nigerian anthem."

"I gave this jersey my youth, my strength, my sweat, my tears, and my heart. And if I had to do it all over again, I would choose Nigeria every single time."

"To my teammates, coaches, staff, family, friends, Nigeria Football Federation @thenffofficial and everyone who walked this journey with me — thank you. You became part of a chapter of my life that I will treasure forever."

To the Nigerian fans: thank you for believing in us, supporting us, celebrating with us, and standing by us through every high and every low. Your love made wearing this jersey even more special.

86 caps. 16 years. 4 World Cups. 7 WAFCON. 5 WAFCON titles.

"But the greatest achievement of all is knowing that I had the privilege to serve my country. The jersey will leave my shoulders, but it will never leave my heart. Thank you, Nigeria, for allowing me to live my dream.With love, pride and eternal gratitude.”