Abe & Friends: CHAN 2015 Eagle, NPFL Top Guns Set To Light Up Akure

CHAN 2015 Eagle, Tunde Adeniji, Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) ace, Ajibola Otegbeye Goal King and others are expected to bring fireworks to Akure this weekend when Sunshine Stars captain, *Sunday Abe* reunite with friends in a novelty match.

The anual star studded game tagged: Abe & Friends Football Fiesta organised by Sunshine Stars long serving captain, Abe will also have in attendance top sports administrators within and outside Ondo state. The match will be staged at the Ondo State Sports Complex Akure at 10 am on Saturday, 30th December 2017.

Abe who has just made a return to his boyhood club, Sunshine Stars following a loan spell in Europe speaking through the game coordinator, Mr Tayo Ajakaye said the 9th edition of the anual novelty game as always aimed to create a camaraderie of fun and unity for friends and fans of the Sunshine Stars captain during the festive period.

 "The game always bring together all football family of Skippoo (Abe) and afford the fans the chance to interact and have fun with him."Abe noted.

Mr Ajakaye also revealed that all logistics have been put in place to ensure the 2017 edition of the novelty match will be huge a success like the previous years.

Large number of Abe's teammates and friends at Sunshine Stars including CHAN Eagles maestro, Dayo Ojo*, Alaba Adeniyi, Ariyo David, Anthony Omaka*, Abiodun Joseph, Kehinde Adedipe, Ezekiel Boboye, Olumide Akinroyeje, new youth product, Segun Betiku, Media Officer; Chris Okunnuwa and other officials: Kayode Emmanuel (Trainer) Olarenwaju Ale (Trainer), Rafiu Elele Yusuf (Welfare Officer) among others are have been listed for the game.

Former and present NPFL stars expected in Akure for Abe & Friends Football Fiesta include Godfrey Oboabona*, Sunday Emmanuel, Seun Olulayo*, Jide Willisms, Niyi Adekunle, Thomas Adeshina, Afeez Aremu*, Lukman Haruna*, Ojo Olorunleke, Raymond Abdulsalam, Emmanuel Olowo, Raheem Lawal*, Busayo Gold, Fabiyi Olaniyi*, Kalejaiye Imisi, Kehinde Abiodun (Legacy).

Invited sports administrators to the game include former DG NSC Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, Ondo Commssioner for Sports, Saka Yusuf, ODSFA boss, Otunba Tajudeen Akinyemi, Ondo FA chairman, Otunba Dele Ajayi, former ODSFA chairmen, Hon Akin Akinbobola and Prince Dapo Ajibade among others.

The other listed players are:

Alasoadura Tope (Njitab), Deji Abe, Oriose, Shina Adeoye, Bajowa Segun, Mayowa Bello, Femi Ojo, Alaba Onoo, Itoba, Ramond Keepers, Orelusi, Abey Orobo, Wole Fagite, Gbemi Akinrolabu, Oladele Godwin Olorundare, Daniel Oboabona, Deji Ayodeji Oloruntoba, Tosin Olabode, Adeniyi Idowu, Romeo, Igor Sanya, Elvis (Skye Bank), Small Lanre, Femi Micheal, Foluso Samuel, Niyi Egbin, Kingley Udoh, Olumide Mighty, Kolade Johnson, Coach Lama, Lanre Akin, Napo Issac, Makanjuola Julius, Adedayo Micheal (aka Yere), Fadoju Alaba, Gbemi, and Ojo Ajewole.

Participation of the asterisked names is subject to their availability at the time of the game on Saturday.

FOSLA awards scholarship to 10 footballers in Kogi State

Ten footballers under the age of 13 years have been selected to win scholarship awards into one of the fastest growing academies in Nigeria that combines education with the game of soccer, FOSLA Academy, Kerishi, Abuja.

The ten footballers will be selected from the 22 talented players picked from the 10th FOSLA U13 Football Championship in Anyangba, Kogi State.

According to head of competition, Mallam Ahmed Ajakpo, the selected 22 players include Wisdom Adama, Musa Abdullahi and  Bashiru Haruna all from Bassa LGA,  Emmanuel Peter, Ibrahim Alhaji, Attah Samuel, Kabiru Usman, Mustapha Ameh from Idah LGA and Usman Abass, Ahmed Musa with Muh'd Abubaka from Ankpa were among the 22 players chosen to go into the final screening and aptitude test.

Others are Others are Amedu Israel from Ibaji LGA, Julius Bukie, Kabiru Aminu and Salisu Danjuma from Omala. Afuluku Sunday from Ofu area council, Ojima Negedu from Olamoboro area council, Solomon Achimugu, Hamza Ibrahim(Dekina), AbdulAziz Muh'd all from Dekina LGA as well as Benjamin Alfa (Igalamela) and Tukura Joel from Bassa LGA who has been awarded an automatic scholarship for his outstanding talent and skills.

The final of this year's edition of FOSLA U13 football championship will be decided on the new year day of 2018 between Omala Local Government and Idah Local Government at the ancient Qua Iboe Primary School field at Idah by 4pm.

To reach the final, Omala defeated Dekina LGA 4-2 on penalties after goalless situation of the normal time while Idah LGA saw off the defending champions Igalamela/Odolu LGA by 2-0.

The winners of this year's final will smile home with a giant trophy and a cash of 50,000 cash prize while the runners will get 30,000 cash prize.

The championship has been a pet project of former Nigeria Football Federation, NFF President, Alhaji Sanni Lulu Abdullahi who is the owner the academy (FOSLA) that has produced players for different age cadres national teams.

Chidera Prosper Ojukwu is currently with the country's U15 national team while the likes of Achu Gabriel, Abubakar Suleiman, Solomon Abraham, Ejeh Joseph and Kehinde Mustapha were part of the last Golden Eaglets team from FOSLA Academy.

Breaking - Nigeria drop 1 place in latest FIFA Ranking, now 51st in world

Akanni Seyi

In what will come as a further surprise to many, despite putting up a fine performance by going through the World Cup qualifiers unbeaten and easing past perennial rivals Argentina, the Super Eagles dropped 9 places in the last month FIFA ranking released to become 50th in the world and 8th in Africa.

In the latest ranking released today,
Nigerians would have expected to have a better ranking as against the 50th the team got the last time it was released but that was not the case.

Countries like Morocco (40), Burkina Fast (44), and  Cameroon (45) were all ranked above Nigeria.

According to the ranking, the top 10 teams in Africa are;

Senegal
Tunisia
Egypt
Congo DR
Morrocco
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Ghana
Nigeria
Algeria

Top ten teams in the world. 

Germany
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Belgium
Spain
Poland
Switzerland
France
Chile

Rivers United players thankful to Gov. Wike after peaceful protests

The aggrieved players of Rivers United on Tuesday morning stormed the Rivers state government House demanding their sign on fees and other entitlements to be paid.



The players were seen displaying series of placards demanding the government to pay them their sign on fees for the 2014/15 season Players of Rivers United who are Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaigners on Tuesday morning, December 19, stormed the Rivers state government House in Port Harcourt.



The players believe that the huge sum of money has been deposited in the coffer of the State Ministry of Sports but nothing is said as regards the disbursement of the fund to the concerned players.

It should be noted that these monies were owed by the previous administration, before the merger, and during the days of Sharks and Dolphins FC.


The Governor later addressed the players personally and promised to look into their demands.


The players thanked the Governor and apologized for their actions of this morning

Home Eagles Star Adeleye Out For Two Weeks

The injured Home-based  Super Eagles defender Olamilekan Adeleye is hopeful to be fit on-time to play for the team at the African Nations Championship (CHAN),  after picking up a knee injury few minutes into the encounter involving  Plateau United on Wednesday.


Adeleye picked up the injury early in the game and was replaced by Kalu Orji.


Adeleye told Complete Sports in Kano: “I was afraid it was a serious injury after I was stretchered off but tests have confirmed it is not something serious.


“I will be out for around two weeks which gives me the chance to stiil be part of the team for the CHAN.” The no nonsense defender declared.


CHAN is scheduled for Morocco from January 13 to February 4, 2018.


Salisu Yusuf’s charges will face Enyimba in their next game at the NPFL invitational on Friday.


The team is expected to leave for Morocco early in January to begin full preparation for CHAN.


They are drawn in Group C along with Rwanda, Libya and Equatorial Guinea

FIFA sanction: NFF sets up 4-man committee

NFF’s 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, has been named head of a 4-man panel to unravel the issues behind the slip that led to Nigeria forfeiting the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Algeria in Constantine on 10th November 2017.



The concluding match of Group B of the African series for Russia 2018 ended in a 1-1 draw, but FIFA on Tuesday awarded all three points to Algeria following Nigeria’s use of ineligible defender Abdullahi Shehu in the encounter.



NFF Executive Committee members Ibrahim Gusau and Felix Anyansi-Agwu are other members of the panel, with Mohammed Nasir Saidu, Chairman of Sokoto State Football Association, to serve as member/secretary.



“The Committee has two weeks to submit its report. It will have the responsibility of thoroughly investigating how the slip came about and those who were responsible, recommend appropriate sanctions and also make other recommendations that will forestall this kind of error in the future,” NFF President Amaju Pinnick announced at an early morning meeting with NFF Management and Staff in Abuja on Wednesday.

FIFA fines Nigeria for fielding ineligible player against Algeria

Akanni Seyi

Following the recent meeting of the Disciplinary Committee, FIFA can today confirm the latest sanctions imposed for incidents that occurred during the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup as well as in international friendlies, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng gathers. 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the match between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017. 

The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000. The sanction relates to the player Abdullahi Shehu failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him as a result of receiving a caution in two separate matches of the same competition.

 This sanction bears no impact on the final result of the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup since Nigeria had already qualified (and Algeria eliminated) before the match took place.

Fix your loop holes now, Inyama urges South-East, South-South teams ahead of new season

The Chairman, Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama said the recently concluded South-East/ South-South Pre-season Football Tournament was initiated in order to give the clubs within the geographical zones the opportunity to assess their preparations for the next season.


Speaking to newsmen in Umuahia, Chief Inyama said in as much as results could be important in such a tournament, the most essential thing was to afford the coaches the opportunity to see the players they want to parade in the new season and know whether they actually fit into their philosophy since they would face similar opposition when the league kicks off.


" So, we expect that the clubs that participated in  the tournament will return to base and work on areas of weakness and improve on areas of strength ", he said.


The Abia Warriors Chairman who expressed confidence that the tournament will be an annual event, said the venue would be rotated among the states in the zones concerned to further forge the bond of regional unity and brotherliness among the teams and players, revealing that the next edition will hold at Enugu.


He  commended all the teams that participated in the maiden edition of the tournament at Nnewi, insisting that they really gave a good account of themselves.

Super Six: Omoyele's late goal rescues point for Plateau Utd

Tosin Omoyele's late minute strike was enough to secure a point for Plateau Utd against ten men two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba international at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Monday.


Two sides who are representing Nigeria in the Caf competitions next face-off in what has been anticipated as tight encounter. 

Enyimba suffered a huge blow when Uche John was sent off in the 18th minute for a second bookable offense. However, Against the run of play,Ibrahim Akide trips Chinedu Udeagha in the box and the Referee made no hesitation in pointing to the spot for a penalty to the People's Elephants in the 22nd minute. 

Plateau United Goalie Okeimute Odah guesses right and pulls a great save from Chinonso Nonso's tame effort via the spot. 

Wasiu Alalade races to a sweet pass from Oladapo and sends a wicked cross to Udeagha. The former Rangers star did well to apply the finishing touch to the back of the net to hand advantage to the Aba based giants. 

The drama wasn't over when Centre Referee Adebimpe Quadri awarded the match second penalty to Plateau United in the last regulation minute as former Osun United striker, Tosin Omoyele dispatch expertly to force a 1-1 draw.

Nigeria to play Poland March 23 in pre World Cup test

Coach Gernot Rohr has hinted the Super Eagles will host fellow Russia bound 'Poland' in a World Cup warm-up at home on March 23, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng gathers. 

Poland are one of the top eight seeds at next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Rohr disclosed this in an interview with football365.fr

They head Group H, which has another West African side Senegal as well as Japan and Colombia.

The coach also disclosed the Eagles are shopping for another test game against a European club prior to Russia 2018.

The Nigeria Football Federation are already proposing friendly against England in June.

Nigeria are drawn in Group D along with Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.

Ezenwa, Faleye 28 others in CHAN Eagles squad for Super Six

The home –based Super Eagles contingent arrived the ancient city of Kano on Saturday afternoon as Head Coach Salisu Yusuf and his crew countenance the beginning of preparations for the 5th African Nations Championship scheduled for Morocco 13th January – 4thFebruary 2018.



Yusuf, also Chief Coach of the Russia-bound A squad, has called up 30 players for the first phase of the preparations, in which the 2014 CHAN bronze medallists would test strength with the nation’s leading domestic clubs in the annual Super Six Tournament.



Super Eagles A team’s safe hands Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Stephen Eze, Osas Okoro and Adeleye Olamilekan, midfielders Afeez Aremu, Rabiu Ali and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi as well as forwards Kingsley Eduwo, Sikiru Olatubosun and Anthony Okpotu are among those who will battle for shirts.



The glamour Super Six Tournament, traditionally organized to set Nigeria’s flag-bearers in continental competitions in battle mood after the lull and inactivity of the post –season break, will this year welcome NPFL reigning champions Plateau United, MFM FC, Akwa United FC, homers Kano Pillars and Enyimba FC, as well as the Super Eagles B.



The first matches are slated for Monday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, where the Eagles overpowered their counterparts from Benin Republic 2-0 on 19thAugust to qualify for the 5thAfrican Nations Championship.



Nigeria will tackle 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage at the 5th African Nations Championship. The matches of Group C will be played in Tangier.



Libya shocked the African football family by winning the 2014 edition in South Africa at the expense of Ghana, despite the North African nation being embroiled in political turmoil at the time. Rwanda was the last team to qualify for the finals, after edging Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate in a play –off that was necessitated by Egypt’s decision to forfeit her slot at the championship. Equatorial Guinea qualified for the finals following the withdrawal of Gabon.



Hosts Morocco, Guinea, Sudan and Mauritania are in Group A, in the event pitting the Atlas Lions against Mauritania in the opening match of the competition, at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on 13th January.



Hosts of the inaugural edition of the competition in 2009, Cote d’Ivoire head Group B that will be based in Marrakech, and have Zambia, Uganda and Namibia as group mates.



Group D, based in Agadir, has 2011 runners-up Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.



Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa; Dele Ajiboye; Theophilus Afelokhai



Defenders: Stephen Eze; Osas Okoro; Daniel Itodo; Adeleye Olamilekan; Kalu Orji Okogbue; Ifeanyi Nweke; Nasiru Sani; Timothy Danladi



Midfielders: Afeez Aremu; Raphael Ayagwa; Ifeanyi Ifeanyi; Rabiu Ali; Destiny Ashadi; Dayo Ojo; Emeka Atuloma; Douglas Achiv; Austine Oladapo; Abdulkadir Zango



Forwards: Sikiru Olatubosun; Kingsley Eduwo; Peter Eneji; Anthony Okpotu; Joseph Osadiaye; Sunday Faleye; Victor Mbaoma; Mustapha Ibrahim; Gabriel Okechukwu

MFM FC walloped 36 Lion to clinch Western Nigeria Preseason trophy

Mountain Of Fire and Miracles Ministries Footbal Club strolled past 36Lion with a 3-1 victory and emerged the champion of the maiden edition of Western Nigeria Pre Season Football tourney earlier today in Lagos.

The Olukoya Boys defeated 36 Lions 3-1 in the final decided Friday at the Agege Stadium courtesy of goals from two new recruits, Victor Mbaoma, Oche Salefu and Monsuru Bashiru while Bakare Emmanuel netted his team's only goal of the entertaining match.

The national chairman, Western Nigeria Football Forum Seyi Akinwunmi in an interview after the final said the forum has achieved its aim of preaching unity and love to the clubs in the zone.

He added that the tourney has enabled them to identify players from the zone who will turn out to be groomed and nutured to greatness.

Speaking further the NFF first vice president also assured that the next edition of the tourney will be well organised and bigger.


MFM FC will continue their preseason exercise with another  preseason event tagged, Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Invitational Tournament next week Monday in Kano at the Sanni Abacha Stadium.

Rivers utd Coordinator hails Ahmed Fresh over recent recognitions

Rivers United FC Team Coordinator Badawiy Basir has commended the Nigeria Football Federation Board Member, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh over the recent honorary recognition bestowed on him by a South Africa based Sport Institute.

Fresh, member of the CAF technical and development committee was honoured by the Africa Football Institute as the 'Newsmaker for the year twenty-seventeen' at South Africa at the weekend.

Bashir made this known to Maxi Sports on Wednesday December 6 shortly after his team Rivers United booked  Semi final spot in the ongoing South East and South West pre season at Nnewi.

"Fresh has done well for himself and Football in Nigeria, He has empowered the youth through organising tournaments for them at the grassroots"

"I believe more will come because he's still working hard,  I'm happy we are in the next stage of this tournament,  I personally wish Fresh well"

The Niger State Football Association Chairman Ahmed Fresh was of the recipient of New Telegraph award at Lagos for is huge contribution to Football in Nigeria.

He has also been honoured by different Sports body in the country, all to his passionate commitment to the development of the round leather game from the lowest level.

Inter Allies complete move for CHAN Eagles star Aremu

Ghana Premier League outfit Inter Allies have confirmed the signing of defensive midfielder Afeez Aremu Olalekan from Westerlo Football Academy.

The enforcer defended the colours of Akwa United last season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and was part of the Super Eagles B side that placed second at the Fox Sports WAFU Cup in Ghana.

“We’re pleased to announce that we have reached agreement with Nigerian side Westerlo Football Academy for the transfer of Aremu,” an official statement from Inter Allies stated.

Becoming the third signing ahead of the new season, Aremu arrived in the country earlier this week and started training with the ‘Eleven Is To One.’

‪The President of Inter Allies Rabeh El-Eter said: “This is a very positive addition to our team because he will offer a lot to us.”‬

‪”He is a young player with huge capacity to learn and develop, with lots of quality.”

Upon signing for the club, the midfielder said he was “very excited” to join a good team where he can’t even wait to start.

“I would like to thank all parties involved in making this deal a successful one, it is a great move for me to come here to develop my career,” he told www.interalliesfc.com

“I am very excited to be signing for a good Club such as Inter Allies. I am looking forward to working with the new coach and the players.”

“I hope to do my best and exhibit my quality to help the team.”

Aremu also been selected for the 2018 CHAN tournament, going as one of the youngest players in the tournament.

He is a strong and aggressive defensive midfielder who plays with a lot of caution. He has grown into his profession which helps him to read the game very well.

Eagles to play England in pre World Cup friendly

The Super Eagles will engage England in a warm up game, the UK-based Skysport has reported, quoting the general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi. Skysports however pointed out that it was yet to get a confirmation from The FA, the football governing body of England on the proposed match.

“We plan to play a friendly against England in June, before the World Cup,” Sanusi was quoted by Skysports as saying, adding that the venue and other details of the match were still to be worked out.

Both nations will feature at next year’s World Cup in Russia, with Nigeria drawn in Group D along with Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, while Gareth Southgate’s England will play Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G.

While England might be using Nigeria to gauge what to expect from Tunisia, the Super Eagles would use England as a test case for the duo of European sides, Croatia and Iceland. The latter eliminated England from Euro 2016.

According to Skysport, England are scheduled to play the Netherlands in a friendly on March 23 before hosting Italy four days later. They will meet Tunisia in their World Cup opener at the Volgograd Arena on June 18, the same venue where Nigeria will face Iceland on June 22.

England and Nigeria last played at the 2002 World Cup in Osaka, Japan on June 12, 2002 in a match Coach Adegboye Onigbinde had to ring changes from the earlier line-up of Nigeria in the preceding matches with Argentina and Sweden.

Vincent Enyeama was handed his first World Cup cap. So also was Femi Opabunmi. Before then, the Super Eagles had played a friendly match with England on June 16, 1995 when Amodu Shaibu made his managerial debut with Nigeria.

The encounter, in which the Super Eagles first put on Nike kits, ended 1-0 in favour of England at the old Wembley Stadium.

ADETUNJI RESUMES TRAINING WITH ABIA WARRIORS

One of the top scorers in the Nigeria Professional Football League last season, Sunday Adetunji has resumed training with his club, Abia Warriors of Umuahia after being sidelined by injury for four months, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng gathers.


The former Shooting Stars of Ibadan hitman, who scored 14 goals in 26 matches for the Warriors before the injury,  ended his season early in Makurdi when he broke his forearm after landing awkwardly as he leapt very high to nod in his second goal in Abia Warriors' historic 4-2 away win over Lobi Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium in a week 33 action of the NPFL.


After receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, he was later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia where a team of doctors successfully joined both ends of the broken bones and since that time in August, he never kicked the ball again as he recuperated.


But he has resumed training with his team mates. Head of Abia Warriors Medical Team, Dr Enyinnaya Anozie said Adetunji only resumed "light training"  adding that it would still take some weeks before he could regain match fitness.


On his own, Adetunji who has been in high spirit said it was a very difficult period for him.

"Actually, I feel great to be back because it's not easy being out for months. I'm a kind of player who would always want to be on the pitch playing, so it was not easy for me watching from the sidelines but I thank God that I'm back and strong.

On the injury he said, " I never expected it to happen to me but I believe in fate on the affairs of men so it happened but I have come over it and I'm back".

He expressed appreciation at the solidarity he received from people from all walks of life during the period particularly  the Abia Warriors family led by the Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama who he said did everything humanly possible to ensure he returned to action as soon as possible.

Adetunji said he would pay them back by playing and scoring more goals for the club anytime he is selected to wear the Abia Warriors colours.

Russia 2018, NFF get financial subsidy from CAF

At its last meeting held on 16 November 2017 in Rabat, Morocco, the CAF Executive Committee decided to set up an ad hoc committee chaired by the CAF 1st Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, to map out a kind of support to be provided to African representatives to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

The committee, which has CAF Executive Committee member Kalusha Bwalya and presidents of the Football Associations of the five qualified countries as members, met in Moscow, Russia, on the sidelines of the draw for the FIFA World Cup scheduled for 1 December 2017.

At the meeting, it was decided that CAF will grant a financial subsidy of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand dollars) to each of the five African teams. The financial package will be used mainly to strengthen and improve the technical supervision of each team.

In addition, CAF will provide each African representative with “fieldwiz” equipment, a technological device and physical performance measuring tool for outdoor team sports players.