Senator Adeyeye pumps up Falconets’ spirit

The Chief Whip of the Senate of the Federal Republic, Senator Olusola Adeyeye on Thursday boosted the morale of Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets, with the sum of $1000 when he met with the ladies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.



Senator Adeyeye, who represents Osun Central in Nigeria’s highest legislative body, met with the two –time FIFA World Cup silver medallists while they were on their way to Lagos to connect a flight to Morocco for a 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match.



“I am delighted to see you ladies here. I am told you are going to Morocco. Go there and do the country proud as you have been doing. I believe you all possess the typical Nigerian spirit that will make you overpower your opponents,” Senator Adeyeye said.



Team captain Oluwakemi Famuditi thanked the lawmaker for his generosity and promised that the Nigeria U20 girls will go for goals and eventual victory in Morocco on Sunday.



The Falconets landed in Casablanca on Friday morning and immediately connected another flight to Sale, the city where they clash with the Moroccan U20 girls on Sunday. The match is the first leg of a 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup African second round qualifying fixture, with the return leg in Benin City, Nigeria on November 18.

Aruna Quadri moves up nine places in latest ITTF World ranking

Nigerian table tennis superstar Aruna Quadri gained 23 points to move up to 27th position in the World in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) ranking released in midweek.

The Nigeria international moved up nine places as result of his victory in the men’s singles of the Polish Open in Poland. Quadri also did himself some good following his qualification to the main draw at the ITTF World Cup in Liege, Belgium last month.

The ranking released on the federation’s website, ITTF, has Quadri garner 2457 points in October, 23 points more than the 2434 points he had in the previous month.

However, the 29-year-old remains second in Africa behind Egypt’s Omar Assar, who moved up one place from 21st to 20th position in the World ahead of Quadri.

By the way, the African table tennis champion signed a two-year contract with Premium Lotto Ltd., late last month.

The deal, signed at the 2017 ITTF World Cup in Liege, Belgium, is valued at 75,000 dollars and will also boost the player’s preparations ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Ogunbote unveiled as Enugu Rangers head coach

Gbenga Ogunbote 'Oracle' has been finally unveiled today as the new head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League outfit,  Enugu Rangers, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng reports.

Enugu State Government House was agog on Wednesday as the 'Oracle' was unveiled to football stakeholders and the entire public. The event had the state governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in attendance.

Also present at the unveiling ceremony was the newly appointed general manager of the Flying Antelopes, Davidson Owunmi, team manager Ameobi Ezeaku and other top officials of the club. Ogunbote replaced Sylvanus Okpalla whose two-month stop managerial role with Rangers has come to an end.

Ogunbote joined the Coal City outfit following the expiration of his contract with Enyimba, a club he led to a third-place finish in the Nigeria Professional Football League last season.

He is one of the experienced manager in the Nigeria Professional Football League with successful stints at Sunshine Sunshine Stars, a team he led to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, as well as Shooting Stars and Giwa FC.

His immediate task will be to revive the fortunes of 2016 NPFL Champions Rangers that performed below expectations in both the league and continent last season.

NOMINEES FOR AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR & AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – BASED IN AFRICA 2017

The nominees for the African Player of the Year and African Player of the Year – Based in Africa 2017 have been revealed, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng gathers. 

Thirty (30) players each have been nominated for the two topmost categories.

The winner will be decided by votes from the Head Coaches/Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF, members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee and a panel of Media Experts.

The Awards Gala will be held on Thursday, 4 January 2018 in Accra, Ghana.

Nigerian energy giants, Aiteo, are the headline sponsors of next year’s edition that will see players, officials and administrators who distinguished themselves exemplary during the year under review being honoured for their efforts towards the development of the game on the continent.

African Player of the Year

1. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)
2. Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso & Lyon)
3. Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal)
4. Christian Atsu (Ghana & Newcastle)
5. Christian Bassogog (Cameroon & Henan Jianye)
6. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
7. Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United)
8. Essam El Hadary (Egypt & Al Taawoun)
9. Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon & Sevilla)
10. Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco)
11. Jean Michel Seri (Cote d’Ivoire & Nice)
12. Junior Kabananga (DR Congo & Astana)
13. Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord)
14. Keita Balde (Senegal & Monaco)
15. Khalid Boutaib (Morocco & Yeni Malatyaspor)
16. Mbwana Samata (Tanzania & Genk)
17. Michael Olunga (Kenya & Girona)
18. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
19. Moussa Marega (Mali & Porto)
20. Naby Keita (Guinea & RB Leipzig)
21. Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
22. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
23. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
24. Thomas Partey (Ghana & Atletico Madrid)
25. Victor Moses (Nigeria & Chelsea)
26. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon & Porto)
27. William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria & Bursaspor)
28. Yacine Brahimi (Algeria & Porto)
29. Youssef Msakni (Tunisia & Al Duhail)
30. Yves Bissouma (Mali & Lille)


African Player of the Year – Based in Africa

1. Achraf Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
2. Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly)
3. Alkhaly Bangoura (Guinea & Etoile du Sahel)
4. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)
5. Aristide Bance (Burkina Faso & Al Masry)
6. Ayman Majid (Morocco & FUS Rabat)
7. Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
8. Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
9. Dean Furman (South Africa & Supersport United)
10. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
11. Elsamani Saadeldin (Sudan & Al Merreikh)
12. Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco)
13. Fawzi Chaouchi (Algeria & MC Alger)
14. Geoffrey Serunkuma (Uganda & KCCA)
15. Jeremy Brockie (New Zealand & Supersport)
16. Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly)
17. Karim Aouadhi (Tunisia & CS Sfaxien)
18. Mohamed Meftah (Algeria & USM Alger)
19. Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
20. Muaid Ellafi (Libya & Ahly Tripoli)
21. Nasr Eldin Ahmed (Sudan & Hilal Obeid)
22. Oussama Darfalou (Algeria & USM Alger)
23. Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
24. Sabelo Ndzinisa (Swaziland & Mbabane Swallows)
25. Saber Khalifa (Tunisia & Club Africain)
26. Saladin Said (Ethiopia & Saint George)
27. Sylvain Gbohouo (Cote d’Ivoire & TP Mazembe)
28. Tady Etekiama (DR Congo & AS Vita)
29. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
30. Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)

Bayo Adesina elevated as Osun Utd Head Coach

Osun United Football Club have announced the elevation of Coach Adebayo Adesina, as substantive head coach for the 2017/2018 Nigeria National League, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng gathers.


Adesina, was one of the assistants to Duke Udi, last season and takes charge after Udi's departure to Sunshine Stars and convinced the club’s management and fans he is the right man to steer the club next season.


Elewele, as he is fondly called guided the Omoluabi Giants to an impressive quarter final finish in the Aiteo Cup and finished seventh on the table log at the concluded season.


The younger brother of former Super Eagles midfielder Ademola Adesina, was confirmed head coach after the team management committee board meeting on Tuesday at the Oshogbo Township Stadium.


“This is really a great opportunity for me to continue along this new path in my career and to continue to work with this great club. I’m grateful to the management and my other coaches for their support, we will work collectively to achieve,” Adesina told Osun United Media.

However, the team former captain Waheed Olapade, who was sent on coaching course at National Institute for Sports, last season has also been appointed as one of the assistant coaches.