AFCON: Ighalo shines as Eagles put Libya to sword

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A brace from Odion Ighalo helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria who let a two goal lead ‎slip to win 3-2 away to Libya and move them close to within one win of qualifying for the 2019 AFCON Championship.


Nigeria raced into an early two goal lead courtesy of goals from Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa but somehow let their lead slip with Libya drawing level ten minutes into the second half.

Ighalo who scored a hattrick in the first game ensured the Super Eagles claimed all three points with a smart finish in the box to kill off any chance of the spirited Libyans taking anything out of the game.

The win takes Nigeria to top of the group with nine points following South Africa shock 0-0 draw away to Seychelles ‎which saw them drop as group leaders to second with 8 points while Libya are now third with four points.

As it stands now, the Eagles need a win from their remaining two games against South Africa and later Seychelles to seal qualification for the first time since winning the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

Gold Cup: Ekiti State in die minutes sweat to lure the tourney away from Benue State

Impressed by Gold Cup standard and quality, Ekiti State Government is set to hijack the nation's prestigious pre-season tournament hosting right from Benue.


The General Manager of Phoenix Athletic Sports Club, Bayo Olanlege.
Olanlege disclosed to nigeriasportsarena.blogspot.com that he has been given the mandate by Ekiti State to woo the organisers of the foremost Nigerian pre-season tourney.


 "This is one pre-season football Tournament I follow with keen interest when you look at the clubs that has taken part in it. Any state that really love and knows the important of hosting a football event of this magnitude will bid for the hosting of the event.

He continued "I there say that the Gold Cup have helped clubs to become champions or gained CAF Champions League or Confederation Cup ticket.


"I can use the likes of Lobi Stars and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM FC) as a reference. Be mindful that Remo Stars who are on the verge of returning to the NPFL have featured in the last four editions while Kano Pillars who are the defending champion are also in the Aiteo Cup final while Katsina United a Gold Cup semi-finalist last season lost to the Sia Maisu Gida team in the Aiteo Cup semi-final in Lagos."


He stressed further adding the economy value of the football event to hosting state.


"The tourney has also helped our youths to be gainfully employed as our domestic clubs use the event to scout players.


"It has enjoyed good mileage from the media as the whole idea of it was from Tunde Shamsudeen the general coordinator of the event who alongside some persons in the Media Team have dedicated close to 15 years reporting the Nigerian football and its domestic Leagues.


"I hear Benue are to host this year's edition, which is the 6th, am afraid Ekiti State may rival them to it.


"We are not trying to flex muscles with Benue but for sports to develop from the grassroot, football in the Fountain of Knowledge needs an event like the Gold Cup to awaken the potential within and show everyone what great host we could be," he concluded.

WIKKI TOURIST APPOINT FORMER AKWA UNITED ASSISTANT ALIYU ZUBAIRU AS HEAD COACH

By Olayinka Olawole



Wikki Tourist FC of Bauchi have confirmed the appointment of former Kwara United assistant manager Aliyu Zubairu as head coach. 


The former Akwa United assistant coach agreed personal terms with the Bauchi based side on Thursday evening and will now start work with the first team on Monday morning.


The gifted manager who worked under Abdul Makaiba at Akwa United, has tasted success domestically, winning the 2017 AITEO CUP and also was part of the team's CAF Confederations Cup outing.


A meticulous planner, Zubairu is often praised by players for his training methods and ensuring the squad knew exactly what to expect of the opposition when they go out onto the pitch. 


Zubairu has worked under some of the best gaffers in the league. He was assistant to the likes of Samson Unuanel,  CAF Champions League winner Kadiri Ikhana, Samson Unuanel and recently Abdul Maikaba.

Nigeria vs Libya: Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel approves Ticket Prices' Slash for Fans

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has approved the slashing of ticket prices for football fans wishing to watch live the 2019 AFCON qualifier between Nigeria and Libya in Uyo on Saturday.

This was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Mr Paul Bassey, yesterday in an interaction with sports journalists in the state saying the sports loving governor has directed that the gate fees for competition be slashed by 50 per cent.

With this latest development, fans will now have to pay as low as N500.00 to watch the crucial game from the popular stands as against N1,000 earlier fixed while those wishing to see the game from the VIP stands would now pay a token of N1,000 as against the initial N2,000.00 price tag.

According to Bassey, the aim of this governor’s gesture is to encourage many fans to watch the match live and to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.

Bassey said: “Football fans around the world usually pay huge amounts of money as gate fees to watch international games of this standard, but here in Akwa Ibom, His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel has graciously subsidized the ticket price to N500 for the popular stands tickets and N1, 000 for the VIP ticket holders.

“Governor Emmanuel is a passionate sports lover and he has demonstrated it in the huge investments he has made in sports development in the state.

“His gesture of subsidizing the prices of tickets for the match is to ensure that more fans turn up to watch the game live while supporting the senior national team to victory on Saturday,” observed the veteran sports journalist who also doubles as Chairman of the state owned Akwa United FC.

Libya is top of the group with four points, same as South Africa but with superior goal difference, Nigeria are third and would need to win on Saturday to have any realm chance of making it to AFCON 2019 in Cameroon

Aiteo Cup: Biffo sets sight on Trophy, harps on hardwork

Katsina United defeated Kwara United 3 - 1 in one of the 2018 Aiteo Cup quarterfinals decided at the Agehe Stadium in Lagos Wednesday.

Katsina United are now through to the semifinals of this year's Aiteo Cup after they saw off the much heralded Kwara United, who fought until the end but eventually surrendered to a more experienced and tactical foes.

'The Changi Boys' may now remain in Lagos to face Rangers, who also edged past holders Akwa United on penalties or winner from Aba centre

Confident Biffo, who kept a low profile in the build-up to the match against Kwara United, told http://www.fckatsinaunited.com: "I don’t know what happened to my boys because we played the worst game since I joined Katsina United but I thank God for their discipline and energy.

“Good enough we capitalised on the defensive blunders of Kwara United to win.

“We are now in the semifinal and closer to the trophy.

“We have to back and work a lot harder so that whoever we meet in the semifinal we beat them to get to the final.”

He added: “We are still improving as a team, but we are yet to reach our target and so we will keep working hard.”

Katsina United looked tired and jaded in the early minutes of the proceedings as Kwara United were on rampage and took the game to them and got two shots on target.

However, Katsina United took the lead via a brilliant volley off the boot of Destiny Ashadi after he connected well to a clever pass from Martins Usule, found space in the middle before he unleashed a volley that Kwara United goalkeeper could not provide an answer to on 21 minutes.

'The Afonja Warriors' continued to enjoy possession despite conceding this early goal, but they could not find the breakthrough as Katsina United defence led by CHAN Eagles ace Timothy Danladi and Chinedu Ajanah proved to be a hard nut to break

'The Changi Boys' will then double their advantage through wing wizard Tasiu Lawal, who powered home a rocket after he dribbled past two of his markers down the left on the dot of half time to compound the problems of Kwara United

The celebration did not last long as Kwara United pulled one back soon after from the penalty spot through Segun Alebiosu after Uche was hacked down in the box by Ajanah to half the deficit before the break.

The second half was all about Kwara United who enjoyed knocking the ball around and forgot the major objective of scoring goals.

Katsina United seemed not come to the party as they they were forced back to their half by Kwara United who were desperately searching for the equaliser.

'The Changi Boys' skipper and goalkeeper Yinka David who put up a man of the match performance was the reason Katsina United maintained their one goal lead until stoppage time as he denied Kwara United twice with world class saves to ensure that his team go past hard fighting Afonja Boys.

'The Changi Boys' then sealed the game by scoring the third goal in stoppage time through Martins Usule, who connected a pass by Joshua Agboola, before he rounded a defender to slot home a low drive and give his team a comfortable victory.

Yinka David who stood firm in goal for Katsina United with excellent saves was adjudged the man of the match.