Delta Babes in Group A made it to the semi-final after playing out a 2-2 draw with Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship side, Moje Queens.

Jacob Victoria gave the Kwara State-based side the lead as early as the fourth minute. Itaingbene Happiness, however equalised for Delta Babes in the 23rd minute before giving her side the lead for the first time with just the five minutes from the half time break.

The two goals increased Happiness’s goal tally to three after two games. Victoria Idehen equalised for Moje Queens in the 54th minute to ensure a 2-2 draw for her side.

The draw sealed a semi-final spot for Delta Babes while Moje Queens will have to avoid defeat in its last group game against Anambra Angels to make it to the last four.

Imo Strikers in Group B joined Delta Babes in the semi-final after pipping Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens 1-0.

Ezeka Miracle’s 52nd-minute strike was enough to earn a win and a semi-final place for the host team.

Okundia Aisosa’s 29th-minute goal revived Fortress Ladies’ hope of making it to the semi-final after a 1-0 win over Castmog Academy of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Fortress Ladies occupy the third position in Group B with three points and an inferior goal advantage below Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens which also has three points.

Saturday, December 17, will be observed as a rest day before Sunday’s final group games.

Partisan politics took the back seat as sports once again proved to be the unifier of Nigerians when the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare and a host of other important dignitaries on Wednesday night in Asaba, Delta State unveiled the mascot for the 2022 National Sports Festival in an elaborate and colourful ceremony.

The chief host, Dr Okowa promised that Asaba will put up a show that the whole of the country will be proud of when the National Sports Festival begins later in the year.

According to him, “The National Sports Festival is Nigeria’s version of the Olympic Games and Delta will make it an unforgettable experience for everyone.”

In his own remarks, Sports Minister Sunday Dare said the National Sports Festival is no longer an event that would go unnoticed in the country.

His words: “The National Sports Festival must come with pomp, pageantry and colourful ceremonies. It is no longer a corridor event. It is a classy event reminiscent of the Olympic Games.

“Asaba is really ready with the unveiling of the Games Mascot. These are some of the little details obtainable at the Olympics and it is on display here in Delta State.”

Dare further charged the various committees to ensure that 2022 National Sports Festival delivers a world class competition that sets a standard for the future through its planning and execution.

The unveiling of the mascot officially flags off the marketing activities of the Games scheduled to hold in November 2022.

Odigie, a junior CAF instructor and FIFA Educator made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen at the sideline during a feild session of the Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic in Asaba.

“Berackiah/Abigol coaching clinic is a very good initiative and this is the ideal thing for football development,” the coach said.

He noted that the clinic which aligns with FIFA’s policy thrust at constantly improving football will help build the capacity of Nigerian coaches which will morphome into a beautiful display of football artistry.

He urged the coaches to have an ambition and follow it passionately against all the odds noting that they must keep being a professional with the hope that things will change for good.

“First and foremost we have to get it right organisationally. We should have a good structure where every now and then clinics are being organized like this and when they are made available at grassroots, coaches will be able to train talented footballers,” the former Bayelsa coach said.

Odigie who last worked with Bendel Insurance of Benin during their last spell in NPFL said he left the club to pursue further education in coaching.

Participants of the clinic also had the opportunity to learn from the tactician with his logical and intellectual reviews and analysis.

Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching clinic has recorded another huge success as 74 coaches from South-South and South-East part of the country received their certificate of attendance after a 5-day intensive coaching training.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the clinic which held at the Delta State Football Secretariat (known as Patrick Okpomo Football House), Harrison Ocholor who represented the State Government at the event lauded the organizers for the initiative which he said will have positive impact on Nigeria football.

The clinic which featured education on all contents of the game offered a rare opportunity for grassroots coaches to learn the art of the game from the revered former Super Eagles Coach and retired FIFA/CAF instructor, High Chief Onigbinde.

It was another edge for the participants of the programme as the former Super Eagles Coach and current Technical Director of the NFF, Coach Austin Eguavoen repleted the delivery with his experience and loads of insightful lectures.

Also availing all the participants from the 11 states of South-East and South-South more knowledge about the dynamics of the game were the Mathew Olorunleke, Roberto Bassi and Marco Gian who had all came from Italy.

Stressing the importance of coaching education, Monday Odigie the former Bendel Insurance gaffer and a junior CAF instructor urged all the participants not to allow the situation of the country affect their aspirations adding that they should up their game to be in tune with the global best practices.

The train of the clinic has landed in Awka, Anambra atate where 30 coaches will be receiving another round of education on football from all the resource persons between 5th-6th of February.

Lafia, the capital of Nassarawa State will be next on the card to play host to the coaching clinic for the North-Central from Monday 8th- Friday 12th of February.

No fewer than 30 football coaches in Anambra State are to benefit from the good gesture of Mr Patrick Okeke, the President of Aspire Football Club and Academy following his decision to attract the moving train of Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic to the State.

According to the CEO Berackiah International, Wonders N. Nwigwe, the Aspire Chief decision to identify with the programme and sponsor 30 coaches was inspired as a result of what he described as shared resolve of developing the capacity of Nigerian coaches as one of the way to achieve a sustainable growth in football development.

Recall the clinic which is currently making wave at the moment, had a successful outing in South-West Zone of the country with it’s train currently in Asaba, capital city of Delta State for South South and South East Zones.

In his own remarks, the Aspire FC boss said hi decision to sponsor the coaches was motivated by his club age long commitment at developing football from the grassroots while prioritizing the role of coaches and adding value to the round leather game.

“Aspire FC is sponsoring the coaching clinic in Anambra State as part of our commitment to human capital development, the statement reads in part.

While noting that the future of Nigeria Football lies in the grassroots, he added that Aspire FC recognizes the need for the coaches in grassroots to have the technical competencies in order to identify and develop skills of the future stars who will make the country proud – a target which the clinic has also set out to achieve.

He believes that “Berackiah/Abigol coaching clinic offers the right mix of theoretical and practical learning experience for our coaches at the grassroots” thus an opportunity to strike the balance.

The Anambra clinic has now been scheduled to hold from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th of February.
While reacting to the development, the co-facilitator of the clinic and CEO of Abigol Football Management, coach Matthew Olorunleke commended the Aspire President for deeming it fit to sponsor the coaches, a gesture which he said will bear a positive impact on football in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

Aspire Football Club is a Nationwide League One (NLO) team and are the current Anambra  FA Champions.
In the past, Aspire FC has invested in several other talent development projects such as the Aspire Egwu Ogene Contest of 2020 and the Adazi-Ani Fest of 2020 which are geared towards highlighting the synergy between music and football as well as the socio-economic impact of both activities.

The train of the clinic is expected to move from Anambra on Sunday, 7th February to Lafia in Nasarawa State on Monday for the North Central Zone.