Football fans in Osogbo are set for an evening to remember as the exquisite GQ Lounge in Osun Mall, will beam live the Qatar 2022 World Cup final between defending champions France and Argentina.

Reigning world champions are set to make history against the champions of South America, with Kylian Mbappe taking on his PSG teammate Lionel Messi — and it will end with one of football’s heavyweight nations winning the World Cup for the third time.

The Qatar 2022 World Cup has had its highlights, including great goals, stunning individual performances and some of the biggest upsets that the World Cup has ever seen, and the management of GQ Lounge has a lot to offer its VIP and customers the best fan experience ever.

Football lovers that want to catch a glimpse of the World Cup final on Sunday at the GQ Lounge, will get to watch it on one of the biggest high definition screen ever with a surround sound system and maximum security.

Meanwhile, Messi has already confirmed that, win or lose, this will be his final World Cup match.

Mbappe will play in his second World Cup final just two days before his 24th birthday as he has already won one in Russia four years ago.

The final of Qatar 2022 is expected to kick off 4 pm Nigerian time.

Shogo Shodunnke, BrainBehind of a leading sports consultancy firm in Nigeria, Phreestyle Sport is among few invited experts to attend the FIFA Masters Alumni conference billed for Doha, Qatar.

The conference which is the 11th edition is expected to commence tomorrow and last till Saturday with series of events lined up.

Shodunnke who is one of the few Africans invited for the conference will be joining other alumni members of FIFA University, CIES to rub minds and explore new ideas especially from the FIFA World Cup hosts, Qatar who have set a new bar regarding organization, marketings and sponsorship with the mundial.

This year’s conference theme is Delivering Amazing. Insights and discussions about amazing accomplishments and evolutions at the FIFA world cup Qatar 2022 and for the wider world of sports.

The Phreestyle Sport boss disclosed that Wednesday sessions will focus on how to shape the minds of the new generation of sports leaders, a look into commercial partnerships in sport in 2022 and beyond and a session to talk about the growth of women’s football in general, with part of it dedicated to the next FWWC in Australia and New Zealand.

“We will also have a chance to hear from the CEO and COO of Qatar 2022 World Cup on how they have been able to deliver an amazing showpiece, how to sustain the success and its impact on the country.

“It’s going to be an interesting conference, one that will also help us to bring more positive ideas that can assists us in developing our sports back home,” he said.

Thursday will see the FIFA Master Alumni members having an interactive session with Marketing Consultant to the Qatar 2022 World Cup while the closing day (Saturday) will feature presentation of certificates and a novelty match among the participants of the conference.

Shogo Shodunnke is the brainbehind AMAPRO Football Championship, Team Lead – AMAPRO Sporting Academy, President – H4 Foundation (Hope the Hopeless & Help the Helpless Through Sports) and member, Kwara State Football Association Safety, Protocol and Logistics Committee.

Ex Nigeria international, Benedict Akwegbu has stated that the Super Eagles should have won the AFCON in 2000, a game he described as an unlucky one.

The London-based ex hitman stated that the Eagles played better than Cameroon in the game but were unlucky not to have won the tourney.

” We were supposed to win that tournament but we were unlucky. We played better than Cameroon but we lost on penalties”

Recalling his Super Eagles’ debut, Akwegbu said “my first game for the Super Eagles was against Zambia in 1999. It was from there, I took my chances in the team”.

Speaking on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Austrian Bomber, as he’s called said “that world cup was the best moment of my life, playing against England in a packed stadium. I remember all of the players who came in to the team with me at that time; Femi Opabunmi, Eric Ejiofor, Justice Christopher. It is something I cannot forget”.

Benedict Akwegbu played 35 times for the Super Eagles, scoring 10 goals in total, between 1999-2005

Nine-time African champions Nigeria will fly to the United States of America for a two-match tour against the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) in the month of September.

Both teams, presently competing in their respective continental tournaments, will clash at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on 3^rd September and then have a go at each other’s jugular once more at the Audi Field in Washington, D. C. on 6^th September.  

The USWNT is the most successful team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having won half (4) of all eight championships competed for so far. The Stars & Stripes were champions of the very first edition in China in 1991, and then won on home soil in 1999, in Canada in 2015 and in France three years ago. The team has also won four Olympic women’s football gold medals and eight CONCACAF titles.

The Super Falcons, billed to face Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday evening, have won the African championship nine times, played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also played at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic women’s football tournament. They remain the most successful women’s team on the African continent.

The Children’s Mercy Park is home to Kansas City in the US National Women’s Soccer League and Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer, while Audi Field is utilized by National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United.

The match in Kansas City will see Vlatko Andonovski, appointed Coach of USWNT at the end of 2019, return to his home area for the second time. It is the sixth time that the USWNT will be playing at the Children’s Mercy Park but it is their first time at the Audi Field, though they have played 10 times previously in Washington – all at the RFK Stadium.

Andonovski says he’s excited to send out his girls against the Super Falcons: “First, I’m just excited to play two matches against Nigeria. They have some very talented players who will present a lot of different problems for us to solve on both sides of the ball. Secondly, of course we’re looking forward to bringing the team back to one of the best soccer stadiums in the United States in Kansas City, as well as getting to play our first game at Audi Field, which I’ve visited several times for NWSL games and is also a fantastic venue for our team to play in front of our home fans.”

The USWNT has already qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, becoming the 12^th team to reach the finals and the first team from the CONCACAF region.

Nigeria’s Falcons are also coached by an American, long-time college coach Randy Waldrum – who is aiming for a FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket and first African title with Nigeria in Morocco.  

Prolific striker Opeyemi Ajakaiye took her goals’ tally to six in the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualifying series when she scored the only goal as Nigeria edged hosts Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Friday afternoon.

In the final round, first leg duel staged at the Abebe Bekila Stadium, both sides had failed to make hay from a number of opportunities in the first half-hour, but the lithe forward struck in the 36^th minute after she was put through by diminutive midfielder Taiwo Afolabi.

The goal meant Ajakaiye had scored in each of the Flamingos’ five matches of the qualifying series so far, including a brace against the Democratic Republic of Congo in a 5-0 spanking in Benin City.

Omowunmi Bello, who scored three of the goals in Nigeria’s 6-0 aggregate thumping of Egypt in the earlier round, came close to increasing her own tally in the campaign, only to see her 35 –yard shot rock the upright in the 50^th minute.

Kumneger Kebede, Emush Daniel and Bethelem Germa all had chances to equalize for the homers in the second period but met with an unyielding Nigeria rearguard and an inspired goalkeeper Faith Omilana who had an excellent game.

Both teams will clash again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 4^th June with the winner on aggregate qualifying as one of Africa’s three representatives at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in India.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected 23 Flamingos for Saturday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup third round, second clash between Nigeria and Egypt at the Petrosports Stadium, Cairo.

Team captain Alvine Dah-Zossu, goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defenders Comfort Folorunsho, Miracle Usani and Blessing Sunday, midfielders Taiwo Afolabi and Blessing Emmanuel, and forwards Opeyemi Ajakaiye, Anastasia Atume and Omowunmi Bello have made the cut alongside 13 others.

Bello scored two of the goals that condemned the Egyptian girls to a 4-0 defeat in Abuja last week Sunday, after team’s top scorer Opeyemi Ajakaiye opened the account at the MKO Abiola National Stadium. Defender Miracle Usani netted the other goal.

The Flamingos contingent will depart Nigeria on Thursday, with the encounter set for the Petrosports Stadium as from 10pm on Saturday, 30^th April. The winner on aggregate will qualify for the final round of the African series, where it will await the winner of the Ethiopia/South Africa fixture. The Ethiopian girls trounced their South African counterparts 3-0 away in Johannesburg in the first leg.

This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will hold in India, 11^th – 30^th October.

FLAMINGOS FOR EGYPT:

Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana; Linda Jiwuaku

Defenders: Blessing Sunday; Comfort Folorunsho; Tumininu Adeshina; Olamide Oyinlola; Josephine Edafe; Miracle Usani; Confidence Nwoha; Mistura Yusuf.

Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel; Taiwo Afolabi; Chidera Okenwa; Joy Igbokwe

Forwards: Omowunmi Bello; Mercy Itimi; Alvine Dah-Zossu; Anastasia Atume; Opeyemi Ajakaiye; Yetunde Ayantosho; Judith Okah; Bisola Mosaku; Raheemot Adebayo 

Nigeria Pillar of sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike JP has called for a total overhaul of the Nigeria Football structure in the aftermath of the Super Eagles crash out from the Qatar 2022 world cup qualifier match. 

Chief Ejidike who mobilized over 2000 fans with tickets and souvenirs said Soccer loving Nigerians who trooped into the MKO Stadium Abuja filled to full capacity were disappointed and dissatisfied with the outcome of the game.

” Nigeria is a great Football loving nation and you could see that with the huge turn out and massive support by the fans, the result was indeed a big disappointment ” he said.

He charged the Ministry of youths and sports and the Nigeria Football Federation NFF to immediately commence the process of overhauling the entire Football structure by ensuring total reorganization from the local grassroots to the top echelons of the soccer system. 

The Pillar of sports begged Nigeria Football fans to accept the result in good fate even as he said that the present situation calls for sober reflection and a new rebuilding process. 

Chief Ejidike while condemning the fracas that erupted after the game said ” though Football is highly an emotional game but we must always accept results in the spirit of sportsmanship “.

The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated an investigative committee to unravel the circumstances leading to the vandalization of the Moshood Abiola Stadium and recommend measures to forestall recurrence.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare while inaugurating the committee led by DIG Sanni Mohammed (Retd) noted that while the failure of Nigeria to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup is not only regrettable but also left millions of football loving Nigerians unhappy and angry, making them to ask for changes, it is not enough to condone the acts of vandalism and destruction of public infrastructure like the Moshood Abiola Stadium, built with tax payers money and the benevolence of private individuals.

“The Federal Government will not sit by and allow individuals, no matter their ages to just wilfully damage and destroy Federal Government Infrastructure especially a public infrastructure like the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Therefore, this afternoon, I want to inaugurate this committee on the acts of vandalism and destruction of the Stadium. This committee will have two weeks to conclude its assignment and submit its report.

“It is an investigative committee and they will be given necessary access to the stadium, they will be provided with the CCTV footage, they will have access to every relevant person connected with the football match and also the Ministry, Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)and other relevant agencies,” the Minister added.

The terms of reference of the Committee include unraveling the remote and immediate causes of the incident; determine the extent of the destruction; investigate the security arrangement and the role of security generally; identify the culprits; identify victims where we have them; make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence, not just for the Moshood Abiola Stadium but all stadia across the country in terms of crowd control after the games, amongst others.

In his response, the Chairman of the Committee, DIG Mohammed(Retd)thanked the Minister for finding members of the committee worthy of the national assignment, promising they will discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour, and assist the nation to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.

Other members of the investigative committee are Dr Henry Nzekwu(vice chairman), Commodore Omatseye Nesiama(Retd), Alhaji Abba Yola, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, Mrs Tayo Oreweme, Mr Mitchell Obi, a representative of the Director General of the Department of State Security(DSS) and Mr Olumide Bamiduro, who will be the secretary.

The committee has two weeks to turn in their report.

Nigeria Pillar Of Sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has donated 2000 tickets for fans to watch Nigeria vs Ghana 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup playoffs scheduled for Tuesday March 29, 2022.

Ejidike who has remained a sports enthusiast and philanthropist said he decided to demonstrate the gesture as a way of encouraging Super Eagles to conquer Ghana and pick another World Cup ticket.

He then urged fans to come out in their large numbers to support the Nigeria’s senior men’s national team in the crucial game.

“At this crucial time, all Super Eagles desire is support from all of us till the last minute of their second leg encounter with the black stars of Ghana.

“I urge the football loving Nigerians to rally round them by coming out massively to watch the match at the stadium,” he said.

He also advised the Nigerian team to do everything possible to secure the crucial 2022 Qatar World Cup ticket and put smiles on the face

In a bid to get more fans and supporters for the Super Eagles in their FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Black Stars of Ghana, the Federal Government has declared Tuesday March 28, 2022 as half work day.

This was contained in a circular issued by the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare from Office of Head of Service of the federation, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe to all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

The statement reads:

‘As you are aware,the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be meeting the Black Stars of Ghana in continuation of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers play offs (return leg).

‘There is a need to mobilize support for the Nigerian team, consequently,I am directed to inform you that all offices will be closed by 1pm on Tuesday 29th March 2022.’

The Super Eagles will take on Ghana by 6pm in Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Recall both sides played a goaless draw in the first leg last Friday in Kumasi.