By: Abdulquadir Adedapo

Golden Eaglet vice-captain Yahaya Lawal has been rewarded for his brilliant performance at the just concluded WAFU U-17 Zone B tournament in Ghana after he was named in the team of the tournament by the organizers.

The skillful right back was one of the shining lights for the coach Nduka Ugbade as Nigeria once again proved to be a dominant force in the sub-region having captured both the U-20 and U-17 titles.

The Mahanaim FC right-back featured in all four games for the Golden Eaglets and contributed 3 assists to help Nigeria win the trophy and also reach the AFCON U-17 proper next year in Algeria.

Popularly called Lawali by the commentators in Ghana, the rise of the non-league player comes as no surprise to many who have watched him grow with ace journalist Tobi Adepoju describing the player as one for the future.

Lawali was one of 5 Nigerian players with goalkeeper Richard Odoh, free kicks specialist Michel Emmanuel, defender Jeremiah Olaleke and finalist hero Abubakar Abdullahi also named on the list.

Two goals by deadball expert Emmanuel Michael and a glancing header by Abubakar Idris Abdullahi condemned the U17 boys of Cote d’Ivoire to a 1-3 defeat in the first semi final of the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Yet, the Eaglets uncharacteristically conceded first when Yan Diomande scored from the penalty spot in the very first minute after a foul in the Nigerian box.

The Nigerian boys launched onslaught after onslaught and were rewarded on the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Michael, who scored a spectacular goal from a 22-yard free-kick in the opening match against hosts Ghana, found the range off another free-kick from the right wing.

Thirteen minutes later, Nigeria were ahead for the first time in the encounter when Michael, again from a free kick at the edge of the box, blindsided goalkeeper Mohamed Cisse with an intelligent attempt that swept past the static wall.

The Ivorians came into the second half determined to browbeat the Eaglets with their size and stoutness, but they were pegged further back on the hour mark when Abubakar Idris Abdullahi found the net with a glancing header.

Four minutes later, the Ivorians were down to 10 men after Makhete Moustapha N’diaye was shown the red card.

Another free-kick by Emmanuel Michael in the 77^th minute missed target narrowly, and Precious Tonye Williams came very close with four minutes left after a brilliant team move set him up with a clear chance.

In Friday’s final, the Eaglets will take on the winner of the second semi final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso. However, victory over the Ivorians means they will be one of the eight participating teams at next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria.

Defender and deadball prodigy Emmanuel Michael was presented with the Man-of-the-Match award, for the third consecutive match.     

Photo Credit: Black @ 442 Back Image

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.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has praised the Super Eagles after they held Black Stars of Ghana to a goalless draw, in their 2022 World Cup qualifying playoff first leg in Kumasi.

The Eagles battled their host to a stalemate in front of a over 50,000 home fans inside the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday.

Reacting to the result, Kalu urged the Eagles to make sure the clinch the World Cup ticket in the second leg.

“It was not a bad performance from our boys yesterday. Well done, Super Eagles! Our focus should be the next game here in Abuja. It is a must win for us to be in Qatar. I wish the team all the best,” he wrote on facebook.

The second leg comes up inside the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday.

Nigeria and Ghana neutralized each other in a high-tempo, no-catching-your-breath, heart-thumping World Cup playoff, first leg encounter inside a tumultuous Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday.

There was a lot of running and cheer-drawing nutmegs, but goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Joseph Wollacott shared only few saves between them in the opening leg of a 180-minute decider for a ticket to the 22^nd FIFA World Cup finals.

The iconic Baba Yara Stadium, packed to the rafters, erupted each time the white-clad Black Stars went on the onslaught, but lack of productivity ensured the high-decibel support diminished steadily as time climbed on the scoreboard.

The impressive Mohammed Kudus, Abdul Fatawu, Baba Idrissu and stand-in captain Thomas Partey showed desperation to put Ghana ahead early in the game, but met stiff resistance from Leon Balogun, William Ekong and Zaidu Sanusi.

In the 6^th minute, Kelechi Iheanacho very nearly caught an adventurous Wollacott off his line from a 25-yard free kick, before Balogun manfully thwarted an advancing Fatawu as he bore down on goal in the 15^th minute.

The Black Stars were luminous in the first quarter hour in Ghana’s second city, but once Sanusi cleverly stepped past two persons and his pull-out was only a bit too high for Osimhen, it became a somewhat level-playing field.

In the 33^rd minute, Uzoho underscored his agility when Fatawu, at the end of a counter, unleashed a scorcing shot. Four minutes later, Osimhen failed to get enough purchase on his shot. Nigeria’s best chance of the half came in the 41^st minute, when the ball fell nicely to Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, but he lifted the ball a bit too high. Just before the break, Ekong had to come to the rescue as Kudus set up Alex Djiku.

In the second half, Wollacott had to be alert to save from Simon who got himself into a good shooting position, and at the other end in the 66^th, Suleman Abdulmumin flighted the ball too high. Uzoho parried from Kudus and Ghana came close from a corner kick but in the 76^th minute, Nigeria thought they had won a penalty after substitute Oghenekaro Etebo’s pass was scooped by Gideon Mensah. But after a VAR cheque, Moroccan referee Rédouane Jiyed annulled his own decision.

Both teams clash in the final 90 minutes of the fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, starting from 6pm on Tuesday. The Nigerian delegation to the match in Kumasi returned to Abuja on Saturday morning

Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen has called up Captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, midfielder Wifred Ndidi and forwards Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho in a Super Eagles’ provisional list of 32 for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Also called up are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze.

Leicester City FC of England forward Ademola Lookman, recently cleared by FIFA to switch international allegiance and former U17 World Cup star Akinkunmi Amoo are officially called for the first time, while defender Calvin Bassey and forward Emmanuel Dennis return to the fold of the three –time African champions.

2021 AFCON forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Peter Olayinka, defender Chidozie Awaziem and long-time absentee Ogenyi Onazi are in a seven-man standby list.

The camp opens in Abuja on 21^st March, with a 24 –man final list for the two big games to be released at a later date.

Nigeria take on Ghana in the 20,000 –capacity Cape Coast Sports Stadium as from 7.30pm on Friday 25^th March, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 29^th March as from 6pm. The winner over two legs will earn one of Africa’s five tickets to the 22^nd FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled for 14^th November – 18^th December this year in Qatar.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)

Standby: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Ogenyi Onazi (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia)

Head Coach Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo has invited 30 players to the camp of the Black Queens in preparation for the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament taking place in the City of Lagos, Nigeria 13th – 21st September 2021.

Ghana play in Group B of the tournament against Cameroon and South Africa. In the roster, there are 22 home–based professionals and eight foreign-based players, including team captain Elizabeth Addo and Grace Asentawaa of Spanish club, Real Betis.

THE FULL SQUAD
Fafali Dumehasi (Police Ladies), Kerrie McCarthy (Kumasi Sports Academy), Mary Neequaye (Immigration Ladies), Abigail Tawiah Mensah (Berry Ladies), Victoria Antwi-Agyei (Kumasi Sports Academy), Gladys Amfobea (Lady Strikers), Beatrice Sesu (Police Ladies), Jaqueline Asamoah (Kumasi Sport Academy), Ellen Coleman (Lady Strikers), Janet Egyir (Hasaacas Ladies)
Linda Eshun (Hasaacas Ladies), Janet Adu Agyemang (Fabulous Ladies), Philicity Asuako (Police Ladies), Nina Norshie (Berry Ladies) Justice Tweneboa (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Mary Essiful (Soccer Intellectuals), Grace Adams (Berry Ladies), Henrietta Annie (Police Ladies), Monica Addai  (Berry Ladies), Rashida Ibrahim (Berry Ladies), Elizabeth Owusua (Sea Lions), Milot Pokua  (Hasaacas Ladies), Sophia Agyarkwa (Soccer Intellectuals), Vivian Adjei Konadu (Thunder Queens), Sonia Opoku (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Veronica Appiah (Hasaacas Ladies), Naomi Animah (Kumasi Sports Academy)

Foreign-Based: Jennifer Cudjoe (Gotham FC), Grace Asentewaa (Real Betis Feminas), Wasila Diwura Soale (LSU), Elizabeth Addo (Djurgaden IF), Portia Boakye (Djurgaden IF), Eunice Beckman Nketiah (FC Cologne), Alice Kusi (ZFK Spartak), Priscilla Adubea (Racing Santander)

Cameroon humbled Nigeria in front of home fans in straight sets 3-0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-21) at the indoor sport hall of the MKO Abiola Stadium at the ongoing 2021 U18 Girls African Nations Volleyball Championship in Abuja on Friday.

Nigeria fought hard in the first set of the game but could not overcome the hungry Cameroonians losing narrowly by 26-28.

In the second set, Nigeria started on the front foot by 19-14 points with sponteanous attacks but the Central Africans fought back to upset their hosts to claim 25-21 points at the end of the stage.

Cameroon continued their fine form and made it tough for the West Africans with a 16-8 lead. Now the Nigerians looked rattled as they struggled to cope against their visitors, who eventually snatched a 25-21 third set win.

Head Coach of Cameroon U18 Girls Volleyball team, Emile Tongtong said his team were more technically sound that the Nigerian girls.

While lauding his girls, Tongtong said he wanted to avenge the boys who lost to Nigeria boys the previous day.

“Nigeria is a good and young side but my team is more technically sound. My players have been playing together for a long time and we know how to overcome pressure,” he said.

“I told my girls that we have to beat Nigeria in order to avenge our boys team and I am happy the girls made me proud”.

Meanwhile, Gambia overpowered Morocco 3-2 (25-15, 25-27, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) in the U19 Boys 2021 African Nations Volleyball Championship in Abuja.

Day 3 Fixtures:

Cameroon v Morocco (3pm) U19 Boys

Gambia v Nigeria (5pm) U19 Boys

Cameroon v Ghana (7pm) U18 Girls

Leader of delegation for
Kotoko and Exco member Nana Oduro Sarfo says the Confederation of African football has not taken any decision yet on Al Hilal and Kotoko 2nd leg encounter.

Nana Oduro Sarfo further explained to us that, Al Hilal official earlier told us that we can’t play the match even before they received officially.

“When we received the report,we realized that the seal of the report has been tempered already “.

“So that made us to disbelief the authenticity of the Covid-19 report”.

“The management of Kotoko is working tirelessly to salvage the situation”.

“We have made official complaint to the Ghana Football Association to forward it to Caf”.

“And we are going to have another Covid-19 test this morning”.

“The players are psychologically motivated despite the situation, and they are ready to play the game at anytime”.

“The supporters should praise the management for how they have handled the situation instead of insults.