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Paris 2024: Juju-like drama, mere distraction, says Abiodun

Published

8 months ago

February 27, 2024

Super Falcons midfield maestro, Deborah Abiodun says the juju-like drama that unfolded in their match against Cameroon was a mere distraction by their opponents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that nine-time African champions, Super Falcons, pipped Cameroon’s Lionesses 1-0 in a crucial second-leg women’s Olympic football qualifier after a pulsating encounter in Abuja.

However, a little drama unfolded at the start of the second half inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

This was after a Cameroonian player attempted to plant a juju-like material at the Super Falcons’ goalpost.

It was a move probably targeted at Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had kept the Cameroonians at bay in Douala and Abuja.

The attempt was, however, checkmated, and possibly the efficacy of the charm was diluted as Nnadozie prevented the Lionesses from breaching her goal.

Abiodun told newsmen during a post-match conference that the visitors’ move was a tactic deployed to distract the Falcons.

She, however, said that it failed to yield any positive results for the Cameroonians as the Falcons were fully focused.

“We kind of saw it as a point of distraction in the game and were able to keep our focus high, regardless of whatever they believe in.

“We believe in God, and in God, we stand and put our trust. With God, all things are possible.

“So, we don’t care about the voodoo,” she said.

She said that it was a great privilege for her and her colleagues to be part of the team.

The Pittsburg Panthers midfielder was in full flow in the middle of the park.

Crisp with her movements, hard to shake off the ball, and always looking for forward passes.

Her dominance waned after Christy Ucheibe was drafted back to the defence following an injury to centre-back Oluwatosin Demehin. (NAN).

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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Shehu Dikko Visits Finance Minister, Discusses Building Nigerian Sports Economy

Published

3 days ago

October 29, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

By Kola Daniel

The newly appointed chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, paid a courtesy visit on Monday to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

During the meeting, Dikko and Edun discussed a range of initiatives focused on developing a sustainable sports economy in Nigeria, aligning with the strategic reform objectives of the NSC as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Dikko emphasized the importance of sports as a viable economic driver and explored how to better harness Nigeria’s vast potential in the sector.

“We aim to transform Nigerian sports into a sustainable economic force,” he stated, adding that initiatives are in place to bring Nigerian sports up to international standards and attract greater investment.

The discussions are part of Dikko’s ongoing efforts to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s sports economy, leveraging partnerships with key government agencies and stakeholders.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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NIS/LSFA TRAINING COURSE: Falcons Captain, Ajibade Sponsors 11 Coaches For 3rd Batch Of Training

Published

4 days ago

October 28, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, through her foundation, Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation(RAF), is sponsoring 11 Lagos State Coaches For the 3rd batch of the NIS/LSFA Coaching Certification Course.

While she has paid for the training of the coaches, the Athletico Madrid of Spain star forward also pledged to continue to give back to society.

She enjoined the Lagos FA, to always provide adequate information concerning its future programmes, to enable her foundation to be part of it.

Responding to the philanthropic gesture of Ajibade, the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar Liameed, expressed his gratitude to the former Robo star, for extending her love and support to the coaches, and allowing the lucky coaches to further improve their knowledge of the game and also get the necessary certification to operate as licensed coaches.

Gafar went ahead to rally well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to key into the several programmes and activities of the LSFA, as it continues to rejig and develop football in the state.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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DISGRACE! CAF Humiliates Libya With $50,000 Fines, Awards Victory To Nigeria After AFCON Qualifying Disaster

Published

5 days ago

October 26, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

The Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football has awarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria three points and three goals in their abandoned matchday 4, 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, which was scheduled to be held in Benina on 15 October.

In its ruling on Saturday, signed by chairman Ousmane Kane, the Disciplinary Board determined that the Libyan Football Federation was in breach of Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

“The Libyan Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

“The match No. 87, Libya v Nigeria, of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi), is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (with a record of 3-0),” the ruling read in part.

The LFF was also ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000, with payment due within 60 days of notification of the present decision.

The outcome of the Disciplinary Committee means that Nigeria is close to qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare.

As a result, the Super Eagles are now on 10 points from four matches, four points ahead of second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda has five points. Bottom-placed Libya has only one point and is out of the running for qualification.

A win or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday, 14 November (a matchday 5 encounter) will secure the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, scheduled for December 2025/January 2026.

The Nigerian team had boycotted the match citing safety concerns, after being left stranded at the remote Al-Abraq airport on the outskirts of Benghazi for over 22 hours.

The LFF, in response, accused the Nigeria Football Federation of not cooperating with it regarding the travel itinerary.

It also alleged that the Libyan national team had suffered the same fate in Nigeria during the reverse fixture a week earlier, claiming the team was left stranded at the Port Harcourt Airport by Nigerian authorities.