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Gusau, Elegbeleye to attend Special workshop on football and education integration

Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), will be delivering a presentation at an event that seeks to strengthen the integration of football and education in the country.

Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is also billed to attend the event as the special guest of honour.

In attendance also will be the Ambassador of Hungary to Nigeria, His Excellency, László Szabó.

Organised by Hungary-based V Agency, the event will hold in Abuja on Monday, February 11 at Abuja Continental Hotel, Wazobia Hall.

In the invitation letter to Elegbeleye, the Chief Executive Officer of V Agency, Alexandra Végh, noted that “the purpose of this event is to strengthen the integration of football and education in Nigeria,with a particular focus on scouting advancements.

“We aim to highlight the transformative role of technology in scouting, including the use of advanced scouting software, video editing techniques, AI, and analytics courses”, Végh added.

The event, she went on, will explore how these tools, alongside the assessment of players’ physical attributes, can redefine professional scouting.

The event will also showcase V Agency’s contributions to fostering sports and educational partnerships in Nigeria while creating opportunities for collaboration with key stakeholders, including football clubs, academies, schools, and industry professionals.

Some of such stakeholders include officials and clubs of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nationwide League One (NLO), football academies, and educational institutions.

During the event, Végh will offer insights into V Agency’s project in Nigeria. The event will provide opportunities for network with key figures in the football and education sectors.

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RC Lens midfielder Basit Ojediran eager to represent Super Eagles

RC Lens midfielder Basit Hamzat Ojediran has expressed his strong desire to play for the Super Eagles in the near future.

The 21-year-old, who has been a regular feature for the French Ligue 1 side since joining from Albanian club Debrecine VSC last summer, has made 11 league appearances, scoring once and providing an assist.

Ojediran, who previously represented Nigeria at the U-17 level, shared his excitement about the possibility of playing for the senior national team. “My dream has always been to play for the Super Eagles,” he told Completesports.com. “I have played for Nigeria at the U-17 level and I can’t wait to have the opportunity at the highest level of the national team, that’s the Super Eagles.”

Ojediran was part of the Golden Eaglets team that reached the Round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil. Interestingly, new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who played for RC Lens from 2008 to 2011, could provide a familiar connection as Ojediran aims for his senior debut.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold to miss Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham, says Slot

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has seen his future become a hot topic over the last few months with the 26-year-old’s contract running out at the end of the season.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Thursday.

Alexander-Arnold requested to be substituted due to a leg strain during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, which kept them atop the Premier League.

Slot revealed that the defender would not be available for the Spurs encounter but was hopeful about his recovery. “He is going to miss tomorrow, and we have to see if he can play on Sunday, but he is not available tomorrow,” Slot said.

He added, “I think you saw he left the pitch with a bit of pain in his leg, so that is why he misses tomorrow. He is already on the pitch with the rehab coach, so let’s see how long it takes.”

Liverpool are currently trailing Tottenham 1-0 in the semi-final tie and will need to overcome that deficit in the second leg.

Despite Alexander-Arnold’s absence, the Reds remain in contention across multiple competitions, sitting six points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League, having qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, and preparing for a fourth-round FA Cup clash against Plymouth Argyle.

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Folashade Ijamilusi joins Liaoning Baiye FC in Chinese Women’s Super League

Super Falcons forward Folashade Ijamilusi has signed a two-year contract with Liaoning Baiye FC in the Chinese Women’s Super League.

Ijamilusi joined the Shenyang City-based club from Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) champions, Edo Queens, where she was a standout performer.

The powerful striker played a key role in Edo Queens’ NWFL title win last season, finishing as the league’s top scorer with eight goals. She also contributed significantly to the club’s successful WAFU-B campaign.

Ijamilusi’s impressive form caught the attention of both domestic and international football fans, especially after she scored a hat-trick for the Super Falcons in a friendly against Algeria’s Green Ladies last year.