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Gateway United halt Bendel Insurance unbeaten run in NNL
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Gateway United put an end to Bendel Insurance FC of Benin unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory in a Nigeria National League matchday five fixture.
On a sunny afternoon at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Oronsaye James pushed first for the Toyin Ayinla led side when he sent a diagonal pass to Ogunleye Sulaimon who crossed the ball but Insurance goalkeeper, Oladipo Kolawole was equal to the task.
Haruna Salifu chested down for Oronsaye James at the edge of the box but the diminutive midfielder could only hit his target wide.
Insurance’s Adodo Stephen gathered a loose ball from the midfield, drove into Gateway Utd’s box, cut to his right foot and fired wide as the game reached its peak heading into the half hour mark.
Five minutes later, Haruna Salifu’s flick header off a corner found Sunkanmi Odusina but his acrobatic move came a bit late to find us the opener.
The first half proceedings would however end goalless in a dominant display from Gateway United. The home side did up the ante in the second half.
Oronsaye James met a corner kick from the right with his outside boot which crawled beyond Oladipo Kolawole, a goal on the hour that depicted the brilliant display of the team all afternoon.
Bendel Insurance tried replying with a chance of their own when Gateway Utd goalkeeper, Ibukun Araromi dived to his left to save a low effort from Daukumo.
Gateway United pushed forward to increase the lead as Haruna Salifu snatched the ball in the midfield, beat his marker but couldn’t wade off a challenge from Odinaba Edeh.
No further goals were recorded as Gateway United continued their impressive run at home with a 1-0 win.
The Toyin Ayinla side now top the group B1 of the southern conference with 9 points.
Ekiti United Coach, Toyin Ayinla said the lads had not option than to return to winning ways stressing that it was not a perfect game.
“We had no other option than to return to winning ways. The boys were beaming with confidence. Their attitude was perfect and they stuck to the game plan. We will continue to wax stronger no doubt. There’s hardly a perfect game, thus, we will go back to the training pitch to get much better”
“We wouldn’t want this to get into our head. So we will shift our focus to our next game which is another home game against Osun United. All I can say now is that the absolute best is yet to come”
Gateway United will face Osun United next in a home encounter in matchday 6 fixture of the NNL 2021/2022 season.
NFF expresses shock over ex Eagles midfielder, Justice Christopher’s death
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF have expressed sadness over the death of former Super Eagles midfielder, Justice Christopher who died on Wednesday morning.
The Nigeria Football was again in mourning early Wednesday as news filtered in that former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Justice Christopher, had slumped and died in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Christopher represented Nigeria at youth and senior levels, playing for the Super Eagles between 2001 and 2002, during which he amassed a total of 11 caps. He was in Nigeria’s squad to the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan, featuring in the 0-0 draw with England at the Osaka Nagai Stadium.
“This is devastating. Justice Christopher was young and full of life. His death is a thing of deep sorrow here at the NFF and the entire Nigeria Football ambience. There was no report that he was ill. We are stunned to hear of his death.
“We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and comfort the family that he has left behind.”
Justice Christopher featured for Katsina United, Sharks FC and Insurance FC on the domestic front before travelling abroad, where he played for Antwerp FC (Belgium), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), Trelleborgs FF (Sweden); Alania Vladikavkaz (Russia) and Herfølge BK (Denmark). In October 2012, he joined Nasarawa United FC of Lafia.
Late Justice Christopher
FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifier: Falconets arrive Dakar to battle Senegal
Nigeria’s U-20 girls, Falconets, arrived in the Senegalese capital, Dakar on Wednesday ahead of their 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final round, first leg clash with their Senegalese counterparts.
The two –time World Cup runners-up have amassed a total of 18 goals in five matches in this long qualifying series, jettisoning Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Cameroon on the way. Against the Central African Republic, the Falconets hit seven goals away and four at home, before lashing the Congolese girls 4-0 in Brazzaville, leading to the Congolese Football Federation opting not to fly their girls to Nigeria for the return leg.
Cameroon’s U20 girls showed muscle and strength in their first encounter with the Nigerian girls in Douala to end it 0-0, but fell by three goals at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja to crash out of the race.
The Senegalese girls reached this final qualifying round after edging the Mali U20 girls 5-3 on penalty shoot-out, with both teams tied 1-1 at the end of the two-legged fourth round fixture.
Head Coach Chris Danjuma settled for his usual suspects in the 23-girl list, including goalkeeper Monle Oyono, captain Oluwatosin Demehin, defenders Oshobukola Omowumi, Oluchi Ohaegbulem and Jumoke Alani, midfielders Esther Onyenezide and Adoo Yina, and forwards Mercy Idoko, Joy Jerry and Blessing Okpe.
Saturday’s clash at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thies (outside Dakar) will kick off at 4.30pm Senegal time (5.30pm Nigeria time).
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Togolese official Vincentia Amedome as referee for the match. She will be assisted by compatriot Abra Agbedanou (assistant referee 1), and Mauritanians Mariem Chedad (assistant referee 2) and Aissata Amadou Lam (fourth official).
Sabine Marie Isabelle Zoungrana from Burkina Faso will serve as the match commissioner.
Falconets team
S P R T Eguavoen confirms Ahmed Musa’s retirement date from Super Eagles
By Amaechi Agbo
Super Eagles Coach, Augustine Eguavoen have confirmed that skipper of the team, Ahmed Musa Will retire form the international football after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, www. bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.
The quadrennial global football showpiece will hold in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December, 2022.
Nigeria reached the final qualifying play-off stage where they will face perennial rivals Ghana in a two-leg battle to determine who picks one of the five slots for Africa continent. Eguavoen, interim coach of the Eagles, penciled the 29-year-old Fatih Karagümrük winger for the clashes Ghana later this month.
Defending his decision for inviting the former Leicester City winger to the team, Eguavoen explained that Musa’s recent invitation to the Super Eagles is a tradition established for a long time. Eguavoen who also doubled as the Nigeria Football Federation technical director said that Musa is being honored with a slot in the squad like other Captains before him.
“We are from a country that doesn’t forget tradition, we don’t forget history. These are things we did for late Keshi, 1994 he wasn’t playing but he was our leader. These are things we did for people like Peter Rufai, Joseph Yobo.
“He has agreed that after the World Cup he’s going to retire. We will still accord him that respect and honour because he’s got a major role to play in the team,” Eguavoen was quoted.
“Ahmed Musa has got some leadership qualities whether we like or not as well but he can always give us some good 4560 minutes when it becomes really necessary, that is why we try to see how we can help him honorably leave the scene hopefully after the World Cup,” Eguavoen said. The Fatih Karagümrük winger is Nigeria’s most capped male payer at 103 games for the Super Eagles.
Ahead Musa made is international debut for the Super Eagles on 5 August 2010, at the age of 17 during a qualification match for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against Madagascar, where he came on as a substitute for Mikel John Obi in a 2–0 win.
Musa scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in a March 2011 friendly against Kenya.
He became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring twice against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
He was a member of the Al Nassr squad that won the Saudi Premier League and Saudi Super Cup, both in 2019.
Ahmed Musa celebrates after scoring against Iceland in 2018 Russia World Cup
William Troost-Ekong fit for Nigeria-Ghana World Cup play-off battles
By Amaechi Agbo
Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong have been declared fit to play against Ghana in the 2022 World Cup play-off matches slated for this month.
Media Officer of the team, Babafemi Raji who confirmed the development on Wednesday said Ekong is good shape feature for the team.
Nigeria will battle Ghana in two-leg 2022 World Cup playoff away on 25th Match and host the return leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on the 29th.
Mr Raji confirmed that the vice captain is hale and hearty to face Gahan in the double header.
“Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong now fit and cleared by Watford medical team after a mild injury.
“Resumed full training today. Now in good shape for the World Cup play-offs against Ghana this month,” he said.
It could be recalled that Watford manager, Roy Hodgson declared last week that Ekong sustained muscle injury and will be out for a period of four weeks.
Watford manager, Roy Hodgson who disclosed this while speaking to the press said the Super Eagles stalwart as well as the Senegalese forward Ismailia Sarr, could be out for “the foreseeable future”.
“It’s a muscle strain, the same with Troost-Ekong”, Hodgson said ahead of their Sundays Premier League clash against Arsenal “It’s going to keep them both out of the equation for the foreseeable future, but I don’t know how long exactly.
“It’s not a minor thing, it’s not a knock, both have muscle strains, and that can take anything from a week to four weeks to recover from.” the 74-year-old former England manager said.
Troost-Ekong had a solid partnership with Kenneth Omeruo during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon.
Since he made his debut for the Super Eagles on 13 June 2015, playing 90 minutes in an AFCON qualifying match against Chad, Troost-Ekong have become and integral part of the Super Eagles defensive lineup with 53 caps to his credit thus far.
The former Udinese defence marshall was immense for the Super Eagles at the AFCON earlier in the year, rarely putting a foot wrong when paired with Kenneth Omeruo in the heart of the defence.
With Eguavoen selecting five players to form a standby list, the coach can pick either Chidozie Awaziem or Jamilu Collins.
Nigeria will play Ghana in 2022 Qatar World Cup play-off matches away on 25th while the reverse fixture holds 4 days later at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
The aggregate winner of the two matches will pick one of the available 5 slots for the continent for the quadrennial global football showpiece in Qatar in November
