Nigeria Sports Arena

Golden Eaglets' training session was taking to a new level on Wednesday with intensive ball work by the players while the goalkeepers underwent agility test. Emmanuel Amuneke, Head Coach, said it was important for the players to be put through new routine since there size is now manageable:"It is about time we start reminding ourselves of what we used to do and I want the new ones to pay special attention to what we are doing. The Under-17 national team is not a bunch of friends set up and anybody that is picked should be able to defend us very well; so serious work starts." Unlike the last three weeks when they mere played to impress the coaching crew, the youngsters were able to show how strong they are on the ball in confined space. According to Kabiru Baleria, Golden Eaglets' Assistant Coach who was a gifted striker in his playing days, the rationale behind the new session was to see how the players can effectively dominate the ball when under intense pressu

Emmanuel Amuneke, Golden Eaglets' Head Coach, has fore closed likelihood of screening fresh players with hordes still drooping to the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Pitch in Abuja. Though the 'screening window' to beef up Niger 2015-bound Golden Eaglets was concluded over a week ago with about 100 players picked from a rigorous exercise, the coaching crew magnanimously allowed few more recruits  since they had travelled far and wide to Abuja. "We don't have time on our hand again and we have been kind enough to see what some of you can offer but today is the final day," said Amuneke after Tuesday's evening session."Our philosophy is simple which is hard work  and we are not going to compromise it. "I want you to go back to your various academies  and continue to work harder because there could be another opportunity if we qualify for the World Cup in Chile by the grace of God," said the former Nigerian international. Already about 20 players wit

By -Kelani Babatunde Former ABS FC, Golden Eaglets midfielder maestro Stone Evboumawan is set for a five days assessment with Egyptian football giant Arab Contractors Sporting Club, widely known as El Mokawloon  come January 2015. According to the player's representative in Egypt who spoke to Abbeyliveradio UK via telephone conversation,Buade Oluwasegun Joel who is the CEO of Pexsports international football management,said the five days assessment period is a traditional period which Egyptian club sides gives to players that are about to sign for any club in Egypt. He also said that the period is to ascertain the player's fitness level,medical examinations and to get the player familiarise himself with his team mates before signing his deal with his new club. Stone who featured for  Federation Cup Finalist Dolphins of Porthacourt in the just concluded 2013/2014 GLO Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season was about to pen a deal with Swedish club side IFK Varnamo

With the 2014 FA U15 Kiddies Amateur league going on festive break this weekend, Two points seperate the top 6 sides in a very competitive league after 7 weeks of action in various football fields across Lagos.  With a total 13 Points and a league best record of 4 wins 2 losses and a solitary draw, Leo Football Academy gained top spot on the FAKA league table thanks to a 4-1 win away from home at Bora Football Academy Egbeda in the last round of matches, as week 6 leaders Real FC slipped 2-0 on the road to Shobande at the Lagos Island Sura lafiaji field to fall 1 point short off the table toppers.  Sharp Striker Fc Ikotun Egbe capitalised on Real FC's slip up with a narrow 1-0 victory of over struggling Star Light Academy Oshodi to move level on points with Real FC (12 points), but with an inferior goals scored tally after tying on goals aggregate with +2. Lake side  Football Academy Gbagada completes the top 4 with 11 points and a +9 goals aggregate, with 5 of the goals coming

Emmanuel Amuneke, Golden Eaglets' Head coach, got a surprise '44 balloon salute' to mark his 44th anniversary on Thursday after the team's early morning session at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja. "This is a coup because all I wanted  today was to train  in continuation of our preparation towards Niger 2015," a shell-shocked Amuneke said after NFF's Assistant Director(Technical), Coach Siji Lagunju led the players in a fine rendition of the famous birthday song:' he's a good jolly fellow.' "I'm really humbled by your show of love to me on this special day." With the morning activities rounded off, Team Amuneke mostly made up of Golden Eaglets officials beat Golden Eaglets' possible 4-1 in a novelty match full of fun and drama. Tayo Egbaiyelo (MON), 2013 World Cup-winning secretary, got the curtain raiser for Team Amuneke when he converted from the spot kick barely 10 minutes into the 40-minute encounter. Three minut

  The change of plan by the Federation Malienne de Football concerning the Les Aiglons’ final camping ahead of the 30th Africa Cup of finals in Equatorial Guinea has slightly altered the programme of the Super Eagles’ B for their January tour of United Arab Emirates.   With this change, the Eagles B, bronze medallists at the 3rd African Nations Championship held in South Africa early this year, will now play Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan instead.   The game against the Elephants, 1992 African champions and Super Eagles’ quarter final victims at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations also held in South Africa, comes up on January 11, while the clash with the Falcons of Sudan will come up on January 17.   In view of these changes, the players invited to camp at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja are now expected to arrive on Tuesday, 30th December, and not 28th December as earlier planned.   Meanwhile, former Swiss junior international, Steven Effiong Archibong Ukoh, whose application to rep

Alfasaria Force FC has emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Nigerian National President's Cup, Lagos state chapter. The compact Alfasaria side edged their opponent Goshen FC 1-0 in a competitive final game. First half ended goalless but the Lagos champions broke the deadlock in the early minutes of the second half and kept the lead to the final whistle of the game. The President Cup Championship is organised by Youth Empowerment For Peace Foundation (YEP), a non-governmemtal foundation keen in developing the grassroot players and coaches, create jobs and develop sports infrastructure nation-wide. The championship will be held across the 36 states from their local government, while finalist from each zones will represent at the National level of the tournament. Both teams from Lagos will proceed to represent the state in the Zonal competitions stage for early next year (2015). Director, Strategy and Branding of the grassroot competition, Edache Ochola was excited wit

The final of the Nigerian National President Cup Championship, Lagos chapter will be held today (Tuesday) inside the Hockey pitch of the National stadium, surulere from 2pm local time. Alfasaria Force FC will battle Goshen FC in the final game of the first edition of the tournament, also Stowel Academy will face Lucky Babes in the 3rd place fixture. The President Cup Championship is organised by Youth Empowerment For Peace Foundation (YEP), a non-governmemtal foundation keen in developing the grassroot players and coaches, create jobs and develop sports infrastructure nation-wide. The championship will be held across the 36 states from their local government, while the two finalist from each state will represent their state at the National level of the tournament. The organiser have also revealed selected players and coaches from the championship will embark on a training tour in United Arab Emirate (UAE) and European tours. "We are excited to reach this level of the tournam

This weekend saw two key players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Warri Wolves leaving the bachelor's hood to start a family. Gbolahun Salami played a pivotal role in Wolves third place finish in the just concluded NPFL season which eventually qualified them for CAF Confederation Cup next season, he scored plenty of goals for the Seasiders, found his way into the senior national team of Nigeria and recently,  he bagged the award for  the best national team playerf of the year at the 2014 League Bloggers Award in Lagos last week Monday. Salami on Sunday became a man when he said his byes to bachelor's hood and joined in matrimony with his heartthrob Lolade in Lagos in a colourful wedding event that took place at the Glover memorial hall, Tinubu, Lagos Island. It was indeed a memorable day for the latest couple in town as football stars from Nigeria and abroad graced the occasion with their presence,  the likes of Micheal Babatunde and Nurudeen Orelesi w

Emmanuel Amuneke, Golden Eaglets' Head coach, has described Sunday's draw of the 11th African U-17 Championship-Niger 2015- that pitched Nigeria against Niger, Guinea and Zambia in Group A as a fair deal, adding that his wards would be focussed  at securing a  ticket to the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Chile. "I think it is a fair grouping not minding the fact that we are going to face the host country, Niger," Amuneke stated. "We are not going to underrate any of the teams and as I said before the draw, our sole objective in Niger is to qualify for the World Cup and after that, we can begin to talk about other things." Indeed, Golden Eaglets have their work cut out since they are going to battle against the host whom their illustrious predecessors, white-washed 10-1 on aggregate in the qualifiers for Morocco 2013 where they finished second and secured a ticket to the FIFA World Cup in the UAE - and eventually earned Nigeria a record fourth title. "We are

Kogi United Football Club have announced Friday, January 2, 2015 for screening of players in readiness for the new Nigeria National League, NNL, season. In a statement signed by the Team Manager of Confluence State club, Henry Ameh, the screening will last five days to discover players that would join the retained players from last campaign. “We have decided to draw back our resumption date to allow for the screening players we need to beef up the team, this will be done within the shortest period available because we want to get the best preparation for the February 7th date for the league,” said Ameh It added that the old players will join the club on Wednesday, January 7, 2015. Kogi United gathered 42 points in the last concluded NNL season.

Nigeria international forward Ikechukwu Uche has signed a two-years contract extension with Spanish side Villarreal which will keep him at the El Madrigal stadium till 2017. The Super Eagles hitman's  deal at Villarreal will expire at the of this current season but the 30-year-old striker quickly took the bull by the horn by committing his future to the Yellow Submarine with the two years contract extension. The Aba born goal poacher was ecstatic with the contract extension, he tweeted on his official twitter handle @ikeuche9 ''Proud to defend this jersey, I feel very happy for my renewal with VillarrealCF until 2017! I will do my best to help the team". Uche goals scoring form has been massive for Villarreal, he has scored 32  goals for his La liga side in his 69 appearances,  his goal scoring ability helped his team to gain promotion back to the Primera division in 2013.

Chief Operating Officer, C.O.O. of the League Bloggers Awards, George Akpayen has commended the media for their efforts at making Monday night’s event a huge success. The 3rd edition of the League Bloggers Awards held on Monday night at the prestigious Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Ikeja and Akpayen says they cannot thank the media enough for their efforts. “We just want to say a big thank you to our friends in the media, both traditional and new media for what they did as regards publicity for the event. “Newspapers, magazines, radio and television shows as well as the social media and internet gave us pre event coverage, were there on the day as well as give us post event coverage and we believe it is a partnership that will last for as long as the LBA is in existence,” Akpayen said. He gave special mention to the media partners of the event, Cool Wazobia Info FM/ Sport On Newspapers and Sports Day Newspaper. As well as the media, Akpayen made specific mention of the chairman of

  The Appeals Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has ruled that the outstanding game of the Nigeria National League season between Rancher Bees FC of Kaduna and Kwara United FC of Ilorin be replayed.   The decision also stated clearly that only the final 28 minutes of the match will be played at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja on Friday, 19th December, 2014, starting from 10am.   Secretary of the NFF Appeals Committee, Barrister Okey Obi, said the match had earlier been played in Kaduna on 15th November, 2014 but was halted after 62 minutes.   Rancher Bees FC had challenged the decision of the Disciplinary Committee to order a replay, but the Appeals Committee threw out the appeal for lack of merit.   A new set of match officials will be appointed by the NFF to officiate the concluding 28 minutes of the match. Both teams will bear their expenses for the replay while the Nigeria National League will be responsible for the expenses of match officials.  

  The Nigeria Football Federation has warned clubs representing the country in continental competitions next year that they would bear all sanctions imposed by the Confederation of African Football for their own late registration for those competitions.   In a letter sent to the four clubs (Kano Pillars FC and Enyimba FC in the CAF Champions League, and Warri Wolves FC and Dolphins FC in the CAF Confederation Cup) on Monday, the NFF stated categorically: “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) seriously warns that your club should be ready to face ANY SANCTION the organizer (CAF) will give erring clubs.”   While reminding the four clubs that other clubs representing other countries in next year’s club competitions have already finished the registration process, the NFF gave the four clubs until Wednesday, 17th December, 2014 to submit their players’ details or face the prospect of disqualification.   Kano Pillars and Enyimba finished as the top two teams in the Nigeria Professio

Warri Wolves Football Club has sent 23 names to CAF for registration towards the forthcoming CAF Confederation Cup assignment while 12 others have been asked to look elsewhere to ply their trade as the Club prepare for the coming season. Arising from a meeting which was chaired by the Managing Director, Davidson Owumi on Monday, Management also concluded that there would be no screening rather, the Club will upgrade two players from the feeder team who are adjudged to be good enough to play in the Premiership,  recruit three young  players from Delta State, and sign five players which have been invited and discussion almost concluded. The Club also agreed not to release the names of those who have been asked to go and also those who are coming in until a later date but they should be informed that there services are no longer required. " It was a crucial meeting where we took some drastic decisions. We are going to retain 23 players and their names have been sent to CAF for reg

History beckons as the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos battle Colombia this Sunday in the final of the Church World Cup in Goa, India. The Nigeria representatives are tipped to become the first church to lift the Cup as they had defeated the South Americans 3-0 in the group stage. Match is 4 pm Nigerian time. The Church World Cup is the brain child of The John Paul II Foundation For Sports. The participants at this inaugural edition are the host India, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil and Uzbekistan. Enroute the final, the enterprising MFM boys have scored 13 goals and conceded non in four games. First to fall are Sundays opponents, Colombia who lost 3-0, next were the boys from Egypt who also conceded two goals, Uzbekistan were battered 7-0 while the host, India could not prevail over the Olukoya Boys, they went down 1-0 despite playing a ten man Nigerian side. In the absence of his suspended strike partner, Akor Isah who got the

Ahead of the 4th edition of Copa Lagos which will hold from the 12th to 14th December 2014 at the dynamic Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos – Nigeria, the Head Coach, Beach Soccer National Team Audu (Ejo) Adamu has released his 18 man squad who he believes can raise the bar for him. The 18 players were chosen from top Nigeria Professional Footbal League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Local beach soccer team, Non League side and Football Academy. The likes of Isiaka Olawale, Abu Azeez, Ogbonnaya Okemmiri kept their place in the team set up, former Warri Wolves man, Musa Najere was drafted in to join the new recruits of the beach soccer team. Here is the 18 man list: Abdul Isah- Kaduna Utd. Oladipo Olalekan- Owibeseb Beach Team. Isiaka Olawale- Dolphins. Okemmiri Ogbonnaya- Abia Warriors. Victor Tale Shenene- Confluence Beach Team. Abu Azeez- Warri Wolves. Emeka Ogbonna- Leads Utd, Lagos. Emma Ohweferia- Owibeseb Beach Team. Babatunde Badmsus- Owibeseb Beach

  Football lovers in Kaduna are currently experiencing a high –level excitement following the arrival of the Under 20 National Team, Flying Eagles, on Sunday for a two –month camping programme for the big event coming soon.   Coach Manu Garba and wards formally kicked off preparations for the 19th African Youth Championship at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Monday, with the FIFA U-17 World Cup –winning Coach starting his build –up with 30 players.   The squad is loaded with sterling performers from his U-17 World Cup winners, including Captain Musa Muhammed, the talismanic goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, defenders Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Izu Omego and Zaharadeen Bello, midfielders Alfa Abdullahi, Ifeanyi Mathew and Akinjide Idowu, and forward Bernard Bulbwa.   An exciting addition is the Enyimba FC holding midfielder Kingsley Sokari, who shone brilliantly in an international friendly between the Eagles B and Ghana’s Olympic Team, which marked the opening of the Akwa Ibom Stad

The defending champions of Copa Lagos are said to be getting ready for another action, they are expected to commence intensive training on Wednesday in a bid to retain the beach soccer shield in Badagry, Lagos for the 2014 Copa Lagos which will kick-off this month. Disclosing this, the Coach of Super Sand Eagles, Adamu Ejor, said “it is going to be a tough camping exercise because the team has a lot of ground to cover before the commencement of matches. We are going to start camping from Wednesday and I can assure you that it will be a challenge since we have just eight days before the tournament starts.” He added that "the players know each other well and this would act as an advantage. These are players that I have worked with for years and we understand ourselves.” As defending champions; the Coach reiterated his full commitment to ensuring the squad are fit and ready ahead of the 12th December kick off, “we need to retain the trophy at the end of the competition,” Ejor co

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaigner, Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt young midfielder Stone Evbuomwan has declared that he wants to quit playing for the club. The former Abubarka Bukola Sariki Football Club (ABS FC) player didn't get enough playing time under manager Stanley Eguma during 2014 top flight season and he feels leaving the club is a better option for him. Stone in an interview on Wednesday before the Super Eagles two all draw against South Africa said that it's high time he move forward. "I had a wonderful stay at Dolphins, coach took me as his son but I wasn't fulfill due to the fact that I didn't have enough playing time and that's not too good for me as a young player who is aspiring to make a statement in world football. "Joining Dolphins from ABS at the start of the 2014 season was a dream come true for me, I learnt alot from coach Stanley Eguma, the technical crew and other senior players of the team. &quo

The 2014 League Bloggers Awards (LBA) will take place at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Lagos on December 15. According to the CEO of LBA, Ojeikere Aikhoje, the award night for actors in Nigeria's top flight, the Glo Premier League, will have players, coaches and clubs vie for awards in 16 categories. Aikhoje also revealed that the nominees for the 16 categories will be made public on Friday. "The League Bloggers Awards event for this year's ending season in the Glo Premier League will come up on December 15, and we want to make it a glamorous one at that. There will be awards up for grabs in 16 categories but one of them is already concluded and there is no dispute about that. The highest goalscorer award will go to Mfon Udoh of Enyimba for scoring 23 goals in a single season - the first player to do so. But the other 15 are up for grabs. "The most prestigious among those 15 awards is the Player of the Season which we are sure everyone will be looking forward

Lagos State Football Association (L.S.F.A) Chairman Barr. Seyi Akinwummi who also doubles as the Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (N.F.F) is uncertain of being re-elected into the Stata F.A chairmanship position. No doubt, the NFF vice president has done well in terms of achievement to an extent during his first tenure as the LSFA boss but more still need to be done. Akinwunmi who took over the position from ex-Internation Waheed Akanni spoke to BFCNew Soccer App after the Annual General Assembly (A.G.A) meeting in Lagos and said that he can not authoritatively say whether he will be vying for the chairmanship position but promise to make his intention known when it is appropriate. "When the electoral guideline comes out you'll see whether I'll contest or not but to be honest with you there isn't any reason why I shouldn't contest. "With all due humility I think I've justified running, I'm not saying I've justified winning. There&#

  Few days after clinching the 2014 Federation Cup title by defeating Dolphins of Port Harcourt, Enyimba FC of Aba has stepped up preparation to tackle FC Barcelona Beach Soccer team during the 2014 edition of Copa Lagos.   Motivated by this successful victory coupled with a second place in the 2013/2014 final table of Glo premier league, the club is better stirred up to win the Barcelona Challenge trophy. According to the Chairman of the Club, Chief Felix Anyasi said "Enyimba will give Copa lagos Barcelona challenge the best shot, judging by a handfull of the players experience on beach soccer,though we are not under presure to win it,notwithstanding the experience of the barcelona side will give it our best shot for the game of soccer has no respect of persons,"he disclosed. Enyimba FC, the Aba-based, a two-time African Champions, with a track-record of successes in intercontinental football campaigns has vowed to deliver more silverware for their staunch and teeming su

  2014 Federation Cup top scorer, Dolphins’ FC goal poacher, Emem Eduok will not be part of Wednesday’s screening exercise for the National U23 team in Abuja.   Eduok was listed in Batch B of a group of players to strut their stuff for places in next year’s All Africa Games and Olympic Games team but it seems that will not happen for now.   In Sunday’s Federation Cup final against Enyimba, Eduok received a knock after an Enyimba defender went hard on him in the second half.   Though he was able to complete the game, he may have to rest his legs as he left the pitch after the game limping.   “I will show myself to the coaches in Abuja as a sign of good faith so they know I want to be part of the team. I would have loved to be part of the training but I do not want to aggravate the injury which does not seem very serious right now,” Eduok said.   “I want to believe that Samson Siasia and the rest of the coaching crew will call me up again at some other time.”   Emem Eduok sc

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed hardworking broadcast Journalist,  former Warri Wolves, Timi Ebikagboro as the Media Officer of the U-23 National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team. Respected among his peers around the country for his energy, resourcefulness and forthrightness, Ebikagboro has worked at the Delta State Broadcasting Service, based in Warri, for the past 15 years. Ebikagboro will resume immediately with the U-23 squad that has started a screening programme at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja under Head Coach, Samson Siasia. The team’s immediate assignment is an 11th All –Africa Games qualifying fixture against Gabon, with the first leg away in Libreville in February 2015.

United Aspirant extended their winning streak to 3 as they trashed Barcher on Saturday as Sharp Striker Fc played a 1-1 draw against Lakeside in Gbagada. And Leo Academy of Ikorodu where held to a barren draw at home by Shereef as both teams maintain their unbeaten start to the 2014 FA U15 Kiddies Amateur league. In other results Bora and Shobande played out a goaless draw while Fortune Academy of Oshodi defeated Igbado United 1-0. Real FC won their 2nd straight game of the season with a 3-0 bashing of Starlite Academy and Ablaze Fc also recorded the same scoreline against Pepsi Football Academy.  WEEK 4 FIXTURES SATURDAY 29TH NOV, 2014 SHOBANDE (ISLAND). Vs LEO FA (IKORODU). 1:00PM SHARP STRIKERS (IKOTUN EGBE) Vs FORTUNE (OSHODI) 4:00PM PEPSI FA (LAGOS ISLAND)  Vs REAL FC (AGBOYI LAND)  4:00PM BARCHAR FC (OWORONSHOKI) Vs LAKESIDE (GBAGADA) 4:00PM SUNDAY 30TH NOV, 2014 IGBADO UTD. (IGBADO IJAYE) Vs STARLITE (OSHODI) 1:00PM SHEREEF (OWORONSHOKI) Vs UTD. ASPIRANT(IGBADO IJAYE) 

The Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Melvin Pinnick believes that the 2-2 draw against the South Africa in Uyo could be a blessing in disguise and he said that the NFF has accepted full responsibility for the failure of the Super Eagles to reach next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea. The African champions battled back to draw with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Uyo on Wednesday, when the narrowest margin of victory was needed, and left the country’s teeming football fans in sour mood. But NFF President Amaju Pinnick stated that it was a time for sober reflection rather than trading of blames or looking for scapegoats.   Pinnick said Wednesday’s failure could turn out to be blessing in disguise.   “All things work together for good for those that love God, according to Romans 8:28. This has happened but we believe it will work together for us to toil hard and achieve a renaissance that will take Nigeria football to much higher heights than it has

Players, technical crew and back room staff of Dolphins will arrive in Ijebu Ode on Wednesday in preparation for the Federation Cup final against Enyimba. The idea behind the Ijebu Ode camp is for concentration just before the big game against Enyimba on Sunday, something they may not get in Port Harcourt with friends and fans of the club around them. The players will depart from Port Harcourt on Wednesday to Ijebu and then head to Lagos on Friday. “We will have a light work out on Wednesday morning and then leave for Ijebu Ode,” head coach, Stanley Eguma said. I “Although the time is short, we believe the two days away from Port Harcourt before that crucial game will do the boys a world of good,” Eguma said. Dolphins have played the Federation Cup final four times in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007, winning all of them against Elkanemi in 2001, against Rangers in 2004 and 2007 and against Bendel Insurance in 2006.

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Sharks Football Club Port Harcourt star, Joseph Nathaniel has been called up to replace Reading Football Club defensive midfielder, Hope Akpan who picked up an injury against Congo Brazaville on Saturday in Point Noire where the Eagles beat the host 0-2. The Sharks powerful midfielder, Joseph broke into the Super Eagles team set up when the League Stars hosted the Black Meteors of Ghana at the commissioning of the Akwa-Ibom international stadium on the November 7th, he shown like a million star but he didn't get an invite to the Senior National Team. Nathaniel was spotted on Tuesday morning at the Eagles training session in Uyo at the Nest of champions alongside other invited players who will be trading tackles against South Africa in their last 2015 African Cup of Nation qualifying game on Wednesday. Going by what we witnessed this morning at the Eagles training session, Joseph may be included  in the starting line up tomorrow against

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has praised the “extra –ordinary fighting spirt, rare dedication and total commitment” of the Super Eagles in Saturday’s Cup of Nations qualifying triumph in Pointe Noire. Goals by Ikechukwu Uche (from the penalty spot) and Aaron Samuel (a sweetly curled finish) sent the Eagles to second position in Group A with an automatic qualification ticket earned once they achieve a win over South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday. Nigeria earned only one point from their first three matches of the campaign after defeat by Congo in Calabar, draw with South Africa in Cape Town and defeat by Sudan in Khartoum. “I cannot commend you enough for making Nigeria proud, through your fighting spirit and the patriotit fervour with which you approached the game. It was a difficult environment in its entirety but you were not deterred, and that must be our guiding philosophy from now on,” Pinnick said as he appreciated the players inside the chart

Glo Nigeria Professional Football League side, Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt finally get their entitlements from the Rivers State Government following a continuous protest to the State Government House.   Dolphins’ General Manager, Joe Johnson says the governor of Rivers State has done well to make sure the players are paid their entitlements.   Johnson, speaking on behalf of the team said in his office on Tuesday that their bit is to thank the governor and the people of Rivers State for having sympathy for the players who kept on protesting for their wages to be paid. “Last Friday we were all at government house and his representative, Hon. Dakuku Peterside came out to address players of the three teams.   “He announced that the governor had approved all of the 2012/13 signing on fees owed the boys and I can only just thank the governor and Rivers people for that gesture.   “The governor for approving the payment and the people of the state for being sympathetic to

Having seen a lot of games this season in the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League, Nigeria National League and a bit of Nigeria Nationwide League, the trio of Adepoju Tobi Samuel,  Alonge Akinlolu and Olawale Quadry came up with a list of players who are eligible to feature in the national Under-23 squad ( Dream Team) who  Samson Siasia, the coach of Nigeria's Under-23 national football team could consider to give a look in. The decision to pick each player is 100% based on the player performance this season. We concentrated on players plying their trade in Nigeria Apex league," Glo Nigeria Professional Football League" and "Nigeria National League", a player made the list from Atiba United who played in the Nigeria Nationwide League this season though the Oyo based team have gained promotion to the NNL. Below is a list of young players in Nigeria Football Leagues who had an outstanding season and are under twenty three years old: Goalkeepers David Obi

Enyimba International midfielder, Kingsley Sokari alias Bobby has broken into the Super Eagles squad for the two remaining qualifiers against Congo and South Africa next week this was as a result of his top notch performance against the Black Meteors of Ghana last Friday in the first edition of the Transformation Cup event at  the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo. Before now, Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi had said the player is as exciting as former Super Eagles skipper, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, a view also held by his other assistants, Hyandonou Valere and Ike Shorunmu. But he also put a caveat. “We must allow our boss, Stephen Keshi to make the final decision”.Last Friday at the Uyo International Stadium inauguration game against the Black Metoers of Ghana, Keshi had a first-hand opportunity to assess the player and his final verdict was that the player is excellent and good enough for the main national team. He subsequently ordered him on the plane to Abuja f

The Super Eagles team in Uyo, Akwa Ibo state, for the International Stadium Inauguration this Friday, have been showing signs of an exciting encounter at training ahead of the match against the Black Meteors of Ghana, with several dignitaries already listed for the match. At Thursday’s evening training that lasted almost three hours, the players were grilled on quick counter attack, fast breaks, robust defending and the need to avoid unnecessary infringements on the opponents. Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi, was the one dishing out the instructions, with the assistance of Coach Hyandonou Valere and Ike Shorunmu. The training which was held at the Practice Pitch of the International Stadium in Uyo, was to later throw up some of the stars that will be seen during this Friday’s game. Apart from established professionals like Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Christian Osagunna Ighodalo and Gbolahan Salami, there was an excitement in the play of Enyimba of Aba midfielder, Kin

Dolphins scored six goals without conceding against Nembe City in Port Harcourt on Wednesday to move back to 4th on the log in the Nigeria Professional Football League thanks to Emem Eduok for the six goals. The big story was striker, Emem Eduok scoring all six goals in the game to break the Nigerian League record of 4 goals a game and set his own.   In the 14th minute, while backing the post, Eduok turned around and volleyed a loose ball home to open scores. By the 22nd minute, it was 2-0 as Eduok dribbled his way past the defence and blasted home. In the 31st minute Victor Alegbe was brought down in the box and Emem stepped up to score the penalty and get his hattrick, the first time he would take a penalty this season. Half time ended 3-0 to Dolphins. Five minutes into the second half, Eduok was freed by Adamu and his first shot was blocked by the goalkeeper but he rushed in to get the rebound and score to equal a goal scoring record held by Victor Ezeji in 2007 for Dolphins