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