Nigerian Football

Vengeance is Key Word, Shorunmu Tells Super Eagles

Published

7 years ago

August 9, 2017

BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.

As the build-up to the build-up to the destiny-shaping and back-to-back World Cup qualifying encounters with rivals and eastern neighbours, Cameroon begins, former Nigerian international, Ike Shorunmu, told Sports Village Square that he wants the Super Eagles to beat the Indomitable Lions and thereby avenge the bitter loss of 2000 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sports Village Square recalls that Ike Shorunmu was in goal for Nigeria in the February 13, 2000 final match at a jam packed National Stadium, Lagos when Cameroon upstaged the Super Eagles 4-3 in the ensuing penalty kick shoot-out after regulation time and extra time score lines stood at 2-2.
The Cameroonian had begun on offensive note scoring two goals in quick succession in four minutes. The then young Samuel Eto’o first scored in the 26th minute before ageing Patrick Mboma doubled the lead in the 31st.
Nigeria then began a fight back, pulling a goal back almost with the last kick of the first half as Chukwu Ndukwe scrambled the ball in to reduce the tally.
Nigeria opened the second half with a ferocious attack leading to Austin Okocha unleashing a long range shot within two minutes of the restart to level scores. But that was where the struggle stopped for Nigeria.
Cameroon prevailed in the later penalty shootout as Nwankwo Kanu missed his shot, while that of Victor Ikpeba was misjudged. Vivian Foe also missed for Cameroon. A win of the match would have earned Nigeria a third and eternal win of the particular trophy at stake that year.

Nwankwo Kanu in anguish after his penalty kick miss

Rather, the honour went to Cameroon which won for keeps, the then “Unity Cup” that was incidentally first put at stake in Nigeria in 1980.

For the encounters of September 1 in Uyo and the return leg in Cameroon on September 5, Ike Shorunmu wants nothing but a sweet vengeance for the pain inflicted in 2000. Incidentally, the 2000 defeat Nigeria suffered was the last from Cameroon.
Sports Village Square recalls that subsequent matches at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, Nigeria eliminated Cameroon 2-1 in the quarter finals apart from defeating the bitter rivals 3-0 in a June 1, 2003 LG Cup match in Lagos and another 3-0 in an October 11, 2015 Friendly match in Vise, Belgium.
But in spite of the strings of victories Nigeria have had over Cameroon since the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, Shorunmu believes beating the Indomitable Lions in the important World Cup qualifying games will be more gratifying.
“Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see the Super Eagles revenge the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations loss. The Cameroonian will definitely be coming to Nigeria with the aim of gaining a point.
“We know they are currently the African champions, but I believe they are beatable. We should also use the match to wipe off the bitter home loss to South Africa in June.
“I am using this medium to urge the current Super Eagles to beat Cameroon by gaining more points in the forthcoming two matches”.

Nigerian Football

GTI enlarges coast…spreads from League fund-raising to Federation Cup

Published

15 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation, GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd has expanded their scope of operations from fund sourcing for the Nigeria Premier League to adding the responsibility of getting the national cup competition back into its glamorous days.

The MD of the company, Abubakar Lawal at the unveiling a revamped Federation Cup which has been renamed President Federation Cup remarked that his company decided to take a bold step to support the national cup.

“I am the happiest man today, he said in the opening remark of the rebranding of the national cup through signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Sports and the NFF.

“Our company is also strategically involved in ensuring that the President Federation Cup is given necessary attention to thrive using The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) as our vehicle to actualise this dream.

“Therefore, it is our vision that the oldest domestic football event becomes one of the best organised football events in the world in no distant future.”

Nigerian Football

Ikenne’s Beyond Limit Football Academy top goal chart as NNL releases vital statistics

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The secretariat of the Nigeria National League has released the match statistics of the four conferences of the 2024 season.

With 198 matches so far played in Conferences A and B, 426 goals were scored, with 125 home wins and 26 away wins, representing 63.1%, & 26% respectively. There were 47 draw matches, representing 23.7% of matches. 299 home goals were scored, and 127 home goals.

Beyond Limit FC scored the highest goals of 33 goals, with Stormers FC and Ekiti United conceeding the least goals of 28 goals. Tradesafe and Solution FC scored the least numbers of goals of 11 goals and Osun conceded the least numbers of goals of 8.

In group C & D, 209 goals have been scored in the 106 so far played, with 70 home wins and 14 won away representing 66. 3% and 13.1% respectively.

Teams drew 31 matches representing 29.2% of the matches played. Wikki Tourists scored the highest numbers of goals, with 23 goals, while EFCC FC conceded the least numbers of goals. They conceded 18 goals. Nasarawa United’s 8 goals conceded made them the team that conceded the lowest numbers of goals, while ABS scored the least number of goals of 5 goals.

Nigerian Football

Heartland back to their homeland as they host Shooting Stars

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY TOSIN OMOJOLA, OWERRI

The uncertainty surrounding our Matchday 31 encounter against Heartland FC of Owerri, has been cleared with the game eventually slated to hold at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, the home ground of the host team

The Nigeria Premier League has given the approval to the stadium after an inspection was carried out on Wednesday afternoon.

The Oluyole Warriors have since arrived the Imo State capital and have settled down ahead of Friday’s clash which will be be shown live on cable television.

Meanwhile, the Technical Adviser of the Ibadan soccer lords, Gbenga Ogunbote, while addressing the players on arrival at their hotel, urged them not to be distracted by the development.

“I want to apologise to you on the change of venue. We got to know about it some hours ago, but be that as it may, I want us to remain focused as and get the desired results we needed”.

In the same vein, the players of the Ibadan soccer lords, said they are not in any way moved by the change of venue, expressing their readiness to get the maximum points, not minding the venue.