Nigerian Football

SPORTS IN NIGERIA: 2017 WAS GOOD, 2018 WILL BE BETTER SAYS DALUNG

Published

6 years ago

January 3, 2018

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigeria’s sports minister, Solomon Dalung on Wednesday in Lagos took a retrospective look at sports in Nigeria in the past two years especially that of 2017 and concluded that the country has had its own fair share of laurels.

Decked in his trademark green shirt and red beret, the minister told a gathering of sports journalists at the boardroom of the Nigeria Olympic Committee that the only direction sports in Nigeria faces this year and the years to come is upward.

He made a sport-by-sport analysis, touching on virtually all sports federations and the youth departments of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. In virtually all sports disciplines, Nigeria won medals.

One of the most remarkable ones, according to the comrade-minister is that of the Nigeria women hockey team which had not featured in any international tournament for about 14 years.

“But the team won bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ismailia, Egypt last October”, said the minister. The highlights of the address touched on the feats in basket ball where the Nigerian team regained dominance of the sport in Africa.

In scrabble, Nigeria won the best country trophy at the World English Scrabble Championship, while is another lesser-followed sports, Rowing & Yachting, the country got a gold, six silver and five bronze medals at the continental championship in Morocco.

The same was the tale in taekwondo, table tennis, judo and tennis where the Nigerian teams made appreciable impact on the various medal logs.

In badminton, a sport that is fast gaining popularity among Nigerians following a resurgence of tournaments across the country, Nigeria won two bronze medals in mixed and individual events in South Africa, two gold medals at the Cote d’Ivoire tournament, three gold, a silver and two bronze medals at the Benin Republic tournament as well as a bronze at the Uganda Para-Badminton tournament.

Expectedly, football got the most attention, especially the country’s feat of being undefeated on the field of play throughout the World Cup qualifying series.

The Super Eagles qualified in a power-packed group, even with a match to spare. The feats of the Super Eagles’ B team in picking a ticket to the African Nations Championship as well as emerging runners-up in the resuscitated WAFU tournament were commended by the sports minister.

He also mentioned individual feats, especially the successes of various Nigerians at gaining membership in various international sports federations. The year was a bountiful harvest for the country, he remarked as virtually in every sport federation Nigerians made inroad.

He particularly commended the feat of Amaju Pinnick, the Nigerian Football Federation chieftain, who not only won election into CAF Executive Committee, but wielded much influence in global football.

“In football, Nigeria made a lot of progress both on and off the pitch. These include: The appointment of Amaju Pinnick, President of the NFF as President of AFCON, the committee responsible for the organisation of the Africa Cup of Nations as well as a Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions – the most influential committee in world football after the FIFA Council”, said the sports minister who apart from commending the inclusion of other Nigerians in CAF committees also pointed at the appointment of Justice Ayotunde Philips (a former Chief Judge of Lagos State) into the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Chamber).

Nigerian Football

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

Published

22 hours 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

22 hours 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.

Nigerian Football

Remo Stars add fuel to the fire as title chase turns East – West battle

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Added time-goal specialists, Remo Stars pulled off one of their now familiar traits, chalking up a valuable point as Skipper Nduka Junior scored in the 90+4 minute to scuttle an impending victory by Doma United on Wednesday evening.

When all-hope seemed over, Remo Stars had scored hope-reviving goals as they did against Lobi Stars, Insurance and a host of others in the Nigeria Premier League.

Getting a valuable point take them from fifth position to fourth their haul to 50, just a point below that of second and third placed Enyimba and Lobi Stars respectively.

The 1-1 scoreline also changed the complexion of the league table as their South West rivals were pushed down from their initial fourth position.

As it is, the struggle for the title is taking regional colouration as the top two- Enugu Rangers and Enyimba are from the South East while fourth and fifth – Remo Stars and Shooting Stars are from the South West.

Lobi Stars from the middle belt, stand in-between the South East and South West in the power struggle.

Remo Stars at the fourth position however still have an outstanding home game against Rivers United and that could still change the positions of the top six teams when the match is played.

Attention will now shift to match-day 31 as the league embarks on its home stretch.

On Friday, relegation-bound Heartland will be hosting rejuvenated Shooting Stars who have suddenly discovered they could return to continental competition next seasons after 25 years.

They have lately been having unbeaten runs. On Saturday, Kwara United will host desperate Akwa United who are struggling to avoid dropping into the lower league.

On the same day, Abia Warriors will be at home against Bayelsa United.

On Sunday seven matches are on the card. They are:

Kano Pillars v. Gombe United

Katsina United v. Sporting Lagos

Lobi Stars v. Bendel Insurance

Niger Tornadoes v Doma United

Plateau United v. Remo Stars

Rivers United v. Enugu Rangers

Sunshine Stars v. Enyimba