Nigerian Football

AKWA UNITED SEEKS DIVINE HANDS IN 2018

Published

6 years ago

January 10, 2018

With the 2018 season in Nigeria kicking off this weekend, continental hopefuls, Akwa United have sought divine guidance as set eyes on continental title as well the two domestic titles of the league and the Aiteo Cup.

At The Apostolic Church, Ukana Onuk Area Headqurters, Ikot Ekpene Field where the club went for thanks giving service for last season’s accomplishments and divine guidance in the new season, the players and officials were admonished to abide by the rules.

“Any football team that lacks discipline, respect for constituted authority, rules and regulations and above all hope in the Almighty God and His capabilities cannot go far”.

That was the remark by Apostle G. Umanah, Area Superintendent of the church. Continuing, he told the club: “For you to succeed, you need to be very disciplined and level headed, you must obey and play according to the rules and regulations of the sport and most importantly should have the fear God and hope in His limitless capabilities”

Taking his sermon from Romans 10:11 Pastor Umanah said he was delighted to see the team return to thank God for their exploits in the 2017 season, and that whosoever believeth in God shall not be ashamed.

“I am so delighted to have heard the chairman of the club ascribe the success of his team to God. I remember that before the start of the just concluded season, you came here and handed this team over to God and God promised you victory. All of you here are living witnesses to what God did for His name sake.

“We told you last year that it will not be easy. We said you will pass through a lot of trials and temptations but that at the end you will triumph and it has come to pass.

“With the wisdom that you have to come back and thank God, and rededicate the club to Him, I prophesy that you will do exploits this year. Go and conquer” The man of God declared.

“In his speech, the state sports commissioner Sir Monday Ebong Uko gave thanks to God for a season that had a lot of positives since the club was formed twenty years ago.

He recounted instances in the season that the club encountered challenges yet God triumphed even at a time that they had lost hope, particularly during the Aiteo Cup final when it seemed as if all was lost, only for the club to gain the upper hand and the slot of representing the country in the continent.

For the current season, he enjoined all the supporters of the club to close ranks and work in unity towards the success of the club.

“…It will be wrong for you to say that perhaps because you do not like the face of the commissioner or that of the chairman, you should then wish the club bad. This club is an institution, a unity vehicle as far as Akwa Ibom state is concerned so we should come together to make sure it succeeds” He pleaded.

Chairman of the club, Paul Bassey in an earlier remark was grateful to God, His Excellency the executive governor of the state, his principal the state sports commissioner, the media, supporters club and all the fans who stood by them in the season.

“We will be ingrates if we do not actualize this Thanksgiving aimed at giving God all the glory for the success of the team in placing fourth in the league and winning the Aiteo Cup.

“Governor Udom Emmanuel, sports governor of the year 2017 stood by us and made sure we did not lack,” he informed.

Other guests and dignitaries included the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong and his wife, chairman of the state FA Emmanuel Ibah and his board members, the permanent secretary ministry of youth and sports, Aniedi Dickson and his directors.

Also in attendance were the past chairmen of the club including Isong Isang and Akparawa Nse Ubeh, Coach Charles Bassey (MON) Chief Ebito, Hon Saturday of the PDP, the chairman of the NUJ in Akwa Ibom State, Solomon Bassey, the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria chairman as well as the hierarchy of the supporters club and other well wishers.

Nigerian Football

Remo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.

Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.

Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.

They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.

Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.

Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28^th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.

It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.

Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75^th minute.

Nigerian Football

Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers

Published

4 days ago

April 23, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Defending champions Nigeria have been handed a difficult path to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals after being drawn in the same group as Burkina Faso for next month’s WAFU B qualifying tournament in Ghana.

The Golden Eaglets, who won the last edition of the regional championship in 2022, will also face Togo and Niger in Group B of the competition which runs from 15-28 May.

Hosts Ghana find themselves in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in a tough-looking section of the competition to be played in Accra.

The draw was conducted by 1970s Ivorian football legends Kobenan Kouman and Die Foneye at the Ivorian FA headquarters in Abidjan on Friday.

Nigeria claimed their WAFU B U17 AFCON title by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the regional final in Ghana two years ago.

However, they will need to overcome some familiar foes if they are to defend their crown and with the Burkina Faso finishing third at the last TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, some exciting matches are expected.

Arch-rivals Nigeria and Ghana are among the two favourites and could meet in the final in Accra on 28 May, should they top their respective groups and make it through the semi-finals.

Ghana also have pedigree at this level, having the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 as they bid to reach the U17 AFCON finals on home soil.

The top two teams from the WAFU B tournament will qualify for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Groups:

Group A: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin

Group B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger.

Nigerian Football

Former Nigeria international, Onye recommends Amuneke-Siasia combo for Super Eagles

Published

6 days ago

April 22, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Kingsley Onye, the left sided defender who was a member of the first Flying Eagles side to have a podium finish at the U-20 World Cup has suggested the employment of Emmanuel Amuneke as the coach of the Super Eagles.

He wants him to be assisted by Samson Siasia when the ban on the latter lapses in August. Alternatively, Onye pointed to Sylvanus Okpala as alternative to Siasia.

The Super Eagles are in dare need for a head coach as the clock ticks down to the Match day 4 and 5 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in which the team is trailing at the third position.

The two matches in early June are crucial for the Super Eagles to bounce back into reckoning as the team can not afford to drop any of the available six points in the duels with South Africa at home and away to Benin.

From this Monday, it is 41 days to the potentially challenging tie with South Africa, but the Nigerian national team has been without a coach since the expiration of the contract of Portugal’s Jose Peseiro shortly after the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Without mincing words, Onye remarked: “Emmanuel Amuneke is the right man for the job of the coach of Super Eagles. He has been there before.

“He tasted it and had been fantastic with the Nigeria youth team, the U-17 by assisting Manu Garba to win the U17 World Cup in 2013 and as head coach, led the Golden Eaglets to win the cup again in 2015.”

Onye who played for the Enugu Rangers in Nigeria before venturing to the UK but had his career scuppered by freak injury pointed out that the solution to Super Eagles’ technical deficiency is the appointment of an indigenous coach and that Amuneke is the man.

In buttressing his assertion, he declared: “As a senior team coach, Amuneke qualified a long standing absentee team, Tanzania for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

“His record as a player is also very impressive. He played and won with the Super Eagles, the AFCON 1994. He played at the Olympic Games and was also the first Nigerian to score two goals at the World Cup.

“He has played at the African Games and also for top clubs in the continent as he was a member of the Egyptian giants, Zamalek. In Europe, he played for Sporting Clube de Portugal and then Barcelona before injury ended his playing career.”

Onye also looked at the personality of Amuneke in recommending him for the Super Eagles job.

His record as a player is also very impressive. He played and won with the Super Eagles, the AFCON 1994. He played at the Olympic Games and was also the first Nigerian to score two goals at the World Cup.

He has played at the African Games and also for top clubs in the continent as he was a member of the Egyptian giants, Zamalek. In Europe, he played for Sporting Clube de Portugal and then Barcelona before injury ended his playing career.