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KANO PILLARS PICK SUPER 6 TICKET AS RELEGATION BATTLE GOES TO THE WIRE
BY FISAYO DAIRO
The 2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Kano Pillars on Monday confirmed their place in the season-ending Super Six playoff with an emphatic 3-0 drubbing of Delta Force in Kano in one of the full programme of activities on the penultimate Match Day of 2018/19 regular season.
Although many other matters in the league were left unresolved until the final
day, Kano Pillars’ confirmation of a top three finish and Niger Tornadoes’
relegation in Group A were settled on a day of twist-and-turns in results
across the twelve match centres.
The ageless Rabiu Ali set Pillars en route to a routine victory with a 19th
minute penalty before further goals in the second half from Auwalu Ali Malam
and Yusuf Maigoro put Mbwas Mangut’s side to the sword and all but put paid to
their late rally for a playoff spot.
In Maiduguri, FC Ifeanyiubah put themselves in pole position to join Pillars
and already qualified Akwa United as Group B’s representatives with a superb
1-0 win away to El-Kanemi Warriors in a game played behind closed doors.
Striker Chibuike Ezeh scored for a second game in a row to take
the Anambra Warriors to just within a point of sealing a Top Three spot.
Monday’s trend of results ensured that only Yobe Desert Stars are condemned to
the second tier in Group B after Gombe United, Plateau United and Go Round FC
all secured results in their games, the latter denied by a last gasp goal at
Nasarawa United.
Left winger Yusuf Abdulazeez’s strike in the 72nd minute gave Gombe United a
1-0 win over Heartland at the Pantami Stadium and Ladan Bosso’s men are now
within one point of their visitors going into the final day while Plateau
United climbed out of the relegation zone with a comfortable 2-0 win over
ten-man Yobe Desert Stars courtesy of Amos Gyang (penalty) and Godwin Obaje’s
goals in each half.
Go Round FC were just seconds away from achieving the best result of the Match
Day but Abubakar Lawal’s 90th minute goal ensured honours were shared among
both sides in a 2-2 draw. Joshua Osem and Chiebonam Nwogbaga gave Go Round the
lead twice in the game but twice were they pegged back through goals by Sunusi
Ibrahim and Lawal.
Group leaders Akwa United also left it late to deny Abia Warriors a safety net
when Ocheme Edoh headed home in the 89th minute to secure a 2-2 draw for the
hosts at the Nest of Champions.
Midfielder Fatai Abdullahi and substitute Obi Samson twice gave
Warriors shock leads in Uyo but Rafael Everton’s men replied in each situation
with goals from Godspower Aniefiok and Edoh.
Group A
Striker Sikiru Alimi was once again instrumental for ‘nominal’ league champions
Lobi Stars as they endured a hard-earned 2-1 win over relegation haunted Wikki
Tourists in Makurdi.
Lobi needed maximum points to move within touching distance of qualification
for the Super Six and they did just exactly that, once again through the help
of Alimi.
They had to break the resistance of a stubborn Wikki side in the
49th minute through Austin Ogunye’s header but after Ukeme Williams had replied
for Aliyu Zubair’s Wikki, Alimi once again delivered the goods with an 81st
minute winner.
Ten-man Enyimba FC also moved within touching distance of qualification with a
2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, a result which
confirmed the demotion of their opponents to the second tier of Nigerian
football.
Captain Ifeanyi Anaemena gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in first
half stoppage time before Ibrahim Mustapha, making a return after a lengthy
injury layoff made sure of the points in the 70th minute.
Left back Nasiru Sani was however sent off late in the game by referee Paul Umuago.
In Lagos, MFM FC showed a rare resilience they had not displayed in recent weeks when they dug deep to beat Katsina United 2-1 and ensure the race for the final two top three spots in Group A will go down to the wire.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men defied the rain and obstinacy of their visitors to grind out the win at the Agege Stadium.
Adeniji Kabir ended his goals drought to steer them in front in the 10th minute but defender Timothy Danladi equalised for Katsina early in the second half.
Substitute Michael Ohanu however claimed the full marks for MFM
when he headed home Jonathan Zikiye’s cross deep into stoppage time.
Group A leaders Rangers International ended Rivers United’s hopes of a hopeful
top three finish with an excruciating 1-0 defeat inflicted on Stanley Eguma’s
men.
United still kept their hopes of leaving Enugu with at least a
point in tact until wing back Chidera Ezeh struck the decisive blow five
minutes from time.
Kwara United ensured they preserve their Nigeria Professional Football League
(NPFL) status till the final day with an expected 2-1 win over already
relegated Remo Stars.
All goals were scored in the final sixteen minutes of the tensed
game in Ilorin. Uche Onwuasonaya and Razaq Alamoyo put United two-goal up
before Victor Mbaoma’s stoppage time strike halved the deficit.
Bendel Insurance also stayed alive with a 1-0 win over ten-man Sunshine Stars
in a relegation six-pointer in Benin City.
Despite putting up a defensive 5-3-2 shape, Kabiru Dogo’s Sunshine conceded within the opening four minutes through Junior Osaghae’s strike and they had no reply with their case exacerbated with a straight sending off for centre back Gabriel Olalekan late on.
The star match of the President Federation Cup Round of 16 is the potentially epic confrontation of Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance.
The history of the Nigerian National Cup is littered with the epic duels of the two who have three times contested the final matches in 1978, 1981 and recently in 2023.
They clash again four steps before the final match. The two teams were involved in two of the most memorable final matches of Nigeria’s Cup competition in its 80-year history, with honours shared in 1978 and 1981.
The Benin Arsenal tore apart the form books to shock the nation’s football fraternity by spanking Rangers 3-0 in the final in Lagos in 1978, but the Flying Antelopes somewhat repaid the compliment with a 2-0 win at the same venue in 1981.
The setting for this Round of 16 clash is also in Lagos, though a different venue. But fireworks are expected by the waterfront from two teams aspiring for continental football.
Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, who eliminated Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors in the Round of 32, will take on Abakaliki FC at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United will square up to each other in the university town of Anyigba, while Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists battle things out in the Federal Capital, Abuja.
Two great entertainers, Ikorodu City and Beyond Limits will be at each other’s jugular at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where Solution FC will tango with Kwara United in an earlier game. Plateau United will confront Osun United in Anyigba.
Akwa United and Inter Lagos are at loggerheads in Abuja.
Round of 16 fixtures (Men) on Wednesday
- Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) – Asaba – 4pm
- Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Anyigba 10am
- Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Area 3 Abuja – 1 pm
- Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Beyond Limits (Ogun) – Benin City – 4 pm
- Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Area 3 Abuja – 4 pm
- Solution FC (Anambra) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Benin City – – 10 am
- Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Osun United (Osun) – Anyigba – 1 pm
- Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – MJA Lagos – 4 pm
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The Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, which underwent a significant renovation, reopened on Saturday as Wydad and Raja played to a 1-1 draw during the 26th matchday of the Botola Pro D1 “Inwi” football league.
The stadium is one of the designated venues for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations holding in December.
The redevelopment project of the iconic stadium in Morocco’s economic capital is part of the broader program to upgrade sports venues in preparation for upcoming major sporting events, notably the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Launched in March 2024 and completed in March 2025, the works included, according to the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP), the replacement of 45,000 seats in this temple of Moroccan football, the upgrading of the press stand, sound system, video surveillance, and access control systems.
The renovations also covered the development of four changing rooms and warm-up areas, the creation of a mixed zone and a new central players’ tunnel, the replacement of the turf with the latest-generation hybrid grass, refurbishment of the athletics track, lighting upgrades, and replacement of the advertising screens.
Additionally, the project involved the construction of a regulation building to manage and fully separate different access flows, the development of a new ramp for team buses, VIP and VVIP parking areas, and the TV compound.
The works also included the renovation of VIP and media lounges, the construction of a new press conference room, the creation of private boxes, the upgrading of restrooms, food and beverage areas, and public infirmaries, as well as an increase in the number of gates and access control points.
Outside the stadium, the renovations focused on the refurbishment of sidewalks and green spaces, upgrading of exterior lighting, renovation of the surrounding fence, and refurbishment of the annex area.
Officially inaugurated in 1955, the Mohammed V Sports Complex has hosted the greatest sporting events and tournaments in the Kingdom. Morocco, a true land of sports and athletes, is increasingly positioning itself as a leader in the sports sector—not only in Africa but also on the global stage.
Indeed, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is pursuing an ambitious policy of developing its sports infrastructure in preparation for hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
This proactive strategy aims to meet the international standards required by FIFA and CAF, while strengthening Morocco’s position as a continental, regional, and global sports hub.
In this regard, Morocco continues to invest heavily in its sports infrastructure to host large-scale international events such as the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup.
Ongoing projects include the construction of the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, the reconstruction of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, and the expansion and upgrading of the Grand Stade of Tangier in accordance with FIFA’s specifications.
The rehabilitation of the main stadiums in Fez, Marrakech, and Agadir is also underway, initially to meet CAF standards, followed by a second phase aimed at aligning with FIFA’s requirements. Studies for this second phase are already complete, with work scheduled to begin right after AFCON 2025.
Finally, ongoing efforts also include the reconstruction of the Al Barid Stadium and the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
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The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature 351 medal events —22 more than at Paris 2024— the International Olympic Committee Executive Board confirmed this week in a press conference in Lausanne.
The Executive Board has approved the event programme and athlete quotas for the LA Games, with gender equality in mind. For the first time, all team sports will have at least the same number of women’s teams as men’s teams. The LA28 programme also added 698 quotas for the five sports proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee (baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash), in addition to the core athlete quota of 10,500.
“We are opening the door for more athletes to compete, win, and live out their Olympic dream at the LA28 Games where athletes have always been, and always will be, the heart of the Games.
“We are proud to champion an athlete-centric vision that celebrates excellence and the unifying spirit of the Olympic Movement,” LA28 Chief Athlete Officer, Janet Evans, said in the organisation’s official press release.
New medal opportunities
In addition to the new sports set to debut at the Los Angeles Games, exciting new podium opportunities will be available for the established sports on the Olympic programme.
Coastal rowing will debut at the Games with the women’s solo, men’s solo and mixed double sculls in Beach Sprints, which will see competitors sprint across the sand, before navigating waves and surf for the top prize.
Also making a splash are swimming’s fast-paced 50m distance swim and water polo. There will be six additional medal opportunities for the fastest swimmers in the world with the women’s and men’s 50-metre competitions in backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. The women’s water polo tournament will expand to 12 teams, matching the men’s —making it gender-equal for the first time at the Games.
Sport climbing also gained two medal opportunities by separating a previously combined event and creating three distinct medal events: speed, boulder and lead. The sport will have a total quota of 76 athletes (38 women and 38 men).
“From the very beginning of our Olympic journey, we have always had the target of three sets of medals for our athletes. Each of our disciplines has its own unique strengths, and now everyone will see these at LA28,” IFSC President Marco Scolaris said in the federation’s press release.
While the medal events will stay the same, basketball 3×3 will also expand to include 12 teams per gender, from eight teams at the previous Olympics. This expansion reflects the sport’s growth over recent years and further highlights the sport’s global appeal and development.
“The additional quota allows more National Federations and players from all around the world to dream that they can make it from the streets to the Olympics. Los Angeles is one of the world’s most iconic basketball cities and has a thriving 3×3 basketball culture. We are very excited to be once again at the heart of a vibrant, urban sport festival atmosphere during the Games,”said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, according to FIBA’s press release.
Spotlight on women’s sport
Just weeks after boxing was approved for the Olympic programme after its controversial run at the Paris Games, the sport is set to achieve full parity at the next Olympics with an additional weight class added to the women’s competition: resulting in seven weight classes for both the women’s and men’s tournaments.
Women’s football will be showcased in LA28, with a record 16 teams, while adjusting the men’s tournament to 12 teams to maintain the overall tournament size consistent with previous Olympic Games.
“We’ve seen incredible growth in women’s participation in team sport and in popularity and visibility in women’s team sport, with football being an absolute leader in that regard,” The IOC’s Kit McConnell said. “Women’s football and men’s football have been hugely successful in the Olympic Games in terms of ticketing and broadcast audiences, and media coverage around the world. And what better place to increase the number of women’s teams than the USA itself?”
More mixed-teams
Six new mixed-gender team events will be part of the competition in Los Angeles. Compound archery will be at the Olympic Games in the form of a mixed-team event. It joins the five recurve events currently in the programme.
Athletics will feature a mixed 4x100m, becoming the second mixed-gender event in the sport, joining the 4x400m relay. Golf, table tennis and artistic gymnastics will also add a mixed-team event at LA28.
Overall, the LA28 programme will bring together 10,500 Olympians across the 31 sports on the initial sports program, with up to 700 more athletes competing in the five new sports proposed by LA28 and added to the Olympic sports programme by the IOC.
-Inside The Games
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