Nigerian Football
PAUL BASSEY CONGRATULATES “MIGHTY” GEORGE, TASK AKWA IBOM SPORT JOURNALISTS ON COMMITMENT
BY MFON PATRICK.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Sports and Chairman of Akwa United Football Club, Elder Paul Bassey has congratulated the winner of the 2018 Nigeria Radio Sports Journalist of the Year Award, George Essien of Comfort FM on his achievement.
Elder Bassey heaped praises on Essien who is known by the professional name “Mighty George”, and congratulated him when he presented the award he won to him in his office in Uyo.
Essien who described Elder Paul Bassey as the Father of Sports journalism in Akwa Ibom State said he was humbled to have been voted the Best Radio Sports Journalist in the country and revealed that such an honour could not have been possible without the tutelage of the veteran journalist.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor said he was proud that another son of Akwa Ibom was honoured for professionalism by the organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award after His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel was honoured last year by the same body as the Best Sports Governor.
“Let me begin by saying congratulations to you for bringing honour and respect not just to your station Comfort FM but to the entire Akwa Ibom State through this award. I am glad and proud of you for all your contributions to sports reportage and presentation in Akwa Ibom State and in Nigeria. We are honored that you have come to share your award with us here at Akwa United.
“Last year, the Nigerian Sports Award honoured His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel with the Best Sports Governor Award and this year you have been voted the Best Radio Sports Journalist, this honour has gone a long way to demonstrate that Akwa Ibom is the centre of sports in Nigeria and you deserve to be celebrated.
“Your good works and dedication has distinguished your station and made it a must listen to station in this state. You have brought honour to this state and this is just the beginning of many honours to come your way, once again I say congratulations” Elder Bassey concluded.
The veteran journalist turned administrator however called on sports journalists in Akwa Ibom State to be more committed and dedicated to their work, stressing that there is always reward for hard work.
Enugu Rangers on Sunday beat Plateau United 2-0 to hold on at the top of the Nigeria Premier League. They extended their point haul to 57, two points ahead of their Oriental brothers, Enyimba who also beat Katsina United 1-0 to keep the chase for the title very hot.
Initial second placed team, Remo Stars dropped to the third position but still in contention for either the title, but at worse a continental ticket for next season.
Following Shooting Stars 2-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars in a South West derby, the top four positions of the are now held by the South East and South West as the league gets into its closing stage.
While Rangers and Enyimba are first and second at the moment, Remo Stars, though with an outstanding home game are third while their fellow westerners, Shooting Stars are fourth.
The weekend’s results:
Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes
Doma United 0-0 Kwara United
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland
Enugu Rangers 2-0 Plateau United
Shooting Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Akwa United 3-0 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
Gombe United 3-2 Lobi Stars
Sporting Lagos 4-2 Abia Warriors
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 28th 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 75th minute.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers
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.
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