Nigerian Football
Osimhen Will Sparkle in Rohr’s Team, Says Opabunmi
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA
Former Nigerian under-17 prodigy, Femi Opabunmi, looks forward to see another Nigerian under-17 emeritus, Victor Osimhen making marks in the Super Eagles.
He told Sports Village Square that Osimhen should maximize the current Super Eagles’ call up to seal his mark in the Gernot Rohr’s team.
Both Opabunmi and Osimhen made great marks in their respective global age-regulated tournaments in which they featured in 2001 and 2015 respectively, topping goal charts.
The following year of their exploits in the under 17 competitions, they got called up in the Super Eagles with Opabunmi becoming officially, the youngest Nigerian to play in the World Cup when he featured in the tie with England on June 12, 2002 in Osaka, Japan.
Even though eye ailment scuttled Opabunmi’s professional career, he is trying to propel Osimhen to greater heights, “I love to see young boys do what men do. I will be very glad if Osimhen can prove himself to Rohr.
“Although he is still young and might not be giving that opportunity to showcase his talent among the senior boys. During my days, I love proving critics wrong and I will love to see him do the same.
“Many believe that Osimhen is ‘still work in progress’ but I see him as an exposed player who is ready to make a name for himself if given a chance. All I can advice him now is he proving himself to the coach”, remarked Opabunmi.
Nigerian Football
Finidi George becomes Nigeria’s 41st national coach
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
After two matches last March in which Nigeria Super Eagles won one and lost the other, the Nigeria Football Federation Finidi George has been judged as the right man for the vacant Super Eagles job.
He thus become the 41st person to occupy the position since the adhoc engagement of John Finch, former Fulham winger in 1949. According to a press release by the NFF, the board of the federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its technical development committee to appoint Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
George who belong to the Nigeria Golden Generation of Super Eagles of 1994 spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro.
In his baptism as an interim national coach, his squad edged Ghana 2-1, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game. The loss to Mali was the first time Nigeria had been beaten by Mali since 1972.
As a national team player, George is best known as the player whose goal qualified Nigeria for the World Cup for the first time ever.
It was a goal scored against Algeria on 8 October 1993 – incidentally it was the 44th anniversary of Nigeria’s maiden international match played against Sierra Leone in 1949.
Finidi played 60 times for Nigeria and was Nigeria’s 40th scoring debutant when he came as a substitute in a 7-1 defeat of Burkina Faso on 27 July 1991.
He is a winner with the Super Eagles at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nation and had his only World Cup outing at the USA ‘94.
Incidentally, his major task now is to qualify Nigeria to another World Cup in the USA and two other nations. The match is 35 days away from this Monday.
Nigerian Football
Enugu Rangers hold on at the top of Nigeria Premier League
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
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title
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.
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