Super Eagles of Nigeria

In preparation for their 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Tanzania this month, the Nigeria U-23 team will begin camping in Ibadan today, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced.

According to thenff.com, 32 players have been invited to the camp by Coach Salisu Yusuf, which will later prune the squad down to a final squad, which will depart the country on October 18 for Dar es Salaam.

The first leg of the Olympics’ qualifier will hold in the East African country in the weekend October 21 to 23. 

“The team will return to Ibadan to prepare for the return leg match that will hold at the Lekan Salami Stadium on October 29,” thenff.com said.
 
Among the 32 players expected to camp in Ibadan are four goalkeepers, including Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Edwin Emelan (Calabar Rovers); and Amah John (Box-To-Box FC).

There are eight defenders in the team, among who are Bamayi Calocho (Yumyum FC); Bello Babatunde (Akwa United); James Ajako (Akwa United); Yazid Adamu (MY Jamil FC); Tosin Adegbite (Enyimba FC); Christopher Nwenze (Plateau United); Isaiah Ejeh (Kwara United) and Anas Hassan (Vandrezzer FC).
 
Nine midfielders are listed for the Ibadan camp. They are Maurice Chukwu (Rivers United); Uche Ogonna (Campos FC); Haggai Katoh (Plateau United); Olamilekan Adebayo (Remo Stars); Suleiman Abdullahi (Gladano FC); Naziru Awwal (Rangers Int’l); Adam Yakubu (Akwa United); Joshua Alechenu (Nasarawa United); and Suleiman Garba Kirki (Kebbi United).
 
The 11 forwards in the team are Kalu Samuel (Enyimba FC); Edwin John (Water FC); Chisom Orji (Colins Edwin FC); Chidiebere Nwobodo (Rangers Int’l); Ogbuehi Nzuebuchi (Campos FC); Jerry Alex (Kano Pillars); Mustapha Jibrin (Abia Warriors); Ademola Adebabam (Ottasolo FC); Abdulsalam Abdulasalam (Shooting Stars); Zulkifilu Mohammed (Plateau United); and Jonathan Alukwe (Heartland FC).  

The Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria (NBFN) has started programmes aimed at developing the sport in the country.

Rising from a meeting in Lagos on Saturday, the board said it would do everything possible to make kickboxing more attractive to Nigerian youths, adding that one of the ways of growing the sport is by training more coaches and organising more events at the grassroots level.

According to KBFN President, Okon Wilson Godwin, who was recently elected into the executive committee of the African Kickboxing Confederation (AFKC), the board had vivid discussions on various issues affecting the Federation, including the appointment of a technical director.

He added: “As it is now, the Federation does not have a technical director and to us, that is not good if it must move forward as a Federation. We need a technical director right now and the board is working on that as we speak. 

“We also reviewed the recently set up sub-committees to have them ratified,” the president said. 

Godwin disclosed that the Federation would soon hold two more championships before the end of the year, adding that the previous four championships held back-to-back after the inauguration of the new board this year has encouraged the board to want to do more.

The president promised to use his new position in African kickboxing to promote the sport in the country.

Explaining the delay in holding the meeting, KBFN Secretary General, Mr. Faseesin Olalekan, said the need to accommodate members coming from states outside Lagos made it impossible to hold it earlier.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has announced the appointment of Tobi Amusan as Youth Ambassador in Ogun State together with a donation of a house and five million Naira in recognition of her historic achievements in global athletics.

Amusan made history in July as the first Nigerian track and field athlete to win a world outdoor title when she stormed home first in the 100m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

She is also the first Nigerian athlete to set a world outdoor record after scorching to a 12.12 seconds finish at the semifinal stage at the championships.

The 25 year old has had a rollercoaster year in the sport as she triumphed in all the major competitions she participated in in the outgoing year.

She began her season with the successful defence of her African Championships title and only missed setting a new Championships record by an illegal tail wind.

Amusan returned home from Mauritus, venue of the African Championships to break the Nigerian Championships 100m hurdles record, running 12.54 seconds to consign to history book the 12.63 seconds Angela Atede ran in Lagos in 1997.

This was preceded by the petite high hurdler’s breaking of her 12.42 seconds African record at the Paris Diamond League meeting.

The Nigerian proceeded to the World Champioinships where she achieved legendary status with her historic win and run.

She returned to the Commonwealth Games stage thereafter to set a new 12.30 seconds Games record on her way to becoming the first Nigerian track and field athlete to successfully defend a Commonwealth Games title.

Amusan ended her season with another successful defence of the Diamond League title she first won last year.

Alex Iwobi opened his Premier League goal account for the season and the Nigerian chose man United, a team he has neither scored nor bagged an assist against in his previous 11 games to do so.

The 26 year old Nigeria international has been in fine form for the Toffees and his goal was a reward for his performances so far this season.

The Nigerian pounced when Casemiro lost possession inside Manchester United’s half at the Goodison Park, drives forward and bends a beautiful effort high into the top corner past David De Gea.

The sixth minute goal lasted for only 11 minutes as Anthony Santos drew man United level.

Bruno Fernandes robs Idrissa Gana Gueye of the ball on the halfway line and slips in Diogo Dalot who moves forward with pace. Dalot plays in Antony to the right who opens his body, and dinks past Jordan Pickford.

The Brazilian has now become the first Man United player to ever score in their first three Premier League matches – a stunning record for the new arrival to break!

Eberechi Eze scored a fine goal as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Leeds at Selhurst Park and end their winless run in the Premier League.

The visitors had deservedly taken the lead early on when Pascal Struijk drove in after Brenden Aaronson hit the post following excellent work inside the box.

Crystal Palace were struggling to impose themselves and Patrick Bamford, making his first Leeds start since August, forced a save out of Vicente Guaita.

But the hosts equalised midway through the first half when Odsonne Edouard headed in from Michael Olise’s free-kick.

Jordan Ayew was unable to put Palace ahead in the second half when he appeared in on goal, only for Rasmus Kristensen to make an excellent last-ditch challenge.

But Eze secured the three points with a superb individual strike, running across the edge of the area before firing low into the back of the net.

The win – Palace’s first in five Premier League games – moves them up to 15th and three points clear of the relegation zone, level on nine points with Leeds, who are 14th.

Palace started the day in a relatively precarious position, just one point above the bottom three after winning one of their first seven league games.

The caveat, however, was that they had faced four of the traditional ‘big six’ in that run, so boss Patrick Vieira would have looked to this game as more of an indicator of how they could perform this season.

Initially, the assessment would have been concerning as they struggled to cope with the Leeds press, making sloppy mistakes at the back while passes went astray.

But the Eagles improved after getting the equaliser, and in the end were good value for their win.

While Eze will take the headlines for his excellent goal, just as important to the victory was centre-back Joachim Andersen, who almost singlehandedly repelled anything the visitors had to offer in the second half.After avoiding relegation on the final day of last term, Leeds are hoping for a less stressful time in what is boss Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

The West Yorkshire side made an excellent start to the campaign with wins against Wolves and Chelsea in their first three games, but they are now without a win since late August.

They began this match in dominant form as Palace struggled to deal with them, with Aaronson looking lively and Bamford sharp on his return to the starting XI.

But set pieces have been a point of concern, and once again they were Leeds’ undoing as they failed to pick up Edouard for Olise’s free-kick.

Since the start of last season, they have conceded 20 goals from set pieces, with only Southampton (21), Everton (23) and Leicester (25) letting in more.

After conceding the equaliser, Leeds rarely looked like scoring again as their struggles on the road continued, and they have now taken just one point in four away games so far this season.

Carney Chukwuemeka was thrilled to make his Chelsea debut in victory over Wolves.

With less than five minutes to go, Chukwuemeka took his first steps onto the pitch as a Chelsea player and made his debut for the club. His league debut came two years ago for Aston Villa, and he made 12 appearances last season as well. But this was Chelsea.

“It feels amazing,” he said afterwards. “I’ve dreamed of playing for the club I supported growing up, so for it to happen is a dream come true.

“I thank God, all my team-mates, my family and the gaffer for trusting me. Hopefully it’s the first of many. The Chelsea fans have been really supporting me since I joined the club and the reception from them today definitely gave me a boost.

“Before coming on he [Graham Potter] told me to express myself, to play how I have been in training and to play with a smile on myself. I think I did that so it was good.”

Holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco lost 2-1 to Nigerian champions, Rivers United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday night.

The CAF Champions League first round, first leg tie lived up to expectations with both teams contributing to the spectacle.

Senegal forward, Bouly Junior Sambou gave Wydad the lead on 32 minutes.

The lead lasted only two minutes before Malachi Ohawume levelled for the hosts.

Ghanaian midfielder, Paul Acquah put Rivers United in front for the time in the game with a clinical finish in the 53rd minute.

The reverse fixture will take place in Casablanca next week Friday.

Nigeria’s other representative in the competition, Plateau United also rallied back to beat Tunisian club, Esperance, 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Esperance took the lead on 27 minutes through Anice Badri.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel equalised for the home team in the 34th minute after the Tunisians failed to deal with Daniel Itodo’s long throw-in.

Mustapha Yuga netted the winning goal late in the first half.

The second leg is billed for next week Sunday in Tunis

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has said “a couple of things went against us” as they lost 3-2 to Arsenal on Sunday.

The Reds went behind after 75 seconds, as Gabriel Martinelli finished off Martin Odegaard’s pass.

Darwin Nunez made it 1-1, but Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners the lead with the last kick of the half.

Although Roberto Firmino pulled one back in the second half, Saka’s penalty won it for Mikel Arteta’s men.

“We created, we were really dangerous, we scored our goal, wonderful goal. Then concede last second of the first half. Obviously we made a mistake, counter attack is the goal.

“We wanted to carry on the good stuff but unfortunately we didn’t do that. We equalised, it was a really open game then. The situation around the penalty of course we should have cleared it.

“Couple of things went against us but we are not blind, we see we could have done better in moments. We caused them a lot of problems but stand here with no points,” Klopp told BBC Sport.

The result means Liverpool are now 14 points behind leaders Arsenal on the table.

Mikel Arteta’s men again climb above Manchester City, one more point above the champions.

Arsenal confirmed their new status as Premier League contenders with a gutsy win over Liverpool on Sunday

Arsenal’s prominence in the 2022/23 English Premier League season was confirmed on Sunday when the Gunners defeated Liverpool 3-2 at the Emirates.

The celebrations from Mikel Arteta, the crowd, and the Arsenal players at the end proved what a big test they had passed by defeating Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team—which won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.

Arsenal had not won a Premier League match against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team since July 2020, when they won 2-1, and in the last five meetings in all competitions before Sunday’s match, the Gunners had failed to score while conceding 11.

On Sunday, however, Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead right away, and Arteta’s men did not look back.

Klopp started the same 11 that beat Rangers 2-0 in the Champions League in midweek, but Trent Alexander-recent Arnold’s weaknesses on the right flank were exposed right away as Martinelli had a free run into the Liverpool box to beat Alisson.

Darwin Nunez equalised for the Reds after a sustained period of possession and a mistake from Gabriel Magalhaes and Luis Diaz got ahead of William Saliba to cross for Nunez to poke past Aaron Ramsdale. Diaz went off injured, with Roberto Firmino coming on in the 42nd minute.

Arsenal wrestled back the possession and struck on the cusp of halftime through Bukayo Saka, who capped a flowing counterattack instigated by Martinelli.

Against the run of play, Firmino equalised in the 54th minute and when it looked like both teams would settle for a draw, referee Anthony Taylor awarded Arsenal a penalty for a foul on Gabriel Jesus by Thiago. Liverpool felt harshly treated, but after a VAR check, the kick was taken by Saka, who stroked the ball to Alisson’s right to cap a wonderful evening.

Arsenal followed up their 3-1 win over Tottenham with another statement win and are back on top of the league table with 24 points from nine matches, 14 points better off than Liverpool whose early season wobble has become a major worry for the fans.