The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has secured a camping base for the U23 men national team, otherwise known as Olympic Eagles, ahead of the team’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against their Tanzanian counterparts this month.

Camping and prosecution of qualifying campaigns and tournaments of the U23 men and women teams for the Olympic Games and the African Games fall within the ambit of the Youth and Sports Development Ministry, but President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Friday commended the Ministry for securing the camp as it will aid the preparation of the Olympic Eagles for their qualifying campaign.

Tanzania will host the first leg of the fixture in the weekend of 21^st – 23^rd October, with the return leg due in Nigeria on Saturday, 29^th October. The NFF has already scheduled the return leg for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 32 players who will resume camping in the Oyo State capital this weekend. 

Nigeria won the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015, and then went ahead to win the bronze medal at the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in Brazil the following year. However, the class of 2019 failed to reach the knockout rounds in Egypt and thus could not earn a slot at the Olympics in Tokyo last year.

Nigeria won gold at the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in Atlanta, USA in 1996 and followed up with silver in Beijing, China 12 years later.

Nigeria have dropped one place in the latest FIFA men’s rankings for the month of September.

The Super Eagles, who were ranked 30th in the world in the ranking released in August, dropped six points to 31st.

The Eagles’ drop in the rankings was largely due to their 2-1 away defeat to Algeria in their international friendly played in the month under review.

Jose Peseiro’s men were conquered by the Desert Foxes in a friendly game at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex, Oran, in September in what was their only game in the month.

However, the three-time African champions are still the fourth-ranked team in Africa, with Senegal also retaining their number one spot on the continent and 18th in the world. They are followed by second-place Morocco, who also moved one place in the world to 22nd.

Tunisia maintained its position as the third-best team in Africa and 30th in the world, while Algeria leapfrogged Egypt to complete the top five places in Africa while also moving three places in the world to the 37th position.

Meanwhile, Brazil remain the number one ranked side after winning their two matches in the month of September against Ghana and Tunisia in international friendlies.

Belgium are second, with Argentina occupying the third position. France and England maintained their positions to remain the fourth and fifth-best teams in the world.

Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, and Denmark complete the top 10.

Super Eagles coaching team

The Super Eagles will confront the senior national team of Costa Rica in a prestigious international friendly in the country’s capital, San Jose on November 9.

Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, told thenff.com, yesterday, that the three-time African champions have been invited to the Central American nation as part of major activities to send forth the Los Ticos to the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.
 
Thenff.com learnt that the game, scheduled for the National Stadium in San Jose, will kick off at 8.00 p.m. Costa Rica time (3.00 a.m., November 10 in Nigeria).
 
Costa Rica hosted this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals where Nigeria’s Falconets reached the quarterfinals, defeating France, Korean Republic and Canada in the group phase.
 
The Super Eagles have another prestige friendly lined up against Portugal in Lisbon on November 17.

Liverpool visit the Emirates on Sunday looking to regain their mojo as Kwara United face a herculean task against RSB Berkane.

Kwara Utd v RSB Berkane @Mobolaji Johnson Arena @4pm on Oct.8

This is a huge game for Kwara United as they face RSB Berkane, the Confederation Cup defending champions, but anything is possible in 90 minutes of football. Kwara United are playing in Lagos, away from their home stadium in Ilorin, but Coach Azeez Mohammed told Brila that his players had prepared well for the herculean task.

“We’re ready for the game; the boys have prepared well; we know it’ll be a difficult game against a good team, but we’re confident in our ability.”

The Moroccans are not in great form right now, having won just one of their last five games, but they are the defending champions and have continental pedigree.

Current form: Kwara Utd [W-W-L-W-D]; RSB Berkane [L-D-W-L-L]
Head-to-head
First-ever meeting
Prediction: Kwara Utd 2-1 RSB Berkane

Arsenal v Liverpool @Emirates Stadium @4:30pm on Oct.9

It was unthinkable at the start of the 2022/23 English Premier League season that Arsenal would lead Liverpool by ten points after eight match days. The reality is that Arsenal are on the rise, whereas Liverpool have a lot of questions to answer, not to mention the seven-year Klopp slump.

This season, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not been at their best, which has coincided with a slump in form. A loss for the Reds on Sunday would raise red flags about the season. Klopp requires a response from his players, but Arsenal are flying under Mikel Arteta.

Current form: Arsenal [W-W-W-W-L]; Liverpool [W-D-D-L-D]
Head-to-head
16/03/22 PRL Arsenal 0 – 2 Liverpool
20/01/22 LEC Arsenal 0 – 2 Liverpool
13/01/22 LEC Liverpool0 – 0 Arsenal
20/11/21 PRL Liverpool4 – 0 Arsenal
03/04/21 PRL Arsenal 0 – 3 Liverpool
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool

AC Milan v Juventus @San Siro @5pm on Oct.8

After a recent slump, Stefano Pioli requires a positive result against Juventus at San Siro on Saturday. The defending champions lead the Old Lady by four points, but they are hampered by injuries, as evidenced by the 3-0 defeat in London last Wednesday.

Due to injuries to Alexis Saelemaekers, Simon Kjaer, Mike Maignan, Junior Messias, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pioli will need to change his tactics to face a Juventus team that has found some form with two consecutive victories. Juventus are still without Federico Chiesa and Mattia De Sciglio, while Angel di Maria is serving a three-match suspension.

Current form: AC Milan [L-W-L-W-W]; Juventus [W-W-L-L-D]
Head-to-head
23/01/22 SEA AC Milan 0 – 0 Juventus
19/09/21 SEA Juventus 1 – 1 AC Milan
09/05/21 SEA Juventus 0 – 3 AC Milan
06/01/21 SEA AC Milan 1 – 3 Juventus
07/07/20 SEA AC Milan 4 – 2 Juventus
Prediction: AC Milan 1-2 Juventus

Dortmund v Bayern @Signal-Iduna-Park @5:30pm on Oct.8

Both teams have 15 points after eight games, but Bayern Munich is the clear leader in goal scoring with 23 goals, while Dortmund has only scored 11 goals, highlighting the real challenge facing Edin Terzic, the Dortmund manager.

Julian Nagelsmann appeared to be under pressure before the international break after three losses and one defeat, but normal services resumed with the 4-0 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen. Dortmund’s last victory over their rivals came in August 2019, and Saturday’s game may not change that.

Current form: Dortmund [W-L-W-L-L]; Bayern [W-W-L-W-D]
Head-to-head
23/04/22 BUN Bayern 3 – 1 Dortmund
04/12/21 BUN Dortmund 2 – 3 Bayern
17/08/21 SUC Dortmund 1 – 3 Bayern
06/03/21 BUN Bayern 4 – 2 Dortmund
07/11/20 BUN Dortmund 2 – 3 Bayern
Prediction: Dortmund 1-3 Bayern

Omo-Agege secured a landslide victory in the elections conducted in Mozambique.

The Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Azania Omo-Agege Siena, has been elected Vice President of the Africa Boxing confederation (AFBC) 

Omo-Agege, who has been Director of the Africa Boxing Confederation for just two months, said he is thrilled with his new role and is prepared to use it to improve boxing in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

While Nigeria seeks to return to a dominant position in boxing in Africa, the country is gradually making inroads into top administrative positions in the sport.

At the election held in Maputo, Mozambique, last week, Omo-Agege had a landslide victory-polling 11 out of the 13 votes cast.

Ilunga Muyoyo from the Congo Democratic Republic had seven votes to be elected as the 2nd Vice President while Botswana and Morocco had five and three votes, respectively.

With the politicking now over, the new AFBC Vice president is ready to get down to work and make the best use of his new position.

“I thank the President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Kenneth Minimah, for all his encouragement and support. I dedicate this victory to the Nigeria boxing family and the entire country.”

Omo-Agege promised to use his new position to develop boxing in the country and also ensure referees, judges and coaches attend International courses as well as strive to be appointed to AFBC committees.

In a related development, the new AFBC Vice President revealed the equipment donated to Nigeria by the President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Umar Kremleva, will arrive in the country in December.

Rivers United players have been promised $40,000 each of if they reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

Stanley Eguma’s side will face defending Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the first leg of their first round tie in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The reverse fixture is billed for Casablanca next weekend.

The overall winners over two legs will advance to the group stage of the competition.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike rewarded each player with $20,000 for winning the Nigerian league for the first time in their history in June and now has now promised a fresh $40,000.

The Port Harcourt club are looking to become the second Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League after Enyimba conquered the continent in 2003 and 2004.

Plateau United are the other Nigerian club competing in the competition this year.

Following the conclusion of the UEFA Europa League group stage match-day three fixtures on Thursday, below are the current leading scorers and assists in Europe’s second top-flight competition so far.

PSV’s Cody Gakpo is currently the joint-top scorer in the Europa League, alongside Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez.

Gakpo scored a brace in his side’s 5-1 win over FC Zurich on Thursday to take his goal tally to three so far.

Top scorers in the 2022/2023 Europa League so far:

3 goals – Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord) and Cody Gakpo (PSV).

2 gaols -Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg), Luiz Henrique (Betis), Tokmac Nguen (Ferencváros), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Kwabwena Owusu (Qarabağ), Marcus Rashford (Man United), Martin Terrier (Rennes), Matías Vecino (Lazio), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahçe), Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Michael Gregoritsch (Freiburg), Gustav Isaksen (Midtjylland), Guélor Kanga (Crvena zvezda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Gustaf Nilsson (St Gilloise), Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo Kyiv), Yorbe Vertessen (PSV), Marko Vešović (Qarabağ) and Willian José (Betis) .

Most assists in 2022/2023 Europa League:

4 assists – Evander (Midtjylland)
3 assists – Diego Rossi (Fenerbahçe)
2 assists – Kady (Qarabağ), Ludovic Blas (Nantes), Cauly (Ludogorets), Juan Miranda (Real Betis), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Anastasios Bakasetas (Trabzonspor), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes), Oussama Idrissi (Feyenoord), Breel Embolo (Monaco) and Simon Adingra (St Gilloise).

The Europa League group stage match-day four will commence next week.

Nadeshiko of Japan head coach, Futoshi Ikeda has expressed his excitement following the team’s win against the Super Falcons of Nigeria on Thursday.

The former world champions defeated the Super Falcons 2-0 in their friendly encounter at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe.

Mina Tamaka opened the scoring for the Asians four minutes after the hour mark.

The forward added the second from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

The Nadeshiko extended their unbeaten streak against the Super Falcons to three games following the win.

“Until now, we have often played with a four-man defence line, but we have prepared a new system to expand the range of our plays both as a team and as individuals,” Ikeda was quoted by the official website of the Japanese Football Federation.
“I am satisfied with the efforts of the players towards that. In the first half, we thought a lot about the impact of the new system, and we didn’t have enough actions behind the defense line and shots toward the goal.

“I think the fact that we were able to win well in the international match also contributed to the achievement.”

International Friendly – Brazil v Ghana – Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France – September 23, 2022 Brazil’s Richarlison celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates

In the last change to the FIFA World Rankings before the World Cup starts next month, Brazil increased their lead at the top and Spain dropped below Italy.

Brazil, the only team to have competed in every World Cup finals, will go into next month’s tournament in Qatar seeking a record-extending sixth crown.

They will do so with a bigger lead at the top of the rankings after friendly wins over Ghana and Tunisia widened the gap on second-placed Belgium who lost to the Netherlands in the Nations League.

Brazil’s great rivals Argentina remained third, with world champions France fourth and Euro 2020 runners-up England fifth.

There was good news for Italy, who failed to qualify for the World Cup finals again, as they climbed above Spain into sixth place.

Other World Cup-bound teams climbing the rankings were Croatia, up three places to 12th, Iran up two spots to 20th and Serbia who rose to 21st.

For the first time ever, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will confront the Costa Rica in a prestigious international friendly in the country’s capital, San Jose on 9^th November.

NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport said on Thursday that the three-time African champions have been invited to the central American nation as part of major activities to send forth the Los Ticos to the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.

Thenff.com learnt that the game, scheduled for the National Stadium in San Jose, will kick off at 8pm Costa Rica time (3am, 10^th November in Nigeria).

Costa Rica hosted this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals where Nigeria’s Falconets reached the quarter-finals, defeating France, Korea Republic and Canada in the group phase.

The Super Eagles have another prestige friendly lined up against Portugal in Lisbon on 17^th November.