After being overlooked by Super Eagles head coach Austin Eguavoen for Nigeria’s World Cup play-off clash against Ghana, some players in the Nigeria Professional Football League has lamented being left out of the squad for the crucial qualifiers.

Eguavoen on Friday released the Eagles’ 32-man provisional squad to face Ghana for the World Cup play-off games later this month, with no single player from the Nigerian league listed.

It’s not the first time the local league players have voiced their frustrations at being excluded from the national team. Erstwhile coach of the team, Gernot Rohr, did not hide his preference for overseas-based stars in over five years in charge of the side, but with the appointment of Eguavoen on interim basis in December, the NPFL stars were hoping for a change of fortunes.

However, the players were left disappointed once more after the list for the clash against the Black Stars was released and none of the home-based players were included.

“It’s a very big issue because it’s obvious that they don’t regard the NPFL players. I see no reason why players from the league cannot be invited, even if it’s just three,” MFM goalkeeper, Jerry Isaac, told The PUNCH.

“Let’s check other countries national teams, they usually have at least two or three home-based players, but the reverse is the case here. It’s so unfair how they treat us and it bothers me because the message they are sending to us is that the league is just empowerment to help alleviate poverty.

“But the bad part is that they deceive us by coming to watch matches and yet they can’t find any good player. We know we have good players that can make the team and that’s why we don’t really get encouraged.”

World basketball body FIBA has thrown its weight behind the Musa Ahmadu-Kida-led board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, after parallel polls in Abuja and Benin City ushered in two NBBF presidents January 31.

Ahmadu-Kida was re-elected as NBBF president at the Benin election, while Mark Igoche emerged as president from the Abuja poll.

However, according to a letter dated March 7, 2022 from FIBA and signed by Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, the body congratulated Ahmadu-Kida and members of his board, stating that it looked forward to working with them for the next four years.

The letter read in part, “FIBA acknowledges receipt of the results of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Elective Congress held in Benin City on 31 January 2022. Accordingly, FIBA takes note of the election of the following persons to the NBBF Board for the following four (4) years.

 “FIBA takes the opportunity to request your confirmation as to the remaining members of the NBBF Board as per article 21.2 (d) to (I) of the NBBF Constitution.

 “FIBA congratulates all the elected members and looks forward to close collaboration in furtherance of the development of basketball in Nigeria.”

 Meanwhile, a former board member of the NBBF, Mustapha Liman, has called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to broker peace between the warring parties.

He added that the ministry should organise “a fresh and inclusive election” using its guidelines.

 “What is happening in Nigeria basketball is so sad, but I am happy that the ministry is taking the right decision; from all indications, the ministry has shown they are neutral,” Liman told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

 “The best thing to do now is for the ministry to organise a fresh election by using their guideline as applicable to other federations and not the satanic document they (NBBF) call a constitution,” Liman added.

Vanung University made it to the Taiwan University Basketball Association Final 4 following 81-68 win against the National Taiwan University of Arts with Nigerian Born Forward Humphery Gabe Gabriel in inspiring form.

Gabe raked in 22 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists as Vanung recorded their 3rd win in the series.

Going into the Game, Vanung knew it is win or lose after suffering 3 previous losses and 2 wins  but NTUA took the game from the tip-off and raced to a 7-0 lead before Gabe took the game on his hands and pushed his side back with a Dunk, followed by a 3 pointer.

Both sides were neck in neck until the last second of the First Quarter and NTUA took the lead 21-20.

Vanung got their strides right in the Second Quarter to take a a seven-point lead into the interval leading 44-37.

Gabe has raked in 5 double-doubles in the last 5 games and was not going to take his foot off the gas as he continued to lead the team at both ends with both offensive and defensive rebounds. The Forward made 100%  shots from the free-throw line as well as 3 point shots as Vanung continued to pull away to end the 3rd Quarter 67-48.

Despite Coach Bamsim resting his talisman and his starting 5 for the final 5 minutes of the last quarter, Vanunng was comfortable and saw out the game to win 81-68.

Gabe and his teammates went into the locker room with the final game on Friday in mind oblivious of the Ranking only to receive the news that results from other games have come in favor of Vanung that they are through to the Final Four even with a game in hand.

“We were shocked to know we are through to the final four with a game in hand, We came into the game today knowing we must win our last two games to make it through and that was the impetus we needed to really go all out for the win today,” He said.

“We will return to the court tomorrow with the aim to end the series in style so we won’t take off our foot from the pedal, ending the tie with a win will be fun” he added.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XXKtY1QQeY&feature=youtu.be

Humphrey Gabe Gabriel has recorded an average of 13.8 Rebounds and 16 Points in the 6 games played and will be looking to crown the series with another double-double on Friday.

Pele is a fighter, says his son

Pele’s son Edinho took over as coach of minor club Londrina on Sunday and led the team to a 1-0 win before reassuring fans his soccer legend father was “a fighter” and giving his all in the battle against cancer.

Pele, 81, had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021 and has been in and out of hospital for chemotherapy on a regular basis ever since.

A urinary infection meant his last stay in hospital was longer than planned but the three-times World Cup winner is now back at home near Santos, the city and club where he made his name.

“He’s good. He is in a tough battle over his health, but my father is a fighter, just as he has been his whole life,” Edinho told reporters. “He’s still fighting. Our family prays for him a lot and we’re hoping that he will recover.”

Edinho, who played in goal for Santos in the 1990s, said he was unaware if his father watched Londrina’s 1-0 win over Cianorte in the Parana state championship.

“I confess that I don’t know,” Edinho said. “But he is going to find out once I tell him. We are cheering for him to above all get well as soon as possible.”

Edinho, 51, is normally Londrina’s Under-20 coach but was in temporary charge for Sunday’s game.

He is expected to return to his normal duties next week with the arrival of a new first-team coach.

Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets, arrived in the Senegalese capital, Dakar on Wednesday ahead of their 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final round, first leg clash with their Senegalese counterparts.

The two –time World Cup runners-up have amassed a total of 18 goals in five matches in this long qualifying series, jettisoning Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Cameroon on the way. Against the Central African Republic, the Falconets hit seven goals away and four at home, before lashing the Congolese girls 4-0 in Brazzaville, leading to the Congolese Football Federation opting not to fly their girls to Nigeria for the return leg.

Cameroon’s U20 girls showed muscle and strength in their first encounter with the Nigerian girls in Douala to end it 0-0, but fell by three goals at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja to crash out of the race.

The Senegalese girls reached this final qualifying round after edging the Mali U20 girls 5-3 on penalty shoot-out, with both teams tied 1-1 at the end of the two-legged fourth round fixture.

Head Coach Chris Danjuma settled for his usual suspects in the 23-girl list, including goalkeeper Monle Oyono, captain Oluwatosin Demehin, defenders Oshobukola Omowumi, Oluchi Ohaegbulem and Jumoke Alani, midfielders Esther Onyenezide and Adoo Yina, and forwards Mercy Idoko, Joy Jerry and Blessing Okpe.

Saturday’s clash at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thies (outside Dakar) will kick off at 4.30pm Senegal time (5.30pm Nigeria time).

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Togolese official Vincentia Amedome as referee for the match. She will be assisted by compatriot Abra Agbedanou (assistant referee 1), and Mauritanians Mariem Chedad (assistant referee 2) and Aissata Amadou Lam (fourth official).

Sabine Marie Isabelle Zoungrana from Burkina Faso will serve as the match commissioner.

FALCONETS IN DAKAR TO BATTLE SENEGAL

Goalkeepers: Nelly Ekeh (Sunshine Queens); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens); Inyene Etim (Abia Angels)

Defenders: Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Omowunmi Oshobukola (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Motunrayo Ezekiel (Naija Ratels); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Confluence Queens); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens)

Midfielders: Bashirat Amoo (Nasarawa Amazons); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons); Anuoluwapo Salisu (Bayelsa Queens)

The second leg of the crucial 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off between Nigeria and Ghana will be officiated by Tunisian referee Sadok Selmi. This means that the Nigeria-Ghana duels will be officiated by North Africans.

Already, Morocco’s Redouane Jiyed has been handed the first leg match in Cape Coast. The Super Eagles will host the Black Stars in the return fixture of the two-legged tie on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

First leg of the tie will take place on Friday, March 25, 2022 at the Cape Coast stadium before the deciding fixture four days later.

Selmi has been very active in the 2021-22 season having been present at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon where he handled two group stage games.

He was in charge when Morocco beat Comoros 2-0 and also when Cape Verde drew 1-1 against host country Cameroon all in Yaoundé.

Selmi recently took control of the CAF Champions League group stage match when Wydad AC came from behind to beat Zamalek SC 3-1 in Casablanca.

The top Tunisian referee officiated the second preliminary round match in Mali where Stade Malien lost at home to Guinean giants Horoya AC.

Thando Dlodlo helped set the African record for the 4x100m relay at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar

A doping ban for Thando Dlodlo means that his South African team-mates Akani Simbine, Tlotliso Gift Leotlela and Clarence Munyai are set to lose the gold medals they won at the 2021 World Athletics Relays.

Dlodlo, who ran the first leg of the 4x100m final at the event in Poland last May, tested positive for testosterone at the South African championships in Pretoria a few weeks before the team’s success in Chorzow.

The 23-year-old has been suspended for a two and a half years by the South Africa Doping Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids).

A spokesperson for Simbine who finished fourth in the 4x100m at the 2020 Olympics in Tojyo, said he was devastated but that he would not be giving any further comment at this time.

It means Italy would be promoted to become men’s 4x100m World Athletics Relays gold medallists, with Japan set to get silver medals and Denmark moving up to bronze.

World Athletics has yet to comment on Dlodo’s case and disqualify the South African team.

Dlodlo’s ban, which runs until 28 December 2023, was reduced from four years after he admitted the offence.

The sprinter missed out on competing at the Olympics last year after being informed of his positive test on 29 June and being provisionally suspended.

The sanctions will not affect South Africa’s continental record for the 4x100m relay that the team, which included Dlodlo, set at the 2019 World Athletics Champiobship

Novak Djokovic’s name has appeared in the draw for the first Masters Series event of the year in Indian Wells.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion said i last month that he had not received a Covid vaccination.

But that is obligatory for any non-US citizen wishing to enter the country.

Djokovic did not take his name off the entry list before Tuesday’s draw, and tournament organisers admit they have not yet been able to find out whether he has a viable route into the US

“Novak Djokovic is on the tournament entry list, and therefore is placed into the draw,” the BNP Paribas Open said in a statement.

“We are currently in communication with his team; however, it has not been determined if he will participate in the event by getting CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) approval to enter the country. We will provide updates in the future as we learn more.”

There are very few exceptions to US Covid entry requirements, and it seems unlikely Djokovic has recently had the vaccine.

He was deported from Australia in January after the government cancelled his visa in a row over his vaccine status, and Djokovic told Amol Rajan last month that he is prepared to miss other big events in future.

“The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else,” he said.

“I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can.”

As the second seed in Indian Wells, Djokovic has a first-round bye and so would not play his first match before Saturday.

He may be hoping there is a change in the US entry rules in the next 48 hours, but if he does have to withdraw then the balance of the draw will be affected.

The seeded players are spread out across the 96 man field, and if Djokovic’s name is later removed, that section of the draw will be weaker than the others.

Andy Murray is a potential beneficiary. The former world number one will play a qualifier in the opening round, but would be a potential third-round opponent for Djokovic.

Britains defending champion Cameron Nore has a first-round bye, but finds himself in the same quarter of the draw as the world number one Daniil Medvedev and the fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Dan Evans, the 27th seed, also has a first round bye.

Tiger Woods will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at the PGA Tour headquarters in Florida on Wednesday.

American Woods has won 15 majors, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18, and a joint-record 82 times on the PGA Tour.

The 46-year-old is missing this week’s Players Championship at Sawgrass as he continues to recover from the injuries he sustained in a car crash in 2021.

He played with his son Charlie at an event in December but is yet to set a date for his return to the PGA Tour.

The ceremony, which starts at 19:00 local time (00:00 GMT) will see Woods introduced by his daughter Sam and be inducted alongside former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, four-time major winner Susie Maxwell and course developer and architect Marion Hollins.

Speaking before the Players Championship, 2019 champion Rory McIlroy said: “He was going to be a Hall of Famer when he was five years old.

“He’s been an inspiration for so many of us. We – all that are playing here this week – have to thank Tiger for where the game is and where the Tour is.”

To emphasise that point, Woods recently won the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Programme and with it $8m (£6m) for generating more media interest than any other golfer in 2021 – even though he played just one tournament all year.

His last official PGA Tour event was the 2020 Masters.

Woods was seriously injured in a car crash in February 2021 and was not seen publicly for much of the year. In late November a social media post of him hitting golf balls under the title “making progress” attracted 7.8 million views on Twitter.

A month later he partnered his son, Charlie, in the PNC Championship – a parent-child exhibition event. They finished second after making 11 consecutive birdies in the final round.

Woods won his 15th major at the 2019 Masters, 11 years after winning his 14th at the 2008 US Open.

His victory at the ZOZO Championship in Japan in October 2019 saw him draw level with Sam Snead on 82 PGA Tour wins.