Nikyu: Nigeria’s Flamingoes Will Approach Every Match With Seriousness

Ahead of Saturday’s opener against Brazil, Coach of the Flamingoes, Bala Nikyu has assured that his girls have what it takes to achieve victory.

Nikyu made this known while fielding questions from the media, during the pre-match Press Conference for both teams, after Flamingoes’ official training session Friday afternoon at the King Abdullah II International Stadium in Amman. The Nigerian head coach said his girls know what they are up against and will take every game serious.

“We have been in camp working hard towards making our mark at this World Cup. Nigeria has always been participating in this category of the Women’s World Cup and we don’t want to replicate past mistakes. We want to do well and surpass previous records.” When asked if lack of International exposure for the girls will affect them, Nikyu said it doesn’t matter how long you have spent playing friendlies on the global scale. “What matters is the determination of the players and that element of luck, which also plays a part in the game of football.”

Coach of Brazil U-17 girls, Luizao said his girls have been training for three years since missing out on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Costa Rica, and insisted they want to do well and are aiming for a long run in the competition.

Nigeria’s Flamingoes Training

Flamingoes Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade said the girls are in a confident mood going into tomorrow’s game and are targeting to perform well, rewrite history and go far in the competition. Her Brazilian counterpart, Angelina Constantino stated that the Brazilian girls came prepared and are good to go.

The Flamingoes will confront Brazil in the opening match of group C at 4pm local time (2pm Nigerian time) on Saturday at the 12,000 –capacity King Abdullah II International Stadium in Amman.

Rivers Utd’s Foreign Stars Want CAF Champions League Ticket

Three foreign stars at Rivers United, Godbless Asamoah, Wilson Andoh and Guy Kuemian have expressed hope that the club claims at least a CAF Champions League ticket at the end of the current Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

United will be guaranteed a place in Africa’s elite club competition next year if they finish in the top two position in this season’s NPFL and they still retain a mathematical chance of winning the title at the end of the current campaign.

The Port Harcourt club currently trail the leaders, Enugu Rangers by three points and will be guaranteed, at least a second place finish in the league, if they win their final league game of the season, away to Akwa United.

Rivers United’s Godbless Asamoah

Asamoah was the first to speak and he explained that winning the crucial game against the ‘Promise Keepers’ is vital if his side to end the season on a high.

“Since we drew that last (NPFL game at home to Abia Warriors last Sunday), the mind set amongst the players is to go to Uyo and win against Akwa United.

“That will make the fans and us, players happy so we will do our best to win that last game.

“We are working hard to achieve that,” the Ghanaian striker told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA.

Rivers United’s Wilson Andoh (L)

Asamoah’s compatriot, Andoh also echoed the sentiments of his teammate stating that a win in Uyo is non-negotiable.

“We need to win against Akwa United and we have our destiny in our hands.

“Drawing against Abia Warriors was not good for us as we felt we would get the win and consolidate our position on the log,” he said.

The final salvo was fired by Ivoirian marksman, Kuemian who spoke about his desire to help ‘the Pride of Rivers’ secure CAF Champions League football this season.

Rivers United’s Guy Kuemian

“The match against Akwa United is important for us especially as we want CAF Champions League football in Port Harcourt next season.

“We are preparing very hard for the game on Sunday so we can get the win,” he said.

Rivers United is currently in second place on the NPFL standings with 57 points from 35 matches.

Rivers United’s Guy Kuemian

NFF Assures Nigerians On Adequate Travel Plans For Super Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation has condemned, in very strong terms, a report in some media outlets including America’s Cable News Network (CNN) that it cannot fly the Super Eagles to a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ndola on Sunday, 9th October 2016.

Nigeria’s football –governing body viewed the report as baseless, misleading and despicable, not only against Nigerian football, but against the Nigerian nation.

Super Eagles
photo credit: The NFF

The NFF insisted that the report was the concoction of an idle mind and challenged the purveyors of the falsehood to name their source.

On Thursday, the NFF assured Nigerians that it had concluded arrangements on getting players and officials of the Super Eagles to Abuja for a training camp starting on Sunday, 2nd October, getting the team to and from Zambia and getting the players back to their various Clubs after the national assignment.

The body called for the support and prayers of Nigerians at this time, and urged that the players be allowed to focus on the big task of qualifying the nation to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, without so much negative stories and insinuations.

The NFF noted that over the past few months, some persons have made it their business to fabricate unhealthy stories about the NFF and Nigerian football. It called on all stakeholders to disregard, henceforth, any report about the NFF that did not emanate from the NFF Communications Department.

While admitting financial challenges as a result of the current state of the economy, the NFF expressed solid faith that matters would never get to the point of Nigeria being unable to get its National Team to the venue of a competitive match or championship.

Jordan 2016: Nigeria’s Flamingoes Resume Training for Brazil

Ahead of their group phase clash with Brazil on Saturday, at the 5th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingoes resumed training on Wednesday afternoon at the Al Wehdat Training Field, Amman with all 21 players participating actively. The girls were also scheduled to train at the same venue on Thursday.

The Nigeria team had arrived Amman on Tuesday morning, after flying from Abuja to Dubai and connecting another Emirates Airline flight from Dubai to the Jordanian capital.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials of world football –governing body FIFA conducted the team arrival meeting where Captain Rasheedat Ajibade was presented with Nigeria’s plaque and all the players were given Certificate of Participation. Also at the team arrival meeting, every member of the team was accredited, while various issues on the tournament like venue contact information, stadium and training facilities, pre and post match conferences and laws of the game were discussed in detail.

The 5th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will start on Friday. A total of 16 countries will battle for honours in the three Jordanian cities of Amman, Irbid and Al Zarqa.

I can help Super Eagles Qualify for Russia 2018 says Tunde Adeniji “The Tiger”

Super Eagles striker and former Sunshine Stars of Akure star player, Tunde Adeniji, says he is confident the Super Eagles will qualify for Russia 2018 world cup.

Adeniji who was capped four times under former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh added that with the quality of players available to new coach Gernot Rohr he is sure they can beat Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia to the sole ticket in group B of the world cup qualifier.

Tunde Adeniji

“I believe Super Eagles can qualify for the world cup because all the players invited for the Zambia game are very good players and with determination, they can make it.

My hope is that I will soon get an invite to come help my country because I know my goals can take the team to the world cup.” Adeniji said.

Last season, Adeniji, nicknamed “The Tiger” because of his ability to wear down the opposition’s defence, scored 16 goals for Sunshine Stars, one goal short of Gbolahan Salami who won the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL highest goal scorer award with 17 goals.

He moved to Europe in February after signing a contract with top Bulgarian club Levski Sofia and has since fired in four goals in eight matches played this season, winning five man-of-the-match awards in the process.

“My coach in Sofia has a lot of confidence in me, I have played eight matches, scored four goals, won five man-of-the-match awards, one player of the month award and I am still looking for more.” Tunde said confidently.

Tunde Adeniji

The Super Eagles will face the Chipolopolo of Zambia in a 2018 world cup qualifying game in Ndola on Sunday, 9th October 2016 without “The Tiger”.

Onuigbo Leaves Enyimba

Enyimba FC would like to announce the contract expiration of striker Ifeanyi Onuigbo.

Onuigbo was a part of Enyimba’s CAF Champions League team that reached the group phase of the tournament after making a mid-season switch from Heartland. He also made a handful of appearances in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Ifeanyi Onuigbo

We thank him for his contributions to the team and we wish him all the best.

NIGERIA NATIONAL YOUTH GAMES : EJIDIKE TASK ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS ON PERFORMANCE

Nigeria Pillar Of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has charged athletes and officials participating in the National Youth Games on going in Ilorin, Kwara State, to put up their best performances and raise the standards at the games.

He made this charge during a telephone chat from his Ilorin base.

“I commend the organisers of the games and say this is a good step in the right direction, “he noted.

” This youth games should be seen as a platform to unearth fresh and younger talents for the country. Therefore, I want to implore the athletes and officials participating in the games to up the ante and produce top class performances in line with Olympic Games standards, “Ejidike who also doubles as the President of the Nigeria Karate Federation urged.

Speaking further, the sports philanthropist revealed his satisfaction on the news that Karate will be one of the sports at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Adding that with the improvement of Karate in Nigeria and the growing enthusiasm of the sport, he believes the country would be well represented in Japan.

Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike

“I am optimistic that Nigeria would be well represented at the next Olympic games in Japan.

Towards that, Nigeria Karate Federation have mapped out plans to organise various tournaments and refresher trainings for the athletes and officials ahead of African and global championships, particularly, the next Olympic games, “he enthused.

By Akeem Busari

MFM FC Is Set For Victory, Says Coach Ilechukwu

Head coach of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos Fidelis Ilechukwu has said his side is 100% ready for victory over Ifeanyi Ubah Football Club of Nnewi in their last game of this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign.

The Anambra Warriors will be guest of MFM FC in this weekend’s match day 38 fixture of the NPFL at the Agege Township Stadium.

MFM FC

Ilechukwu and his men are aware that they have only one thing to play for in this encounter which is a victory against the third placed team thus the youthful gaffer is looking forward to a glorious outing.

Ilechukwu who sounded very optimistic of a resounding victory said while speaking to the clubs official website mountaintopfc.com reaffirmed that his wards are fully ready for the maximum points when they take on the Anambra Warriors.

” Sunday’s match against FC Ifeanyi Ubah is more than a football match for me and my players, a lot of things are tied to it, my career as a coach, the players careers and that of our fans and supporters because failure to beat the visitors means we are relegated and we can’t afford to let that happen.

Coach Ilechukwu

“We have been doing our best in training, working extraordinary hard and our management led by Mr Godwin Enakhena has been very supportive and the players too are ready to fight with the last drop of their blood because it’s more than a football match for them. Having said all of these I’m very confident that we will beat Ifeanyi Ubah,” Ilechukwu stated.

The Lagos-based side sits on the 17th spot on the Nigerian top-flight log with 42 points.

EBU AND FISA RENEW PARTNERSHIP

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the World Rowing Federation (FISA), have agreed on a four-year renewal of all European media rights from 2017-2020 for rowing’s premier world and European events.

This agreement includes the World Rowing Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the annual World Rowing Cup series and the European Rowing Championships. The 2019 World Rowing Championships will serve as qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The opening event of the renewed agreement will be the first regatta of the 2017 World Rowing Cup series from 5–7 May in Belgrade, Serbia.

“Our relationship with the EBU started in the early 1980s and it has been a long and increasingly successful one,” says FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland. “We have all seen and experienced the fast-moving developments that are influencing the televising and distribution of sports events, and I remain confident that by staying with public service network broadcasters, our sport is in excellent and professional hands. The coverage and promotion of rowing has continued to build through the EBU membership and its various platforms. I look forward to a highly collaborative and productive relationship with the EBU and its members through to 2020.”

“Rowing is one of the few sports to have been part of the Olympic Games since the start and thanks to FISA it has evolved to bring its excitement to viewers worldwide,” says Julien Ternisien, Head of Sports Rights – Summer Sports. “That FISA has once again entrusted the EBU and its members with giving rowing’s marquee events the free-to-air exposure they deserve tells of a thriving partnership that will continue to grow in strength.”

FIFA U17 World Cup: What The Flamingoes Need To Do To Succeed

The Nigerian U17 women team will start their sojourn in Jordan at the 2016 edition of the FIFA U17 women’s world cup.

The set of young girls who did not concede a single goal during the qualifiers are set to make history again, but they have to be focused at this stage and make Nigerians especially the women folk proud.

In an open note to the public, Award-winning Journalist and women’s rights advocate, Aderonke Bello shares some success tips with them as they head out to represent themselves and the nation.

She said, “It is a good thing to be among the few African countries that made it to the tournament, this, however will kickstart your career as footballers, be professional.

Nigerias Flamingoes Squad to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016

“I just want to give you few tips to succeed at a tough tournament like this one, keep your head high girls, focus, focus and focus; you need to stay away from social media at the moment; you don’t want praises and criticisms get to affect your performances.

“Work together as a team both on and off-field, keep no grudge against your teammate no matter what. This is not the time to throw tantrums, keep yourself together incase of pre/pro menstrual syndrome, finally, be patriotic by giving your best to the country as we are all cheering you on to succeed,” she concluded.