Nigeria table tennis star Olufunke Oshonaike is on cloud nine following the qualification of Olajide Omotayo for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The 2019 African champion on Friday secured his passage to the Ancient Games following his victory in Kigali on Friday.
Oshonaike who has appeared in 7 Olympics shared her excitement in a statement titled ” Paris 2024 here we come”.
” I know he wanted it so badly, he has been very hungry for it, we were so close in the mixed doubles last year after getting the ticket, but I guess it was not meant to be.
He gave me a lot of encouragement and I love him more for that.
“Please, friends and family, join me in congratulating and thanking God for my son, Olajide Omotayo for qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“I am overwhelmed with joy, congratulations to Edem Offiong too for qualifying for Paris 2024,” she wrote.
FIFA U17 has been improved massively by FIFA in terms of slots allocation.
In a tournament that has been played by 24 teams recently, the next edition is set to be contested by 48 teams.
In the last edition hosted by Indonesia in 2023, Africa was represented by four teams; Morocco, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso.
In the 2025 edition, Africa is set to be represented by 10 teams, FIFA says.
Africa has the most titles in the FIFA U17 World Cup with Nigeria winning five (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015) and Ghana lifting the title on two occasions (1991,1995).
Nigeria winning the inaugural edition
Not only Africa that has gotten an improved slot, but all the other continents have also been allocated extra slots.
Asia has been given 9 slots, CONCACAF (8), South America (7) Oceania (3) and Europe, who have been allocated with the highest (11).
FIFA plans to give young talents the platform and the exposure at an early stage thereby switching the tournament from every two years to one.
Germany are the defending champions after beating France 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time in Indonesia in 2023.
The 20th edition will be hosted in Qatar as they will also host the next 5 editions annually from 2025 to 2029.
Heartland Queens have drawn former champions, Nasarawa Amazons in the NWFL Premiership Super Six playoffs Matchday 1 to be decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
The draw ceremony was held on Frida, May 18 at the conference room of Tulips Hotels in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The six teams that qualified for the highly anticipated football event include Rivers Angels FC, Edo Queens FC, Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons FC, Confluence Angels FC, and Heartland Queens FC.
The first match of Day 1 will be between Confluence Queens and Edo Queens while the last day match will see the multiple champions, Rivers Angels and Africa’s third-best club side, Bayelsa Queens take to the turf at 2 pm.
The format is round-robin which will see each team play five matches and at the end of the day, the team with the highest number of points will be crowned champions and handed the ticket to represent Nigeria at the CAF Women’s Champions League through going through sub-regional playoffs to qualify for the continent proper.
With a rest day in between each matchday, the NWFL league body allows for rest and recuperation to enable healthy competition, see full fixtures below:
Bayelsa-born attacking sensation, Robert Mizo, has been nominated for the 10th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards set to take place in the city of Uyo
Mizo, who joined Libyan footballing giants Al Ahly Benghazi for an undisclosed fee from Bayelsa United in January was nominated alongside Victor Osimhen of Napoli SC and Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen in the Striker of the Year category.
President of Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips said during the week that his team is packaging a show-stopper of an event to mark one decade of an interesting project that has continued to gain strength and relevance on the pillars of authenticity, transparency and credibility, and which is endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a memorable tenth edition of the awards. All is set, and we are heading to Uyo not only to put up a super-show, but also to mobilize resources within our capacity to support the Super Eagles to victory in the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa on Friday, 7th June.
Already, nominees have emerged in the 18 award categories, with the winners to be unveiled at the Ibom Meridien on the night of Saturday, 8th June. The award categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Striker of the Year, Queen of the Pitch, King of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji Award, Football Pitch, Football-Friendly Governor, Corporate Sponsor, alongside several honours for media representatives.
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK)
Midfielder of the Year: Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)
Striker of the Year: Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)
Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico de Madrid Femenino); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC)
…Sanwo-Olu, Elegbeleye, GTI, in the running
Organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards are set to take the ‘uncommon transformation’ city of Uyo by storm with the tenth edition of Nigeria’s longest-running football awards scheduled for Saturday, 8th June at the Ibom Meridien Hotel and Resorts.
President of Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips said during the week that his team is packaging a show-stopper of an event to mark one decade of an interesting project that has continued to gain strength and relevance on the pillars of authenticity, transparency and credibility, and which is endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a memorable tenth edition of the awards. All is set, and we are heading to Uyo not only to put up a super-show, but also to mobilize resources within our capacity to support the Super Eagles to victory in the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa on Friday, 7th June.
“I want to use this opportunity to deeply appreciate the NFF, the Super Eagles, all our friends, enablers, affiliates and commercial partners, for their support over the past 10 years, and to promise that the values of transparency, integrity and credibility will never depart from the Nigeria Pitch Awards.”
Already, nominees have emerged in the 18 award categories, with the winners to be unveiled at the Ibom Meridien on the night of Saturday, 8th June. The award categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Striker of the Year, Queen of the Pitch, King of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji Award, Football Pitch, Football-Friendly Governor, Corporate Sponsor, alongside several honours for media representatives.
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK)
Midfielder of the Year: Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)
Striker of the Year: Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)
Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico de Madrid Femenino); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC)
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Team of the Year: Super Falcons; Enyimba FC; Remo Stars
Coach of the Year: Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars); Finidi George (Enyimba FC); Randy Waldrum (Super Falcons)
Sam Okwaraji Award: Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Ahmed Musa; Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars)
State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme: Edo State; Delta State; Lagos State
Football Pitch of the Year: Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos; Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo
Football-Friendly Governor of the Year: His Excellency Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State); His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State); His Excellency Godwin Obaseki (Edo State)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface has been named Rookie Player of The Year in Germany.
Boniface has enjoyed an incredible campaign with Bayer Leverkusen. The 23-year-old Nigeria has played an impressive role for Die Werkself this season, registering twenty goals and ten assists in 32 appearances.
The Nigerian International joined the German side last summer after a successful stint with the Belgian Jupiler League side Union St Gillaloise.
He has a season to remember with him in the team, Bayer Leverkusen has won their first-ever Bundesliga title, looks set to win the Europa League trophy, and are also favorites to win the finals of the German Cup, where they face Kaiserslautern.
Boniface won the Rookie of the Month for the first 4 months of the season before injury set in for him but he returned with a bang to help the club.
The lanky forward outwitted Xavi Simon and Two other players to emerge as the winner of the Rookie Player of the Year.
Boniface edged RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, who has registered seven goals and eleven assists in 31 games.
Also, he outwitted Ian Maatsen who plays for Borussia Dortmund on loan from Chelsea. And Maximilian Beier, who has 15 goals and two assists in 32 Bundesliga games.
Flamingos Head Coach, Bankole Olowookere has called on the home fans to fill up the MKO Abiola National Stadium this Saturday to support the girls as they aim to stroll past the Burkinabes into the final round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Ahead of the clash against Burkina Faso’s U17 girls, Olowookere believes the support of the fans will go a long way towards propelling the team to victory.
“We appreciate the support of Nigerians for the Flamingos over the years, but we are calling especially for their support this weekend when we take on the Burkina Faso girls in the return leg of our qualifying fixture. The Flamingos will be ready to make the nation proud by winning to reach the last round of the qualification series.
Nigerians in Mali
“I have the players to do the job. All we are asking for is support from the stands. Our objective is to not only win the ticket, but to go to the World Cup and surpass our last outing of third-place finish in India in 2022.”
Chidi Harmony scored for Nigeria in the 55th minute but poor communication in the defence led to Burkina Faso equalizing with six minutes left through Rainata Oubda.
Victory over the Burkinabes will set the Flamingos up for the final qualifying fixture, against the winner of the Senegal/Liberia fixture. The Senegalese lead 3-1 going into the second leg in Monrovia this weekend.
Finidi George has said he isn’t under pressure to deliver as the Super Eagles coach.
The former Ajax winger succeeded Jose Peseiro after the contract of the Portuguese gaffer expired.
He was unveiled on Monday in Abuja and he asserted himself and said he was not afraid of anything.
“I’m a quiet person but I’m not afraid of anything, the worst you can get in football is not getting the result while the best is winning always.
I will try my best to make sure that the team function properly and start winning games. Pressure, I don’t think I have it, I have tough skin”, he said.
In the same vein, The former Ajax winger refused to speak on what he is expected to earn as coach of the team following his unveiling.
He however played down on the salary expectation saying that he is more interested in adding value to the team.
“I know money is good but I think if you add value to what you do, the money will come. I am not quite worried about earning as much or more than what Jose Peseiro was earning. What I am getting is good enough for me.
“The moment I add value to what I am doing, I think the money will come. For me, it’s all about work and adding value. So long as the team is going to win, the money is going to come.”
On the issue of his relationship with the players, George said there won’t be any controversy but he will maintain a perfect relationship.
“I think I have been with the team for 20 months and I can assure you that my relationship with the players is very perfect. As an Assistant and now been a Head Coach, we are not changing it. I will just try to improve on my relationship with the players.
“These are professional players. We have to give them what they are used to in Europe and in Europe you don’t have to slap anybody for not doing their job. Definitely, I have a way of talking to the players they will understand.
“Henceforth, you will not hear any controversy on my relationship with the players. That will be perfect.”
He went further to say that players selection will be based on merit and those willing to fight for the badge adding that his first major target is to qualify for the World Cup.
“Selection of players, you have to be playing in your club and you must have that commitment. For me Nigeria is first and that is the same commitment and loyalty I want from each and every player that is invited and if you can do that you are good to go.
“My first target is to make sure we are in line to qualify for the world cup. But the major step or target is these two games that we have. We will do everything to win against South Africa and Benin Republic. Once we do that, we have set the tone and take it from there.”
Hurdles Tobi Amusan blazed to yet another superb win at the 2024 Jamaica Athletics Invitational with a world-leading time of 12.40s.
The reigning World Champion clocked a Season’s Best (SB) of 12.40s (0.9), to beat her friend Danielle Williams of Jamaica, who ran 12.46s, while Christina Clemons of the United States was 3rd in 12.54s.
Amusan trailed reigning Danielle Williams and American Nia Ali for most of the race but surged ahead in the closing stages, eclipsing the previous world-leading time of 12.42 set by Tonea Marshall of the USA on April 20.
Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will defend their WAFU Zone B Cup of Nations title starting May 16.
Nigeria will lock horns against familiar foe Burkina Faso at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra.
The WAFU Zone B secretariat who released the schedule for the U-17 Cup of Nations, informed that host nation Ghana will take on Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra.
In another exciting fixture, Togo will clash with Niger on Matchday Two.
The WAFU Zone B U-17 Cup of Nations is slated to take place at the University of Ghana Stadium from May 15 to May 29, 2024.
The management of Kwara United has sought the support of its fans and supporters as they take on Rivers United in the Matchday 23 re-scheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter billed for the Main Bowl of the State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The Harmony Boys will host Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United on Thursday.
Kwara United, who are battling to avoid relegation are three points off the drop zone.
The Afonja boys now known as Harmony Boys currently have 40 points on the NPFL table, and are expected to consolidate on their recent good run, which saw them picking seven points in three matches; a win over Gombe United away from home, victory over Akwa United in Ilorin and a draw against Doma United in Gombe State.
In a message by the management, “the fans and supporters will make the difference as usual, as we file out against the must-win match against Rivers United tomorrow.
“We plead for the support of Kwarans all the way, as we fight for the maximum points in the all-important match, as we urge them to troop out enmasse to drum their support for us.”
The Club’s Chairman, Kumbi Titiloye, who commended the fans, supporters and stakeholders for their support so far, pleaded for sustained support, to keep the team in good stead at the end of the season.
While commending the government and the Sports Commission for the support to the team, he charged the players to work harder, to compensate for the commitment.
After the encounter tomorrow, the team will play Warri Wolves of Delta sStatein the Round of 32 of the President Federation Cup at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Wednesday May 22nd, 2024.
With the 2026 World Cup qualifier set to resume, the South Africa Football Association has concluded arrangements to return Bafana Bafana to Bloemfontein.
The last time the team played their home game at Bloemfontein was in 2010 and the football apex body has confirmed that Bafana will first play the Warrior of Zimbabwe at the venue before other games.
“We are looking forward to playing this match in Bloemfontein before other games and we appeal to the fans to come out in numbers to support the team.
The fans play such a crucial role for the players, and a packed Free State Stadium would serve as a fantastic boost for them”, the FA said.
Bafana Bafana last played in the city when they beat France 2-1 in the global FIFA World Cup tournament 14 years ago.
The Nigeria U17 Women’s National Team, Flamingos will depart Abuja for Bamako on Wednesday ahead of their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.
The Flamingos, who thrashed Soccer Talent Academy 9-1 in Abuja in their first preparatory match will face the Burkinabe U17 women’s team on Saturday, 11 May.
Speaking after the match with Soccer Talent Academy, coach Bankole Olowookere pointed out the areas the technical crew must work on before jetting out of the country.
“Despite scoring a lot of goals today, we missed a lot of chances too and we can not afford to do that in a competitive match. We must utilize our chances to score goals against Burkina Faso so that the return leg at home will be a walk in the park for us.
“I have noticed one or two things that must be corrected before our next friendly match and the girls must understand the difference between training session and match situation.”
Nigeria has appeared at every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals bar one – the 2018 finals staged in Uruguay, wishing bronze medals at the last World Cup.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation Fouzi Lekja is contemplating becoming the next President of the African soccer governing body.
South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe replaced Ahmad Ahmad as the president of the body a few years ago and he has not shown any intention of running for the second time in office
While speaking to the Egyptian TV ONTime Sports, Lekja said is not considering the position presently but no one knows what will happen in the future.
” At the moment am not considering becoming the president of CAF but you never know what will happen in the future “, he said.
Morocco has become the hub of football in the continent as the country is set to stage the next major competitions which include the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations and the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
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