Category: Football - Page 8 - African News Today

Soludo Seeks Establishment Of Bayern Academy In Anambra

30Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Soludo Seeks Establishment Of Bayern Academy In Anambra

Charles Soludo Governor Chukwuma Soludo has urged Bayern Munich FC of Germany to consider establishing an Academy in Anambra as part of an effort to deepen the game of football in Nigeria. Soludo made the request while welcoming the Bayern Munich technical team who were in the state for the National Youth Cup on Saturday. The governor who spoke through Tony Oli, chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission, said the state was happy to have provided a good football stadium which qualified the state to play host for the programme. He said Anambra was home to football and promised to provide the enabling environment for a successful outing while expressing hope that youths from the state would make the final 10 players that would be selected for nurturing. “Anambra has a ...

Didier Drogba Loses Ivorian FA Elections

24Apr

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Cote d'Ivoire, Elections, News, Sports

Didier Drogba Loses Ivorian FA Elections

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has lost his bid to become the president of the Ivorian Football Federation after failing to gain the required votes in the first round of the election. The former Chelsea star polled only 21 votes in a three-way race, with the two other candidates, Yacine Idriss Diallo (59) and Sory Diabate (50) polling more than double his tally. Diallo won a second round to decide the presidency of the federation. Drogba’s candidacy had been disputed last year when he first attempted to stand for election but did not receive the required support from clubs and other interest groups, such as the players' union and coaches’ association, whose nominations he needed to get on the ballot. Read Also: Ivory Coast FA Presidency: Players Refuse to Support Didier...

2023 AFCON Qualifiers: Eagles Are Favourites To Qualify In Group A –Kalou

20Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

2023 AFCON Qualifiers: Eagles Are Favourites To Qualify In Group A –Kalou

Former Chelsea star, Salomon Kalou has tipped the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, which will take place in Cote d’Ivoire.The former Ivory Coast international made this known in an interview with SuperSports on Tuesday.He said that the Super Eagles won’t find it difficult to qualify from Group A that consist of Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome. Read Also: 2022 WCQ Playoffs: Was Referee Right To Cancel Penalty Awarded To Super Eagles?“I think it’s a good group [for the Super Eagles]. I think Nigeria is a team that will always qualify. “They will be the favourites of the group while the second place is open for the other three teams,” Kalou told SuperSport.The matches are expected to begin in May. Winners and runners-up in each group ex...

SD Huesca Reacts To Nwakali’s Allegations

7Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

SD Huesca Reacts To Nwakali’s Allegations

Kelechi Nwakali Spanish Segunda Division club SD Huesca have reacted to allegations made by their former midfielder Kelechi Nwakali. Nwakali was initially suspended by Huesca after returning late from the Africa Cup of Nations in February. The Azulgranas announced the sacking of the player this week with few months to the end of the season. In a statement released by Nwakali on Wednesday, the player claimed that Ruben Garcia, Huesca’s sporting director, tried to prevent him from going to the African Cup of Nations as it wasn’t an important tournament in his book. Read Also: Nigerians Have Turned Super Eagles To Tribal War – Umar Sadiq The former Arsenal player also said Huesca pressured him to sign a new contract, even withholding pay to try and force his hand. The cl...

‘Eguavoen Never Supported NFF’s Decision To Sack Rohr’ –Ikpeba

5Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

‘Eguavoen Never Supported NFF’s Decision To Sack Rohr’ –Ikpeba

Austin Eguavoen Former Nigerian forward, Victor Ikpeba has blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup slated for Qatar. Speaking on Monday Night Football, the former international revealed that Eguavoen did not support NFF’s decision to terminate Gernot Rohr’s contract just few weeks to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Recall that Rohr qualified the senior national team to the biannual tournament and also the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs. However, the team crashed out of AFCON in the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Tunisia before failing to qualify for the World Cup after been eliminated by the Black Stars of Ghana on the away goal rule. Read Also: Dare Regrets Super Eagles’ Failure to Qualify For World C...

Dare Regrets Super Eagles’ Failure to Qualify For World Cup, Condemns Vandalisation Of Abuja Stadium

31Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Dare Regrets Super Eagles’ Failure to Qualify For World Cup, Condemns Vandalisation Of Abuja Stadium

Abuja Fans Invasion Sports Minister Sunday Dare has expressed regrets over Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Russia. “We drew 0-0 in Kumasi and drew 1-1 here and that meant the away goal rule gave Ghana the edge. It is most unfortunate and regrettable that we are not going to Qatar, but that is sports. Nothing is 100% certain. “On our part, the Federal Government gave every support necessary. We got the stadium ready in all its glory. We mobilised Nigerians and other football lovers to fill up the stadium. The NFF called up a solid cast of players. 60,000 voices sang the National anthem in what must have been one of the most uplifting moments one could imagine. The fans gave their vocal support till the very end. The president of the nation, thou...

2022 WCQ: CAF Official Dies After Allegedly Attacked By Angry Abuja Fans

30Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

2022 WCQ: CAF Official Dies After Allegedly Attacked By Angry Abuja Fans

CAF doping officer Dr. Joseph Kabungo from Zambia, has lost his life after he was allegedly attacked by angry Abuja fans in Tuesday’s 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs between Nigeria and Ghana. The Black Stars sealed qualification to this year’s World Cup after holding the Eagles to a 1-1 draw. The first leg in Kumasi ended goalless on Friday. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey opened scoring in the 11th minute before William Troost-Ekong equalised from the penalty spot. After the referee blew the final whistle, angry fans invaded the pitch and destroyed stadium facilities. Read Also: ‘We Will All Be Happy At The End’ – Eguavoen Confident Of Victory Against Ghana It was reported that following the pitch invasion Dr. Kabungo was allegedly beaten and stepped on as fans tr...

‘We Will All Be Happy At The End’ – Eguavoen Confident Of Victory Against Ghana

29Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

‘We Will All Be Happy At The End’ – Eguavoen Confident Of Victory Against Ghana

Super Eagles Super Eagles interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen is upbeat his side will secure a place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The three-time African champions will face the Black Stars of Ghana in the second leg of the qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday (today). The Super Eagles held the Black Stars to a 0-0 draw in the first leg last Friday. Despite failing to impress in the first leg, Eguavoen is positive his side will be victorious. “I want to urge all Nigerian fans and football lovers to support the team,”the 56-year-old told a press conference on Monday. “They should fill up the stadium tomorrow and cheer the team on, because I promise we will all be happy at the end of the game,” he said. Today’s encounter will kick-off at 6...

Lookman: Why I Dumped England For Nigeria

28Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Lookman: Why I Dumped England For Nigeria

Super Eagles Ademola Lookman has revealed what prompted his decision to switch nationality from England to Nigeria. Lookman represented England at the youth level and was part of the U-20 side that won the World Cup in South Korea in 2017. The Wandsworth born star accepted to represent Nigeria through his parents and received the approval from Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) last month. The winger made his debut against the Black Stars of Ghana last Friday replacing Moses Simon in the 74th minute. “I am very excited to be part of Nigeria’s National team and I’m feeling blessed and looking forward to helping the team,” Lookman told CAFOnline.com. “Both my parents are Nigerians and I’ve always seen these [representing Nigeria] as a possibility...

2022 WCQ Playoffs: Was Referee Right To Cancel Penalty Awarded To Super Eagles?

26Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

2022 WCQ Playoffs: Was Referee Right To Cancel Penalty Awarded To Super Eagles?

Former Nigerian forward, Daniel Amokachi has applauded the referee’s decision to disallow the penalty awarded to the Super Eagles in Friday’s 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs against the Black Stars of Ghana. Super Eagles But during the match, the Super Eagles were denied a chance to score a game-winning goal when the ball hit the hand of Iddrisu Baba from Oghenekaro Etebo’s effort.However, there was a penalty call reversed by the Moroccan referee, Redouane Jiyed after a handball by Baba in the 76th minute. Jiyed, however, was advised to check the VAR monitor on the side of the pitch and he changed his initial decision after spotting a foul by Kelechi Iheanacho on the Ghanaian prior to him handling the ball in the box. Read Also: Eguavoen Hopes for Victor Moses’ Return to S...