OWOSPORTS

Super Eagles B Head Coach, Imama Amapakabo, still pained by the 2-1 loss to Togo on Sunday, is hopeful that the greater goal of building a quality U23 side for Nigeria would not be lost. Nigeria lost to Togo in Thies, Senegal in their first match of the 2019 WAFU Cup billed to end October 13. It was a second loss for the mixed team of senior and junior players within a week. Amapakabo said in Thies on Sunday night that much as they had desired to win the major trophy in Senegal, he is determined to ensure that the bigger plan of developing a squad of quality players is achieved. “We lost the game against Togo but the team showed the capacity to win. As you may not know, this is largely our U23 team needing exposure. “When players at that level play a competition like this they are bound to make mistakes. The first half was not up to the level we desired because there were some errors but we returned in the second half a lot much better creating many scoring chanc

Nigeria’s senior women, Super Falcons continue the pursuit of a ticket to the women’s football tournament of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when they fly to Abidjan, capital city of Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday, ahead of a second round, first leg clash with their Ivorian counterparts on Thursday. The nine-time African champions and 3-0 winners on aggregate over Algeria in the first round will travel aboard Air Cote d’Ivoire, and arrive in Abidjan in the evening early enough to have a walk-out. They will have the official training session at the match venue on Wednesday. Acting Head Coach Chris Danjuma has selected seven overseas-based and 11 home-based professionals for the clash, with new captain and FC Barcelona ace Asisat Oshoala leading the 18 –woman playing body. There are also defenders Chidinma Okeke and Osinachi Ohale, midfielders Ngozi Okobi and Chinaza Uchendu and forwards Francisca Ordega and Rasheedat Ajibade from overseas. Goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nna

Enyimba Football Club have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League following a 0-1 loss to Al Hilal at the Al Hilal Stadium on Sunday evening. Mohammed Musa's 48th minute strike became the decisive goal of the qualifying round tie after the first leg in Aba a fortnight ago ended goalless. Enyimba were forced into an early substitution on an extremely noisy night in Omdurman when Stanley Okorom was stretchered off with a knock and replaced by Emmanuel James within the quarter hour. Despite Hilal's energetic start, the game's first real opening did not come until midway through the half when Ifeanyi Anaemena's infringement handed the hosts a freekick at the edge of the box, which was eventually fired wide; before Atahir Mohammed attempted acrobatically from the box to pull a true save from Kayode. Enyimba, at the other end, began to threaten and Guera's low drive from the right was parried out by Salim Magoola before James drew another sav

Heartland FC of Owerri Head Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has assured the Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha that the team can win a silverware or a continental ticket. Camara gave the assurance as he poured encomiums on HIS Excellency after the Naze Millionaires took delivery of a brand new Totota Coaster bus from the state government.  "Am delighted as this gesture is a massive boost for the team as Governor Ihedioha has kept to his promise, that welfare of the players, coaches and other staffers is top priority. "The man hours lost on long trips, risk and fatigue as experienced by players owing to the bad road network in the country is one reason why  teams can't pick points on the road. "As the Head Coach what more can I ask for than a better welfare for my players as they are the key actors. "With this gesture, its now a huge task on the team to reciprocate by winning games and cap the season with a continental ticket. "It is possible wit

Former Super Eagles gaffer, Samson Siasia has informed that his focus now is to appeal the life ban  imposed on him by Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA). The news came few hours after his 80-year-old mother, Beauty Ogere Siasia who was kidnapped on July 15 by  gunmen in   Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state was released today (Sunday) after spending more than 75 days in captivity. The Super Eagles legend while expressing his delight on the development said: “Received a call from my wife this (Sunday) morning that my mom and others have been released. I am grateful to Nigerians for their prayers and to everyone that had a hand directly or indirectly in their release. “My mom is fine but she has to go for medical checkup. I can now shift focus to the FIFA issue”. It will be recalled that the world’s football ruling body issued a life ban to the 52-year-old former Nigerian international for breaching the 2009 edition of the FIFA Code of

Five –time world champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria began their campiagn at the UEFA/CAF U17 Tournament by condemning Turkey, host nation to two unreplied goals scored by Olakunle Olusegun and Divine Nwachukwu in each half of the game. It was an explosive encounter from the blast of the whistle as Turkey tried to unsettle their Nigerian counterparts at the early stage of the game, but the Eaglets stood firm and thereafter asserted their presence by their smooth brand of football which yielded fruit when Olakunle Olusegun found the back of the net in the 10th minute. The goal gave the Eaglets confidence as they dominanted posssesion with scintillating passes and continous bombardment of their opponents' vital area for more goals, but the scoreline remained 1-0 at the break. Turkey tried to fight back on resumption but met a strong resistance in the defence of the Eaglets and just as it happened in the first half, the Nigerian teenagers enforced their superior qual