OWOSPORTS

Ajibola Otegbeye again scored the decisive goal as Sunshine Stars edged Akwa United 1-0 in an AITEO Cup first leg semi final tie at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode on Saturday. The game came alive inside the first five minutes with Christian Pygbara dragging an effort just wide for the visitors before Otegbeye header off a corner kick failed to hit the target. However Otegbeye made no mistake heading in Alaba Adeniyi's cross in the 33rd minute to hand Sunshine Stars the lead with his fifth goal of the competition. Abiodun Joseph thought he had earned his team a chance to extend the lead just before the break when he went down in the area from a challenge instead the 18 years old got penalised by the referee for an alleged simulation. Sikiru Alimi could have doubled the lead for Sunshine Stars upon resumption of play but had his effort in front of goal quickly thwarted by a defensive block. After the hosts failed to utilise some chances created United switched to the fron

Two of the Nigeria Professional Football League's finest will begin the battle for a place in the 2017 AITEO Cup final this weekend, when Sunshine Stars host 2015 Champions, Akwa United at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode. Fireworks are expected on Saturday in the first leg of the semi final tie with Sunshine Stars aiming for a decent first leg advantage against an Akwa United side that have shown serious hunger for a repeat of Cup success after finishing narrowly out of continental place in the league. The Akure Landlords were made to work very hard before overcoming a quarterfinal hurdle in a spirited Osun United 3-2 over two legs while the Promise Keepers made light work of a less fancy Katsina United Feeders side, prevailing 8-2 on aggregate. Sunshine Stars' quarterfinal hero, Ajibola Otegbeye scored the only goal from the spot when both sides met weeks ago in the league at the same gound. The young striker and his team mate will aim for another ruthless display in

The Organizing Committee of the 2017 AITEO Cup on Thursday threw out Abia Angels of Umuahia from the competition after careful consideration of a protest lodged by Confluence Queens of Lokoja on player eligibility. Head of AITEO Cup Competition, Emmanuel Adesanya, who conveyed the decision to thenff.com, said the Umuahia –based Club has forfeited their slot in the semi finals, which will now be taken by Confluence Queens. The Angels defeated the Queens 1-0 in their quarter –final, first leg in Umuahia and both teams fought out a 2-2 draw in the return leg in Lokoja. The disqualification means Confluence Queens will now proceed to Uyo to play Ibom Angels in the semi final, first leg on Saturday, before hosting the Ibom girls in Lokoja next Wednesday.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation on Tuesday decided to lift the indefinite sanctions imposed on some clubs, referees, coaches and players over allegations of participating in illegal leagues in the 2015 season. Having established that the indefinite ban on the referees, players and 3 Lagos state based clubs who are part of the traditional teams in the Atlantic Conference was not done in good faith by the former board, the NBBF decided to overturn the sanctions. Speaking on behalf of the federation after their board meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday, Engineer Musa Kida said after their fact finding mission and communication with the affected parties, it was established that due process was not followed in clamping down in the team's. In view of this, the NBBF decided to reinstate Lagos Islanders, Dodan Warriors and Union Bank in the league system with immediate effect ahead of the 2018 league season. “We were able to establish that the decisions taken by the f

Nigeria will for the first 10 years host an international basketball competition after winning the hosting bid for the 2017 FIBA Africa Club championship zonal elimination finals. The hosting right of the event which was held in Togo in 2016 was awarded to the Nigeria Basketball Federation by FIBA Africa zone 3 after it met all the criteria for a prospective host. The President of the NBBF Engineer Musa Kida said having been out of international circulation for the past one decade, it was high time Nigeria claimed her place in Africa as the true giant that she truly is. Arising from its board meeting which was held in Lagos on Monday, the board unanimously agreed that the absence of any meaningful international competition in Nigeria has adversely affected the clubs. “The cost of prosecuting these international competitions by these clubs when they travel out will be at least reduced by 50%. Now, clubs participating in the elimination series will only be worried