SPECTACULAR 9JA

Nigeria’s U-23 national football team have progressed into the final round of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. This was after the Salisu Yusuf boys defeated Tanzania 2-0 in the second leg of the penultimate round on Saturday The Nigerian side were held to a 1-1 draw away last weekend in Dar es Salam by their opponents and had thus reached the next round of qualifiers 3-1 on aggregate. After a goalless first half, Timileyin Ogunniyi put the Eagles ahead in the 61st minute with a cracking free kick while captain Success Makanjuola doubled the lead three minutes later from the spot kick. Makanjuola has now taken his tally to two goals in qualifying, having scored from the spot in last weekend’s 1-1 draw in Tanzania. The team coached by Salisu Yusuf will face the winner between Uganda and Guinea in the next stage of the qualifiers ahead of the U-23 AFCON. The 2023 U-23 AFCON serves as qualifiers to the football event of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Credit: Abbe

Plateau United Technical Adviser , Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu says his team will present an attacking formation against Esperance of Tunisia in the return leg of the second leg, second round, preliminary stage of the CAF Champions League coming up this Friday at the  Rades Stadium in Tunis.  Ilechukwu stated this shortly after his team's slim 2-1 win over the four times champions Esperance in the first leg encounter played at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja Sunday. He explained that the best form of defence is attack and his team is deploying that strategy in order to preserve the first leg lead and qualify for the money-spinning group stage of the competition. After having an idea of how the Tunisian side play , the former MFM coach stated that he is initiating measures to contain his opponents noting that his team will give everything to ensure they realize their objective of scaling through to the group stage of the African Premier Club Competition.  "I am adopting a

Three-time CAF Champions League winners , Esperance Sportive of Tunisia has arrived Nigeria ahead of Sunday’s second round , first leg tie against Plateau United of Jos slated for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.  The Tunisian powerhouse touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in the early hours of Friday morning aboard a chartered military plane.  The 63-man contingent which comprises players , Coaches and backroom staff moved straight to the Sheraton Hotel and Towers , Abuja where the are Lodged.  The Tunisian Club who were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the competition last season, were on standby during the first round of the competition.  The match which kicks off at 4pm on Sunday, with the winner of the fixture over two legs, going through to the lucrative group stage of the competition. Credit : Abbeylivenetwork