SPECTACULAR 9JA

Remo Stars captain, Nduka Junior has revealed his excitement over his sublime free-kick goal in the away win against El-Kanemi Warriors on Matchday 11 of the Nigeria Professional Premier League as he eyes more goal scoring run. Daniel Ogunmodede’s side picked up a vital 1-2 away win as they look to close the gap on group A leaders in newly promoted Bendel Insurance. Speaking after the win in an exclusive interview with Gift Anderson, Junior admitted that the team is no under pressure as the second phase of the league edges closer. “The season is gradually coming to an end and I’m not under pressure neither anyone of us.” “It’s a vital win for us and also quiet unfortunate that we played four games in the first stanza but didn’t win any, this is very bad for us as a team and also as an individual,” he admitted. “When the free-kick was awarded, I heard the assistant coach saying from the bench that it was a goal and when I was going for the free-kick, I knew it was from a far

European-based Super Eagles players have threatened not to honour their last two African Cup of Nations qualifying matches unless the federation settle their unpaid bonuses. Some of the players who preferred to be quoted on the condition of anonymity threatened that they will not honour their last two matches in the 2023 African Nations Cup qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone. "We have been patient enough with the NFF regarding this matter. From our little findings, we understand that funds meant for our bonuses were disbursed to the NFF because some of the matches are friendly games whose money had been paid to the federation, and what they did with it is left to them. "We have been patriotic to our country as Nigerians but the NFF has not done its part to the team in terms of welfare. "Let me gladly inform you that the chance of many of us honouring the next two AFCON qualifying games is slim if our match bonuses are not paid." Cre

AFCON 2023 Race: In-form Osimhen, Lookman Lead 21 Others To Eagles Camp Head Coach José Santos Peseiro has invited team captain Ahmed Musa, in-form forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman as well as 20 other players to the Super Eagles’ camp, ahead of this month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau. Nigeria and Guinea Bissau clash at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja from 5pm on Friday, 24th March, and then make it a second date at the Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau on Monday, 27th March, also starting from 5pm. Spain-based defender Kenneth Omeruo returns, as midfield enforcers Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and Portugal-based defender Bruno Onyemaechi gets an opportunity to vie for shirts against Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kevin Akpoguma and Calvin Bassey. Portugal-based left back Zaidu Sanusi is also back, and usual suspects Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Terem

Aruna Quadri has beaten world number 4 Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan 3-0 to hit quarterfinal of the 2023 World Table Tennis Singapore Smash in the early hours of Thursday. It was a comprehensive victory for the African Number One ping pong man who outsmarted his opponent in the three sets of the game 11-7, 13-11, 11-7. Aruna had earlier defeated French teen Alexis Lebrun 3-2 after rallying from a set down at the Singapore Sports Hub’s OCBC Arena on Tuesday. Although Harimoto has beaten the Nigerian in their last three meetings, the African champ was able to show an improved performance against his to seeded opponent. Incidentally, all of their last three meetings have been in the round of 16 of different competitions, and while the Japanese emerged victorious in all, Aruna picked his bargaining chip on Thursday. Aruna will now face the winner of Hugo Calderano vs. Darko Jorgic in the next round of the competition. Credit : Yemi Sodeeq

COACH ABARA DEPARTS PLATEAU UNITED ON MUTUAL CONSENT TO TEAM UP WITH EL-KANEMI WARRIORS. Plateau United Chief Coach , Abdulazeez Hamza Abara has left his role to join El-kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri as its new Technical Adviser. General Manager of Plateau United , Pius Henwan who confirmed Coach Abara,s departure , disclosed that coach left on mutual consent. Henwan explained that Coach Abara departure have the full consent of management of the team and he used the opportunity to thank him for his meritorious service to the Club. " Coach Abara's departure left has left a vacuum in our team, which may be difficult to fill. He has brought a lot to the team. But we are happy that the move is a lift on his career and am very optimistic, he will do a good job with his new team" Henwan said. Coach Abdulazeez Hamza Abara only joined Plateau United in October, 2021 and assisted Coach Ilechukwu to propelled the team to the second spot of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professio

Head Coach of Doma United FC, Akinade Onigbinde has made new signings, aimed at beefing up the squad of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) new boys, ahead of the second stanza of the league, which is now observing a mid-season break, to allow players and officials of all 20 clubs in the elite division, perform their civic duties, in the general elections of February 25th and March 18th. Top of the list of new acquisitions is Barnabas Daniel, a former highest goal scorer of the Nigeria National League (NNL) while in the books of Gombe United. Daniel who joined from Kwara United, where he played the first round, is like home coming, as Doma United is also based in Gombe State. Despite being a modest side who just got promoted to the elite league for the first time in history, Doma United is respectable 6th on the Group B log, with 12 points from nine games played, and has shown the stuff they are made up of, when coming from a goal down to beat reigning champions, Riv

Well, regardless of how fans may feel about Bosso's coaching credentials, the manner of his team's loss to Gambia in the U-20 Afcon semi-final was cruel, to be honest. Two freakish events, one in the dawn and the other in the denouement of the match sealed the Flying Eagles' fate.  An unfortunate ricochet fell kindly to the Gambian striker who feasted on the chance to make it 1:0 for his team with the match just 7 minutes old. With just 4 minutes of the game left, Nigeria won a penalty but blew the chance to pull level as Abdullahi crashed the bar. 1:0 it ended, Bosso has failed once again to win the Under-20 Afcon as his team will now settle for a third place playoff; exactly the same thing that happened when he coached the Flying Eagles to the 2009 U-20 Afcon. "We failed to take our chances and we also missed the penalty in the 86th minute. I am very frustrated. Football is cruel." Said Bosso.  For me too, the manner of the goal Nigeria conceded and

Beyond Limits, MKA FC, Otasolo FC  and Imperial FC are through to the quarter-final of the 2023 Ogun State FA Cup after Thursday’s preliminary round of games at four centres. In Sagamu, Beyond Limits Academy edged Chummie FC 2-0 on penalties to make it to the quarter-final. Both sides were not separated after 90 minutes of taking the game into the lottery of penalties before Chummie FC lost all its four spot kicks alongside Beyond Limits’ Adrian Kabiru who also missed from the penalty spot. Toheeb Jimoh and Onyebuchi Obadi converted theirs to seal a 2-0 win and a date with its main team, Remo Stars in the quarter-final. At the Ijebu Ode centre, Ladegbuwa FC came from two goals down to drag the contest with MKA FC into penalties after 2-2 in 90 minutes. MKA FC emerged victorious 4-2 on penalties and will face Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Stormers FC in the quarter-final. At Ikenne centre, Imperial FC defeated Best Talent FC 3-1 to set up a quarter-final clash with NNL

Nigeria Under 23 coach, Salisu Yusuf, has invited 30 players to the Olympic Eagles camp in Ibadan for the Paris Olympics playoff against Guinea🇬🇳 on March  22. FULL LIST: Goalkeepers: John Amah (Sunshine Stars); Nurudeen Badmus (Dakkada FC); Ifeanyi Nchekwube (Akwa United); Oriya Joseph (Lobi Stars) . Defenders: Chris Nwaeze (Plateau United); Desmond Ojietefian (Shooting Stars); Okey Chikason (Enyimba FC); Anthony Anieke (Akwa United); Samuel Olamilekan (Niger Tornadoes); Benjamin Tanimu (Bendel Insurance); Evans Ogbonda (PH City); Umar Ahmed Farouk (Gombe United) . Midfielders: Daniel Wotlai (Abia ); Akanni Qudus (Remo ); Auwalu Naziru (Rangers); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Enyimba ); Divine Nwachukwu  Insurance); Taofeek Malomo (Shooting Stars); Samuel Chisom (Kwara Utd); Samaila Sarki ( Insurance); Kumaga Suur (Lobi ); Inye Green (Ibani United) . Forwards: Munir Idris (Niger Tornadoes); Ahmed Jimoh (Kwara United); Ezekiel Edidiong (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Ogba (Akwa United); Umar Ib