February 13, 2019
A child who would bring the family luck- The Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero story
The doctor, having carried out his routine checks, told Adriana (Aguero’s mother) “this child was born con un pan debajo del brazo” – with bread under his arm, an old saying meaning the baby would bring the family luck.
Valentine Uzornwafor and Okon Aniekeme lost their penalties in the shootout for the Flying Eagles as Mali go through to only their second final of this U20 championship.
The Flying Eagles will not win an eighth U20 AFCON crown in Niger after they lost 4-3 on penalties to Mali in today’s semifinal after both teams were tied on 1-1 after extratime.
More follows…
Former Assistant Coach of the Flying Eagles, Nduka Ugbade, has called for the implementation of programmes that would help to develop young football players.
Derby County defender Efe Ambrose has not played for the Super Eagles since Nigeria’s 1-0 loss away to Egypt in March 2016, but the player has revealed that he still keeps up to tab with the national team and calls some players to continuously encourage and support them.
Imama Amapakabo invites 33 players to Dream Team camp ahead of Libya clash
Dream team Head Coach Imama Amapakabo has called to camp 33 players ahead of next month’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Nigeria and Libya.
The first leg, to be hosted by Libya in Tunisia (as the Libyans still cannot host international matches in their country) will hold between 20th – 22nd March, with Nigeria able to choose between 25th and 26th March for the return leg.
Already, the Nigeria Football Federation has opted for 25th March for the return leg, with the expectation that the Libya Football Federation will opt for either 20th or 21st March for the first leg.
The invited players resumed camping in Abuja on Wednesday.
Nigeria is the defending champion of the Africa U23 Cup of Nations, having defeated Algeria in the final of the second edition of the championship staged by Senegal in December 2015. That triumph earned the Olympic Eagles a ticket to the Men’s Football Tournament of the Rio 2016 Olympics, where they won the bronze medal – Nigeria’s only medal at the Games.
Former Nigeria international goalkeeper Amapakabo has called four goalkeepers, nine defenders, 10 midfielders and 10 forwards for the assignment. He is to be assisted by Kennedy Boboye (Assistant Coach), Fidelis Ilechukwu (Assistant Coach) and Etta Egbe (Goalkeepers’ Trainer).
Egypt will host the 3rd Africa U23 Cup of Nations, 8th – 22nd November 2019.
THE INVITED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers: Amos Benjamin (Bayelsa United); Makanjuola Adewale (Ekiti United); Anozie Chinedu (FC IfeanyiUbah); Stanley Nwabili (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: John Lazarus (Lobi Stars); Chidera Eze (Rangers International); Anumudu Udochukwu (Lobi Stars); Austin Ugochukwu (Kano Pillars); Chinedu Ajana (Katsina United); Kehinde Adeyemi (Sunshine Stars); Ndah Olisah (Remo Stars); Chinwendu Ali (Yobe Stars); Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars)
Midfielders: Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars); Isah Ndala (Nasarawa United); William Ukeme (Wikki Tourists); Olatunji Matthew (Enyimba FC); Seth Mayi (Plateau United); Yusuf Maigoro (Kano Pillars); Iwuala Anayo (Kada City); Cletus Emotan (Rivers United); Chigozie Obasi (Sunshine Stars); Chukwudi Agor (ASJ, Owerri)
Forwards: Etiboy Akpan (Akwa United); Anas Mohammed (Shooting Stars); Chijoke Alaekwe (FC IfeanyiUbah); Shamman Tanze (Kano Pillars); Agboola Joshua (Katsina United); Wari Williams (Nasarawa United); Ebuka Okeke (Lamray United); Tolu Ojo (Remo Stars); Wasiu Alalade (Enyimba FC); Solomon Nsude (FC IfeanyiUbah)
Former Super Eagles player Friday Ekpo has urged soccer lovers in the country to get behind coach of the Eagles, Gernot Rohr, as the coach tries to build a good squad for the forthcoming AFCON 2019 to be staged in Egypt.
The management of Gateway United FC of Ogun State has paid a condolence visit to the family of Late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi at his house at Kolapo Ishola estate, Akobo in Ibadan.
The management team led by the Acting General Manager Mr Niyi Soleye commiserated with the widow Bukola Ogunjobi and his brother Rotimi Ogunjobi.
In their tributes, they acknowledged the giant strides of the former Nigeria Football Federation scribe in the round leather game, stressing that his demise is a colossal loss not only to Nigeria but Africa at large.
Mr Soleye recalled with fond memories some of his achievements. “Taiwo was my childhood friend. He has left a path in Ogun State in terms of football and the least we could do is to extol his virtues. He will always be remembered. May God give us the fortitude to bear the loss”
Responding on behalf of the family, the brother of the deceased Rotimi Ogunjobi said the family will take solace in the fact that Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi lived a glorious life and passed away peacefully.
Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi passed away on Monday 11th of February, 2019 at the age of 65 at University College Hospital (UCH) after a brief illness.
Until his death, he was the chairman of Osun State Football Association.