Nigeria jumped to the summit of group B at the African Beach Games following Thursday’s 29-2 victory over Djibouti.
Olufemi Anikulapo-Kuti, Nigeria’s Afrobeat singer, Hakim and Dobet Gnahoré, Egyptian and Ivorian stars, will all perform at the African Cup of Nations opening ceremony on Friday.
African champions Nigeria will take on Germany in the Round of 16 of the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Grenoble on Saturday.
Nigeria’s wait to reach the second round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup lasted 20 years, plus a nerve-racking final 12 minutes in the match between Thailand and Chile.
Lobi Stars fast rising midfielder Tamara Ezekiel has disclosed that his side are ready to put the disappointment of the NPFL Super Six behind them and chase Aiteo Cup glory.
The 2019 CAF Champions league campaigners finished fifth on the log of Nigeria Professional Football League Super Six last month, an outing which left them , with winning the Aiteo Cup the only realistic chance of returning to the continent next season.
While speaking to brila.net on the team’s aspirations to win the Cup,after their round of 32 win over holders Rangers International ofEnugu on Wednesday, Ezekiel stated that ,they are taking each game at a time.
“Beating Rangers was a big task and that shows our readiness of lifting the cup“.
I won’t say anything much on winning the Aiteo Cup, but we going into every game with everything, Because this is our only chance ofwinning a trophy.
“We are fully ready to give out our best than we did in the Super Six.” He concluded.
Next for Lobi Stars is the all important round of 16 clash against Abia Warriors who strolled past NNL side Gateway United.
The God of Soccer is indeed Nigerian! And he delivered on Thursday night at the Roazhon Park in Rennes to the distraught of Chile, who fell short of a goal to hand Nigeria a round of 16 ticket at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres has announced his retirement from professional football.
Torres, who is currently playing for Japanese side Sagan Tosu took to his social media handle to make the emotional announcement.
He wrote: “I have something very important to announce. After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put an end to my football career.
“Next Sunday, the 23rd at 10:00AM, local time in Japan, I will have a press conference in Tokyo to explain all the details. See you there.”
Haven endured a torrid time with Chelsea, Torres moved to AC Milan on loan in 2014, before rejoining his boyhood club Athletico Madrid where he won the Europa league before leaving for Sagan Tosu in July 2018 .
Torres who has scored just four goals in 32 games for the J League side , enjoyed individual success with Liverpool , where scored 81 goals in 142 games without any trophy before his shock move to Chelsea on Deadline Day in January 2011.
The high points of the forward‘s was winning the 2010 World Cupand Euro 2008 and 2012 with Spain.
He also won the UEFA Champions league and Europa league with Chelsea in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Nigerian attacker Alex Iwobi has hailed Super Eagles Head Coach Gernot Rohr’s decision to bring John Mikel Obi back into the teamfor the African Cup of Nations.
Mikel shuned the national team after the team’s uninspiring performance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, He also missed the entire African Cup of Nations qualifiers in the process.
Mikel was included in the country’s final squad for this year’s African Cup of Nations in Egypt, after coming off at a back of great season with English Championship side Middlesbrough.
Speaking on the Eagles chance of doing well in the tournamentwhich kick off this weekend, Iwobi said , the technical team did a great job on bringing the former Chelsea midfielder back into the team.
“I will like to say having Mikel back is great. Someone with so much experience – what he’s done for Chelsea, for the country, especially to have him in the base of the midfield is always good. “
“He is always talking to me and and others, trying to help me with my game because it is a bit different playing in Nigeria and in African condition than to play in Europe. So he is always there to help and guide me when I’m playing. But for the players, we have a lot of stars but we work as a team and don’t rely on one person.“Iwobi said.
Iwobi is making his first African Cup of Nations appearance, and he will be hoping to help Nigeria win the tournament for the fourth time.
25 teams will begin campaign for league glory and a continental ticket when the Nigeria Basketball Federation organized Men’s Premier League tip off on 8th of July.
The teams divided into the traditional Savannah and Atlantic Conferences will see the return of Dodan Warriors, Lagos Islanders and Union Bank Basketball Clubs into the elite Division after having their bans lifted by the NBBF.
The league which will serve as qualifiers for the newly introduced and money spinning NBA sponsored Basketball Africa League (BAL) will run between 8th of July and 9th of November.
The Savannah Conference made up of teams in the North Central, North East and North West geopolitical zones consist of Kano Pillars, Kada Stars (Kaduna), Bauchi Nets, Nigeria Immigration (Zaria), Niger Potters (Minna) and City Chiefs of Gboko.
Defenders of Abuja who got to the knock out stage of the 2019 FIBA Afro League will hope to build on their achievements when they compete against city rival, Mark Mentors, Plateau Peaks of Jos, Gombe Bulls, Benue Braves and Nigeria Army in the Savannah Conference.
In the Atlantic Conference, all eyes will be on Dodan Warriors, Islanders and Union Bank as they rekindle their city rivalry for the control of Lagos.
For newly promoted Invaders of Ado Ekiti, Raptors of Lagos and Enugu Coal, their mission will be to stay afloat against Kwara Falcons of Ilorin, Nigeria Customs of Lagos, Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan, Hoops and Read and Delta Force of Asaba.
One of Nigeria’s 2019 season continental representatives, Rivers Hoopers of Port Harcourt will hope for another taste of continental action in the newly introduced Basketball Africa League (BAL)
All completed forms (Players Registration and Club Entry) must get to the NBBF Secretariat on or before 30th of June.