June 19, 2023
The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured their spot from Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Sunday in Monrovia with a 3-2 win Over the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.
The coach Jose Peseiro-tutored side secured their spot in this year’s AFCON, which is to be held in Ivory Coast, after picking up their fourth win in qualification Group A following a tight triumph over Sierra Leone. Kelechi Iheanacho came on to score the winner for Nigeria late in the game after Sierra Leone cancelled out Osimhen’s brace.
Midfielder Ndidi played the entire match on the coast of Liberia, while Kelechi Iheanacho was the late hero – claiming a 95th-minute winner after being introduced 20 minutes from the full-time whistle.
Leicester City’s No.25 was among the starting line-up, while forward Iheanacho was named on the bench for the match-up at Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium, as two first-half goals from Napoli forward and Serie A champion, Victor Osimhen gave the Super Eagles a strong lead after only half an hour.
Mustapha Bundu got a goal back for Sierra Leone just before the interval, inspiring a potential comeback for the home side, who levelled things up in the 84th minute through winger Augustus Kargbo.
While a single point would’ve been enough to secure qualification for this year’s tournament, Iheanacho was keen to have an impact, and netted seconds from time, when the striker tapped in a low cross from FC Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi.
The win leaves Nigeria at the top of the group, with 12 points, and the Super Eagles face one more group stage game – with qualification already confirmed – when they take on bottom-placed Sao Tome and Principe in September.
June 14, 2023
The City of Benin, in Edo state, Nigeria will be grounds for Nigerian athletes seeking to participate at this year’s World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary, to fight for their tickets.
It is the second Golden League event organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) this year to prepare the country’s hopefuls. The first Golden League held at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on May 26, produced a spectacular race with Samuel Ogazi emerging the star athlete in the 400m final, in a time of 45.91 seconds.
Since then, a total of 14 athletes have been in the national team camp in Asaba with four coaches putting finishing touches to their baton exchange in readiness for the relay events.
The AFN Golden League in Benin City, which will hold from 14-15th June, 2023, will among other things, give the athletes the chance to try their luck in the relay qualification battle in the 4x100m (male and female), 4x400m (male and female) and the mixed 4×400 relay.
June 5, 2023
South Korea have ended the quest of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles to win their first-ever U-20 World Cup at the quarter-final stage on Sunday, after they lost 1-0 win at the Santiago Del Estero.
An extra-time goal by Choi Seok-hyeon was the difference as the Asians progressed to the semi-final of the U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where they face European champions, Italy.
Ladan Bosso made one change to the side that defeated hosts Argentina on Wednesday as Samson Lawal made way for Victor Eletu, who provided the assist for the second goal against the South Americans four days earlier.
Nigeria started the encounter as the better side and almost got the opener just two minutes into the game, and they piled on pressure keeping the Korean caged for most of the first half. The second half was more of the same, save for the forays made by the young Koreans who looked the more purposeful of the two sides.
Four minutes into extra time, South Korea took the lead with their first shot on target in the encounter, Lee Young-jun’s corner-kick headed in by Choi Seok-hyeon.
The South Koreans held onto their slender lead as they sealed a spot in the semi-finals and will face Italy on Thursday.
June 1, 2023
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup, for the first time in 12 years after defeating host Argentina 2-0 at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in the early hours of Thursday.
2 Second-half goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Rilwanu Sarki secured a shock win for Ladan Bosso’s team, to ensure their qualification to the joy of many Nigerians.
In the 61st minute, The Flying Eagles broke the deadlock through Emmanuel Umeh when he flicked the ball over the top for Muhammad, who slotted home a low shot past goalkeeper Federico Gerth.
The goal saw Argentina pile the pressure in search of an equaliser and in the process they had 20 shots at goal as against Nigeria’s nine.
Javier Mascherano’s boys came agonisingly close when Luka Romero’s low drive from a distance hit the upright of the post for Daniel Bameyi to put the ball to safety.
In additional time, substitute Victor Eletu came off the bench for Ibrahim Muhammad to make an assist for Haliru Sarki to score Nigeria’s second on the night and secure a famous triumph for Nigeria for the first time in the competition since 2005.
Nigeria’s win on Thursday ended a run of 10 straight U-20 World Cup victories for Argentina.
