September 27, 2021
Nigeria’s women basketball team D’Tigress have once again emerged Champions after defeating Mali 59-70 in the final of 2021 FIBA AfroBasket Championship which took place at Multipurpose Sports Complex, Yaounde, Cameroon.
D’Tigress had a good start to the first quarter against Mali, interestingly Victoria Macaulay made a Game-High 13pts, as she made 3/3 of her 3pt shots.
D’Tigress did not taking anything to chance as they finished the first quarter leading Mali by 11pts.
It took some time for Nigeria to find the bucket in the second quarter, but when they did it was back-to-back. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah made a layup, and Ezinne Kalu followed it up with a steal to assist Promise Amukamara.
Mali came back into the game after outshooting Nigeria in the 2nd quarter by 13-9. However D’Tigress went into the break leading Mali by 7pts. at Half time it stood Mali 24 -31 Nigeria.
D’Tigress went into a 10pt lead after Ezinne Kalu converted her two free throws, and at the other end, Victoria Macaulay blocked a shot.
Nigeria had an Outstanding 3rd quarter as they outhustled the Malians and showed great resolve pulling away with a 20pt lead, outshooting their opponents 26-13.
D’Tigress won two of the four quarters 11-22, 13-19, 14-28, 21-11.
This is the Fifth win for the D’Tigress of Nigeria at the FIBA Afrobasket, the third in a row since winning in 2017 and 2019.
September 27, 2021
If the words of the Chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Mallam Shehu Dikko is anything to go by, then the kick-off for the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League season is set for the Month of October.
The LMC boss declared October 2021; without a specific date as the target to start new season so as to conclude by May 2022. Dikko disclosed this during the visit of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Abuja branch, to his office.
Dikko pointed out that plans were underway to align the league with the calendar of CAF and that the reason the 2020/2021 season rounded off in August was to enable the 2021/2022 season kick off early.
“We have a mandate from CAF to align our league with their calendar, the reason we have to do all that we did in August to finish our league and now we have to start early that is certain 2021/2022 we have to finish by May regardless of what happened. We just have to start the new season early and our clubs are ready for these challenges.
“We have to come to a conclusion and call our clubs to a meeting on when we will finish our season, the CAF competition starts in September whatever we are doing we have to start by September or early October, we have to agree on the date to start we just finished our season on August 8 the players are not machine we have to give them a month rest and now the continental teams are already in camp now.”
Speaking further, Shehu Dikko said:
“ideally the CAF competition starts on the 10th of September so whatever we are doing we have to start as quickly as we can.
“So when the CAF competition starts officially and our clubs are readjusting to the new CAF schedule and some of them are into preseason now, we have to target end of September or the 1st week in October.
“We must meet our club owners and we need to have a clearer date that’s why you can see that most of the clubs are already back in camp and hopefully once we cross these hurdles we will be back to the normal league scheduled for CAF competition,”
Akwa United Football Club of Uyo, were crowned Champions at the conclusion of the 2020/2021 season.
September 24, 2021
26 players from the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, have been invited for an invitational tournament in Congo later in the Year.
Some players who featured for the Home based Eagles in the friendly match against Mexico last July were also recalled, including Stanley Nwabili, Tope Olusesi and Adekunle Adeleke.
The team will be handled by NFF Technical director Coach Austin Eguavoen and his assistant, Paul Aigbogun.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Lobi Stars), Mohammed Galadima (Wikki Tourists), Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United)
Defenders: Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United), Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United), Tope Olusesi (Rangers), Fahad Usman (Kano Pillars), Sanusi Abdulmutalif (Katsina United), Henry Ochuba (Adamawa United), Adeleke Adekunle (Abia Warriors), Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)
Midfielders: Steven Jude (Kwara United), Ugochuckwu Ugwuoke (Rangers), Cyril Olisema (Enyimba), Auwalu Ali Mallam (Rivers United), Mustapha Jibrin (Kano Pillars), Aliyu Mansoor (Katsina United), Chigozie Obasi (Enyimba)
Forwards: Christian Nnaji, Chinonso Eziekwe (Rangers), Tosin Omoyele (Enyimba), Nerot Silas (Plateau United), Uche Onwuasonaya (Rivers United), Emo James (Bayelsa United), Rabiu Zulkifilu (Plateau United), Silas Nwankwo (Nasarawa United)
September 22, 2021
The Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL Premiership 2021/2022 Season is set to Kick-off On The 8th Of December 2021.
Fourteen teams have been separated into two groups that will contend for top spots at the end of the season.
Group A.
Adamawa Queens
Confluence Queens
Edo Queens
Osun Babes
Pelican Stars
Naija Ratels
Nasarawa Amazons.
Group B.
Abia Angels
Bayelsa Queens
Delta Queens
Rivers Angels
FC Robo Queens
Royal Queens
Sunshine Queens.
