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January 19, 2024 Troost-Ekong Shoots the Eagles of Nigeria Over the Ivorian Elephants

Troost-Ekong Shoots the Eagles of Nigeria Over the Ivorian Elephants

The Super Eagles, yesterday, recovered from their opening day 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, to register one of their best results in at the AFCON 2023, beating hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, 1-0 in their second game of group A.

The only goal came when captain of the day, William Troost-Ekong scored from the spot in the second half, after Victor Oshimen was brought down in the penalty box.

Football lovers and pundits all over gave the Nigerians little or no chance of victory following the show against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday and also going by Cote d’Ivoire’s emphatic defeat of Guinea Bissau in their own game. But the Jose Peseiro boys showed the maturity they had lacked in recent times, holding the hosts in a cagey encounter that required more wits than brawn.

Peseiro made two changes to the team that drew with Equatorial Guinea on the opening day, with Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze coming in for the injured Alhassan Yusuf and Moses Simon.

The Super Eagles had a 3-4-3 formation with Bassey alongside captain William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi in central defence, flanked by Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina in the fullback positions.

Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka played deep in midfield, while Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman were wide of striker, Victor Osimhen. The formation gave the Eagles more say in the midfield than the hosts and it was no surprise that Nigeria got the first chance, which was unfortunately flashed wide by Onyeka.

With new goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili, giving the defenders the assurance they needed to do their job without let, the Super Eagles took the game to the Elephants, getting four corner kicks to the Ivoirians’ two in a scorching first half.

What would have been the opening goal was wasted by Osimhen when he was put face to face with the Ivoirian goalkeeper. The first half ended goalless.

The story, however, changed 10 minutes into the second half when an Ivoirian defender fouled Osimhen in the box. After a VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot for Nigeria’s first penalty of the competition and captain Troost-Ekong put it beyond the goalkeeper for the winner.

The win takes Nigeria to four points, same with Equatorial Guinea, who lead Group A on superior goals aggregate. Cote d’Ivoire with three points are third, while pointless Guinea Bissau are bottom of the table.

Nigeria will meet Guinea Bissau in their last group game on Monday, while Equatorial Guinea will play Cote d’Ivoire.

January 18, 2024 NPFL Board Banish Abia Warriors and Heartland Over State of Pitches

NPFL Board Banish Abia Warriors and Heartland Over State of Pitches

The home grounds of Abia Warriors in Umuahia, the Abia state Capital  and Heartland FC in Owerri, Imo state,  have been withdrawn from playing hosts to matches in the 2nd round of this 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier League; NPFL, season due to poor condition of the pitches.
The NPFL board had received several complaints on the condition of the pitches from visiting clubs with Video evidence and decided on the fate of the clubs going forward.
Both clubs are expected to select alternative home grounds from 3  NPFL approved venues in Aba, Enugu or Port Harcourt on or before their Matchday 19 fixtures.
The Umuahia Township Stadium & Dan Anyiam Stadium will only be reconsidered for playing hosts to any more NPFL games after appropriate measures are taken to improve the playing surfaces to meet required standards.
January 12, 2024 Onuachu to Replace Injured Sadiq Umar in Eagles Line Up

Onuachu to Replace Injured Sadiq Umar in Eagles Line Up

Another Super Eagles striker, Sadiq Umar, has been ruled out of the 2023 African Cup of Nations due to injury and is set to be replaced by Paul Onuachu. This comes on the heels of Victor Boniface and Wilfred Ndidi who had earlier been ruled out of the continental showpiece for the same reason.

26-year-old Umar picked up a knee injury in Nigeria’s 2-0 friendly loss to the Syli Stars of Guinea on Monday, in Abu Dhabi, and Medics have confirmed he will not be fit to return for the competition

However, in a Friday statement posted on X by the official Super Eagles account, it was announced that Paul Onuachu will replace Sadiq Umar.

 

January 10, 2024 Randy Waldrum Set to Return to Falcons Dug-Out

Randy Waldrum Set to Return to Falcons Dug-Out

President, Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, says Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum will be handed a new deal, before the NFF contingent leaves for Ivory Coast.

Randy Waldrum was appointed by the NFF in 2020 and led the Falcons to the semi-finals of the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Super Falcons gallantly lost out on penalties to to eventual finalist; England in the round of 16.

Waldrum’s assistant Justin Madugu has been in charge of the squad on interim basis, leading to speculations that the American and the federation may have parted ways.

The NFF and Waldrum had been at daggers drawn after the American tacitly accused the federation of misappropriating the $960,000 FIFA grant meant for the Falcons World Cup preparation.

However, Gusau said the federation had reached an agreement with the coach for a contract extension following protracted talks, adding that the coach’s insistence on bringing his assistant, as well as improved allowances, delayed the process.

The NFF boss said the deal would now likely be sealed on Thursday, before the federation’s delegation travelled for the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

“We had a lot of discussions with Waldrum and I think he’s agreed (to a contract). We had issues before the World Cup, about who he wanted in the team, but in the contract of NFF and Waldrum, there’s nowhere it is stated that Waldrum has the right to come with any assistant,” Gusau stated.

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