Sports
Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach
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Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach
ABDULLAHI Maikaba, Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars Football Club, has recommended Kingdom Osayi and Amas Obasogie of Doma United and Bendel Insurance, respectively, as good alternatives to resolve the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis.
Maikaba said this in an interview with journalists shortly after the Match Day 13 fixture of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, which was played at Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, on Saturday, with Kano Pillars losing 0-1 to Doma United.
He said with the form of both players, they deserved to be called up for the national team to help address the goalkeeping challenges being experienced by the team.
“Football is improving in Nigeria, especially at the league level.
“We hope the national team selectors will look inwards to our league.
“I recommend Doma United’s Kingdom and Bendel Insurance’s Amas to be of help to our national team.
“I believe these two goalkeepers can be safe hands for the Super Eagles,” he said.
On the outcome of the game, Maikaba said the fact that Doma United defeated his team by a lone goal didn’t mean the hosts were better than his team.
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He said his players were unlucky not to have grabbed the equalising goal, and he expressed optimism that his team had enough opportunity to recover and get to the top.
Asked why the 18-year-old Yusuf Abdullahi could not score a goal in spite scoring five at the same stadium on Sunday, Maikaba said it was due to pressure.
He stated that the player was under pressure from those who wanted to sell him to clubs outside the country.
“After scoring five goals, there must have been a lot of pressure on him, especially those that want to sell him out.
“We had to collect his phone for him to concentrate. I think that was part of his problem today,” he said.
Maikaba commended the turn out of supporters to watch their NPFL team play, adding that such attendance was good for the development of football in the country.
“I like the atmosphere, the supporters are out for them and it is good for Nigerian football,” he said.
On his part, Doma United’s Head Coach, Akinade Onigbinde, said Osayi had proven himself as a good goalkeeper that deserved a call-up to the national team.
Onigbinde said Osayi could challenge any goalkeeper in the national team in view of his impressive saves that had helped his team secure top spot in the NPFL.
He said he could give assurance to the coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, that Osayi would not disappoint if called up for national assignment.
“I brought Osayi to this team. I saw him when we played against Niger tornadoes in Kano last season.
“I saw the quality in him and since we had goalkeeping problems, I called him over, so I know he can do it.
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“He has the qualities to go to a national team. He is a fantastic goalkeeper and he has saved a lot of goals,” he said.
On the outcome of the game, he said they planned well for Kano Pillars knowing how good they were.
According to him, his defenders were tactically disciplined and that explained why Kano Pillars players found it difficult to score in the game.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Osayi attributed his success so far to God and fans of Doma United for their constant prayers and support.
He said he was not under any pressure to join the national team: “If I am given the opportunity to man the goal post (for the national team), I will be so excited, and I will definitely do my best.”
NAN reports that Osayi was named the NPFL player of the month for November, while Doma United coach was named coach of the month.
NAN also reports that Emmanuel Ekpenyong scored for Doma United in the 14th minute of the game to send his team to the top of the NPFL log with 25 points.
Doma now has two points ahead of Remo Stars and Lobi Stars who both have a game in hand.
Also, the 12, 000-capacity Pantami Township stadium was filled to capacity as fans crowded the facility to watch their teams play.
Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach
(NAN)
Sports
Lookman brace, Osimhen’s goal give Nigeria 3-0 victory over Benin Rep
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Lookman brace, Osimhen’s goal give Nigeria 3-0 victory over Benin Rep
Ademola Lookman scored a brace while Victor Osimhen came off the bench to help Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a comfortable 3-0 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin Republic.
Lookman scored in both halves. Osimhen struck in second half of the game.
The victory takes Nigeria to the top of Group D as they prepare for the next tie against Rwanda on Tuesday, September 10.
It serves as a confidence booster for the Nigerian side that struggled against the Cheetahs when they met last in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game. Gernot Rohr’s side came from behind to win the one 2-1.
Sports
Rodrygo scores as Brazil beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
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Rodrygo scores as Brazil beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
Brazil got back to winning ways in the South American World Cup qualifiers with a drab 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Friday thanks to first-half goal by Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
After its first streak of losses in three successive qualifiers, Brazil did just enough to earn the win that lifted the struggling five-time World Cup champions to fourth in the standings with 10 points.
They are eight points behind leaders Argentina and only two points over Ecuador in sixth, the last spot guaranteed a berth at the 2026 finals.
Playing their first match after a disappointing Copa America defeat to Uruguay in the quarter-final, Brazil had another lacklustre performance, dominating possession but failing to create clear chances throughout the match.
Brazil misplaced too many passes and struggled to connect up front, out of ideas on how to beat Ecuador’s rock solid defensive block.
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Ecuador were relentless while applying a physically aggressive pressure high with three hardworking forwards, making the locals uncomfortable when putting the ball in play. They Brazil almost no room to get inside their box either, forcing them to roam the ball horizontally around their penalty area and resort to strikes from long range.
Brazil’s only two shots on target on the first half were made by Rodrygo, who, after stinging the goalkeeper’s hands from a free kick early, were lucky to break the deadlock in the 29th minute. His effort fired from the edge of the box deflected off a defender and arched around the wrong-footed goalkeeper before hitting the right post and finding the back of the net.
Ecuador almost levelled in a counterattack right before the break, but defender Gabriel Magalhaes denied Moises Caicedo’s effort with a last-minute goal-line clearance.
Brazil came back even worse in the second half, with an uninspired Vinicius Jr creating their only shot on target in an absolutely morose 45 minutes, with boos greeting the final whistle.
“We needed this win, doesn’t matter if it was ugly or not. I’m happy with the victory and to have scored, and I hope it helps us getting better and progressing to the level that we want to reach moving forward,” Rodrygo told Brazilian TV Globo.
Rodrygo scores as Brazil beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
Sports
Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark wins Nigeria’s first gold medal
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Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark wins Nigeria’s first gold medal
Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark has made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by breaking the Paralympic record in the women’s 61kg powerlifting category, with a lift of 147kg.
Mark’s performance surpassed the previous record held by fellow Nigerian Lucy Ejike, marking an iconic achievement for Team Nigeria.
With one lift remaining, Onyinyechi Mark has all but guaranteed Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games.
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Her closest rival is attempting 138kg on her final lift, while Mark aims to extend her record with a final attempt of 147kg, further cementing her dominance in the sport.
Team Nigeria has long been a powerhouse in Paralympic powerlifting and athletics.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the country secured an impressive 10 medals, including four golds.
Athletes such as Lucy Ejike and Bose Omolayo have set global benchmarks, with Ejike herself holding multiple world records and gold medals in powerlifting.
Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark wins Nigeria’s first gold medal
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