Oshoala presents CAF award to President Tinubu, First Lady

Published

11 months ago

December 28, 2023

President Bola Tinubu, Asisat Oshoala and Oluremi Tinubu

Oshoala presents CAF award to President Tinubu, First Lady

Nigerian footballer Asisat Oshoala on Thursday presented her award to President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Asisat has won African Women Footballer of the Year, an annual award for Africa’s best female football player.

The award was conferred on Asisat in December by the Confederation of African Football.
Asisat has won the award a record six times.

She said the presentation was in recognition of the support of the first couple towards her successful outing at the tourney.

”I love to appreciate the President and the First Lady for actually allowing me to present their work to them. Because I feel like during the World Cup tournament, we had a couple of issues.

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”They came in to actually help us out and especially monitoring after the tournament, she stretched supportive hand towards the girls.

”If something good is coming out of that team, I think it’s only right for her to be aware and also shown this thing and so she knows that we really do appreciate that support,” she said.

On the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) coming up in January 2024, Asisat said she do not expect anything out of the tournaments than total victory for the Eagles.

“Nothing, nothing to expect other than Super Eagles winning every game. We’re going for Gold. We have this calibre of superstars and it’s about football.

“I feel like the guys are actually mentally ready, and I feel like they’re going to have a good outcome,” she said.

The 34th edition of the biggest sports event on African soil will take place from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11, 2024 in Abidjan.

Related Topics:Asisat Oshoala Super Falcon Tinubu

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Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin

Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.

The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.

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Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.

Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.

In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.

With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.

With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.

Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

Published

18 hours ago

November 14, 2024

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Super Eagles players

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

This result leaves Rwanda with five points from five matches, rendering them unable to surpass Nigeria in the standings, even if they win their upcoming match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.

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Currently, Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four points.

Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

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1 day ago

November 14, 2024

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Mike Tyson and Jake Paul

Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Friday for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.

Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on Youtuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.

That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005, when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

– ‘It shouldn’t be happening’ –

“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”

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Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments.

“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.

“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”

Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting when critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No-one else can do this.”

At an open workout in Texas this week, Tyson declared that a gruelling training camp had left him with the conviction “that I’m tougher than I believed I was.”

“When I agreed to this fight and started training, I thought ‘What was I thinking of?’ But I’ve finished the process. The fight is the party. All the hard work is done.”

At a final press conference in Texas on Wednesday, a stony-faced Tyson pointedly declined to engage in the pre-fight hype.

“I’m just ready to fight,” he said. “I’m looking forward to fighting.”

– Injury fears –

A global audience of several million watching on Netflix, and tens of thousands inside the AT&T Stadium, will be watching on Friday to see whether Tyson’s hard work pays off.

His opponent Paul — who was born six months before Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear in their infamous 1997 rematch — rose to prominence as a Youtuber, before turning his attention to boxing.

Since his first fight against a fellow Youtuber in 2018, Paul’s opponents have included a basketball player, mixed martial arts fighters and other professional boxers. In 11 fights he has won 10 (seven by knockout) and lost one.

“I feel really good, sharp, powerful and explosive. It’s going to be a short night for Mike,” Paul said at Tuesday’s open workout, where he appeared wearing a bizarre head-dress in the form of a rooster.

It goes without saying that a prime, 1980s-era Tyson would almost certainly have dealt with Paul within a few minutes.

Does he retain enough residue of the talent and destructive power that made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986, at the age of 20 years and four months? Bob Arum, the legendary 92-year-old boxing promoter who has seen it all, is unequivocal.

“The answer is no,” Arum told Secondsout.com last month. “A 58-year-old guy, no matter how good they were, no matter how athletic they were, are not gonna be able to fight.

“You can’t throw punches like you’re supposed to, you can’t do a lot of things. I hope Mike doesn’t get hurt, but I really give him relatively no chance.”