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Dare fetes U-17 Golden Eaglets as he commends NFFF

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The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has hosted the players and officials of the victorious U-17 boys, National Team, the Golden Eaglets who won the West African Football Union WAFU B Championship Cup, held in Cape Coast, Ghana.

A statement by director press and Public Relations Mohammed Manga said the minister hosted the team on Wednesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja
He quoted the minister as having eulogised the team spirit of the players which resulted in the victory which has really made the country proud

According to him, playing and winning for a country of over 200 million citizens is not a mean feat but a bust.

The Minister who reiterated the present administration’s commitment to youth and sports development in the country assured that government would continue to focus on grassroots sports with the view to bringing about positive results in the field of sports.
Continuing he said it will go a long way to further build for the country formidable teams in all category of sports for proper representation of our nation at International competitions.

He applauded the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for making merit and competence as its watchword in the selection of coaches for the age-grade National Teams, as agreed with the Ministry,.

This he said has started to yield fruits with excellent performances at U20 and U17 levels of recent.

“You have set a high standard
and cannot lower it, Nigeria has won the trophy 4 times hopefully might win it again, all you need is to remain focus hard working and obedient to the coaches and avoid distraction”, he said.

He added further, “I want to give credit to the NFF for implementing the cardinal principles that we agreed at meetings on youth football development. Now, we can see that the emphasis on merit and competence has started to bear fruits. “The U17 and U20 girls have qualified for their FIFA World Cup competitions with aplomb and the U17 and U20 boys have won regional tournaments in emphatic manner, with promises of what we can look forward to at their African championships next year.
 
“Our hard focus as a government on grassroots development in all sports will continue. I congratulate the players and their coaches of the Golden Eaglets for winning so convincingly in Ghana and I want to charge you to remain focused for the continental championship in order to get the ticket to the World Cup. For you players, you must stay humble, hardworking and obedient to your coaches”, he explained.

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar commended the players for writing the name of the country in gold in the continent.

He warned the players against allowing distractions from all manner of agents and player-managers, and rather be dedicated to improving their craft with temperance, endurance and a level head.

The Permanent Secretary also announced a cash reward of N2m (Two Million Naira) for the team owing to their exemplary performance at the tournament.

The Secretary General Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi while presenting the players and the team to the Honourable Minister, stated that the Head Coach Nduka Ugbade was the captain of the first Nigeria team to win the FIFA Cadet World Cup (CWP) and was also assistant coach to Manu Garba when Nigeria triumphed in the United Arab Emirates in 2013. “He is also a global consultant on football science”, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the team, the Head Coach Nduka Ugbade disclosed that football has gone scientific and there is therefore the need for early campaign as the team guns for its world cup ticket.
 
He described the reception as a special occasion saying the team is encouraged to do its utmost to continue to bring honour to the nation, “first by putting up a stellar outing at the U20 AFCON in Algeria and then going on to hold its own at the FIFA World Cup finals in Peru.”

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Governor Ododo applauds Nigeria’s’ Win Over South Africa

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Governor Usman Ododo

***Urges Super Eagles To Go For Gold

By Friday Idachaba Lokoja

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has applauded the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their Wednesday night triumph over Bafana Bafana of South Africa and qualification for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ododo who gave the applaud in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah on Thursday in Lokoja commended the Super Eagles for their display of resilience and the “Can-do Spirit” of Nigerians.

He said that the Eagles in the thrilling semi final encounter held their nerves throughout the game and the emotionally charged penalty shootout won by the Super Eagles 4:2.

The Governor noted that the build up to the game demonstrated the undiluted passion by which Nigerians are known to rally in defence of their country in difficult times.

Ododo equally urged all Nigerians to continue to support the Super Eagles to soar in their quest to bring home the coveted continental trophy.

“This win by the Super Eagles proves that Nigeria has what it takes to bounce back from its temporary setbacks as a nation.

“We are inspired as a country and we must all support the Super Eagles to bring home the trophy as they go against the Ivory Coast in the Final this weekend”, Governor Ododo said.

The Governor also urged all Nigerians to pray fervently for the Super Eagles to clinch the Nations Cup adding that the team needed the support of all Nigerians to bring home the trophy. (Ends)

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Nigeria trashes South Africa to advance to final

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The Nigerian National Team, Super Eagles has defeated South African Bafana Bafana on penalties at the Stade de la Paix (Stadium of Peace) in Bouake, Ivory Coast to advanced to the final of the African Cup of Nations

Kelechi Ihenacho scored the winning penalty for Super Eagles as Nigeria displaced the South African team from the final of Africa Cup of Nations
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 67th minute through a penalty after Osimhen made his mark.
South Africa star player Mokoena equalised in the 90th minute sending the game to extra time, the extra time ended in a stalemate, and the game advanced to penalties.

Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, saved two penalties, while Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning penalty to send the Eagles to the final

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Nigeria beats Angola 1-0 to qualify for Semi-Final

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria has defeated Angola in the quart final duel with Angola to advance to semifinal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after Lookman’s first half goal
Moses Simon’s perceptive pass gave Lookman the rear chance to score his third goal of the knockout stage
With the victory over Angola the Super Eagles have been tipped to be the new tournament favourites however their opponents with confident had created occasional scare.

This is the first time Nigeria have won four consecutive matches at a single Afcon edition without conceding a goal.
Having scored two goals against Cameroon in the last 16 as his first ever Afcon goals, Lookman has become the fourth Nigerian to score at least three goals in the knockout rounds of a single Afcon tournament, after Odion Ighalo in 2019 (4), Jay-Jay Okocha in 2004 (3) and Rashidi Yekini in 1994 (3).

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