Sports

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles stun host Argentina to qualify for U-20 World Cup quarterfinals

Published

4 months ago

June 1, 2023

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday night produced one of the shocks of the FIFA U-20 World Cup by beating host and one of the favourites, Argentina, 2-0 in the round of 16 to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Two second-half goals from Ibrahim Muhammad in the 70th minute and Rilwanu Sarki in the 90th minute saw the Ladan Bosso-tutored boys dump the South American giants out of the tournament.

The West Afrcans came into match as the underdogs after they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Brazil in their last group match, with many, including their country men writing them off, while many predicted a whitewash against an Argentine side that had scored 10 goals in their group.

However, Bosso and his boys proved bookmakers wrong by turning up in style to send the six-time champions out and avenging a final defeat Nigeria suffered in the 2005 edition which had the likes of Lionel Messi in the team.

From the kickoff of the match, the Flying Eagles showed great determination and an urge to make a mark on the game by exhibiting a combination of technical brilliance and tactical discipline, applying immense pressure on the Argentine defense right from the start.

Their efforts paid off when they broke the deadlock in the second half with a brilliantly executed goal despite the host having the greater possession and shots on target.

The goal not only boosted their confidence but also sent a clear message to their opponents that they were a force to be reckoned with.

With the Argentines trailing by the first goal, they poured forward looking for the equaliser but the Flying Eagles’ defense of Abel Ogwuche, Benjamin Frederick, Daniel Bameyi and Solomon Agbalaka stood firm and thwarted all attempts by the host to breach Chijioke Aniagboso’s goal.

Nigeria will now face either Korea Republic or Ecuador for a place in the semi-final of the tournament.

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Sports

Nigerian couple makes history with Paralympic qualifications

Published

1 day ago

September 23, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Nigerian para-table tennis players, Kayode Alabi and Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, have made history by becoming the first African couple to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, after securing their maiden ticket at the ITTF African Para Championships in Giza, Egypt.

Alabi came out tops in the men’s Class Six category to qualify for his first Paralympic Games, while his wife also picked her maiden ticket in the women’s Class Five.

At the qualifying tournament, Nigerian players dominated in the men’s singles category and claimed the bulk of the tickets, with four of the six entrees making their Paralympic Games debut.

Nigeria also added extra tickets in women’s Classes Nine and Five in successive sessions, with Kehinde Lawal and Ikpeoyi topping their events as champions.

Other athletes who picked tickets for the Paralympic Games include Olufemi Alabi and Victor Farinloye, who both competed in the men’s Classes 10 and Eight at the last games in Tokyo.

Others are Isau Ogunkunle, Bolawa Akingbemisilu, Kayode Alabi and Abiola Adesope who all won their respective classes and will be on the plane to Paris.

Sports

Sorry Namibia pounded 96-0 by France in Rugby World Cup

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Namibia’s participation at the ongoing Rugby World Cup in France took a big dent when they were trounced 96-0 by the host who reached the quarter-finals of the competition with their biggest-ever win.

The one-sided Pool A encounter on Thursday evening at the Marseille’s Stade Velodrome saw France running up the huge score against the Africans, showing the gulf in class between the two teams.

In the match, Damian Penaud scored a hat-trick, while Jonathan Danty, Charles Ollivon and Louis Bielle-Biarry all scored twice to make mince meat of their opponents.

Thibaud Flament, Dupont and substitutes Baptiste Couillard and Melvyn Jaminet also scored, while Thomas Ramos kicked 12 conversions.

The host nation made 12 changes from their 27-12 victory over Uruguay, bringing back their big names and from the first whistle, dominated and outclassed a sorry Namibian side.

But it was not all good news for France as skipper Antoine Dupont was forced off the field with a head injury and will be sweating on his fitness ahead of the quarter-finals match.

Dupont was struck by Namibia captain Johan Deysel in the side of his head a few minutes into the second half and immediately left the field, being taken to hospital for a suspected fractured cheek.