Garba Names final squad for AYC

Flying Eagles’ Head Coach Manu Garba has released a list of 21 players who will represent the country at the 19^th African Youth Championship in Senegal.

Nigeria play host Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the tournament scheduled for 8^th – 22^nd March in the Senegalese cities of Dakar and M’Bour.

Ghana, Mali, South Africa and Zambia play in Group B. All four semi finalists will fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand, scheduled for 30^th May – 20^th July this year. 

THE FULL LIST
Joshua Enaholo, Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Akinjide Idowu, Saheed AbdulGaniyu, Izuchukwu Omego, Bernard Bulbwa, Alhassan Ibrahim, Christian Pyagbara, Abdullahi Alfa, Saleh Usman, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Samuel Okon, Obinna Nwobodo, Ifeanyi Mathew, Dele Alampasu, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bello Zaharadeen, Wasiu Jimoh, Olorunleke Ojo

Warri Wolves to face Bobo on Sunday

The confederation of Africa football (CAF) has moved back by a day the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup cracker between Warri Wolves and Racing Bobo Dioulasso of Burkina Faso earlier fixed for Sunday, 1st March.

                                Warri Wolves
The match will now hold on the 28th, February at the Warri City Stadium.

Meanwhile, a 29 man delegation of Bobo Dioulasso players and officials will arrive in Warri on Thursday.

Warri Wolves go into this weekend's game with huge advantage after winning the first leg in Burkina Faso by a lone goal

Nigerians on target in Asian continental cups

Ex Junior International Ganiyu Oseni scored one of Binh Duong of Viet Nam's goal in their 2-3 home loss to Shandong Luneng of China in Asian Champions League (ACL).

Elsewhere,
Ranti Martins scored the only goal for his side, East Bengal of India in their 4-1 loss at Darul Takzim of Malaysia in the AFC cup (equivalent of Confederation Cup in Africa and Uefa cup in Europe).

Eaglets not so golden in draw with Guinea

Nigeria's U-17, Golden Eaglets on Wednesday forced their Guinean counterparts to a 1-1 draw at Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) at the on-going African U-17 Championship in Niamey.

 

Captain Kelechi Nwakali yet again rescued Nigeria with a vital equalizer in the second half from a penalty after Sam Diallo had scored the curtain raiser in the 11th minute through a spot kick.

With the result, Nigeria still top the Group A section on a better goal difference  despite having the same four points with the Guineans.

Speaking at the post match conference, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said he was shocked about the team's performance especially in the first half.

"Frankly, this was our worst performance and the worst I have seen from these boys because we lost the initiative and composure of the game to the Guineans," he explained. 

The 1994 African player of the year however praised the resilience of his lads.

"I want to praise the players for their resilience in getting a draw against Guinea because this was a difficult game for them, We played much better in the second half and it was good we got the equalizer.

Nigeria must at least guide against a defeat in their last Group A match against Zambia on Saturday to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the semi finals as well as the much sought after ticket
to the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup slated for Chile later this year.

Alhaji Gero, Freedom Omofoman miss out of Siasia's squad for Gabon

Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia has named a 21 man squad for the upcoming All Africa Games qualifier against Gabon in Libreville. 

The list is made up of 16 home based and 5 foreign based players.

The players and officials are expected to depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday evening for Gabon aboard an Ethiopia Airline flight.

The 21 players for Gabon: 

Goalkeepers: Daniel Emmanuel, Akande Abiodun. 

Defenders: Obanor Erhun, Okoro Stanley, Oduduwa Segun, Sani Faisal, Sincere Seth, Atanda Sodiq 

Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Godwin Savior, Tiongoli Tonbara, Saliu Popoola, Oshobe Oladele, Mohammed Usman, Kingsley Sokari 

Forwards: Etebo Oghenekaro, Ajayi Junior, Peter Onyekachi,‎ Iwobi Alex, Paul Onwachu.

Why Enyimba did not register Udoh for Champions League

An Enyimba official has told Sports Flight that they did not register NPFL last season's hot shot, Mfon Udoh for this years Champions League.

 "We were and are still expecting him to leave for greener pastures abroad and so we thought it wise to let him be" The official who pleaded not to be named said.

"There were many requests for Udoh and it will not be wise to register him and waste that space when he may leave at anytime"

"He may still be registered when we get to league stage and he is still around"

Udoh set a new all time goals record of 23 goals last season and won both LBA season's top scorer and MVP awards.

Sunshine Stars grab Chukwude

Former Gabros of Nnewi hotshot, Chekwube Chukwude has signed for Sunshine Stars of Akure.

Chukwude who has failed to land a club outside the Country after leaving Gabros refused all entreaties from the newly promoted team to rejoin them.

Enugu Rangers go for dark horses

While other clubs are jostling for the big names in the transfer market, Enugu Rangers International have decided to go for inexperienced grass root players this season.

                                          Enugu Rangers last season

The 6 time league champions had called for an open screening and over 200 players answered their call and new coach, Kelechi Emeteole alongside his assistants, Imama Amapakabo and others made their selections.

The 'Flying Antelopes are now in a closed camping stage at Emene, Enugu where about 45 players (both old and new) are currently sweating it out.

Out of the lot, 35 will finally be registered for the new season.

Not all the new players are rookies though, as the Coal City side raided the camp of Oriental rivals, Heartland and grabbed 4 players amongst whom are, Striker, Bobby Clement, Midefielders, Osas Okoro and Orji Kalu Okagbue.

Sports Flight also learned that former Abia Warriors and FC Inter Enugu goal keeper, Onuoha is training with Rangers.

"We might not have signed the biggest of names but the chosen players are good, I can tell you that and if they perform the way they have been performing in pre season, then our fans will be happy this season" One of the officials told Sports Flight.

Enyimba trounce Buffles

Two-time champions Enyimba FC busted Buffles du Borgou of Benin Republic 3-0 Sunday in a 2015 CAF Champions League first round, first leg match at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.

Daniel Etor opened scoring in the 8^th minute, Kingsley Sokari made it 2-0 in the 81^st minute and Peter Onyekachi scored the third in stoppage time.

Leon Balogun on Target

Nigeria International Leon Balogun scored the goal that gave his side, Darmstadt a point as they drew 1-1 with TSV 1860 Munich.

                             Leon Balogun in action
Balogun over came a yellow card in the 81st minute to equalise for his side 2 minutes later in the 83rd minute after 1860 Munich had gone ahead in the 23rd minute through Bandowski.

Nigerian born Austrian international, Rubin Okotie missed a penalty that should have put 1860 Munich 2-0 up  in the 32nd minute.

Elsewhere
Daniel Adejo was red carded after a second yellow card in the 33rd minute and his side, AEL Kalloni was beaten 2-0 by Kerkyra fc in the Greece Super League.

Nigerian Born Belgian Junior International, Jason Adesanya scored one of the goals as his club Lommel United Fc played a 3-3 draw away at Seresien FC in the Belgium League 2e classe.

Golden Eaglets in bright start

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have started brightly at the 2015 CAF U-17 championship in Niamey by winning the opener against the hosts, Niger Republic 2-0. 

                 Golden Eaglets vs Niamey, photo courtesy: cafonline

Victor Osimhen opened scoring after 18minutes and captain Kelechi Nwakali's beautiful free-kick from outside the box gave Nigeria victory in an entertaining opener at the Stade Seyni Kountche in Niamey.

Nigeria next plays Guinea on Wednesday, February 18.

AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI

Winners: Côte d’Ivoire

Orange Man of the competition: Christian Atsu (Ghana) 
Pepsi Highest Scorer: André Ayew (Ghana), 3 Goals with 2 assists

Best Goalkeeper: Sylvain Gbohouo (Côte d’Ivoire) Nissan goal of the Tournament: Christian Atsu (Ghana) [3rd goal against Guinea]

Fair Play team: DR Congo
Samsung Fair Player of the tournament: Kwesi Appiah (Ghana)
Samsung Fair Player of the final match (CIV-GHA): Wilfried Bony (Côte d’Ivoire) 
Orange Man of the final match (CIV-GHA): Afriyie Acquah (Ghana)

CAF Team of the Tournament

Goalkeeper: Sylvain Gbohouo (Côte d’Ivoire) – Robert Kidiaba (RD Congo) Defenders: Serge Aurier (Côte d’Ivoire), Harrison Afful (Ghana),  Kolo Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)     Midfielders: Andre Ayew (Ghana), Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire), Max Alain Gradel (Côte d’Ivoire), Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo), Gervinho (Côte d’Ivoire)      Forwards: Christian Atsu (Ghana),  Wilfried Bony (Côte d’Ivoire)

Enyimba trounce Abia Warriors

Here are the line ups when Enyimba trounced rivals, Abia Warriors 4-0 in a pre season warm-up game at Enyimba Stadium in Aba at the weekend.

Kingsley Sokari opened scoring and Cameroonian Raphael Boumsong added a hatrick for the 4-0 drubbing.

Enyimba: 
Thomas, Anyanwu, Udoji, Aloma, Esieme, Abalogu, Uluocha, Bassey, Sokari, Okonkwo, Bashir

Abia Warriors: 
Chinedu 'Iroko' Udeh, Nnaemeka Anyanwu, Keke, Valentine Nwaebili, Zuberu, Al Hassan Doso, Kola Anubi, Atu, Ali, Michael, Musa Najere.

Enyimba used the match to further prepare for their CAF Champions League match up against Buffles of Benin Republic.

Golden Eaglets set to hit the road to Niamey

The Golden Eaglets Team of 21 players and 10 officials will depart Sokoto for Niamey, Niger Republic on Thursday, 12th February, for the CAF U-17 Africa championships.

                      Coach Emmanuel Amuneke and his Golden Eaglets 

While in Niamey, The Eaglets will stay at the Hotel Royale Palace and will play their first two group A matches against host Niger Republic and Guinea at the Stade General Seyni Kountche, while the last group match against Zambia will take place at the Stade Municipal, which has artificial turf. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in Niger Republic have promised to give the Eaglets maximum support to go all the way and become the African champions. 

The Golden Eaglets are currently the FIFA U-17 World Champions and will qualify to defend their title in Chile later this year only if they get to the Semi Finals in Niger.