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Sports Niche NG, Lagos (2026)

20/03/2018

TICKETS FOR NIGERIA VS POLAND FRIENDLY SOLD OUT

When Super Eagles turn out at the 42,000 capacity Stadium Wroclaw on Friday to engage Poland in their first tune-up match en-route the World Cup in Russia in less than three months from today, Gernot Rohr and his wards will meet more than they bargained for.

The Bialo-Czerwoni (White and Red), as the Polish senior football team is called, will take on the three-time African champions in front of a full house.

As at press time last night, only six Super Eagles have arrived the team's camp in Wroclaw from their respective clubs in Europe. The early birds include; Williams Troost Ekong, Ola Aina, Tyrone Ebuehi, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun and Brian Idowu. Others were been expected in late last night with the rest arriving today for training to begin.

Top Polish journalist, Piotr Kozminski, hinted SCORENigeria that all the available 42,000 tickets have been picked by Polish football fans who want to gauge their team against an African opposition.

"The 42,000 tickets for this game have been sold out, the company responsible for this has announced," Kozminski revealed yesterday.

He hinted that expectations were high in the country for the Bialo-Czerwoni to do well in Russia this coming summer.

The clash against Nigeria is to give them an idea of what to expect when they take on robust-playing Senegal in their opening game of Group H.

"There is high expectation around the team leading to the World Cup in Russia and it will be a major disappointment if they do not go past a first round group that also has Colombia, Senegal and Japan.

"The Polish FA boss, Zbigniew Boniek, a famous player in his playing days, said he expects Poland not to lose their opening game against Senegal and for Colombia and Poland go through," stressed the top Polish sports journalist

And four days later, they will take on another World Cup qualifier South Korea so as to prepare for their group game against Japan.

Interestingly, while there is frenzy in Wroclaw over the clash, Nigerian midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi who is expected to arrive Eagles' Radisson Blu Hotel camp today, insisted that there was nothing friendly about the match.

"Yes it's a friendly match, but we don't see it as friendly, every game is important for us as we start our World Cup build-up," Onazi observed yesterday.

The Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder who scored a spectacular goal on Sunday for his club in the 4-1 win over Yeni Malatyaspor, is to have a delayed transit in Germany before connecting straight to the Polish city for the Friday night friendly.

"I will arrive on Tuesday because I have a very long transit from Frankfurt to Poland," concludes the Jos-born Onazi.

Four days after the game in Wroclaw, Eagles are to take on Serbia in another friendly against Russia 2018-bound team at The Hive in London (home ground of Barnet FC and London Bees).

17/03/2018

TOM TOM RENEW DEAL AS OFFICIAL SUPER EAGLES AND NATIONAL TEAMS CANDY

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday signed another three years partnership deal with the Cadbury Nigeria Plc, maker of TomTom brand, as the official candy of the Super Eagles and other national football teams.

The unveiling ceremony was held in Lagos, and was witnessed by the NFF’s President, Amaju Pinnick, Zimbabwean Football Association and COSAFA president, Philip Chiyangwa, NFF second Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko among others dignitaries. The sponsor details was not disclosed.

Speaking on the bond, the Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Mr. Muhammad Amir Shamsi, said it was not a coincidence that both partners are going into the contract why identifying with the national football teams.

“We’ve been long together when the Super Eagles went to play the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, where we rewarded the team for a target with $10,000.

We want to be a long time supporter of this beautiful game, which I think brings a lot of smiles and a lot of happiness to the people of this country.

We will continue to support the team because winning and losing are part of the game. I think the pride of going to represent one’s country is the biggest achievement.”

On his part, Dikko, who is also the chairman of Marketing, Sponsorship and TV Rights Committee and Strategic Studies Committee of the NFF, expressed delight at TomTom’s support for the NFF, saying it is a deal that will bring a win, win situation for both parties.

“I want to thank Cadbury for coming back onboard. We all know that Cadbury has been around for a very long time with their association with the NFF.

What we are doing today is amplifying what we have discussed; trying to take it to the next level because we all agreed and believed that the Super Eagles have moved to the next level under our watch and we are trying to make it as much better as possible,” he stated.

16/03/2018

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL FIXTURES

Rb Leipzig Vs Marseille
Arsenal Vs CSKA Moskva
Athletico Madrid Vs Sporting CP
Lazio Vs Salzburg

16/03/2018

The wait is over
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUATER FINAL fixtures

Liverpool Vs Manchester City
Juventus Vs Real Madrid
Sevilla Vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona Vs Roma

16/03/2018

TORIOLA, QUADRI TO REPRESENT NIGERIA AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation on Thursday named the players to represent the country at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia next month.

They are veteran player Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri, Jamiu Azeez, Portugal-based Bode Abiodun, who is Quadri’s teammate at Sporting, and Italy-based Omotayo Olajide.

Nigeria are expected to compete in the men’s singles and men’s team events in Gold Coast.

Toriola is currently ranked 261 by the ITTF in the world and third in Nigeria. The player, who has featured in seven Olympics, last featured in the ITTF Africa Top 16 in Kenya, where he lost at the quarterfinal to Congo’s Saheed Idowu.

Africa’s second ranked player Quadri won silver at the ITTF Africa Top 16 in Kenya after losing to Egyptian rival Omar Assar.

Olajide is Nigeria’s second best player and is currently ranked 207 by the ITTF and Azeez is the 2016 and 2017 national junior champion while Abiodun last competed for Nigeria in 2017 at the Nigeria Open, where he upset Quadri in the round of 16 of the men’s singles.

In para-table tennis, Holland-based Tope Ogunsanya (male) and Faith Bazuaye (female) will represent the country at the Games

National coach Nosiru Bello said he picked the players on current form, adding that the country wants to build on the success of Glasgow 2014.

He said, “Aruna is the best Nigerian player currently and no one can dispute that. Toriola is experienced and has proved many times he can deliver on the international scene.

Omotayo is also doing well in Italy while Bode is also in good form. Jamiu is on the team to learn more and build his confidence,” he said.

“Our target is to do better than what we did in 2014. That is why these set of players were selected.”

16/03/2018

FIBA CALLS FOR FRESH ELECTION INTO NIGERIA BASKETBALL FEDERATION BOARD

World Basketball governing body, FIBA, has called for fresh elections into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to end the nearly nine months deadlock.

In a letter the world body’s Secretary General, Patrick Bauman, addressed to both Amadu Musa Kida and Tijani Umar, (the two men laying claim to the exalted office of NBBF Presidency), the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, FIBA insisted that the two elections in Abuja and Kano respectively failed to meet the general statutes of the global body.

Specifically, based on the report of the three-man panel sent by FIBA to Nigeria to look into the crisis, it said that the election in Kano on June 12, 2017 that returned Umar as NBBF president did not comply with the Article 9.3 of the FIBA Statutes.

Similarly, FIBA also said that the Abuja election won by Kida also failed to adhere to Article 9.7 of the FIBA Statutes.

“The statutes and regulation of national members must comply with the General Statutes and Internal Regulations of FIBA,” the letter from FIBA noted.

“The General Statutes and Internal Regulations of FIBA shall form part of the national member federations’ statutes and regulations. In the event of doubt or conflict the General Statutes and Internal Regulation of FIBA will prevail.”

Article 9.7 of the FIBA Statutes states that: “National members of the federation shall manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties. In particular, they must ensure that their officials are either elected or appointed under a democratic process for a term of office for four (4) years. Their statutes must provide a transparent procedure that guarantees the complete independence of election or appointment.”

Bauman, also stated in the letter to the warring parties in NBBF that a new date for fresh election will be announced but until then, FIBA will continue the line of communication with Nigeria through the Kida-led board.

“FIBA will determine when the NBBF statutes are compliant as per the above and reserves the right to oversee parts or the entirety of the election process. Communication still to be maintained with Musa Kida, Babatunde Ogunade and Chimezie Asiegbu until such time as the new elections are held as per our letter of 26 July, 2017,” Bauman’s letter concluded.

In his reaction to the FIBA letter yesterday, Kida maintained that the NBBF will cooperate with the world body in order to come up with acceptable statutes for basketball administration in Nigeria in line with FIBA’s provision.

“Going by the letter received this morning (Thursday), FIBA was silent about the date for a new election as they unequivocally stated that they will maintain communications with the Musa Kida led board. We as a responsible organisation with a passion for basketball development in Nigeria will work closely with FIBA during this critical phase, forging a way forward for basketball in Nigeria,” Kida stressed in a statement issued by spokesman of his board, Oni Afolabi.

He maintained that the continued impasse has affected the expected growth of basketball especially the various national leagues and capacity building programmes for coaches and technical officials as he called on all stakeholders to exercise more patience for the resolution of the matter.

Similarly, the Tijani Umar led faction of the NBBF welcomed the decision of FIBA for a fresh election to settle the lingering leadership dispute of the federation but noted as follows: “ That after observing due process in line with the FIBA Statutes from which the NBBF Constitution was derived, the election held in Kano on June 12, 2017 should have been endorsed by FIBA.

16/03/2018

NIGERIA RETAINS 52nd POSITION IN LATEST FIFA RANKINGS

Nigeria remained in the 52nd spot in the latest FIFA rankings for the month of March released yesterday.

Super Eagles also remained seventh in the African rankings behind, staying behind Tunisia (23), Senegal (27), DR Congo (39), Morocco (42), Egypt (44) and Cameroon (51) in the global rankings.

Interestingly, Poland, the Eastern European nation Eagles are playing in a warm up game at the 43,000-capacity Stadium Wroclaw next Friday, moved up sixth place in the ratings. The poles are just a spot shy of their best-ever position in the FIFA rankings.

Serbia, the other country Nigeria is to play four days after Poland at the Hive in London, also remain stagnant in the 34th spot they occupied in last month rating.

There were no movements for Nigeria’s group rivals at the World Cup in Russia, Argentina (4), Croatia (15) and Iceland (18).

At the top of the world rankings, Germany remains unshaken with Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium maintaining their hold in the Top Five. Only Poland moved one step up to sixth with Spain, Switzerland, France and Chile competing the Top 10 rankings.

The next FIFA Coca-Cola rankings come up April 12, 2018.

13/03/2018

KWARA UNITED FIRES COACH JOHN OBUH

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Kwara United on Monday announced the sacking of their Technical Adviser, John Obuh, from the post.

Former Niger Tornadoes gaffer, Abubakar Bala, has been tipped as Obuh’s possible replacement.

In an official press statement issued by Media Officer of the club, Waheed Bibire, the Ilorin club was forced to take such drastic decision following the team’s poor run of form in the NPFL this season.

Kwara United has stuck to the bottom of the 12-week old season with a miserly11 points from a possible 36.

Before the former Flying Eagles coach was sacked yesterday, Obuh was given a three-match ultimatum to turn the fortunes of the team around following a 1-0 home defeat against Rivers United on Match-day 10.

The team was have however recorded one defeat and a draw since the ultimatum.

Obuh, who once handled Nigeria’s U-17 and U-20 teams, last game in charge of Kwara United was last Sunday’s Match-day 12 clash against El-Kanemi Warriors which ended in a 1-1 draw.

He guided the club back to the top flight last term after two seasons in the Bet9ja Nigeria National League.

He is the second coach to be relieved of his duties in the NPFL in this campaign after Niger Tornadoes sacked veteran tactician Erasmus Onu earlier in the season.

13/03/2018

NIGERIANS WILL NOT ACCEPT FAILURE IN RUSSIA - WIKE tells NFF

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has advised the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to intensify preparations for the World Cup 2018 as Nigerians will not accept failure of the Super Eagles at the Mundial in Russia.

Speaking during a courtesy visit of the President of the NFF to him at the Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said exiting the World Cup at the group stage would be unacceptable to Nigerians.

According to Wike: "If you (Eagles) fail to advance beyond the group stage, don't bother to return. Find excuses to stay there in Russia. Nigerians expect the best from the Super Eagles. That is why the NFF must intensify preparations to do well at the World Cup," stressed Wike.

He urged the management of the NFF to close ranks and work in unity for the development of football in the country.

"There must be disagreements, but these disagreements should be platforms for development. Disagreements should not destroy the place. It should make NFF stronger," Wike noted.

The governor said Rivers State government was using football as a source of empowerment for the youths.

He said football was a unifying factor in the country, as it douses tension whenever the nation is engaged in international sporting events.

Wike commended the NFF for the notable improvements in the country's league, charging the NFF leadership to develop it to the level where teams can win on the strength of their capacity.

Earlier, the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, said that the federation was in the state to thank Wike for providing the foundation for the qualification of Super Eagles for the World Cup.

He said the journey to Russia 2018 started in Port Harcourt after the Super Eagles defeated Swaziland.

"The governor created the right environment that led to the qualification of Super Eagles for the World Cup. This journey started here in Port Harcourt. Today, Port Harcourt has become a destination of choice," observed the NFF chief.

He formally invited Wike to be part of the country's delegation to the World Cup, stressing that Nigeria would benefit from the sporting experience of the Rivers State governor.

As part of NFF's preparation of the Super Eagles for the battles ahead in Russia, Gernot Rohr's men are take on Poland on March 23 and Serbia on March 27 respectively.

They are also programmed to play the Three Lions of England on June 2 at Wembley, before heading to Russia to face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D of the World Cup.

13/03/2018

MATIC, IVANOVIC IN SERBIA SQUAD TO FACE SUPER EAGLES IN INT'L FRIENDLY

Serbia has released the list of ‎players who will be in action when they take on Nigeria in a friendly game later this month in Barnet.

Head coach Mladen Krstajic named Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic in the squad released earlier yesterday ahead of the March 27th game.

The list consists of three goalkeepers, 10 defenders, nine midfielders and two forwards lead by Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic with Aleksandar Prijovic of PAOK Salonica, the other forward named in the squad.

Former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic who now plays for Russian side Zenith St. Petersburg tops the list of defenders which also has Dusan Basta of Lazio and Roma defender Aleksandar Kolarov, who was once on the books of English Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Bar Matic, Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic was also listed alongside the likes of Sergei Milinkovic-Savic of Lazio, Adem Ljajic of Torino and on loan Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic who is with Cardiff City temporarily.

SERBIA SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Vladimir Stojkovic (Partizan), Predrag Rajkovic (Maccabi), Marko Dmitrovic (Eibar);

DEFENDERS: Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit), Antonio Rukavina (Villarreal), Dusan Basta (Lazio), Nikola Maksimovic (Spartak Moscow), Vujadin Savic (Red Star), Matija Nastasic (Schalke), Dusko Tosic (Besiktas), Milos Veljkovic ), Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Ivan Obradovic (Anderlecht)

MIDFIELDERS: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United), Luka Milivojevic (Kristal Palas), Sergei Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Adem Ljajic (Torino), Mijat Gacinovic (Eintracht), Marko Grujic (Cardiff), Dusan Tadic (Southampton), Filip Kostic (Hamburg), Andrija Zivkovic (Benfica)

FORWARDS: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Aleksandar Prijovic (PAOK)

27/02/2018

SUPER FALCONS PULL OUT OF 12-NATION TOURNAMENT

Reigning African women champions, the Super Falcons, have withdrawn from a 12-nation tournament which kicks off in Turkey this week due to visa issues.

The Super Falcons were scheduled to lock horns with Group B rivals France, Kosovo and Kazakhstan from February 26 to March 7 as preparation for this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers.

But Falcons who finished third at the regional WAFU Cup on Saturday, have withdrawn from the competition for logistical reasons.

“It was impossible for the team to sort visas and make it to the tournament in Turkey, so they had to pull out,” Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.

“They only just finished playing the WAFU Cup on Saturday and had a short time-frame to sort out visas and other important logistics for the trip to Turkey.

“Importantly, attention and preparations will shift towards the big friendly against France in April.”

The news comes as a real setback for the country and newly appointed coach, Swede Thomas Dennerby.

Before his arrival, the Super Falcons had not played or trained since lifting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for an eighth time in 2016, when Dennerby’s predecessor Florence Omagbemi became the first woman to win the competition as both player and coach.

The lack of action prompted criticism from strikers Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala – the latter surprisingly named African Women’s Player of the Year last month despite Nigeria not playing a single game in 2017.

Her performances for her new Chinese club, Dalian Quanjian, saw her triumph ahead of Chrestina Kgatlana and Gabrielle Onguene.

However, Dennerby’s first challenge ended in disappointment at the West African championship, the WAFU Women’s Cup, after they lost to bitter rivals Ghana in the semi-finals.

The team will now travel to Europe to play France in a friendly in April, after which the focus will be on securing a qualifying spot at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana.

This year’s Women’s Nations Cup takes on extra significance as it will also decide the continent’s teams for the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria is the only African team to have played in all of the Women’s seven World Cup tournaments since 1991 but they have failed to translate their continental dominance on the world stage.

Their best performance came when reaching the quarter-finals in 1999.

24/02/2018

Don't miss a bit this Weekend in the Nigeria Professional Football League match day 10.Here are the fixtures;

Wikki Tourists FC vs Katsina United FC

FC IfeanyiUbah vs Nasarawa United FC

Kwara United FC vs Rivers United FC

Niger Tornadoes FC vs Abia Warriors FC

Yobe desert stars FC vs EL Kanemi Warriors FC

Rangers Int’l FC vs Kano Pillars FC

Enyimba Int’l FC vs Sunshine stars FC

MFM FC vs Lobi Stars FC

Sports Niche NG

20/03/2018

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16/03/2018

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13/03/2018

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27/02/2018

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