Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: sport

  • Eagles Recall Akpeyi, Uzoho, Ezenwa, Nwakali on Standby for Sierra Leone Game

    Eagles Recall Akpeyi, Uzoho, Ezenwa, Nwakali on Standby for Sierra Leone Game

    Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has recalled South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, to his team for the qualifier match against Sierra Leone.

    On standby are home-based goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Cyprus-based Francis Uzoho, and former Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali.

    Rohr has also called up Captain Ahmed Musa, defender William Ekong, midfield enforcer Oghenekaro Etebo, and 21 others for the game.

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    Victor Osimhen, the leading marksman who missed out of this month’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia, will return to the team just as midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

    Switzerland –based goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe will hope to earn his first cap for Nigeria, while defenders Kevin Akpoguma and Zaidu Sanusi, who impressed in the friendlies in Austria, have been handed opportunities to add to their caps.

    There are seven players on standby, including defender Abdullahi Shehu, Uzoho, Ramon Azeez and Samson Tijani, and forward Paul Onuachu.
    The players lined up for the friendly match are:

    Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano, Switzerland); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands).

    Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany).

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    Nigeria Football Federation Gets FIFA’s $1m Palliative, $600, 000 Mini Stadia Fund

    Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, Netherlands); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia).

    Thenff.com stated that the players are expected to report at the Protea Hotel Emotan in Benin City on November 9.

  • Nigeria Football Federation Gets FIFA’s $1m Palliative, $600, 000 Mini Stadia Fund

    Nigeria Football Federation Gets FIFA’s $1m Palliative, $600, 000 Mini Stadia Fund

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally received a $1 million palliative it was promised by the world football governing body, FIFA.

    The receipt of the long awaited palliative fund was disclosed Wednesday on Twitter by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, who revealed further that the Nigerian federation received another $600, 000 from the football body for the construction of two mini stadia in the country.

    Pinnick said the federation got the fund on Monday and has also reconfirmed what it is meant for from FIFA.

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    “As a further break down, the $1 million for palliatives is composed of $500,000 for men’s football and $500,000 for the women’s game. FIFA has also promised to send the Federation an additional $500,000 sometime in January 2021, also as part of COVID-19 palliative efforts.

    “FIFA also sent $600,000 to the federation for the FIFA Forward 2.0 projects in Birnin-Kebbi and Ugborodo. At $300,000 each, it will enable the mini-stadia in both centers to start at a very good pace, as we earmark completion by the end of March 2021”, he stated.

    The NFF will also receive the sum of $300,000 on or before Sunday, November 1, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

    According to Pinnick, “With the $200,000 we have already ring-fenced from our sponsors’ funds for the purpose, the coast will then be clear for us to start the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries, as captured in our approved template, from next week.

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    “Even though we are bolstered by the guidelines from FIFA strictly outlying the purposes of these funds, as well as the approval of the NFF executive board, we will also interface with our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, on each and every line item, to ensure the disbursements conform to global best practices.”

    The NFF had in August outlined the formula for the distribution of its palliatives to men and women football, as well as all its affiliates, including the Supporters Club and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

     

  • Arsenal’s goalkeeper Martinez keen on first-team deal, set to depart

    Arsenal’s goalkeeper Martinez keen on first-team deal, set to depart

    Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez is set to leave the Gunners this summer.

    Martinez’s performance while standing in for injured Bernd Leno last season, adjudged impressive, sparked intense debates among Arsenal fans about who should be the first choice goalkeeper after seeing the Argentine’s ability.

    Arsenal chief, Mikel Arteta is however keen on doing everything possible to keeping the back up goalkeeper offering a new deal.

    The Argentine, who was also very crucial to Arsenal’s triumph in the FA Cup and Community shield was said to have turned down the latest contract offer as he is focused only on a deal that gets him more regular first-team football.

    A major factor fuelling Martinez’s decision to quit the Arsenal side is Bernd Leno’s return to action. The first-team favoured goalkeeper’s return would see him start ahead of Martinez in Arsenal’s Saturday game against London neighbours, Fulham.

    It is likely that Martinez joins Aston Villa if he pushes through quiting Arsenal after the former tabled two bids for the 28-year-old.

    Amidst interest from Laliga side Villareal, reports suggested that Martinez would prefer to stay in England .

  • NBA appoints Sierra Leonean-American, Victor Williams, Africa CEO

    NBA appoints Sierra Leonean-American, Victor Williams, Africa CEO

    National Basketball Association appoints Sierra Leona-American, Victor Williams, Africa CEO

    National Basketball Association (NBA) Monday named Victor Williams as the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Africa, effective August 17.

    Announcing the new appointment, NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, described Williams as an accomplished investment banking executive with extensive experience growing businesses across the United States of America and Africa.

    CEO NBA Africa would be based in the league’s Johannesburg office and report to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, Mark Tatum.

    In this newly-created role, Williams would oversee the league’s basketball and business development initiatives in Africa and would be responsible for continuing to grow the popularity of basketball and NBA across the continent through grassroots development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, and more.

    “Adding an executive of Victor’s caliber and experience is an important step in our continued efforts to grow basketball across the continent.

    “We look forward to Victor leading NBA Africa’s operations and helping to accelerate the use of sports as an economic engine across Africa,” Silver added.

    Commenting on his appointment, Williams said: “Becoming CEO of NBA Africa is a compelling opportunity to join the NBA – a widely-respected and admired, globally-oriented sports enterprise.

    “It allows me to blend my professional experience building businesses in Africa with my passion for the sport of basketball.

    “I look forward to working with our colleagues in Johannesburg and Dakar to help grow basketball’s commercial and social impact in Africa and on the world stage.”

    In the last five years, Williams had served as the Executive Head of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), Africa Regions for Standard Bank Group, where he oversaw the strategy, execution and financial performance for Standard Bank’s business with corporate, sovereign and institutional investor clients in 19 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

    In this pan-continental role, Williams was responsible for growing a wide range of business lines across Africa, including global markets, investment banking and transactional products and services, and helped lead Standard Bank’s expansion into Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

    Williams joined Standard Bank in 2011 as Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for East Africa and subsequently led Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment banking business in Nigeria.

    Previously, he worked at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was a Managing Director focused on mergers and acquisitions. In this role, he executed more than $5 billion in merger and acquisition transactions and advised senior executives and boards of directors of corporate and private equity firms on mergers, divestitures, acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalisations and corporate defense.

    Prior to Wells Fargo Securities, Williams was Vice President of Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs in New York City, where he provided strategic guidance to Fortune 500 companies in all aspects of merger and financing analysis and execution.

    Williams, a dual citizen of Sierra Leone and the USA, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and bachelor’s degrees in applied math and economics from Brown University.

    He is a member of Harvard Business School’s Africa Advisory Board and has also served on the boards of publicly-listed companies and non-profit organisations in the USA, Nigeria and Kenya.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to win 14th FA Cup

    Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to win 14th FA Cup

    Arsenal FC has won its 14th FA Cup by coming from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1.

    Christian Pulisic struck early after Olivier Giroud’s excellent flick on but Arsenal refused to cave in and got their reward for steady improvements during the first half when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was fouled by Cesar Azpilicueta just inside the penalty area. He converted the subsequent penalty.

    Just as the pressure was building on his team-mates Aubameyang, in what some may fear would be his final game for Arsenal after entering the final 12 months of his contract, scored a superbly taken goal, lofting the ball over the onrushing Willy Caballero.

    Congratulating Arsenal FC, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda wrote: “Bravo, congrats ARSENAL for a well deserved and needed win – FA CUP. We, FANS and supporters kept faith in you…going forward let’s aim at much bigger things. WE CAN…!!!”

    Idowu Sowunmi