Connect with us

International Football

“We Won’t Underrate Katsina United Feeders,” Says Akwa Boss, Maikaba

Published

on

 

BY MFON PATRICK.

As Akwa United gets set to engage Katsina United Feeders in the quarter final of Aiteo Cup, Coach Abdu Maikaba remarked that his team will not underestimate their opponents in the two legged encounter.

Akwa United will hope to continue their impressive form in the competition when they battle nationwide league team on Sunday in the first leg, quarter final of the oldest club football competition in the country.

The Promise Keepers have scored 12 goals in three Aiteo Cup matches and Coach Maikaba maintained that his team will concentrate on getting the needed result irrespective of the opponent.

Advertisement

“We are glad that we have made it to the quarter final of this competition but our target is to get to the final and lift the trophy on October 8″.

“To achieve our target, we need to continue playing well and winning our matches no matter the opposition.

‘We have a big game in our hands against Katsina United Feeders and we know that any team that plays in the quarter final of any competition is a good team”.

“As far as the Aiteo Cup competition is concerned, Katsina United Feeders is one of the best eight teams and they have played against some very good teams and got positive results so we are not going to underrate them because this is a very important match for both teams.

“We are determined to approach it with winning mentality. From this stage of the competition which is on home and away basis, we have to give our best in every match be it home or away.

Advertisement

“So we will continue to treat our opponents with respect while we set our sight on the ultimate prize”.

The 2015 winners will be without five key players- Vice Captain Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Ubong Friday, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Aremu Afeez and Gabriel Okechukwu who are with the national team for WAFU Cup tournament in Ghana, but Coach Maikaba believes that he has a team that can comfortably prosecute the match.

After the first leg in Uyo on Sunday, Akwa United will travel to Katsina for the return leg which has been fixed for Wednesday, 27th September.

The winner of the two legged tie will face the winner between Osun United and Sunshine Stars in the semi final.

Advertisement

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

International Football

Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official

Published

on

Abdellatif Akhrif, IRT player reported missing off the coast of M'diq this Saturday, July 6, 2024. © COPYRIGHT: IRT

Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.

They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.

“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.

The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.

While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.

Advertisement

Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.

-Reuters

Continue Reading

International Football

FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money

Published

on

FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and former soccer manager Arsene Wenger speaks during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.

Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.

“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”

Advertisement

FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.

Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.

-Reuters

Advertisement
Continue Reading

International Football

Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint

Published

on

Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.

Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.

“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.

After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.

Advertisement

Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.

-Reuters

Continue Reading

Most Viewed