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VIDEO: HOW THE WORLD CUP DRAW WILL GO ON FRIDAY
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, seven consecutive World Cup reporter.
With the 32 teams already shared out into four pots of eight teams, the picture of how the Final Draw will be conducted has emerged.
FIFA has come out with a demonstration video clip of how the draw will be conducted. The 32 teams are already shared out into four pots using mainly sporting considerations – the October FIFA rankings.
The only exception to the rule is the placement of Russia as the host country into Pot 1 as the head. In essence, the strongest eight teams are put in Pot 1, followed by the next eight teams in Pot 2, then the next in Pot 3 until Pot 4 which logically contains the least ranked with teams.
Nigeria is put in the Pot 4. Sports Village Square recalls that Russia is the least ranked among the 32 teams contesting the World Cup. But tradition of grating a wild card to the hosts gives Russia the privilege of not just being in Pot 1, but also being in Group A, as A1.
The Pots are then emptied into the eight glass jars that have been labelled alphabetically from A to H.
At first the Pot 1 is emptied completely, starting with Russia which goes into Group A as the first team. The next picked team in Pot 1 goes into Group B, and then Group C until the last picked team in Pot 1 goes to Group H.
After this, the Pot 2 is emptied in similar fashion, but with slight variation as it will also happened in the drawing from Pot 3 and Pot 4. Here, geographical consideration will come into play.
This is to ensure that teams from same continents (confederations) are not put together in the same group.
However, the exception will be Europe which has 14 teams, six more than the number of groups. On account of this, every of the eight groups will have at one European team, but not more than two.
That way, if two European teams are already in a group and the next drawn team from a pot is another European team, that group will be skipped and the latest drawn European team will go to the next group.
Similarly, if an African team is already in a group, and the next drawn team is from Africa, the group for which it is drawn will be skipped. This way, there will not be two African teams in a group.
The same principle applies to other continents apart from Europe where two can be in a group.
After Pot 1 is emptied, the draw moves to Pot 2 and Pot 3 while Pot 4 will be drawn last. Teams in Pot 1 will occupy the first slot in the groups and those in Pot 2 will be second and so on.
African teams will battle for the remaining qualification spots for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup this weekend as the final round of qualifiers reaches its climax across the continent.
In Kampala, Ghana will attempt to protect a slender 2-1 first-leg advantage when they face Uganda’s U20 girls away from home.
Cameroon are also in a strong position ahead of their return-leg clash against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam after securing a 3-1 victory in the first meeting.
Meanwhile, Benin will fancy their chances of advancing when they host Côte d’Ivoire following a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Nigeria’s Falconets are equally close to qualification after earning a 2-0 first-leg victory over Malawi ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter in Lilongwe.
The successful teams will join the global field for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next year.
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The London Marathon broke the record for the highest number of finishers in a marathon, with 59,830 participants completing the course to surpass the mark of 59,226 at last year’s New York City event.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe shattered the world record to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours, followed by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also breached the two-hour barrier on Sunday.
“To then break the record of the largest number of finishers in the history of marathons underlines the inspirational nature of the London Marathon. We are incredibly proud to have set a new Guinness World Record,” said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.
In the women’s race, three women ran under two hours and 16 minutes in a single race for the first time ever, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her title by shattering her own women ‘s-only world record
-Reuters
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By George Akpayen
The finish line is now in sight in this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and much of the talk has centred on the title race and those at the other end of the table, which surprisingly include last season’s champions Remo Stars.
However, there is another race shaping up among the leading top scorers this season, and this could see as many as six or more players going head-to-head in the final six matchdays.
Top contenders in the race for the battle for the golden boot are Enugu Rangers’ striker, Godwin Obaje and Ikorodu City winger Joseph Arumala, who have scored 11 goals apiece.
On the tails of the top-two scoring individuals are Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars), El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Daddy Abdulrahman, Katsina United’s Uche Collins and Emeka Obioma of Abia Warriors, all on 10 goals each.
THE PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN
Out of the top-six leading scorers, Obaje, Arumala and Mbaoma have more direct goal involvement. Obaje and Arumala have 11 goals and two assists each, while Mbaoma has 10 goals and assists from 23 appearances, which is the least number of matches featured in among the leading scorers. Mbaoma missed most of the early parts of the season due to bruised ribs.
El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Abdulrahman has made the most appearances among the top-six scorers and has a 12-goal direct involvement (10 goals + two assists).
Obioma is however, the only top-six scorer who is yet to register an assist this season after 26 appearances for Abia Warriors.
Interestingly, Collins is the only top-six scorer who has netted a hat-trick this season so far.
THE CHASING PACK
There is also the chasing pack in the race for the Golden Boot. One of them is Plateau United winger Temitope Vincent Adebayo, who has scored nine goals. Sodiq Ibrahim (3SC), Enyimba striker Chidera Michael, and Igbunu Evwierhurhoma of Warri Wolves.
The variety of players in the chasing pack also makes the race intriguing as they have been consistent goal scorers in recent matchweeks. They are definitely breathing down the necks of the frontrunners.
There are also the outsiders in the race. Jonathan Mairiga of Wikki Tourists, Chidozie Iwundu (Rangers) and Bendel Insurance duo of Kayode Oke, 3SC’s Qamar Adegoke and Alex Oweilayefa – all on eight goals. On seven goals is Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali.
WORTHY MENTION
However, Iwundu deserves a big mention among the top scorers as he is the top-scoring defender. He has made 29 appearances for Rangers and has been booked three times and sent off once.
Iwundu’s goalscoring form from his centre-back role has also been important for his club in their title aspirations this season, and his team will hope his form can continue into the final six matchdays.
No doubt, there will be twists and turns for individual glory in a race that is still wide open. Fixture difficulty, favourable run-in, struggling defences and hunger in front of goal are surely going to be among the factors that would decide who wins this race in an unpredictable league. At this point, nothing is guaranteed as all top marksmen are odds-on to claim the top individual prize.
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