Nigerian Football
ZENITH BANK HAILS NFF ON FUTURE EAGLES’ PROGRESS
Zenith International Bank PLC has heaped encomiums on the Nigeria Football Federation for the progress the federation has made with the Nigeria cadet teams since the signing of the partnership agreement between both establishments a couple of years ago.
The partnership birthed the Future Eagles’ U13/ U15 project, on the wings of the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championships.
The hear-warming words of praise were showered on the NFF leadership by the GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank PLC, Peter Amangbo when the NFF, led by the its President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, presented the U15 National Team, Future Eagles, to its partners at Zenith International Bank PLC headquarters in Lagos.
There were also 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi and NFF Executive Committee members Aisha Falode and Ganiyu Majekodunmi.
Speaking at the event, Amangbo expressed delight at the work done so far by the Federation with regards to the Future Eagles, as well as the talents already produced through the project, whilst also encouraging the lads to maintain discipline and focus on their chosen careers.
“I feel delighted to have you all here. I want to thank the NFF for the great job they’ve done in the last few years. We have never had it this good. Everyone recognises the revolution that has taken place in Nigerian football. From today, you are now members of the Zenith family.
“Times are changing and you must start the right way. You all have a great future ahead of you. Football has gone to another level. For you to achieve your full potential, the most important thing is you must be very disciplined. If there’s no discipline and you don’t listen to your coaches, you will waste your talents.
“Those making waves today started like you, but to accomplish their goal, they maintained discipline. Have it at the back of your minds to avoid taking substances, smoking and drinking excessively as these are capable of destroying careers,” Amangbo said.
On his part, NFF President Pinnick commended Zenith Bank for being the first sponsor that came on board in his first year as President of the NFF, as he observed that the relationship has continued to blossom over the years.
He also joined in appealing to the top management of the leading financial institution to consider a proposal by Ms. Aisha Falode for the integration of a Future Falcons U13/U15 project to fish out talented girl footballers.
“NFF/Zenith Future Eagles’ program has helped achieve our dream when we were first elected four years ago. We thank the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia and the Board and Management. Without your support, we would not have been able to discover and raise what is now widely described as the future of Nigerian football.
“I would like to support the call by Ms. Falode for Zenith Bank to also invest in women football by adding a Future Falcons Project because it will help in promoting the game from the cradle with the girl child.
“The Super Falcons, by the way, are the most successful national team in the country, having won the Africa Women Cup of Nations a record eight times,” Pinnick stated.
Amangbo assured that the bank will look into the proposal.
Earlier, 1st Vice President of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi revealed that the composition of the Future Eagles that came for the courtesy visit included a Future Eagles’ product of the 2015 set, Wale Ali who has now progressed to the U20 Boys National Team, Flying Eagles, and members of the Future Eagles who were part of the WAFU B Nations Cup triumph in Niger Republic and those in the silver medal –winning Nigeria team to the 2ndAfrican Youth Games in Algeria earlier in the year.
Also in attendance with the members of the Future Eagles team at the Zenith Bank headquarters were Coach Danladi Nasidi, Adewale Adeyinka (Team Administrator), Dotun Coker, Coach Siji Lagunju (Assistant Director, Technical) and Ayodele Ibidapo.
Nigerian champions, Enugu Rangers have been beaten 4-3 by visiting Kano Pillars in the Match Day 7 of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The visitors went into the lead in 15th minute when Rabiu Ali converted a penalty kick. They doubled the lead in the 28th minute through Zulkifilu Rabiu before Rabiu Ali extended the lead to 3-0 in the 37th minute after converting another penalty kick.
The game turned into a nightmare for Rangers as Ahmed Musa made it 4-0 in the first minute of the added time.
Rangers began a fight back in the opening minutes of the second half as Isaac Saviour pulled a goal back in the 47th minute. Twelve minute later he scored a second goal to reduce the tally to 4-2. Emmanuel Silas Nenrot made the score line a more respectable for Rangers when he scored a third goal in the added time.
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
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