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AMUNEKE MAY FACE GOLDEN EAGLETS AT TANZANIA 2019 U-17 AFCON
One of the most prolific footballers and coach from Nigeria, Emmanuel Amuneke could be contended with plotting against the Golden Eaglets as the draw for the Total U-17 Africa Cup of Nations hold on Thursday in Tanzania.
Amuneke handled Nigeria to runners-up position in Africa in 2015 and winning the world title for a record five times that same year. He was also an assistant to the team when Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 title in 2013.
He is now the chief coach in Tanzania and also responsible for the U-17 team of the country. With the draw holding at the Mlimani City Conference Centre à Dar Es Salam at 5.30 pm Nigerian time, Nigeria, the home country of Amuneke may face his team, Tanzania, if the Golden Eaglets are drawn in Group A.
Professionally, Amuneke will be committed to his Tanzanian team as it has happened in the past, even on larger scale. Otto Martins Gloria, a Brazilian handled Portugal against Brazil at the 1966 World Cup just as Sven-Goran Eriksson did for England against his home country, Sweden at the 2002 World Cup.
The qualified teams for the African tournament are host Tanzania, Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda
The final tournament will be held from 14-28 April 2019 in Dar es Salaam with the semi-finalists qualifying to represent the continent at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2019.
For the draw on Thursday, hosts, Tanzania and Guinea, the third placed at the last edition are the seeded teams of level 1. Tanzania will head Group 1 as A1 while Guinea head Group B as B1. Both will therefore not meet at group stage.
Guinea got seeded owing to the non-qualification of champions, Mali and the runners-up, Ghana.
Based on the results of the last edition especially the final tournament and qualifiers, Cameroon and Angola are in Level 2 Pot 1 as qualified teams to the final tournament of 2017.
Nigeria along with Morocco, Senegal and Uganda will be in Level 3 (pot 2). The first team to be drawn from the 1st pot will be in Group A and a ball will be drawn from Pot 3 containing the position of Group A to determine its position (A2-A3-A4).
Then the second team to be drawn will be automatically be in Group B, then a ball will be drawn from Pot 4 to determine its position (B2-B3-B4). For the four remaining teams in Pot 2, the ball to be drawn first will be in Group A and a draw will be done to determine its position (A2-A3-A4) from the third pot and the ball drawn 2nd will be in Group B and a draw will be done to determine its position (B2-B3-B4) from Pot 4. The same procedure will be repeated until all the teams are drawn.
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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