Nigerian Football
SAMUEL KALU SHINES IN DEBUT FOR FC IFEANYIUBAH
It turned out a memorable debut for Samuel Kalu as his lone strike made the difference for FC IfeanyiUbah in their MatchDay 1 fixture against new comers, Adamawa United in the at the 2019/20 season of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Kalu scored on the 40th minute to gift his side all three points in the encounter at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium in Ozubulu.
Kalu, in his first outing for the Anambra Warriors made his listing count for club handler, Uche Okagbue, count when he buried a cross from Chigozie Chikwelu five minutes to the end of the first half.
Okagbue started with a relatively new team from what the Nnewi based club paraded last season with Ekene Awaziem’s return to the squad a very significant addition.
His opposite at Adamawa United, Bello Mohammed reserved his new signings and fielded the players that helped the club gain promotion to the NPFL.
The host had the first chance at goal when Ozioma Lucious sent a cross to Eric on the third minute but his effort went wide.
Hero for the visitors, Pwadadi Bulus showed early signs of his stuff when he made a point blank save of Chigozie Chikwelu’s attempt.
On the 21st minute, it was the turn of Adamawa United to ruffle their opponents when they were awarded a free-kick close to the FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s goal area. But Adam Yakubu’s jump was not enough to connect Lujan Javan’s cross.
Then came the 40th Minute strike by Kalu to calm the anxious fans as he beat Pwadadi in goal to give his side the solitary goal of the match.
Second half began with Coach Mohammed making an early substitution, taking off Johnpaul Chinedu for Sadiq Lawan and the visitors pushed for an early equalizer with Felix Kenan making an audacious attempt from Juvan’s pass. If they appear to have found their rhythm, it was coming a wit late as the hosts were resolute in defending their lead.
In search of more goals, Okagbue substituted Philip Achibong for his last season’s highest goal scorer, Chibuike Ezeh and he would go on to win his side a penalty on the 63rd minute. Pwadadi made a perfect judgment to save the kick.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah would manage to see out the game as the visitors kept pressing for an equalizer that never came.
A relieved Okagbue said it was a tough match for his team and explained that they came up against a side that has been together for a longer time.
“It was a good match. The team gave us a good fight and you know they have one advantage. The team has been together throughout last season”.
On his part, FC IfeanyIubah captain, Charles Okafor believes that the team would get better as the season progresses and boasted that they would defeat MFM FC in their next fixture.
“It was not an easy game but our experience paid off for us. You know this is the first match day and it is usually very difficult. The three points is very vital to us. We keep our head high and we continue to get better. In our next game against MFM FC, we will fight to get another three points”.
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.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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