Nigerian Football
AGAIN, LAGOS STANDS STILL FOR AKINWUNMI CHARITY SHOW
Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, was again agog on Sunday as the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation mini-tournament caused pleasant ‘tremors’ around the Campos Square and the larger environment of Lagos Island.
Top –flight politicians, traditional rulers, heads of parastatals, business moguls and other distinguished personalities converged on the venue to honour Akinwunmi, First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, and who is also Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association.
The annual event, organized on the birthday anniversary of Akinwunmi, is a programme designed to raise money for the education of indigent but intelligent children, and is usually in the form of matches involving young boys as well as veterans. Donations go to the Foundation to take care of the education of these children.
Sunday’s event was graced by the country’s number four man, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila CFR (Speaker of the House of Representatives), Hon. Jimi Benson (Member of the House of Representatives), Oba Babatunde Ajayi (the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo), Oba Adewale Osiberu (the Elepe of Epe), Oba Idowu Basibo (the Alaperu of Iperu), Oba Mufutau Sanni (the Aminishan of Oko-Sagamu), NFF 2nd Vice President Shehu Dikko and Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alh. Ganiyu Majekodunmi.
There were also Mr. Sola Aiyepeku (Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission), Gafaar Bolowotan (DG, Lagos State Sports Commission), Otunba Tade Azeez (President of Nigeria Referees Association), Femi Banwo (President of Igbobi College Old Boys Association), Dr. Kweku Tandoh (former Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission), a number of legal luminaries, former Nigeria internationals Friday Ekpo and Siji Lagunju, Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala, Olympic gold medallist Chioma Ajunwa, Olympic silver medallist Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo and a host of foremost media personalities.
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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