Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s sports cheerleader, Ladipo deserves national award, says supporters’ club
As the conferment of national awards holds next week, members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has issued a press statement asking that its grand leader, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo is deserving of recognition.
In their release, the club states: “Our attention has been drawn to a list of 437 Nigerians who will be presented with National Honours by His Excellency, Alh. Muhammad Buhari, the President, the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 11th of this month in Abuja.
“The list of names which is 437 in all contains names of notable Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in serving Nigeria in different fields of life, and also making significant contributions towards the development of Nigeria.
“However, while we agree totally with the names of individuals on the list, the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, (NFSC) as a body feels that the name of Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, her President-General is conspicuously missing from the list.
“For record purposes, Dr Rafiu Ladipo has selflessly served this country in the last four decades, mobilizing support for our national teams in every part of the world where our national teams go to play football.
“Furthermore, former President of Nigeria, late Shehu Musa Yar ‘Adua recommended him for the award, but he was not given as he returned from Korea then.
“In addition, former Sports Minister Ndanusa also recommended him, but it was set aside.
“No doubt, Dr Rafiu Ladipo has paid his dues, under the sun and in the rain and without sentiment, piloting the affairs of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club which also led to Nigeria winning several international tournaments both from FIFA and CAF.
“Recall that in 2003, former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo after seeing the accomplishment which he had achieved with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) hosted the club in Aso Rock, Abuja, where the club officially conferred on him with the title of Grand Patron of the club.
“Against this backdrop, we feel that Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has put in so much in the Nigeria project as a patriot and deserves to be honoured as Nigeria celebrates her 62nd independence under the able democratic leadership of a good leader like President Muhammadu Buhari.”
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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