Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s Sports minister consoles Doma United FC over auto crash
Nigeria’s sports minister, John Owan Enoh, has extended his heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to the players and officials of Doma United FC, following a road accident on Monday morning.
The incident occurred along the Makurdi-Lafia Expressway as the team was returning to their base in Gombe from Imo State. While there were no fatalities, several players sustained injuries of varying severity and are currently receiving medical treatment.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the accident involving Doma United FC,” said Senator Enoh. “I extend my prayers and best wishes for a quick and full recovery to all those affected. We are grateful that no lives were lost, but the well-being of our players remains a top priority.”
In light of this incident, Senator Enoh urged all football clubs to actively pursue partnerships with airlines to facilitate safer travel for long-distance journeys. “I understand the cost implications, but we must prioritize the welfare of our players. Collaborating with airlines for air travel can significantly reduce the risks associated with long road journeys.”
Additionally, the Minister reiterated the need for strict adherence to club licensing regulations from the start of next season. “This unfortunate event underscores the importance of strict club licensing and ensuring that all clubs meet the required standards for player safety and welfare,” he emphasized.
Senator Enoh concluded by calling on the entire football community to come together in support of Doma United FC during this challenging time. “Let us all unite in our support for Doma United FC. Our thoughts are with the injured players and their families, and we wish them a speedy recovery.”
The poor form of the Nigeria Super Eagles continues as they were beaten 2-1 by Benin Republic in match day four duel of the World Cup qualifying series. Thus, the Super Eagles have played four matches without a win. It is the first time ever that has happened in 64 years of featuring in World Cup qualifying.
From coaching to players’ performances, everything went awry for Super Eagle.
It was a big win for Benin Republic who are now temporarily the table toppers. They have a massive seven point while Nigeria with pitiable three are languishing fifth in a six team group.
While the possibility of Super Eagles winning the group is very remote, picking a second place to go into a tortuous play-off series that will involve four best second placed teams among nine.
The four will go into a play-off while the winner will further go into an inter-continental play-off to get to the World Cup.
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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