Nigerian Football
CARL IKEME CONDUCTS ENGLISH FA CUP DRAW
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
Super Eagles former goalkeeper Carl Ikeme will on Monday night determine the fate of teams that survived the third round of the 2018/19 English FA Cup (officially known as The Emirates FA Cup).
The ex-Wolves keeper will conduct the competition’s fourth round draw along with Robbie Keane, ex-Wolves and Tottenham forward, immediately the last third round fixture between Wolves and Liverpool is concluded at Molineux Stadium.
Ikeme, who spent his entire career at Wolves and made 207 appearances for the club, played a prominent role in the Super Eagles between 2015 and 2016 until his battle with acute leukaemia truncated his career for club and country.
Although Ikeme was eligible to play for England as well, he chose to identify with his fatherland and waited for eight years between his first call-up to the national team before his debut against Tanzania on September 5, 2015 in a qualifier for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Dar-es-Salam, which ended goalless.
Ikeme held on to the No 1 position and featured three times for the Super Eagles in the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but missed the final tournament in Russia due to his health crisis, which coach Gernot Rohr described as his “greatest regret.”
Wolves had announced on July 6, 2017 that Ikeme had been diagnosed of acute leukaemia during a pre-season check-up. As a result, he couldn’t feature in the club’s triumph in the English Championship that season, which led to their return to the English topflight.
Last July 27, Ikeme announced his retirement from football at age 32 on medical grounds. In his honour, Wolves’ new keeper Rul Patricio left the No 1 jersey vacant and chose No 11 instead.
In the English FA fourth round draw, Sheffield United will go into the hat as the lowest ranked club left in the oldest recognised football tournament in the world. This is the 138th edition of the tournament.
The “big” teams still on course include defending champions Chelsea, last season’s runners-up Manchester United, the most successful club in the competition Arsenal and Premier League title holders Manchester City.
Leicester City were the biggest exit in the third round. The 2015/16 Premier League champions were eliminated by League 2 side Newport County.
The other Premier League teams that failed so far are: Bournemouth, Cardiff City, Fulham and Huddersfield Town.
The fourth round matches will come up between January 25 and 28.
Fourth round draw numbers
1. Bolton Wanderers
2. Millwall
3. Gillingham
4. Brentford
5. Sheffield Wednesday or Luton Town
6. Manchester United
7. Everton
8. Tottenham Hotspur
9. Doncaster Rovers
10. Newcastle United or Blackburn Rovers
11. Chelsea
12. Crystal Palace
13. Derby County or Southampton
14. Accrington Stanley
15. Bristol City
16. Newport County
17. Oldham Athletic
18. Shrewsbury Town or Stoke City
19. Arsenal
20. Manchester City
21. Brighton & Hove Albion
22. West Ham United
23. Watford
24. Burnley
25. Queens Park Rangers
26. Barnet
27. Portsmouth
28. AFC Wimbledon
29. West Bromwich Albion
30. Middlesbrough
31. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Liverpool
32. Swansea City
Nigerian Football
Away two-goal specialists, Remo Stars win in Kano to stay atop
Remo Stars continued their good form in the Nigeria domestic league as they snatched another 2-0 away win against one of the traditional strong sides, Kano Pillars on Sunday.
They had earlier had another 2-0 away win when they defeated Abia Warriors in Umuahia two weeks ago. With Sunday’s win, they remain on top of the log with their nine points and five goals.
They are yet to concede any goal this season. On Sunday, Sodiq Ismail put Remo Stars in front after 26 minutes. Togolese import, Franck Mawuena doubled the lead in the 60th minute.
In another encounter, Niger Tornadoes pulled a major upset, winning 2-1 away from home as they beat former Nigerian champions, Plateau United. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. They doubled theit lead in the fourth minute of added time of the second half through Kufre Ebong.
A minute later, Pam Samuel scored a consolatory goal for Plateau United. Hearrtland of Owerri continued their winless run as they played a goalless draw at home with visiting Katsina United.
Sunshine Stars also played 0-0 with Abia Warriors.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
Nigerian Football
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
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