Nigerian Football
Former Falcons superstars Okosieme, Igunbor to pick draws for Betsy Obaseki Cup
Two retired Super Falcons Super Stars, Nkiru Okosieme and Okuwa Igunbor, will be on ground on Sunday, September 26th at new Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, to pick and conduct the draws ceremony for the First edition of the Betsy Obaseki Cup. Time is 8pm.
The Local Organizing Committee of the event headed by Mrs. Sabina Chikere, disclosed that twelve top women’s league clubs in Nigeria will battle for the Betsy Obaseki Cup title with the theme, ‘Promoting The Girl Child’ at four different venues in Benin City ; the School of Health Technology, Uniben Sports Complex, Western Boys High School, with the opening ceremony, the semi finals and finals to be played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
In the words of member Main Organising Committee of the Betsy Obaseki Cup, Honourable Frank Ilaboya, Nkiru and Okuwa who are household names in women’s football in Nigeria and across the world were specially invited for these roles, to encourage and promote the girl child in the area of sports and education
.
He noted that for Nkiru Okosieme, until she retired from international football after the USA 2003 World Cup, she played for Nigeria at the China 91, Sweden 95, USA 99 and USA 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2000 Olympic Games soccer event.
And before her retirement from active football, she was the longest serving Super Falcons player and most educated in the team with a PhD Degree in Health Administration from Clayton State University, USA, where is a 2014 Hall of Fame winner. She won three Africa Women’s Nations Cup titles in 1998 and 2000 and 2002. She also played in the American Women’s League the biggest in the world at the time.
While, Okuwa was a first generation Nigerian women’s footballer instrumental to the country’s first women’s Nations Cup title in 1991, as a top striker and the country’s inuagural qualification for the China 91 World Cup. She also played at the Sweden 95 World Cup and all the qualifier matches for the USA 99 World Cup but got injured few months to the World Cup.
Okuwa, who hails from Edo State, is a Guinness Book of Record holder as the scorer of the fastest goal in a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers match against the Black Queens of Ghana in 1991 in just 26 seconds.
A graduate of Business Administration from the Lagos State University and a former assistant coach of the national U-17 and U-20 Women’s teams, the Flamengos and Super Falconets. She is a founding member of the Police Machine Football team and Chief Coach of the team. She is one of the prides of the Nigeria Police Force in sports, aside from Chioma Ajunwa and the late Sunday Bada.
The 12 participating teams are eight first class NWFL Premiership clubs which include two former champions of the league and four first class NWFL Chamionship teams; Rivers Angels FC, Bayelsa Queens FC, Edo Queens, Sunshine Queens FC, Robo FC, Royal Queens FC, Confluence Queens FC, Naija Ratels FC, Kaduna Queens FC, Heartland Queens FC, Fortress Ladies FC and Rolly FC.
The opening ceremony has been scheduled for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on September 27, while the final and closing ceremonies hold on October 3.
BOC MEDIA.
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.”
Nigerian Football
Plateau United’s Doyeni is first scorer of Season 2024/25
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
-
AFCON1 week ago
Super Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON1 week ago
Austin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
AFCON1 week ago
Why I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON1 week ago
Rwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
-
AFCON1 week ago
Nigeria’s managerial crisis resumes as Eguavoen reportedly declines to continue
-
AFCON1 week ago
Present and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen
-
CAF Confederation Cup6 days ago
Enyimba continues unbeaten run against Burkina Faso clubs