FIFA U-17 World Cup: Kanu inspired us to victory--Iheanacho

GOLDEN Eaglets lethal weapon, Kelechi Iheanacho has said that the inspiration received from erstwhile captain of the Super Eagles, Nwankwo Kanu propelled them to win the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Nigeria trounced title holders, El Tri of Mexico 3-0 at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi to become the world champions for the fourth time.
"He always gives us advice. He comes to train with us, to make sure we’re happy and moving in the right direction," Iheanacho who emerged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament said.
 The Golden Ball winner added that: "He (Kanu) helps us to understand what football is really about, and what it takes to make it in the game. Talking with him and being with him is just a great honour".
Iheanacho who finished with six goals to also claim the adidas Silver Boot award described the former Arsenal star as his role model.
"He is the true hero of football in our country. Back home, he’s like a father, like a brother. He’s like everything to me," Iheanacho told FIFA.com.
Nwanwko Kanu it will be recalled was a member of the Golden Eaglets squad which won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1993 in Japan.
The former Portsmouth and Ajax Amsterdam player was a delight to behold during Friday's final as he took time to savour another historic moment in Nigerian football through dancing before the final whistle.
Goals from Iheanacho, captain Musa Muhammed plus an own goals ensured Nigeria lifted the
FIFA World Cup for a record fourth time.
The Manu Garba-piloted side also scored 26 goals, the highest in a single tournament to surpass the 24-goal record set by Germany at Korea 2007.
.....
Caption:
Nwankwo Kanu at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Stadium acknowledging the Golden
Eaglets after their 3-0 victory over Mexico on Friday in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, UAE 2013.

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Mexico send Brazil out in 21-goal penalty drama

THREE-time champions, Brazil on Friday ended their campaign in the quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates as they lost 10-11 to Mexixo via penalties after a 1-1 draw at regulation time.
The penalty drama was staged at Rashid Stadium, Dubai and marked a turning point in the history of the competition which began in 1985 as no match had ever produced such a marathon penalty kicks before.
Title-holders, El Tri of Mexico proved in the better part of the game that they were familiar with the fellow South American samba style, which helped them to keep a clean slate and even got the leader in the 80th minute through Ivan Ochoa before Brazil equalised through Natha five minutes later.
Both sides lost one of the first five kicks before it resulted in a 'sudden death' while the remaining six players on each side including the goalkeepers for both sides got their kicks right to make the scoreline 10-10.
Brazil's leading scorer in the competition with four goals, Mosquito who scored first spot kick also commenced another round of penalties but had his kick eventually saved by goalkeeper  Raul Gudino.
The match hero turned out to be Alejandro Diaz as he neatly converted his kick to send El Tri to the semi-final of the competition, where they will face the winners of Argentina/Cote d'Ivoire quarter-final match billed for Saturday.
The first time Brazil crashed out of the cadet mundial via penalties was at Scotland '89 losing 1-4 to Bahrain after a barren draw at regulation time.
Brazil invented the penalty drama in the championship having recorded a 15-goal episode at the final of 1999 edition in Auckland when they defeated Australia 8-7 via penalties after a 0-0 draw at regulation time.
Meanwhile, three-time champions, Nigeria's Golden Eaglets will face Uruguay at Sharjah Stadium in another quarter-final game tomorrow (Saturday)..
Nigeria's Kelechi Iheanacho is leading the adidas Golden Shoe race with five goals ahead of his teammate, Musa Yahaya with four goals.
Brazilian Mosquito finished the race also with four goals but with a comparative advantage of scoring one extra goal during the penalty shootout.
...................

Iheanacho leads Adidas Golden Shoe race with 5 goals

GOLDEN Eaglets' Kelechi Iheanacho on Tuesday brightened his dream of emerging the Adidas Golden Shoe winner of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates after scoring his fifth goal of the competition in Nigeria 4-1 win over Iran in a Round of 16 game.
Iheanacho, who netted four times in Nigeria's 6-1 win over defending champions, Mexico in the opening fired blank in the last two games against Sweden and Iraq.
He however, scored Nigeria 's second goal against a stingy Iranian side when his clinical grounder off a cross from Taiwo Awoniyi beat goalkeeper Mahdi Amini in the 25th minute.
Iheanacho's goal came two minutes after defender Samuel Okon had scored the curtain raiser through a low diagonal pass.
Interestingly, another Nigerian wonder kid, Musa Yahaya is in the race for the Golden Shoe after scoring four goals in the competition.
Yahaya, who assisted Okon to score the first goal scored Nigeria's fourth goal in the 76th minute when he out of sheer brilliance outpaced two Iranian defenders before he unleashed a grounder which caught Amini helpless.
Captain of the Eaglets, Musa Muhammed also scored his second goal of the championship through a
solo effort which he sensationally capped with a blinder at the edge of the box for Nigeria's third goal.
The first time a Nigerian player emerged the Golden Shoe winner of the cadet World Cup was at
Japan '93 when Wilson Oruma, who also captained the Golden Eaglets finished with six goals ahead of teammate, Nwankwo Kanu who scored five goals.
Chrisantus Macaulay equalled Oruma's feat in 2007 when he claimed the Golden Shoe award with
seven goals to also inspire the Nigerian team to capture the cadet mundial for the third time.
Meanwhile, Iheanacho is battling for the Golden Boot award also alongside Brazilian striker, Mosquito with four goals in the kitty.
................
General Manager bemoans ABS relegation

General Manager of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC, Alloy Chukwuemeka has described the relegation of the team from the Globacom Premier League as a temporary setback.
"The relegation of the club is very unfortunate and sad considering the personal efforts our boss Senator Saraki put in to sustain the team for three seasons in top flight football.
"I think we were victims of a bad system as well as other environmental factors that don't support private sector participation in top flight football but I'm sure we will bounce back soonest," said ACc as he is fondly called by his admirers.
He stated that the team will consolidate the structure already in place to perform well in the Nigeria National League and regain its slot in the elite cadre.
"Our team is intact for next season though, we have created an enabling environment for our players to remain as one big family. The management and the players have met and resolved to remain with the team in order to actualise the objective of the club to return to the Globacom Premier league as soon as possible," said Chukwuemeka who is also the secretary of the Club Owners in Nigeria.

Caption of the photo above: Kelechi Iheanacho gunning for the Golden Shoe award with five goals.

Globacom Premier League Update: Seven-goal thriller in Ilorin

UNDER a closed-door, only a handful of people made up of  journalists, football officials as well as medics could witness the seven-goal thriller today (Wednesday) at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin as Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC mauled Nembe City of Bayelsa 6-1 in a Globacom Premier League Week 37 game.
It turned out to be a Sallah gift to their darling teeming fans compelled to remain at their various homes to monitor the result via available means especially through social media following the ruling of the league authorities.
AbduRahman Bashir and Kadiri Aminu scored two goals each with Zenke Thomas and Ibrahim
Abdullahi completing the routing of the Nembe lads who got a consolatory goal through Frank Egharevba in the 80th minute.
Team Manager of ABS, Alloy Chukwuemeka expressed hope that his team will maintain its tradition through Sunday's last match of the season against Warri Wolves in Warri.
"The race is not yet over and we are hoping that our players will reenact this form in Warri that will enable us to come out with the result that we need to remain in the premier league next season. Everybody in the team is very hopeful and today's result is a morale booster for us," ACC as he is fondly called by his admirers said.
A five-star performance by Sunshine Stars ended the title race of Enyimba FC as they left Akure Stadium with a 0-2 defeat. Auta Philip scored through a spot-kick before half time while a glancing header by Ebenezer Odunlami's in the 80th minute off a free-kick ensured the People's Elephant left Akure empty-handed on the day they needed an away victory badly.
Gambo Muhammad's first half goal gave Kano Pillars a one nil victory over Dolphins at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja to brighten their chances of retaining the title they won last season having garnered 63 points with a game left against relegation-haunted Lobi Stars.
Bayelsa United rallied to a 2-1 win over Kwara United to remain second on the log with 61 points.
Samuel Akinbinu scored twice in the 16th and 21st minute for Shooting Stars Sports Club to help the team secure a 2-0 win over Warri Wolves at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan but the effort was not good enough to move the position of the Oluyole warlords from the last on the log.
.............
Globacom Premier League table, matches played and points

1 Kano Pillars         37   63

2 Bayelsa United    37   61

3 El-Kanemi        37   60

4 Enyimba            37   59

5 Rangers             37   55

6 Sharks              37   53

7 Warri Wolves     37   52

8 Heartland        37   52

9 Sunshine Stars   37   52

10 Gombe United    37   52

11 Dolphins        37   50

12 Akwa United     37   50

13 ABS             37   50

14 Kaduna United   37   50

15 Kwara United    37   49

16 Nasarawa Utd    37   49

17 Lobi Stars      37   49

18 Nembe City      37   49

19 Wikki Tourists  37   49

20 Shooting Stars  37   46
........

Globacom Premier League Week 37 results:

Heartland        2         Rangers               1
Sharks            3         Nasarawa Utd     1
Sunshine         2         Enyimba               0
ABS              6          Nembe City        1
3SC               2         Warri Wolves       0
Akwa Utd      3         Kaduna Utd        2
Bayelsa Utd    2        Kwara Utd          1
Wikki            1         Gombe Utd         0
Kano Pillars   1        Dolphins              0
El-Kanemi    1         Lobi Stars            0
............
Week 38 fixtures, October 20

Nasarawa Utd     vs Heartland
Enyimba          vs Sharks
Nembe City       vs Sunshine Stars
Warri Wolves     vs ABS
Kaduna Utd       vs 3SC
Kwara Utd        vs Akwa United
Gombe Utd        vs Bayelsa Utd
Dolphins         vs Wikki Tourists
Lobi Stars       vs Kano Pillars
Rangers          vs El-Kanemi Warriors
..............
Caption: AbduRahman Bashir of ABS, who got a brace against Nembe City.

Globacom Premier League Update: Okorocha to witness Oriental war as Heartland, Rangers clash

GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State would be at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri tomorrow (Wednesday) as Heartland FC tackle Rangers of Enugu in a Globacom Premier League Week 37 game.
Media Officer of the Naze Millionaires, Cajetan Nkwopara said deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere after holding a meeting with members of the club disclosed the intention of Okorocha to watch the team's last home game of the season.
Rangers are in dire need of three points to brighten their chances of securing one of the continental tickets for 2014 as Heartland with 49 points equally need victory to escape relegation with an away game left.
Cash-strapped Heartland perhaps will not want to disappoint Okorocha this time knowing full well that only a win could impress the governor to annouce a lifeline for them after the game.
Skipper Chinedu Efugh speaking ahead of the oriental war said there is no hiding place for the Flying Antelopes in Owerri.
"We need this match than Rangers, they are eyeing the continental ticket but we are condemned to win in order to retain our slot in the premier league. It is surprising that we could end up in the middle of the table despite our impressive performance this season," said Efugh, a former Rangers captain.
Heartland who are battling their employers over unpaid sign-on fees lost 1-3 to Sharks in their last game in Port Harcourt. The team after the oriental battle are left with a game at Lafia against Nasarawa United billed for Sunday October 20.
...........

Globacom Premier League Week 37 fixtures (October 16)

Heartland    vs       Rangers
Sharks       vs        Nasarawa Utd
Sunshine     vs        Enyimba
ABS          vs        Nembe City
3SC          vs         Warri Wolves
Akwa         vs      Kaduna Utd
Bayelsa       vs     Kwara Utd
Wikki           vs     Gombe Utd
Kano Pillars vs     Dolphins
El-Kanemi    vs     Lobi Stars
...........

Gov's Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigerian female players in bad outings

NIGERIA'S Sarah Adegoke on Monday lost to Xi-Yao Wang of China 6-0, 6-0 in the women's singles of the ongoing 13th Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis championship at the Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan, Lagos.
Her compatriot Blessing Samuel also crashed out of the singles event of the first leg as she lost to number one seed Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia 6-0, 6-0 while Zarah Razafmahatratra of Madagascar also beat US-based Nigerian lady, Idia Amen 6-3, 6-2 to advance in the competition.
Women's singles number two seed, Nina Bratchikova dumped American Alexandra Riley 6-3, 6-3.
In the men's singles, Sani Adamu defeated another home boy Shehu Lawal 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 as
Clifford Enosoregbe dumped John Otu 6-1, 1-0 (retired) to advance in the tourney.
It was a historic moment for former junior player, Christian Paul who against all odds defeated Eric Vehovec of Canada 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to move ahead in the International Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament as Ante Pavic of Croatia handed down defeat to home lad Edward Christopher Anefu 6-2, 6-0
Speaking after her loss, Adegoke said she was already thinking of the second leg tourney.
"I lost to a better player and the fact that I have not been training hard worked against me. My dad has been my only training partner and it has not been easy. I hope to do better next week, anyway," said the 15-year-old player.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Open champion, Shehu Lawal attributed his defeat to poor fitness.
"I got tired and was too weak to move around. But that's tennis for you, you can't win always I guess this wasn't my day," Lawal said.
Meanwhile, Bratchikova after her victory over the American opponent said: "This is my first game, I hope to take each match as it comes. I hope to do well this year".
..............................
Caption: Sarah Adegoke

Saraki gives ABS cow for Eid el-Kabir celebration

CHAIRMAN and Proprietor of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC, a Globacom Premier League side, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) has given players and officials of the team a big cow to celebrate Eid el-Kabir.
Media officer of the Ilorin-based side, Bashir Jimoh made this known in a statement today saying the players were highly appreciateve of Saraki's gesture.
Muslims all over the world will celebrate this year's Eid el-Kabir on Tuesday.
The Sallah gift serves as a morale booster for the youthful ABS boys who will take on Nembe City in their last home of the season In Ilorin on Wednesday.
Saraki charged the team to win the remaining matches in the ongoing season so as to retain their slot in the elite cadre.
Meanwhile, Team Manager of ABS, Alloy Chukwuemeka assured that the team will do everything humanly possible to escape relegation saying "our target is to win the remaining two games that would see us through and I believe this is achievable with God on our side".
It will be recalled that ABS had at the weekend lost 0-1 to Enyimba in Aba in A week 36 game.
The team's last game of the season will be against Warri Wolves at the Warri City Stadium on Sunday, October 20.