FORMER goalkeeper of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, David Aigbovo has joined the legion of ex-footballers who believe Stephen Keshi should not accept a fresh contract from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the Super Eagles' handler.
A number of coaches including Shaibu Amodu, Kashimawo Laloko, chief Adegboye Onigbinde, as well as 2010 World Cup star Taiye Taiwo, had in the wake of Nigeria's failure to pick the ticket to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under Keshi advised the former Togo coach to bow out honourably, a decision also supported by Aigbovo.
"If I were in his shoes, I will resign honourably. As brothers, we have told Keshi on the need to toe the path of honour and resign honourbly. You quit when the ovation is loudest.
"You cannot say because the presidency brought you back in the first place and you want to continue even when it was obvious that the Super Eagles have failed this time under your guidance by not getting the AFCON ticket.
"He (Keshi) needs to see the writing on the wall that it is time to go. Keshi has tried his best for Nigerian football and we have to give him kudos for what he has achieved since he took over the team.
"So there is no basis for him to continue as the Eagles' coach. He too must appreciate the feelings of Nigerians that the team will be absent at AFCON 2015 and forget about the Eagles job for now," said Aigbovo who is an officer of the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON).
The former Bendel Insurance FC and Sharks of Port Harcourt goalkeeper however, said the football authorities should forget about hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, given the presence of experienced trainers that the nation could still boast of at the moment.
"We don't need a foreign coach, we have a lot of high profile coaches in this country who can handle the Super Eagles very well if given the chance. We have somebody like coach Adegboye Onigbinde.
"We keep talking of hiring a foreign coach I think because of the situation we are now, but if the authorities can send some of our experienced coaches abroad to update their knowledge on the game, they will come back better with something to offer our national team," said Aigbovo who won the rested CAF Cup with Shooting Stars in 1992.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the NFF board is considering offering Keshi a fresh contract in the new year, as the choice of going for a foreign trainer has been discarded based on the stand of the presidency.
Sources indicate that the NFF may have reached out to Keshi who is holidaying with his family in the United States of America (USA), for discussion on a new contract.
Some top shots at the Glass House however, are not favourably disposed to the return of the former coach of Mali on the premise that the coach is as good as his last result.
It will be recalled that Keshi coached Nigeria to the win 2013 AFCON in South Africa while he also led the Super Eagles to the second round at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the first time after 16 years.
Caption: Keshi on duty at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.
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Dauda Azeez claims 6th Governor's belt
Dauda Azeez of Lagos State on a Boxing Day claimed the sixth Governor’s Belt, at the 59th Monthly Saturday Boxing Show organised by the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF).
Azeez had outpunched Suleman Tetteh of Ghana in a 49kg bout, while his heroics earned him the prize for the best boxer of the day at the Molade Okoya-Thomas indoor sports hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
In another international bout, National Sports Festival reigning lightweight champion, Otto Joseph triumphed over Musah Ramon Lawson also of Ghana in their 64kg (light welterweight) challenge.
Sensational Nike Salami made it a treble for Nigeria following her victory over another Ghanaian opponent Abigial Quartey in a 54kg contest which was the second female bout of the day, after Yetunde Odunuga of Lagos had defeated Evelyn Adebayo of Ogun State in their 60kg challenge.
Home boy Taiwo Abiodun defeated Soliu Akinbode of Ogun State in a 52kg contest, as Samuel Ebohen defeated Rasheed Kazeem also of Ogun State in their 81kg bout.
In the last bout of the day, Lukman Lawal, who replaced Isaac Yusuf triumphed over Gabriel Francis in a split decision in a heavyweight clash.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of LBHF, Mr Olawale Edun disclosed that henceforth, the Champion of Champions Belt, known as the Governor's Belt will now be named after the outgoing
Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola for his contributions to the development of sports in the state.
"I thank governor Fashola for his support. Since the introduction of the Governor's Belt he had made sure he's always here with us," Edun said.
Meanwhile, an elated Fashola who was also at the ring side said he will raise fund for the project saying he was impressed with the standard of the monthly competition.
"We have sustained this competition over the years and I will also constitute an endowment fund raising committee for the next five years. I will be making a personal donation of N10 million to this course.
"We are going to sponsor our amateur boxers who about to turn professional because I consider this as a good development," Fashola said.
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Dauda Azeez (fourth left) after being decorated with the Governor's Belt by governor Fashola.
NIGERIAN international Vincent Enyeama, has made the final three for the 2014 African Footballer of the Year award.
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), announced on its official website on Thursday.
Enyeama became the first goalkeeper to make the final three of the award which was introduced by Afrique football in 1971, while Moroccan Badou Zaki became the last goalkeeper who claimed the award in 1986.
The Lille of France goaltender who had a superb outing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil last summer, is set to battle with the title holder Ivorian Yaya Toure of Manchester City, while the Borussia Dortmund and Gabonese international, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the list.
The winners will be announced at the Glo-Caf Awards Gala scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2015 in Lagos.
"Gabonese midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and Ivorian
midfielder Yaya Toure have made the final top three for the 2014 African Player of the Year.
"The trio made the cut following votes from Head Coaches or Technical Director of the National Associations," CAF states on its website.
Another Nigerian international Ahmed Musa made the final five cut as well as the captain of Ghana's Black Stars Asamoah Gyan.
Nigeria is also listed for the National Team of the Year award with Algeria and Libya.
it will be recalled that Toure beat Nigerian John Mikel Obi to the award last January in Lagos.
Caption: Enyeama in a world of his own.
REIGNING FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Most Valuable Player and highest goal scorer, Asisat Oshoala is on the verge of becoming the 2014 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women's
Footballer of the Year.
Oshoala whose sterling performance aided Nigeria's Falconets to a silver finish at Canada 2014 U-20 World Cup was also instrumental in the victory of the senior national team the Super Falcons at the ninth African Women's Championship (AWC) in Equatorial Guinea.
The Lagos State-born goal merchant who also assisted Rivers Angels to win the doubles this year, the Federation Cup and the league titles will however, battle with compatriot in Desire Oparanozie as well as Cameroonian Annette Ngo Ndom.
Interestingly, Oshoala is also gunning for the Youth Player of the Year award, as she has been nominated alongside her team-mate, Uchechi Sunday as Cameroonian Fabrice Ondoa who plays for FC Barcelona completes the list.
Guingamp of France player Oparanozie on her aided the Super Falcons to win the AWC title aside from her successful stint with the French side this season.
Also, Nigeria's senior team has the brightest chance of winning Women’s National Team of the Year award with Cameroon's senior national team and Nigeria's U-20 team the Falconets also on the list.
Caption: Oshoala with the FIFA MVP award at Canada 2014.
THE final of the 2014 Fele Tennis Tournament in Ibadan, sponsored by Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde, Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State chapter holds today at the tennis courts of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
In the men's singles final, Mr Kunle Yusuf will battle with Barrister Leye Olubajo in what
promises to be a thriller given the exploits of both players in the competition organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium Tennis Club, Ibadan.
Yusuf had defeated Father Martin Olowoyeye 6-1, 6-1, while Olubajo in a great come back defeated Olatunde oladimeji 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 in the second semi-final decided on Friday.
According to the director, tennis academy of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium Tennis Club, coach Adepeju Faboyinde, the final of the women's singles as well as the exhibition matches among the players from the tennis academy will precede the men's singles final slated for 3.pm.
Expected to grace the final are the sponsor of the competition, Alhaji Oyerinde 'Fele' and the
chief host, Dr Steve Olarinoye, Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Commission (NSC) Zone One, Ibadan, among others.
Former coach of the Super Eagles, chief Adegboye Onigbinde has revealed that he warned coach Stephen Keshi not to accept the recall to the senior national team by the presidency, after the initial decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to ease him out.
The Modakeke high chief said in an interview that his advice to Keshi was well documented thus, will not want to flog a dead horse.
This came on the heels of the submissions by a number of tacticians including Shaibu Amodu, Christian Chukwu, Kasimawo Laloko, that Keshi had no business in the Super Eagles again given the prevailing circumstances.
“The truth of the matter is that on the day the presidency asked him to return to his job I sent him a text message that he (Keshi) should politely thank Mr president for the offer, but bow out honourably.
“He (Keshi) respectfully replied the text message and thanked me and that was it. He later went ahead with the two remaining 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Congo and South Africa, I’m sure the rest is history," said the man who coached Nigeria to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
The former General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports club (3SC) of Ibadan, stated that his piece of advice to Keshi was borne out of his vast knowledge of Nigeria and football politics.
“I gave the advice to Keshi because I understand that he won’t work with the presidency which recalled him to his post as the Super Eagles manager, but a different set of people as well as an entirely different environment.
“So, I have said it two months ago and there is no point talking about the issue so that it won’t be as if I have interest in the whole matter. It was not a case of pressure, I’ve passed my view directly to him and so, I don’t need to pressure him further on the same issue," said the man who coached Nigeria to win silver at the 1984 AFCON in Abidjan.
It will be recalled that a former Nigeria coach, Amodu, among others said that there was no point for the former manager of Mali and Togo to continue with the Super Eagles' plum job.
"If he (Keshi) has a reputation, he should walk out of the job, but if he doesn’t, he should stay. But the situation as it is today, if I were him, does not permit that I continue on the job. I would just say ‘thank you Nigerians, sorry I failed, I can try another time but for now let another man try," said the former handler of Orlando Pirates of South Africa.
The Super Eagles under Keshi only last month failed to pick up a ticket to the 2015 AFCON following a 2-2 draw with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
Keshi won the last AFCON held in South Africa in 2013.
Caption: Keshi.
ENGINEER Kunle Yusuf on Monday qualified for the semi-final of the ongoing 2014 Fele Tennis Tournament in Ibadan, sponsored by Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde, Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State chapter.
Yusuf dismissed Okofu Collin in two straight sets 6-0, 6-0 in one of the quarter-finals games decided at the tennis courts of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
Tribunesport man Ganiyu Salman who had stopped Oyeleye Olasupo in the early round by 7-6, 6-1, this time could not contain the fire power of Father Martin Olowoyeye as the game ended
6-1, 6-0 in favour of the latter.
Olowoyeye will on Wednesday face Innocent Agucha in a quarter-final pairing billed to hold at 4.pm at the same venue.
Barrister Leye Adepoju, chairman of Oyo Football Association (FA), who defeated Innocent Igboekwe 7-5, 6-2, will on Tuesday face Olatunde Oladimeji in another quarter-final fixture; while the Faboyinde brothers, Femi and Tosin will take on Adekola Adebayo and John Fadumiye in the U-15 boys category.
Ademiluyi Kola after his 6-1, 6-2 victory over Emmanuel Oluwafemi will on Wednesday confront Femi Ojomo in a round of 16 pairing, while the winner will face Barrister Leye Olubajo in the quarter-final.
The final of the competition is scheduled to hold on Saturday, December 20 from 3.pm.
Caption: Femi Ojomo in action during the elimination game against Niyi Adekola.
NIGERIA on Saturday at the ongoing fourth edition of Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship lost its match in the history of the competition, following a 5-4 loss to the Ivory Coast in a grudge match at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Super Sand Eagles, it will be recalled, on Friday in the opening game defeated the Black Sharks of Ghana 7-5 for their 10th win at the annual competition being organised by Kinetic Sports.
The team coached by Audu Adamu 'Ejo' got a warning signal as they conceded two quick goals to finish the first quarter 2-0, but the homers reduced the tally on resumption through the spot kick taken by Abu Azeez.
The visitors rose to the occasion as they scored twice again to restore their two-goal lead, while Daniel compounded the woes of the Super Sand Eagles when he scored again to make it 4-1.
Azeez later reduced the deficit to two with a superb header, but as the Nigerians were still struggling to get their act together, Daniel's rocket extended the Elephants' lead again.
Skipper Olawale Isiaka revived the hope of his team mates as he scored to make it 5-3. Musa Najare who came on as a substitute gave the Eagles some respite with a goal, but the much-anticipated leveller could not come as the Ivorians held onto the one goal lead till the final whistle.
Nigeria, it will be recalled, had lost to the Ivory Coast in the final group match of the 2013 African Beach Soccer Championship in Morocco by the same margin.
Meanwhile, the Black Sharks for the second time in the competition also lost 5-2 to their counterparts from Senegal. It was Senegal's first victory in the competition having lost 6-2 to the Ivory Coast on Friday in the opener.
Caption: The Super Sand Eagles.
