Author: Enitan Obadina
The Flamingos became the second Nigerian women’s side to beat the United States in a game after sealing a 4-3 penalty shootout win at the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup. Edafe, who scored Nigeria’s first goal from the spot in regulation time, sent the favourites, the US out with the last kick in the sudden death round of the penalty shootout. Also, this is the first time Nigeria will make the semi-final stage of the Under 17 Women’s World Cup, pipping the USA after a full-time 1-1 draw. FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup: The Numbers Victory means a…
Nigeria women’s U17 team, flamingos lost the opening game of the FIFA U17 world cup 2-1 against European champions Germany. The display of the Nigerian team can be summarized, as a game of two halves, with tactics and physicality deciding the direction. There was a bit of coaching in their play, but the coaching team had no answer to the physical approach of the Germans in the second half. First Things First Half Nigeria tactically stood up to the high press in the first half. The plan almost led to a goal after Ajakaye got to a stray pass and…
The events leading to Nigeria’s Qatar 2022 failure shares similar patterns to the Spain 1982 world cup miss. History may not repeat itself but it rhymes when people take similar steps. The Green Eagles of Nigeria were just one step away from qualifying for the 1982 World Cup in Spain when the then NFA Chairman, retd Col.Mike Okwechime (deceased), took a strange decision. He demanded that they invite Christian Chukwu and Thompson Usiyen (deceased) back to the team. It was almost two years after Chukwu retired from the Green Eagles immediately after winning the 1980 AFCON. While the U.S.-based Usiyen…
Finidi George finally turned a corner in solving Enyimba’s inability to score more than two goals in over a year, but it came at a price. The Aba elephants will not get a league route to the continent for the first time in five seasons. Finishing seventh on the league table means a win in the FA cup is the only chance to play continental football. A Bright Start and A blunt Middle The Finidi Numbers and Stats The 4-0 win means Enyimba FC kept clean sheets in 2+ consecutive continental matches for the first time since September 2019. They…
The weekend was both good and bad for Nigerian clubs on the continent, with three out of four teams reaching the 1st round of the CAF club competitions. But will that be where it ends? Nigerian clubs faced teams they should have beaten home and away, but all qualified three struggled on the road. AS Douanes of Niger, Watanga of Liberia, and AS Mandji of Gabon are traditional also-rans even in their countries, with two making their debuts. The results of Rivers Utd, Plateau Utd and Kwara Utd are good but not great. Plateau Utd struggling in Abuja and Rivers…
Bought at £28 million with so many questions hanging over the fee, Alex Iwobi is now providing answers on the field with world-class performances. Iwobi is thriving in his new midfield role, covering an impressive 10.7km per 90 minutes, and galloping forward in rhythmic strides. He delivers complete performances in the heart of Everton’s midfield every matchday, and ex-Nigerian international Sunday Oliseh thinks he is on another level. But that was not always the story in his Everton career. Halfway through last season, Iwobi was not good enough to inspire the club up the table and save them from relegation.…
The arrival of Calvin Bassey at Ajax points to a fresh start for the defender and the continuation of a Nigerian tradition of excellence. For a player signed on a compensation fee from Leicester City to become a club record transfer, Calvin Bassey is on a career path many can only wish for. The Glasgow Rangers Record Transfer and UCL Factor Calvin Bassey joins Ajax on a permanent deal from Rangers for a €22m fixed fee plus add-ons and a sell-on clause. That figure blows away Rangers’ previous record sale, currently set at the £11m the Scots sold Nathan Patterson…
If the Nigerian league was to write an epitaph for late coach Maurice Cooreman, it should read a disciplinarian, a man with an eye for spotting and transforming talents. And that’s true to type as Coach Cooreman, in an interview five years ago, talked about his culture shock when players at Nigerdock arrived late for his first day in training. The years after Maurice Cooreman’s first day in the league are filled with stories of a man who can fix a team with the right talents. Background Cooreman led the defunct Ocean Boys to the Nigerian title in 2006 but…
The Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, waved an official paper that a later explanation from his office would magically end the age-long problems in Nigerian basketball. In the ensuing chaos, some members of the women’s team who, through sweat, blood and owed allowances, qualified for the women’s basketball world cup dropped their heads across various social media. Three days after the dust has settled, and no saviour in sight except for breaking news on a new grassroots basketball competition, coming in June for a sport never lacking In grassroots basketball programs. Nigerian basketball, which hitherto was on autopilot, came to a…
“They said, ‘You’re not a real Celtic until you win a championship, ” Ime Udoka told Andscape. “All you hear is put ‘Banner 18’ up there. ‘Put up Banner 18’; That’s the realistic expectation of the city, the fans, the organization, myself, and the players.” The quote from Ime Udoka to Andscape latently tells a story of hard work and change. It represents a change in career outlook for Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka who had a slow start to his NBA career. The 16-19 record at the beginning of the season raised some questions, but all are now in…