Sports

Minister Drums Fresh Support For Home- based Eagles

Published

3 years ago

June 30, 2021

Joel Ajayi
Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has once again canvassed for more injection of home- based players into the mainstream Super Eagles.

Speaking on Tuesday when he visited the Home- based Eagles at their training in Abuja, the Minister said ” I’m happy that the conversation and the meetings we’ve had in the past several months with the NFF about changing the phase of our football development is beginning to bear fruits. I’m an advocate of a blend of home -based and foreign- based players to create a level playing field.They are all talented, so we need to give them equal chance to compete for the Nigerian jersey. That has been the history and tradition of Nigerian soccer, So the opportunities should be the same. Let them fight for the spots. Whether home or foreign based, it’s your talent that counts”.

On the friendly game against Mexico in the United States, the Minister said “It really gladdened my heart when I heard that the team will be traveling to the USA to play a friendly against Mexico. The Friendly important as you have an opportunity to showcase your talents and also displace some players in the main team.”

“Ensure that when you go out there you make this country proud. I’m sure the NFF will not just make this a show, I’m sure that Nigerians will see 3-6 of you eventually end up in the main Super Eagles.I watch the professional league very closely, I’ve seen some of the fantastic goals goals some of you have scored.As I walked into your training, I asked if the 5 top goal scorers in the domestic league are in this team and I was told that just 4 of them are in. This is important because a goal is a goal, If you’re placed in the team and you play well you will score goals for this country.”
“So you have an opportunity to improve yourself. I’m sure sure when next we play our Nations or World Cup qualifiers, we are going to to see home and foreign- based players blend together which would mean that this country is maximizing her talents.I’m sure you’ll do the country proud .It might not count with FIFA because It’s friendly but it’s going to count for us”he assured

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Sports

Nigerian teenager, Ilenikhena outshines Yamal Scores, As Monaco beat Barca 2-1

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2024

The Gleamer

Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena scored on his Champions League debut as Monaco produced an upset against 10-man Barcelona.

The 18-year-old substitute raced on to Vanderson’s long ball over the top of the defence in the 71st minute and blasted his shot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Eric Garcia had earlier been shown a straight red card with just 10 minutes gone when he fouled Takumi Minamino as the last man after a poor pass out from the back by Ter Stegen.

Monaco took the lead soon after when Maghnes Akliouche slotted past Ter Stegen who was rooted to the spot.

Barcelona’s own teenage star Lamine Yamal equalised with his first Champions League goal when he latched on to a long ball and cut inside before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.

But Ilenikhena’s goal, his first since signing from Royal Antwerp in the summer, condemned Barcelona to an opening defeat.

Vanderson’s strike from the edge of the area was pushed past the post while Minamino had an effort deflected on to the crossbar for the hosts.

It could have been a more emphatic win but Folarin Balogun had a penalty overturned late on following a video assistant referee (VAR) check after he was adjudged to have gone down too easily under the challenges.

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