Sports

Morocco 2022: Falcons set to battle against Olympic champions in friendly matches

Published

3 years ago

April 6, 2022

Nine-time African champions Nigeria will clash with reigning Olympic champions Canada in two friendly matches that will hold over three days in the cities of Vancouver and Victoria City. Both matches take place Friday, 8^th April and Monday, 11^th April respectively.

Two players – defenders Onome Ebi and Glory Ogbonna – were among the contingent that flew out of Nigeria aboard a Lufthansa Airline plane on Tuesday night, and connected a flight from Frankfurt to Vancouver on Wednesday. The other players are to fly direct to Vancouver from their bases in Europe and the American continent.

Canada’s Women’s National Team are the reigning champions of Olympic women’s football, having won the gold medal at the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament in Tokyo in August 2021, after beating Sweden on penalties following a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time.

The Super Falcons have won the African title nine times and recently qualified for the Women AFCON finals hold in Morocco this summer, after a 3-0 aggregate win over Cote d’Ivoire in February. Newcomers Ifeoma Onumonu (in Abuja) and Esther Okoronkwo (in Abidjan) accounted for the goals that avenged the Falcons’ elimination from the Tokyo Olympics race by the Ivorians. The Nigeria Football Federation has organized this two-match tour against the Olympic champions as part of the Super Falcons’ preparations for the 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Friday’s clash at the BC Place in Vancouver is another date for both teams after many years, following their epic 3-3 draw at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Sweden.

Both will again clash at the Centennial Stadium in Victoria City on Monday, 11^th April. The two matches will kick off at 7.30 pm Nigeria time (3.30 am Vancouver time on 9^th April and 12^th April respectively.

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Sports

Senate President Cup Gains Esteemed Ambassadors

Published

2 hours ago

October 31, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The highly-anticipated 10th Senate President Cup has reached a significant milestone with the unveiling of its distinguished ambassadors. Renowned figures in Nigerian football, including the present Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen and esteemed coaches Patrick Udoh, and Daniel Amokachi, along with legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai and former Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa, have been appointed as ambassadors for the prestigious tournament.

In a formal announcement made in Abuja, Tournament Coordinator John Bassey Ekpenyong emphasized the strategic selection of these ambassadors, citing their roots in grassroots football programs as a key factor in their appointment.

Ekpenyong expressed confidence in the ambassadors’ ability to resonate with the tournament’s grassroots ethos, stating, “Their background as products of grassroots initiatives aligns perfectly with the core values of the tournament, and we believe their involvement will significantly enhance its impact.”

The inclusion of these esteemed football personalities is poised to infuse the Senate President Cup with heightened excitement and credibility as it gears up for its scheduled dates from November 10 to 17 in Abuja. With a primary focus on fostering unity and unearthing emerging talents, the tournament is primed to deliver a captivating experience for football enthusiasts across the nation.

It would be recalled that during the Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio’s era as the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, over 200 talents were discovered, nurtured and exported to different leagues across the globe.

The Senate President Cup is poised to deliver an unforgettable spectacle, and with the esteemed ambassadors on board, it is poised to ignite the aspirations of the next generation of Nigerian football talents.

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