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FIFA U20 WWC: FIFA Inspection team arrives Nigeria on Monday

Published

6 years ago

August 4, 2019

FIFA U20 WWC: FIFA Inspection team arrives Nigeria on Monday

Joel Ajayi

A five-man inspection team from world –football governing body, FIFA will arrive in Lagos on Monday for a four-day inspection of facilities and equipment that Nigeria has put forward to host the 10^th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup championship next year.

Christopher Exley, Sara Jane Booth, Kliment Taseski, Rhiannon Ceirwen Martin and Heyral Kaj Jurgen will arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday evening, to be received by President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFF 1^st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF Executive Committee member and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League Aisha Falode and top officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission led by the Executive Chairman, Dr. Kweku Tandoh.

Nigeria has put forward the cities of Lagos, Benin City, Asaba and Uyo for the hosting of the 16 –nation finals.

The inspection team will begin its work in Lagos on Tuesday, with visits to the Onikan Stadium (match venue), St. Nicholas Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals), Teslim Balogun Stadium, National Stadium Legacy Pitch, Eagle Club, Campos Square and the University of Lagos Sports Centre (training sites), before a courtesy call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Government House in Alausa.

Joined by NFF President Pinnick, General Secretary Sanusi, Alh. Mainasara Illo (Coordinator of the Bid), Falode, Commissioner of Police Garba Baba (security) and Dr. Paul Onyeudo (medical), the team will fly to Benin City same day to inspect facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium (match venue), Western Boys College and University of Benin Sports Centre (training sites) and the Edo Specialist Hospital and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals).

The contingent will check out the facilities in Asaba and Uyo on Wednesday. In Asaba, the Stephen Keshi Stadium is the proposed match venue, while training sites are Asaba Squash Courts and St. Patrick’s College. The referral hospitals are St. Luke’s Hospital and Asaba General Hospital.

In Uyo, the focus will be on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium (match venue), Ikot Ekpene Stadium and Godswill Akpabio Training Pitch (training sites) and Ibom Specialist Hospital and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals).

The inspection party will then fly to Abuja on Thursday for a meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Olusade Adesola (representing the Honourable Minister) and a courtesy call on His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (GCON) at the Presidential Villa.

Nigeria is one of only four countries to have participated in every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s Cup since the competition was launched in 2002 in Canada as an U19 Championship. It was upgraded to U20 competition in 2008. USA, Germany and Brazil are the other three ever –present teams.

The Falconets reached the Final of the competition in 2010 and 2014, losing to Germany on both occasions, and were semi finalists in Japan in 2012.

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FCT Outplays Edo to Grab Handball Bronze at Gateway Games

Published

1 week ago

May 27, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Team FCT bounced back from their narrow semi-final defeat to hosts Ogun State with an emphatic victory over Team Edo to secure the bronze medal in handball at the 2024 Gateway Games.

In the third-place match played on Tuesday at the Alake Sports Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the resilient FCT side dominated proceedings and overpowered their Edo counterparts with a convincing 30–17 win.

Displaying determination and teamwork, Team FCT shook off the disappointment of missing out on the final and ended the tournament on a high, earning praise from spectators and officials alike for their spirited performance.

Speaking after the victory, FCT Handball Coach Ayo Joshua attributed the success to the team’s resilience and strong desire to win a medal.

“We planned for gold but, unfortunately, we couldn’t achieve that. However, we are happy that we didn’t leave Ogun State empty-handed—we were able to secure the bronze medal,” he said.

“We have the best team, skillful players who follow instructions, and by the grace of God, come the next festival in Enugu, FCT Handball will come out even stronger.”

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