Sports

India 2022: Gusau to lead support for Flamingos against Colombia on Wednesday

Published

3 years ago

October 24, 2022

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will be at the forefront of the support group when the country’s U17 girls, Flamingos tackle Colombia in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Goa on Wednesday.

The NFF boss, who has spoken with the players and officials severally during their earlier games in the tournament, will physically witness the semi-final showdown at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. It is the first semi-final, starting at 4pm (12noon Nigeria time) with the second semi-final between Germany and Spain to kick off three-and-half hours later.

Victory over Colombia – who defeated the only other African team to make the knockout stage, Tanzania 3-0 in the last eight – will shoot the Flamingos into Sunday’s final.

The Flamingos’ odyssey in India has had an uncanny resemblance to that of the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets in Germany 12 years ago, at least from the quarter-final stage.

In 2010, in what was the first international tournament for any Nigeria team under the presidency of Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the Falconets had beaten the United States 4-2 in a penalty shootout in a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final after both teams tied 1-1 in regulation time in Augsburg.

Four days later, a 2^nd minute goal by Ebere Orji at the Bielefelder Alm in the city of Bielefeld condemned Colombia to defeat in the semi final, and the Falconets squared up to Germany in the final.

The Flamingos are the first Nigeria team to be involved in a tournament during the presidency of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. They have beaten the United States in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw in a World Cup quarter-final, and now await Colombia in the semi-finals.

It is also remarkable that Germany, Nigeria’s opponents in the final in Germany 12 years ago, are also in the semi-finals in India. They play Spain in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

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Sports

Rivers Handball Players Target Gold at Niger Delta Games

Published

6 hours ago

February 4, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Players of the Rivers state handball team have sent strong messages of warning to their opponents at the forthcoming Niger Delta Games that they will be in Benin City for the Gold medal this time.

Speaking after the conclusion of the Handball trials for Edo 2026 at the Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the players that spoke were unanimous in their resolve to hit gold later this month.

It could sound unrealistic, given that their performances at the inaugural edition in Uyo last year were not up to scratch, but the players remain adamant that the experience combined with their preparations for this edition will bring them good returns.

Fully prepared this time
Goalkeeper Richard Harrison led his male teammates in declaring their readiness to take Benin by storm, hinging his belief on his team’s good preparation.

“We are very very prepared. For me, I will say it’s a 100% for us. We have been training basically, morning and evening, so the preparation is there, just to put in the team work and I think we can go for Gold,” said Harrison.

His teammate ThankGod David also echoed Harrison’s thoughts, adding that they have put in enough work in preparations that should see them come out tops when they face their regional opponents as from February 20.

“We are very confident in our abilities as we have put in enough efforts in our trainings. So we believe that as we are heading for the competition, we, as a team are emerging victorious,” said David.
Anticipating a better, sweeter experience
The Rivers Handball team are aware of their poor past and ready to create a new experience.

For Godspower Idango, he says that their lacklustre performance last year has brought a renewed hunger in them ahead of this year’s competition and assures of a great outing this year.

“We are looking forward to this year’s Games. We didn’t do well last year so my teammates and I are hungry and angry so much that we are putting in much work both in the morning and evening.
“So, I want to assure you that we will come out victorious in Edo state.”

Lily Emmanuel is a young lady who spoke on behalf of the women’s team and she believes the team is ready and equipped to make the state proud this year.

“I wasn’t actually proud of the experience last year but this year, we are going prepared. We are going to win, we are not coming to dull or fail. We are Team Rivers and we are going to make Rivers state proud.

“We’ve been training from like the beginning of January intensively with consistency. We’ve been able to do endurance trainings that has given us greater strength so, the result will be different this time,” said Lily.

The Rivers state trials for Edo 2026 Niger Delta Games continued on Wednesday with Volleyball and Taekwondo taking centre stage.

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