Nigeria beat Ghana 5-4 penalties to Win Milo Africa Championship

Milo

Nigeria reclaimed the Milo U-13 Africa Championship trophy after beating Ghana 5-4 on penalties at the 3rd edition which ended in Lagos on Saturday. But the Ghanaians showed champion’s mettle when they came from 3-1 to level scores with just about five minutes to the end.

Nigeria opened scoring on the captain, Olusegun Olakunle four minutes into the game watched by illustrious ex-Nigerian internationals, Nwankwo Kanu, Peter Rufai and Ogbonna Kanu. Mustapha Adam Agba’a doubled the lead on 20th minute but Ishahaku Fatawu pulled one back for the Ghanains, restoring hope they might still keep the trophy.

But a determined Team Nigeria represented by pupils of St. Barnabas LGEA, Kwara State increased the lead when Agba’a completed a brace on 20th minute of the first half. Fatawu was on hand again for Ghana when he struck a second on the day and his third of the tournament to reduce the tally to 3-2 before the interval.

Ghana represented by Zogbeli Block A Primary School dominated the proceedings against an obviously fatigued Nigerian side but they were kept at bay by Ayodeji Otoola in goal for Nigeria. But with five minutes of play left, Abdulahi Haruna Rasheed restored parity for Ghana at 3-3 to drag the game into penalties.

Both sides converted their first three penalties and when Ahmed Ishmael failed to convert his kick, hitting the upright, the Nigerians took advantage and made no mistake directing their kicks beyond the goalkeeper.

Agba’a would go home with the golden boots for the highest goal having scored four goals in two matches and Olakunle Olusegun, the Nigerian captain took away the MVP Award presented by Kanu.

Team Nigeria, Milo 2014

2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup results – Russia wins first junior title

BNP PARIBAS WORLD TEAM CUP, ALPHEN, NETHERLANDS,

Russia defeated Spain 2-1 to win the BNP Paribas World Team Cup junior title for the first time on Friday. Netherlands overcame USA 2-1 to claim the bronze medal in the junior event. USA will face Great Britain in the quad final while Brazil will meet Belgium in the final of the men’s World Group 2 event on Saturday.

BNP PARIBAS WORLD TEAM CUP, ALPHEN, NETHERLANDS – RESULTS – 30 MAY

Junior Event – Final

RUSSIA defeated SPAIN (2) 2-1

Ildus Shaikhislamov (RUS) d. Felix Garcia Perez (ESP)
Martin de la Puente (ESP) d. Viktoriia Lvova (RUS)
Viktoriia Lvova/Artur Saitgareev (RUS) d. Martin de la Puente/Felix Garcia Perez (ESP) 76(1) 06 103

Junior Event – 3rd/4th place play-off

NETHERLANDS (1) defeated USA 2-1
Diede de Groot (NED) d. Casey Ratzlaff (USA) 62 62
Chris Herman (USA) d. Carlos Anker (NED) 63 63
Carlos Anker/Diede de Groot (NED) d. Chris Herman/Connor Stroud (USA) 75 62

Men’s World Group – Position 5-8

SWEDEN defeated USA 2-0

Peter Vikstrom (SWE) d. Jon Rydberg (USA) 60 62
Stefan Olsson (SWE) d. Stephen Welch (USA) 60 61
Greger Kallsholm/Peter Vikstrom (SWE) v Jon Rydberg/Stephen Welch (USA) not played

AUSTRIA defeated KOREA, REPUBLIC 2-1

Ha-Gel Lee (KOR) d. Joseph Riegler (AUT) 61 64
Martin Legner (AUT) d. Sang-Ho Oh (KOR) 63 61
Martin Legner/Joseph Riegler (AUT) d. Ha-Gel Lee/Sang-Ho Oh (KOR) 75 76(4)
Men’s World Group – Position 9-12

ARGENTINA defeated POLAND 2-1

Kamil Fabisiak (POL) d. Ezequiel Casco (ARG) 61 60
Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) d. Tadeusz Kruszelnicki (POL) 60 61
Oscar Diaz/Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) d. Kamil Fabisiak/Tadeusz Kruszelnicki (POL) 75 75

AUSTRALIA defeated THAILAND 2-0

Ben Weekes (AUS) d. Wittaya Peem-Mee (THA) 61 60
Adam Kellerman (AUS) d. Suthi Khlongrua (THA) 63 63
Adam Kellerman/Ben Weekes (AUS) v Suwitchai Merngprom/Wittaya Peem-Mee (THA) not played
Women’s World Group – Pool A

NETHERLANDS (1) defeated CHILE 3-0

Marjolein Buis (NED) d. Macarena Cabrillana (CHI) 61 63
Aniek van Koot (NED) d. Francisca Mardones (CHI) 64 64
Aniek van Koot/Sharon Walraven (NED) d. Macarena Cabrillana/Maria Paz Diaz Obregon (CHI) 61 61

Women’s World Group – Pool B

GERMANY (2) defeated RUSSIA 2-0

Bianca Osterer (GER) d. Polina Shakirova (RUS) 62 61
Katharina Kruger (GER) d. Ludmila Bubnova (RUS) 63 26 62
Katharina Kruger/Bianca Osterer (GER) v Ludmila Bubnova/Polina Shakirova (RUS) not played

Women’s World Group – Pool C

GREAT BRITAIN (4) defeated THAILAND 2-0
Lucy Shuker (GBR) d. Wanitha Inthanin (THA) 63 60
Jordanne Whiley (GBR) d. Sakhorn Khanthasit (THA) 63 64
Lucy Shuker/Jordanne Whiley (GBR) v Wanitha Inthanin/Nongnuch Roswan (THA) not played

Women’s World Group – Pool D

JAPAN (3) defeated KOREA, REPUBLIC 3-0

Kanako Domori (JPN) d. Myung-Hee Hwang (KOR) 62 75
Yui Kamiji (JPN) d. Ju-Yeon Park (KOR) 62 60
Kanako Domori/Yui Kamiji (JPN) d. Young-Suk Hong/Ju-Yeon Park (KOR) 61 60

Quad Event – Semifinals

USA (1) defeated ISRAEL 2-1

Noam Gershony (ISR) d. Greg Hasterok (USA) 61 60
David Wagner (USA) d. Shraga Weinberg (ISR) 61 61
Nick Taylor/David Wagner (USA) d. Noam Gershony/Boaz Kramer (ISR) 64 67(3) 107

GREAT BRITAIN (2) defeated JAPAN 2-0

Jamie Burdekin (GBR) d. Shota Kawano (JPN) 61 64
Andy Lapthorne (GBR) d. Mitsuteru Moroishi (JPN) 64 62
Antony Cotterill/Andy Lapthorne (GBR) v Shota Kawano/Mitsuteru Moroishi (JPN) not played

Quad Event – 5th/6th place play-off

CANADA defeated ITALY 2-1

Gary Luker (CAN) d. Alfredo di Cosmo (ITA) 62 16 64
Sarah Hunter (CAN) d. Marco Innocenti (ITA) 63 63
Marco Innocenti/Antonio Raffaele (ITA) d. Adrian Dieleman/Gary Luker (CAN) 62 61

Quad Event – 7th/8th place play-off

SWEDEN defeated AUSTRIA 2-1

Christer Jansson (SWE) d. Markus Wallner (AUT) 57 63 64
Anders Hard (SWE) d. Peter Tatschl (AUT) 60 61
Peter Tatschl/Markus Wallner (AUT) d. Anders Hard/Christer Jansson (SWE) 46 61 101

Men’s World Group 2 – Semifinals

BRAZIL (1) defeated ITALY 2-0

Carlos Santos (BRA) d. Ivan Tratter (ITA) 62 61
Daniel Rodrigues (BRA) d. Fabian Mazzei (ITA) 62 62
Rafael Medeiros/Daniel Rodrigues (BRA) v Luca Arca/Fabian Mazzei (ITA) not played

BELGIUM (2) defeated SPAIN 2-1

Alvaro Illobre (ESP) d. Gert Vos (BEL) 63 67(5) 76(4)
Joachim Gerard (BEL) d. Roberto Chamizo (ESP) 60 61
Mike Denayer/Joachim Gerard (BEL) d. Roberto Chamizo/Alvaro Illobre (ESP) 60 62

Men’s World Group 2 – Position 5-8

GERMANY defeated CANADA (3) 2-1

Joel Dembe (CAN) d. Sven Hiller (GER) 75 61
Steffen Sommerfeld (GER) d. Philippe Bedard (CAN) 60 63
Sven Hiller/Steffen Sommerfeld (GER) d. Philippe Bedard/Joel Dembe (CAN) 76(3) 61

SRI LANKA defeated SWITZERLAND 2-1 (4)

Upali Rajakaruna (SRI) d. Raphael Gremion (SUI) 75 26 63
Daniel Pellegrina (SUI) d. Gamini Dissanayake (SRI) 63 61
Gamini Dissanayake/Upali Rajakaruna (SRI) d. Raphael Gremion/Daniel Pellegrina (SUI) 61 60

Men’s World Group 2 – Position 9-12

MALAYSIA defeated ROMANIA 3-0

Ariffahmi Zaquan Ariffin (MAS) d. Petru Punga (ROU) 64 62
Abu Samah Borhan (MAS) d. Mihai Gaita (ROU) 60 61
Abu Samah Borhan/Ariffahmi Zaquan Ariffin (MAS) d. Ciprian Anton/Mihai Gaita (ROU) 61 61

MOROCCO defeated GREECE 2-1

Fouad Boughnim (MAR) d. Epaminondas Stamatis (GRE) 62 60
Stefanos Diamantis (GRE) d. Boukartacha Lhaj (MAR) 61 36 61
Fouad Boughnim/Ayoub Ettali (MAR) d. Stefanos Diamantis/Epaminondas Stamatis (GRE) 36 62 108

The World Team Cup is the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis event, often referred to as the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis. The initial event took place in California in 1985 involving six men’s teams. The women’s competition began the following year, with quad and junior events introduced in 1998 and 2000 respectively. The ITF introduced regional qualifying for the men’s and women’s events in 2012.

For the latest news from the event, please visit: http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair.

For further information, please contact the ITF office in Alphen on wheelchair@itftennis.com.

Eaglets complete double win over Egypt

Golden Eaglets on Friday recorded a 3-1 win over their Egyptian counterparts to complete a double win in as many days at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. The victory followed Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the visiting Junior Pharaohs.

Ebere Osinachi scored a first half brace for Nigeria while Victor Osimhen added the other goal while Egypt’s solitary goal was converted from a penalty by Hosam Adel But the game started cautiously with both teams sizing up one another and it was Nigeria that made early incursion into the visitors’ half.

However, in the 12th minute, Nigeria went into the lead after the visitor conceded a corner and the floater by Kolawole Gbadamosi slipped away to quick-witted Ebere Osinachi who evaded a marker before
slotting the ball into the net.

Osinachi could have scored the second goal in the 30th minute when he got a through pass following a one-touch combination with Kelechi Nwakali but his angular shot went wide off the right side of the post.

He equally wasted another opportunity in the 34th minute when he shot the over the bar even with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

Almost immediately, Sunday Alimi saw his lively shot ricocheted off the post after he capitalised on a blunder by Egypt’s Hatem Ahmed.

In the 43rd minute, Osinachi made up for previous misses when he guided Anas Mohammed incisive pass beyond goalkeeper Mahmod Gad as the first half gradually came to an end.

Expectedly on resumption of second half, the Eaglets pulled out Osinachi for Victor Osimhen; Samuel Chukwueze for Chinedu Madueke; Suleiman Abdullahi for Alimi Sunday as well as debuting goalkeeper
Ebuka Nwokocha for Amos Benjamin.

Despite ceaseless pressure, the Golden Eaglets failed to take advantage and against the run of play, the Egyptians forced their way at the other end. In the milieu, defender Lukman Halilu conceded a penalty after he mistakenly handled the ball in the box and resultant penalty kick was converted by Hosam Adel.

The goal spurred the Egyptian into action but on the whole there was little separating both sides as the Golden Eaglets failed to even convert numerous chances thereafter.

But in added time, second half substitute, Victor Osimhen drew the curtain on the match when he profited from a precise pass from Muhammed to make it a 3-1 win in favour of Eaglets.

The victory notwithstanding, Golden Eaglets’ coach Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) said he was not satisfied with the team’s overall performance, promising to ring further changes as the team continue to build up
towards the CAN 2015 qualifiers in July.

“Yes, we won but I’m not too impressed,” said Amuneke.” But the most important thing is that we have been able to see the players against a very good Egyptian team.

“We would continue to work hard and we still have more players that we would give opportunity to in the days ahead,”he noted.

Eaglets vs. Egypt

Amos(E. Nwokocha 45th) -K. A.Muhammed;Gbadamosi; B. Ayodeji;L. Halilu; J.Ipalibo;K.Nwakali, A.Sunday(S.Abdullahi 45th); C.Madueke(S.Chukwueze 45th); C. Eugene;E.Osinachi(V.Osimhen 45th)

AYG: Nigeria U-15 Boys Emerge Champions Of Africa

Nigeria ones again confirmed its status as the giant of Africa in football when its National U-15 boys secured the gold medal of the football event with a 3-1 victory over Swaziland at the Africa Youth games in Gaborone, Botswana on Friday.

The U-15 boys who needed just a draw to secure what is widely referred to as the most prestigious medal of the games, went all out against their Southern African opponent and goals from Nasifi Yahaya, Ali Musa and Young Elisha ensured that Nigeria topped the six team table with 10 points while Tanzania and Mali picked up the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Nigeria did not just win the gold medal, the boys were impressive all through as they conceded just once and scored ten times in five matches.

The team defeated host Botswana 2-0 in their first game, drew 0-0 with Mali, beat South Africa 3-0, defeated Tanzania 2-0 and completed the football event with a 3-1 win over Swaziland in the last game played at the University of Botswana football pitch.

The coach of the team, Danladi Nasidi attributed the success to the one month camping exercise which they enjoyed before the tournament.
“I’m a happy man today and I must say the one month camping exercise we had in Abuja before the tournament really helped us.”

According to the tournament format, all six teams that participated in the football event engaged each other in a round-robin format, the best placed team on the table went home with the gold medal while the second and third placed teams won silver and bronze respectively.

Following the late withdrawals from DR Congo and Gabon, there were six teams left to participate in the football event of the African Youth Games, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Mali.

The 2nd African Youth Games climaxes Today, the event involves around 2,500 athletes from 54 countries for ten days of competition.

Athletes are competing across 21 sports – athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, football, golf, judo, karate, netball, rowing, rugby, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and weightlifting.

Aimed at athletes aged 14 to 18, the Games tries to offer African athletes a platform to prepare for the Youth Olympic Games.

Nigeria Under 15 boys