Monday, 29 February 2016

NPL Week 3 roundup: Abia Warriors go top



Abia Warriors FC have gone on top of the Nigeria Premier League table with seven points from three games.

Abia Warriors defeated Heartland 1-0 away at Owerri to record their second victory of the season on Sunday.

In other games, Rangers proved the better side in Enugu as they beat visiting Niger Tornadoes 2-1. Plateau United recorded the same result against Warri Wolves in Jos, and so was Kano Pillars over Wikki Tourists.



In Lagos, Ikorodu United recorded their first Nigeria Premier League victory with a 1-0 win over Lobi Stars. An 11 minute striker from Balogun Kabir was all that separated both sides in an interested encounter.

Rivers United did well to beat FC Ifeanyi Ubah 2-0 to make it two wins in three games for the Port Harcourt team.

On Saturday, Shooting Stars in Ibadan whitewashed MFM FC 3-0, thanks to a hat-trick from Wasiu Jimoh in the 4th, 19th and 36th minutes of the match.

That will be MFM’s first defeat, and Shooting Stars’ first victory of the season.

Super Falcons invite 40 for Nations Cup qualifiers



The technical crew of the Super Falcons, headed by Florence Omagbemi, has called to camp 40 players ahead of the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against either of Senegal or Guinea.

Seven –time champions Nigeria have drawn bye into the second round of the qualifying series, with the final competition to hold in Cameroon in November.

The senior women teams of Senegal and Guinea will contend over two legs in March, with the winner to battle the Super Falcons in home-and-away contests between 4th – 12th April.

Goalkeepers Ibubeleye Whyte and Sandra Chichi, defenders Onome Ebi, Josephine Chukwunonye, Ngozi Ebere and Joy Jegede, midfielders Halimatu Ayinde, Ngozi Okobi, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Joy Bokiri, and strikers Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Francisca Ordega are among those called.



All invited players are expected to report at Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Tuesday, March 1.

Full list of invited players:

Ibubeleye Whyte (Rivers Angels); Sandra Chichi (Bayelsa Queens); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Osun Babes); Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Inneh Queens); Onome Ebi (FC Minsk, Belarus); Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars); Josephine Chukwunonye (Vittsjoe GIK, Sweden); Osinachi Ohale (Rivers Angels); Ngozi Ebere (PSG Ladies, France); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels); Chisom Henry (Sunshine Queens); Faith Ikidi (Pitea FC, Sweden); Ayomide Ojo (Police Machine); Joy Jegede (Delta Queens); Gladys Akpa (Sunshine Queens); Halimatu Ayinde (New York Flash, USA); Desire Oparanozie (EN Avent de Guingamp, France); Ngozi Okobi (Vittsjoe GIK, Sweden); Asisat Oshoala (Liverpool Ladies); Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Kazygurt, Kazakhstan); Martina Ohadugha (Rivers Angels); Osarenoma Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Rita Chikwelu (Umea IK, Sweden); Ginika Nkeoma (Bayelsa Queens); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Chioma Wogu (Kogi Confluence); Esther Sunday (Trabzon Idman Ozagi, Turkey); Winifred Eyebhokia (Nasarawa Amazons); Chinwendu Ihezuo; Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA); Chinaza Uchendu (Nasarawa Amazons); Loveth Ayila (Rivers Angels); Ebere Orji (Ferencvaros, Hungary); Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens); Victoria Aidelomon (Bayelsa Queens); Abibat Agbaji (Confluence Queens); Ijeoma Obi (Sunshine Queens); Emueje Oghiagbevha (Delta Queens).



Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Arsenal keeping tab on Ighalo with £20m transfer move



English Premier League club Arsenal have stepped up the chase for Watford striker Odion Ighalo with a view to sealing a £20million summer move.

The Nigeria international has been in top form for the Hornets this season, scoring 15 goals in 29 games, and this has propelled them to the top half of the league standings.



The Gunners have struggled for goals in the last few weeks, and have made signing a new forward a key target for the summer.

According to The Mirror, Wenger has ordered club scouts to keep a close eye on the 26-year-old, who has settled well alongside Troy Deeney at Vicarage Road.

If the deal pulls through, Watford are said to have lined up fellow Nigerian Isaac Success from Granada as the potential successor.