Alain Traore slid home in the 94th minute as the Super Eagles failed to stop Jonathan Pitroipa's cutback.

Emmanuel Emenike had opened the scoring after 23 minutes, showing great hunger to latch onto Ideye Brown's flick.

Ikechukwu Uche should have doubled Nigeria's lead in a second half which changed when Efe Ambrose was sent off.

The right-back, who usually plays in the centre of defence for club side Celtic, was dismissed after 75 minutes, picking up a yellow card in both halves after first impeding Aristide Bance before then pulling back the impressive Pitroipa, who dazzled with his footwork at times.

The Super Eagles, who could have taken the lead after 12 minutes, only for Brown to flash Ahmed Musa's pacy low cross over the bar, were ultimately made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal.

Nigeria dominated the first half as the Burkinabe failed to find their rhythm and took the lead when Chelsea's John Obi Mikel raked a pass forward to Brown, whose probing touch was stabbed home by the onrushing Emenike.

However, either side of a poor miss by Stallions captain Moumouni Dagano, who looked set to convert Pitroipa's cross only to mistime an attempted header, Stephen Keshi's side failed to profit from decent openings.

Uche was the most guilty party, controlling a low cross from the lively Ahmed Musa with a fine first touch only to blaze wide midway through the second half.

The substitute again showed a lack of composure nine minutes from time as he collected a Mikel pass before cutting onto his right foot and slashing wildly off target once again.

Nigeria had been hoping to banish memories of their last finals on South African soil, when they exited the 2010 World Cup in ignominious style, but they were left with the same sinking feeling at the end.

Deep into the fourth minute of added time, Pitroipa wriggled free down the right-hand side of the penalty box after a bright Burkinabe break and although his pullback lacked power, defender Godfrey Oboabona let it roll under his foot, allowing Traore to pounce.

The Lorient midfielder would have started the match but for a groin strain and while his side's barren run continues, with the Stallions having failed to win a Nations Cup match since hosting the finals in 1998, they have at least stopped a run of four straight defeats.

Searching for a first Nations Cup title since 1994, two-time champions Nigeria next face Zambia on Friday in Nelspruit, which is where Ethiopia and Burkina Faso will look to build on their unexpectedly positive starts.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi:

"I am not going to let anything bring us down. I'm very proud of the boys, who did everything I wanted of them.

"This game is gone and the next game against Zambia is very, very important. I'll pick up the players and motivate them."

Burkina Faso coach Paul Put:

"All four teams have one point so everything is open. The performance today showed who Burkina are - we have quality in the team. We were missing some key players so I am very proud of what we did.

"I was confident of getting a point against Nigeria. This was a very good result for us and I am looking forward to the game against Ethiopia."

It was a game of two of halves at the National Stadium, in which Morocco dominated the first period of play before Angola controlled the second, but neither could find the back of the net as they shared the spoils in a frustrating goalless draw.

Following South Africa and Cape Verde’s goalless draw the pressure was on the two teams to deliver the goals and make the fixture the better game of the evening, but it was not to be.

Angola’s shot-stopper was immediately put to the test, inside the first ten minutes of the game, through a strike from outside the area by Mounir El Hamdaoui.

The Palancas Negras struggled to turn around Morocco’s mobile and organised style of play which saw the North African’s dominate the opening 20 minutes of the game.

Set plays seemed to be the only way in which Angola looked likely to score and they were fed the opportunity by Manucho, with a worked ball into the box, just before the half hour mark, but it was signaled for offside.

The misfiring continued until the end of the first 45 when Adil Hermach struck a woeful effort over the bar, seeing 135 minutes of the tournament pass without a goal.

In order to change the dynamics of the game Gastavo Ferrin opted to bring in Guilherme Afonso at the start of the break, seeing Mingo Bile come off in his place.

Nervy moments struck the Moroccan camp when Abdelhahim El Kaoutari nearly deflected the ball into the back of his own net, as Angola started to take a hold of the momentum of the game.

Younes Belhanda was brought on for his creative skill and flair and it almost paid off immediately when he twisted and turned in the box to unleash a 68th minute shot which went just wide.

Manucho had the perfect opportunity to burry a late goal with two minutes to go, but he disappointingly struck his effort wide, as the game saw out a goalless draw between the two teams.

Angola: (0) 0

Morocco: (0) 0

Teams:

Angola: Lama, Bastos, Pirolito, Dani Massunguna, Lunguihna (Airosa 78’), Mingo Bile (Afonso 46’), Dede, Miguel Quiame, Gerlado (Gilberto 82’), Manucho, Matues

Morocco: Lamyarghiri, El Kaoutari, Achchakir, El Adoua, Benatia, Hermach, El Ahmadi (Belghazouani 82’), Amrabat, Barrada ( Belhanda 63’), Assaidi, El Hamdaoui ( El Arabi 70’)

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund accused his players of losing their nerve during a woeful display against tiny Cape Verde Islands in the goalless opening match of the African Nations Cup on Saturday.

Igesund, South Africa's third coach since the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010, made no excuses for the hosts' poor display at Soccer City.

"Not too many of my players came to the party in the first half, which I thought was a total waste of time - and we weren't much better in the second," he told a news conference after what was a poor spectacle watched live on TV by millions around the world.

"There were big gaps between the midfield and the strikers and we tried to get the ball to the strikers too quickly. Too many balls were played over the top at 100 miles per hour, which is something we don't want to do.

"Some of the players seemed to freeze when the whistle blew and lost their nerve. Perhaps for some of them the occasion was a bit too big.

"We now have to go for it in our next two games against Angola and Morocco. Of course we wanted to win and get a goal and get all three points, and we are not doomed yet. But we need to improve.

"Credit to Cape Verde. They are a good, well-organised team and play like Europeans. They defended well, slowed the game right down in the second half and got the point they came looking for."

In contrast Cape Verde coach Lucio Antunes was delighted with the result which, he said, brought dignity to the country.

He also dismissed the idea that their first ever match in the tournament was a poor spectacle.

"That's your opinion not mine," he said after the game which produced only two scoring chances in a rain-lashed 90 minutes - both of them for his side.

"For me, it was mission accomplished. The team was excellent, we did the job we came to do and met our objectives and now we can concentrate on our next match against Morocco. I am happy, the players are happy and the technical staff are happy.

"We dignified our country today. It is a small country of 500,000 people, but we made them proud and have nothing to fear in our remaining games." (Reporting by Mike Collett; editing by Toby Davis)

As the Afcon draws near, we begin examining the three teams that will form the group stage opposition for Stephen Keshi and his squad, beginning with the defending champions

Appearances at the Cup of Nations: 16

1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013

Best ever performance: 2012

An inaugural Afcon victory in the emotional whirlpool of Libreville will be hard to top. Zambia overcame Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in tense, against-all-odds, back-to-back victories, celebrating the memory of their fallen predecessors – the 1993 Zambia side that perished in a plane crash off the Libreville coast - in the process.

Famous moment in Afcon history

2012 was riddled with them, take your pick. Emmanuel Mayuka’s late winner against much-fancied Ghana, Gyan’s penalty miss in the semi, Drogba’s in the final, Renard’s aggressive chastising of Davis Nkausu, the boss’s compassion in carrying the crocked Joseph Musonda over to celebrate victory, keeper Mweene’s theatrics, Kolo Touré and Gervinho fluffing their lines in Libreville, or perhaps even Stophira Sunzu’s final, emphatic, tournament-winning penalty.

Qualification

With the holders not facing automatic qualification, Zambia were thrown into the hat with everyone else, emerging with a tricky two legged tie against Uganda. Once again that famed resiliency and never-say-die attitude were evident in abundance as Chipolopolo overcame the agony of a Ugandan equaliser to eventually win the tie on penalties. Despite Christopher Katongo missing his opening spot kick, Renard’s men held their nerve and eventually prospered 9-8. Whilst their inability to overcome the Cranes more convincingly is a worry, their composure and nerve during the shootout will have encouraged fans.

The Team

Whilst Zambia do have a wonderful team ethic and a stunning desire to play for each other and promote the unit, this can often lead to observers overlooking their individual merits. BBC’s African player of the year Christopher Katongo is more than a mere skipper, Isaac Chansa and Rainford Kalaba offer energy and creativity in midfield, whilst Emmanuel Mayuka’s speed and athleticism will trouble most of the continent’s defences. Also look for the raiding surges of left-back Emmanuel Mbola, who needs to begin fulfilling his early promise. Sunzu and Sinkala are both competent, young defenders who are the future of the national team’s backline.

The Manager: Hervé Renard

An inspirational figure who has meshed humble man-management skills alongside acute tactic nous to turn a previously unsuccessful group of players into continental champions.

After an uninspired career in France’s lower leagues, a decade spent running his own cleaning business, and forgettable stints as a manager in various obscure outposts, Renard eventually found his niche, assisting Claude Le Roy in the management and organisation of African national sides. Eventually moving out of Le Roy’s shadow, Renard has discovered his spiritual home in Zambia, where, apart from a brief spell as Angola’s national boss, he has flourished since May 2008.

Skipper: Christopher Katongo

The BBC’s African footballer of 2012 may well owe his honour to one famous night in Libreville, when his Chipolopolo stood firm in the face of an Ivoirian onslaught, but there are few more valuable qualities in football than influence and leadership. Katongo demonstrated both as his team overcame the odds to triumph in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The China-based player, who made his name as a striker, may be past his prime, but he is still capable of contributing both goals and on-field organisation. He has flourished as Renard’s commander-in-chief, and will once again be the figurehead of Zambia’s Afcon assault, albeit from a more withdrawn midfield role.

Key Player: Rainford Kalaba

Whilst Mayuka, Katongo, and Mbola may be receiving the majority of the attention ahead of the 2013 Afcon, central midfielder Rainford Kalaba is a key player for the Chipolopolo. An impressive Afcon in 2012, where his goal against Senegal helped kick start Zambia’s triumphant campaign, saw the Kitwe-born midfielder recognised among the substitutes in the team of the tournament. A cruel penalty miss in the final shootout was, fortunately, not punished, and Kalaba went onto lift the trophy with as much relish (and relief) as anyone.

Despite failing to make his mark in Europe, with Braga, Kalaba has revived his career in the sub-Sahara in recent years, becoming the lynchpin and creative inspiration of the successful TP Mazembe side that has, at times, swept all before it. Now 26, he will be looking to have a major influence over this year’s centrepiece. Keeper Kennedy Mweene, a hero at the last Afcon, and midfielder Isaac Chansa, are also important players for the national side.

One to Watch: Emmanuel Mayuka

Named by Goal.com as Zambia’s ‘young talent’ a year ago, it’s hard to decide exactly how much progress Emmanuel Mayuka has made in the intervening 12 months. His qualities, incisive running and impressive athletic ability, still remain, but his move to Premier League Southampton is yet to truly bear fruit, with the forward unable to hold down a regular spot.

Still, time is on Mayuka’s side, and recently named – quite remarkably – by the Guardian among their top 100 players in the world, those in the know are predicting bright things for the former Young Boys striker. It remains to be seen whether Mayuka can repeat last year’s trick and retain the Afcon Golden Boot, but he is a frontman more than capable of devastating opposition backlines.

They may be smaller than the Nigerians, slower than the Zambians and have fewer professional players than most rivals, but Ethiopia are committed to excelling at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

It is the first time the Horn of Africa squad has qualified for the pan-African tournament in 31 years, and though the odds might be stacked against them, the Walias Antelopes – named after an endangered antelope endemic to Ethiopia's northern mountains – are confident they will defy expectations and proceed to the knock-out stage of the tournament.

"We are going to face a lot of challenges and we have been away from the competition for a long time," striker Adane Girma told AFP.

"But we have good morale, a good mentality and we are very strong, so we can face any kind of challenge," he added, sweat glistening on his forehead after practice at the national stadium in Addis Ababa.

In a rare and unexpected feat, the Walias beat Sudan 2-0 last October in the Ethiopian capital, prompting thousands of jubilant fans to pour into the streets to celebrate.

They are now preparing to face title holders Zambia on January 21 in South African city Nelspruit.

Though Zambia is a stronger team, Girma said his squad is focused on beating them in order to move on to matches against twice champions Nigeria and perennial underachievers Burkina Faso in the same group.

"We are just thinking about finishing that first game on top and then later think about Nigeria or Burkina Faso," he said.

Star striker Saladin Said added that he remains unfazed by the threat posed by stronger teams.

"We are not bothered by the names, our only focus is to win," he told AFP.

But coach Sewnet Bishaw said that despite the team's confidence the Walias still lack international experience and boast few professional players.

"Our players are young and they are less experienced with international matches like (the Cup of Nations)," he said.

The team has only one international player – Said, who plays for Wadi Degla in Egypt.

Bishaw said his team's strengths, however, are in their passing and strong defence, which helped them draw a friendly against 2004 champions Tunisia in Qatar this month, and make them formidable competitors at the Africa Cup.

The draw against Tunisia was a "huge boost", according to Girma.

And he is not prepared to stop there: he has his sights set on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"We are leaders in the World Cup qualification group, and hopefully we are going to qualify for the World Cup," he said.

But if they do not come out on top, Bishaw said the tournament is an opportunity for Ethiopia – a country better known for churning out world-class long distance runners than footballers – to prove their clout on the football pitch.

"The mood is 100% – they want to show their talent and sell their personality to the world," he said, adding that their participation in the Cup of Nations is a source of major national pride.

"We have tried many times to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, we have tried many different types of coaches, including professionals from abroad – but now we are all locals here, we made it, so it's a great thing for our nation," he said, breaking into a wide smile.

Nigerian male team to the World Chess Olympiad suffered its worst defeat at the ongoing chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey with 0.5-3 score line to highly favoured Columbia led by veteran Alonso Zapata in the fifth round of the tournament.

A draw against the South American would have enhanced the country's placement in both category and individual rating but it was International Master Dapo Adu who set the tone of what the day will be with the loss to Grand Master Zapata on board one.

The Nigerian playing in the white side of his favorite Sicilian Defense, Nardjorf variation was totally in control of the game till the 30th move when he blundered to a Rook move to c4 as against f1 and this gave the Zapata, a veteran of several World Chess Olympiad and escape route to escape to victory after 44moves.

However on board two, Bomo Kigigha, who has been having an impressive outing in the tournament erased the perfect score most pundits have being anticipating against the Columbia with a hard earn draw against Alder Escobar on board two.

The game was transposed from Sicilian defense Grivas variation into the hedge-hog defense on move 11 and both players maintained their position without any one having upper hand till both agreed to a draw situation on move 62.

The duo of Nonso Orawgwu and Femi Balogun could not cope with the mastery prowess of Esneider Barrientos (2500) and Camilo Crishian (2398) respectively on board three and four respectively to give Nigeria it's heaviest defeat so far in the tournament.

In the female section, the trio of Nsisong Asanga, Funmi Akinola and Vivian Dzaayem all crashed to the superior prowess of toddlers of Julia Lebel-Arias, Mathilde Chung and Noela-Joyce Lomandond from Monaco while Tobi Olatunji on board won had earlier in the day secured a massive win over Beatrice Choing on board one. The average age of all the players from Monaco is 12 years!

On the top boards it was match-ups of many powerhouse teams in the male section with two-time Olympiad Champion Armenia locked horns with the defending champions of Ukraine. Armenian Super GM and World number two Levon Aronian engaged in battle Vassily Ivanchuk. The only decisive game in the match, Aronian went up the exchange and moves later with a simple tactic sealed the fate of Ivanchuk and the Ukrainian team, giving the Armenians a 2,5-1,5 victory.

The Russian and Hungarian teams engaged on the second match table, pitting long time friends and competitors of Kramnik and Leko. Spectators were delighted to see something that wasn't a Petroff between these two players. 32 moves later a quiet draw was taken, but on the board next to them Grischuk slashed and hacked at Almasi's defenses until all that was left was yet another simple tactical sequence to finish him off. The Russians had stuck the proverbial fork into their Hungarian competitors and finished them off 2,5-1,5.

The Azeri's and Chinese teams demolished their Canadian and Iranian counterparts respectively with a 3,5-0,5 score, while France suffered their first loss against the Croatian team with score of 2,5-1,5.

In the Women Section Russia quickly secured the decisive advantage against France with the two victories on the lower boards. Sophie Milliet could only reduce the losing margin after the European Champion Valentina Gunina ran into a checkmate. Russia wins 2,5-1,5 to assume sole lead as the only team with the perfect score. Serbia once again excelled as they defeated their Bulgarian neighbors by a score of 2,5-1,5. Ana Benderac, returning to the playing arena after being a captain for several years, won against Elitsa Raeva.

The experienced Margarita Voiska turned the tables against Andjelija Stojanovic to even the score, but Maria Manakova continued to play in fantastic shape to score her 5th consecutive victory and bring two match points for Serbia.

The U-20 Men’s National Team and U-20 Women’s National Team will fly out of Nigeria on Monday for international friendly games packaged by the Nigeria Football Federation to toughen both teams for upcoming challenges.

 Sam John Obuh’s Flying Eagles will fly out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard RwandAir Airline on Monday afternoon to Kigali, where they engage the Young Amavubi in a crack friendly on Tuesday ahead of the 2013 African Youth Championship qualifying match against the Junior Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, July 29, 2012.

 The Young Amavubi will also use the match to prepare for their 2013 African Youth Championship qualifying game at home to the Junior Eagles of Mali on the same weekend.

 Edwin Okon’s Falconets, warming up for participation in next month’s 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Japan, fly out to Accra on Monday afternoon to play the Black Princesses of Ghana in two friendly games on Tuesday and Thursday next week.

 The reigning world vice champions will return to the country on Friday, for some more friendlies with top Nigeria Women’s League teams, before flying out to Korea Republic on August 1 for a two-week  final training camp in Namhei, from where they fly into Japan for the World Cup on August 15, 2012.

 NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, said on Friday: “We believe these matches will help the two teams prepare hard for the challenges ahead. The Young Amavubi have beaten Tanzania in recent  friendly matches and we are also aware of the strength of the Black Princesses, who will also be taking part in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Japan.”

 While Nigeria’s Falconets play Brazil, Korea Republic and Italy in Group B of the World Cup, Ghana play Germany, USA and China in Group D.

Heartland FC of Owerri is now leading the Port Harcourt Centre of the Federation Cup round of 16.

Heartland played a 1-1 draw on Wednesday with fellow premier league side, Nasarawa United in the first match of the day.

Heartland now tops at the centre with four points from two matches.

The Owerri side had beaten Plateau United 1-0 in their first game on July 16.

Kabiru Umar scored for Heartland in the 29th minute while Fagbemi Adepoju equalised for Nasarawa in the 31st minute.

Nasarawa's Assistant Coach, Sylvester Ekoja said the team was happy with the outcome of the encounter.

``My players tried their best and we hope to win our last match against Plateau United on Friday,’’ he said.

However, Ransome Madu, Heartland’s Assistant Coach blamed the referee for the inability of his side to win.

``My players did well but the referee made some questionable calls which made our opponents to equalise. In spite of that, we are determined to win our last match in the centre,’’ he said.

In the second match, Plateau United forced Gombe United to a 1-1 draw.

Gombe’s winger, Sani Gidado scored the fastest goal in the ongoing federation cup with a 29 seconds strike that took the Plateau team unawares.

Plateau equalised when midfielder Musa Adamu nodded in a pull out from the right flank.

Gombe and Nasarawa are placed second with two points and two goals.

The last matches at the centre would be played on July 20 simultaneously to determine the best two teams to qualify for the quarter finals.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has named a 31 man team that will fly the flag of the country at the London 2012 Olympics which gets underway on July 27.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos to unveil the list, president of the AFN Solomon Ogba said the selected athletes were carefully picked based on their current form Ogba explained that the federation had to wait till after the African Athletics Championship in Port Novo before they could come up with the list so as to give all athletes equal chance to prove their readiness for the London games.

He maintained that the A frican Athletics Championship has given the AFN the opportunity to produce a formidable list for athletes that will represent Nigeria in athletics at the Olympics, as he is confortable with the performance of Nigerian athletes at the championship.

The List

100m women
Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asunmu, Lawretta Ozoh

200m women
Gloria Asunmu, Lawretta Ozoh, Christy Udoh

400m women
Regina George, Omolara Omotosho

400m H women
Ajoke Odumosun

High Jump women
Doreen Amata

Long Jump women
Blessing Okagbare

Shot put women
 Vivian Chukwuemeka

Hepthatlon
Uhunoma Naomi Osaazuwa

Marathon
Esther Obiekwe

100m H women
Seun Adigun

4x100m women
Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asunmu, Lawretta Ozoh, Oluwadamola Osayomi, Wisdom Isoken,
Christy Udoh

4x400m women
Regina George, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko, ENDURANCE Abinuwa, Idara Out, Magaret Etim  

Men

Obinna Metuh, Ogho Oghene Egwero, Peter Emelieze

100 H Men
Selim Nurudeen

400m H Men
Ameadi Morton

Long Jump
Stanley Gbageke

Triple Jump
Oluwatosin Oke

4x400m men
Saul Weigopwa, Abiola Onokoya, Isah Salihu, Tobi Ogunmola, Segun Ogunkole, Godday James

Probation

200m men
Noah Akwu, Stanley Azie

100m H Women
Jessica Ohanaja

Nigeria first participated at the Olympic Games in 1952, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for the boycotted 1976 Summer Olympics. The nation has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games.

The NOC is one of 205 National Olympic Committees currently recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is the role of the IOC to lead the promotion of Olympism in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

The Charter details the philosophy, aims and traditions of the Olympic Movement. Members of the IOC are co-opted and elected from among individuals it thinks are suitably qualified. Members of the IOC are its representatives in their respective countries and not delegates of their countries within the IOC.

A member of each of the Olympic sports makes up the electoral college of the NOC's decision and policy-making body. The NOC elects eight officers: a President, three Vice-Presidents, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General. The Treasurer and Public Relations Officer complete the elected members who each serve for a four year term.

It’s the Board who are involved in more detailed work of the NOC and will also put forward specific proposals for decision by the NOC.

Team Nigeria is the Nigerian Team which competes at the summer Olympic Games, youth Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and All African Games. Team selection is made from the best sportsmen and women by the Nigerian Olympic Committee in conjunction with the national governing bodies.

There are 26 sports in the Olympic Programme and Team Nigeria to date has participated in 12 different sports. The 10 events Team Nigeria competed in at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was the most to date at a single games.

2012 will be the best team yet

The declared aim of Team Nigeria for 2012 is to take athletes who will not just compete in the Games, but have an outstanding chance of either medalling or being the best African representatives.

Team Nigeria is selected from a group of Olympic hopefuls across basketball, wrestling, athletics, taekwondo, weightlifting, and table tennis, who are all training and competing for the chance to represent their country at London 2012.

At the London 2012 Olympic Games Team Nigeria will be the largest single team to represent the nation at a summer Olympics, and we'll be better prepared, equipped and supported than any of our predecessors in over 50 years.

Team Nigeria will compete in more sports and more disciplines and our mission is to deliver best performance, more medals, from more sports. The athletes who compete for Team Nigeria are ordinary men and women with extraordinary talents.

There is only one Olympic team from Nigeria and that is Team Nigeria. There is not an Olympic men's football team or an Olympic table tennis team. The individual sports join to become Team Nigeria, the Nigerian Olympic Team.

Egypt edged 10-man Guinea 3-2 Sunday in a Conakry thriller to boost hopes of returning to the World Cup in 2014 after a 24-year absence.  Guinea led at half-time, had goalkeeper Naby Yattara red carded at 1-1, trailed and equalised before Mohamed Salah stunned the capacity 35,000 crowd at Stade du 28 Septembre with a late winner in the second round qualifier.

Veteran midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika scored twice within 10 minutes during the second half after Aboul Camara had given Guinea the lead and Alhassane Bangoura netted on 88 minutes to temporarily bring the teams level.  The Pharaohs and the National Elephant look the strongest teams in a Group G completed by Mozambique and Zimbabwe, who played a scoreless draw at Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo four hours earlier.

Egypt have six points from two games, Guinea three and Zimbabwe and Mozambique one each and the North African team coached by American Bob Bradley hold the vital advantage of having played their most powerful foe away.  Although Egypt have lifted the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, they have qualified for the World Cup only twice -- in 1934 and 1990 -- and Bradley has repeatedly said that reaching Brazil is his primary objective.

 Cameroon, whose six World Cup appearances is a record for an African country, suffered a dramatic 2-1 loss in Group I against Libya, who were forced to play in Tunisian city Sfax because of security instability at home.   Ahmed Zouay gave the Mediterranean Knights a quick lead at Taieb Mhiri Stadium, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting levelled and the winner came in the final minute when Mohamed Esnany nodded a corner past goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.

Defeat was a bitter pill for under-pressure Indomitable Lions coach Denis Lavagne to swallow as his team recovered from a sluggish start to dominate the second half but squander chances.

Democratic Republic of Congo climbed above Cameroon on goal difference into second place behind Libya after a 2-0 win over Togo in Kinshasa despite playing more than half the game a man short because Albert Mutamba was sent off.  Congolese talisman Tresor Mputu scored midway through the opening half and Belgium-based midfielder Dieumerci Mbokani capped his return after a self-imposed 14-month exile by converting a late penalty.

Mali overcame the disadvantage of having to play a 'home' game against Algeria in Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou because of post-coup security concerns by winning 2-1 after falling behind just seven minutes into the first half.  Islam Slimani put the Desert Foxes ahead as they sought to build on a four-goal spanking dished out to Rwanda last weekend, but Mahamodou Ndiaye levelled on the half-hour mark and Modibo Maiga grabbed the winner eight minutes from time.

 Liberia and Angola created few scoring chances during a drab 0-0 draw in Monrovia that benefited Senegal most as they lead Group J by two points after holding Uganda 1-1 in Kampala 24 hours before.

While Nigeria's Eagles engaged Namibia's warriors in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Calabar yesterday, the news of the plane crash in Lagos spread at the stadium and attention of the fans who heard the sad news was divided until the referee blew the final whistle.

And in the post match press conference Keshi prayed for the souls of the reposed and said that "we would like to dedicate this victory to the victims of the crash and we pray that God will grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the loss. It's a sad day in Nigeria and we sympathize with the bereaved."

His team earned a hard 1-0 victory courtesy of Ike Uche's 81st minute strike that the fans celebrated almost to high heavens. It was a difficult match for Nigeria who now tops their group after Kenya and Malawi played scoreless draw on Saturday.

"Nigeria have bigger names in football but they will feel us on the field," Namibia's coach Benhard Kaanjuka told Vanguard before the match.

The Eagles really felt their defensive play as they had about nine players behind the ball most times but were also quick in spreading out when in possession of the ball. Rarely did they harass in Eagles' goal area. The onus fell on Eagles to prove they were a better side.

They needed goals to do that. But they missed many chances, Ike Uche being the key man in the "missing game." He would have ended up the villain if he had not scored. But he did and for that reason was man of the match, his seeming loss of confidence and clumsy play notwithstanding.

He hit the post in the first half but blew chance after chance even once when he dribbled a defender over his head but played the shot into the sky. His misses appeared to have affected his confidence and what followed was a barrage of misses.

Victor Moses was not in the game and John Utaka was equally not doing better. They were left too long on the pitch. They all had to be changed for Ahmed Musa and Kalu Uche, the Enyimba striker. Before then tired Obiora Nwankwo had been replaced by Henry Uche, another Enyimba player.

"The building process is on. We are learning with time and every match," Keshi said as he walked out of the pitch. He admitted that it was a difficult match but hoped that Eagles would continue to improve. Eagles must leave for the match in Malawi thinking about how to improve on their attacking runs and the midfield where there wasn't much creativity.

Gabriel Reuben did well defensively in the midfield but his effort was not complemented by an injured Obiorah, Moses and Utaka. Ejike Uzoenyi enjoyed some dribbling runs but should learn to release ball faster. Set pieces including corner kicks were another area Eagles were found wanting.

"We would do a lot to work on these areas," Keshi said, adding ' the important thing was the three points and we had them."
 

Results of 2014 World Cup Qualifiers

Benin 1 Mali 0
Niger 0 Gabon 0
Angola 1 Uganda 1
Guinea 1 Zimbabwe 1
S/Africa 1 Ethiopia 1
Tunisia 3 Eq Guinea 1
S/Leone 2-1 Cape Verde
Ivory Coast 2-0 Tanzania
Morocco 1-1The Gambia
Ghana 7-0 Lesotho
Zambia 0-2 Sudan
Burkina Faso 0-0 Congo
Kenya 0-0 Malawi
Egypt 2-0 Mozambique
Algeria 4-0 Rwanda
Cameroon 1-0 DR Congo
Senegal 3-1 Liberia
Togo 1 -1 Libya

Spectators hoping to enjoy the London 2012 Olympic Games with a cool brew in hand will have to shell out the equivalent of about $11 for a pint of beer, according to organizers.

London Olympics organizers announced Wednesday they expected to serve 14 million meals during the games, calling it "the largest peace time catering operation in the world."

"We have gone to great lengths to find top quality, tasty food that celebrates the best of Britain," said Paul Deighton, chief executive of organizing committee LOCOG.

"We believe that our prices are more than comparable to those found at other major sporting events, which because of their temporary nature are often more expensive than the high street."

A bottle of water will cost 1.60 pounds ($2.50) and a bottle of Coke will sell for 2.30 pounds ($3.60). A plate of fish and chips will go for 8 pounds ($12.50).

Many were outraged by the prices, and particularly the cost of beer, British newspaper The Telegraph reported.
An 11-ounce bottle of Heineken lager will cost 4.20 pounds or $6.50, which makes the equivalent price of a pint 7.23 pounds or $11. That's more than double the national average price of 3.17 pounds for a pint of beer in the UK, The Telegraph said.

Organizers said food and drink for a family of four should run under 40 pounds ($62).

Following the dwindling fortune of the game of handball in Nigeria, ex-players of the game under the umbrella of Handball Veterans Association of Nigeria have vowed to revive the game and restore Nigeria to its peak position in Africa.

This categorical statement was made by the president of the Association Barr. Mark Jacob, while addressing the media in Abuja.

Mark Jacob who presided over the affairs of Handball Federation of Nigeria between 2005-2009 decried the nonchalant attitude of the current administrator of the game under the leadership of Alhaji Yusuf Dauda, adding that with the wind of change blowing in the sports sector, handball will not be left behind.

“Over the years, the leadership of handball in this country has been left in the hands of people that don’t have passion for the game and instead of them to develop the game; they see it as a meal ticket thereby allowing handball to die a natural death” he said.

The Former National legal Adviser of Peoples Democratic Party further regretted efforts his administration made over the years was not built on by Alhaji Yusuf Dauda administration stating that all the ex-players and coaches of the game in the country have resolved to resuscitate the game that brought them fame and wealth.

On the performance of Nigeria handball team last year, the Kaduna state born sports administrator and former national handball player described it as abysmal saying that all the competitions the country entered for, Nigeria won none and subsequently kept going down in Confederation of African Handball (CAHB) rating.

“Sincerely, we cannot continue this way. We cannot be doing the same thing every time and expect a different result. We have to change and the time for this imminent change is now”

“We could recall that Nigeria did not win any handball championship last year and even few occasions they appear in some competitions this year, their performance was nothing to write home about”

 “The worst experience came in Kaduna where three out of four Nigeria teams that participated in 33rd edition of African Handball Winners Cup could not past the preliminary stage. The safety shooters of Abuja that managed to enter the quarter final lost scandalously to less fancied JSK of Algeria” concluded Mark Jacob who was former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Kaduna State.

As the elections into the sports’ federations draw closer there is no doubt that Handball Federation of Nigeria will be closely monitored taking into consideration the swelling number of interest groups.

Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie failed to qualify for the London Olympics here on Sunday as he could only finish seventh in the 10,000 metres.

The 39-year-old two-time Olympic 10,000m champion - who had already failed to post a qualifying time for the marathon - admitted his hopes had been dashed after his disappointing performance against 12 of his compatriots.

Ethiopia were using this as a qualifier for the Olympics.

"The Games in London, is over for me," he told AFP.

"I ran a good race till the last lap. I felt good but I manifestly didn't have the speed to compete against my rivals.

"That's life. I am not disappointed," added Gebrselassie, whose epic defeat of Kenyan great Paul Tergat at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, his second Olympic title, is one of the great finishes of all time.

Indeed for the ever cheerful Ethiopian great it is to be his last track race.

"The 'spikes', it is finished for me. I am 39. I have failed to qualify for the Olympics. And there is a very strong younger generation in Ethiopia now.

"I tried to qualify for my fifth Olympics. And I don't regret trying to do so.

"I simply came up against stronger rivals on Sunday."

Tariku Bekele and Leleisa Desisa Benti finished first and second respectively - with the former posting the best time in the world this year of 27min 11.70sec - to book their tickets for London.

The third spot is being kept for Bekele's older brother and world record holder Kenenisa, who has been struggling for several months with a calf muscle problem.

Gebrselassie said that he felt he was handing over the baton of Ethiopian track running to a golden generation.

"I am leaving the track in a calm frame of mind because there is a super generation taking over.

"I haven't in any case run on the track since the Beijing Games (2008).

"Ethiopia will be stronger in London.

"I gave all that I had. It is why I am not sad or disappointed. I am always happy to run. These next months, I will devote solely to marathons and half marathons.

"In three years, I envisage a political career. I would like to become a member of parliament."

Gebrselassie, a four-time world 10,000m champion, had come into the race boosted by his victory in the 10km Great Manchester Run in northwest England last week in 27min 39secs

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

POLICE BATON VS ROYAL HOOPERS - LAGOS- 26/05 - 2PM

DODAN WARRIORS VS COMETS - LAGOS - 26/05 - 4PM

ISLANDERS VS CUSTOMS - LAGOS - 27/05 - 2PM

UNION BANK VS ROYAL HOOPERS - LAGOS - 27/05 - 4PM

SAVANNAH CONFERENCE

IMMIGRATION VS BAUCHI NETS - KANO - 26/05 - 4PM

NIGER POTTERS VS DEFENDERS - MINNA - 26/05 - 4PM

KADA STARS VS YELWA HAWKS - KADUNA - 27/05 - 4PM

KANO PILLARS VS TAPGUN ROCKETS - KANO - 27/05 - 4PM

 DUNKS-OFF NEXT THURSDAY

DATELINE: MAY 29 - JUNE 9

PROGRAMME

MAY 29 - ARRIVAL

MAY 30 - TECHNICAL MEETING

MAY 31 - COMPETITION STARTS

JUNE 9 - CLOSING DAY

TEN CLUBS ARE VYING FOR HONOURS WITH DEFENDING CHAMPION FIRST DEEPWATER BASKETBALL CLUB LEADING THE PACK

Flying Eagles' head coach, John Obuh has urged his team to make the most of their chances at the Cape Town International Challenge, which kicks off on Friday.

Nigeria are the defending champions having won the inaugural tournament two years ago.

Obuh led the Flying Eagles to win the 2011 CAF African Youth Championship also in South Africa.

And he has now demanded from the players he picked for the 2012 Cape Town International Challenge to grab the opportunity to be very much a part of the new team he is rebuilding ahead of 2013 Africa Youth Championship qualifiers against Tanzania in July.

“This is the beginning for you all. You must therefore grab this opportunity and hold on to it,” Obuh said.

“The fear of Nigeria is all around you and so you must prove your worth on the pitch and beat any team you are up against to really prove you are the team to beat,” he stressed.

Obuh’s new team is made of a handful of top performers in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) like Enugu Rangers striker, Alhaji Gero, midfielders Uche Agbo, Nzube Anaezemba (both of Enyimba) as well as Kano Pillars ace, Shehu Abdullahi.

Meanwhile, an opening ceremony will be staged on Thursday to specially open the Cape Town International Challenge.

All the eight teams are expected to attend this event.

Matches will be played at the Athlone Stadium as well as the Cape Town Stadium, which was one of the major stadiums for the historic 2010 World Cup.

The final and third-placed matches will be played at the Cape Town Stadium on June 3.

CAF unveiled today the TV figures of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012 that was co-hosted in Gabon – Equatorial Guinea. An estimated record of 6.6 Billion cumulative TV viewers has followed the most prestigious African Sport event with 87072 hours of TV exposure, adding 59965 hours of TV to the figure that was reached in Angola 2010.

“We are quite confident that we will break new records for the coming edition in South Africa next year” CAF Marketing & TV director, Amr Shaheen said.

 SPORTFIVE, International French based marketing company, is the exclusive agency appointed by CAF to commercialize the sports marketing rights of most of the African football events.

The Orange Africa Cup of Nations is Africa's premier national team football competition. The 32-match tournament is organised every even year in January/February.

All is now set for the 2012 edition of Ikoyi Ladies Club Championship, billed to take place on the lush course of Ikoyi Golf club in Lagos.

At least 100 women and 60 men are expected to participate at the event that runs from the 21st to 25th of May 2012.

The championship took off with the caddies’ game played yesterday Monday May 21, 2012, while the men will be next on the course tomorrow Wednesday, May 23.

Lady golfers will then take to the course on Thursday and round off on Friday May 25, 2012.

Lady captain of Ikoyi club 1938 (golf section) Yinka Aruwajoye said this year’s edition has created room for more ladies to take part, as golfers are also expected from Ikeja golf club to partake.

While promising an interesting and fun filled event, Aruwajoye added that lots of goodies will be won as the championship will also produce current champion.

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare gave an indication of what to expect from her at London 2012 Olympics by claiming silver in 100 metres at the IAAF World Challenge meeting on Wednesday.
She ran an impressive 11.21 to finish second behind Carmelita Jeter, who sprinted to victory in 11.11 seconds, while Aleen Bailey of Jamaica finished third in 11.34 seconds.

In the men 100 metres event, American sprinter Justin Gatlin continued his recent resurgence ahead of the London Olympics. The gold medalist from the 2004 Athens Games won in 9.93 seconds ahead of compatriot Michael Rodgers (10.06) and Jamaica's Jacques Harvey (10.16).

Gatlin, the world indoor 60 metre champion who has enjoyed a revival of late after his four-year ban for doping ended in 2010, followed up his success in the Diamond League meeting in Doha on Saturday, where he beat Jamaica's Asafa Powell.

Jeter, who won the world title on the same track last year, was short of her season best of 10.81 but the American still extended her winning streak in finals to 10 races.

Another world champion who enjoyed a happy return to Daegu was Grenada's Kirani James, who won the men's 400 metres.

James finished almost a second ahead of Renny Quow of Trinidad & Tobago to claim victory in his first race of the season.
There was also success for America's world indoor 60 metre hurdles champion Aries Merritt (13.21), who pipped compatriot David Oliver (13.22) to win the men's 110 metres hurdles, while Ethiopia's indoor 800 world champion Mohammed Aman proved too strong over the distance to edge Kenya's Leonard Kirwa Kosencha.

Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson was disqualified in the women's 200 allowing American LaShauntea Moore to claim victory in 22.71, just ahead of her compatriot ChaRonda Williams.

Men's javelin world champion Matthias de Zordo of Germany only managed 79.39 metres in his season opener to finish a disappointing fourth in the event, which was won by Russia's Dmitri Tarabin with an 82.75 effort.

De Zordo will be among those athletes heading to Shanghai for this Saturday's second Diamond League meeting of the year.

The much anticipated “Friends of Rugby” organized 2012 Lagos Rugby Union League program certainly kicked off in grand style on Saturday 12 May, 2012 at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos amidst jubilations by rugby players & fans alike.

Cowrie Rugby Football Club who are the defending champions have given a stain warning to all comers in the Lagos Rugby Union League, that “There is no vacancy in the League title!”

They made this clear to all on Saturday afternoon when they dismissed an earlier scare from new comers Ilorin Rugby Football Club who opened scoring in their star match of the day, but were eventually defeated by 43 points to 14 points in the last match of the day at 4pm to secure 6 maximum points to their credit.

They have also threatened all clubs in the league that they will maintain their 100% unbeaten record which they secured in the last League Season!

According to the spokesperson of the Rugby League popularly called “Mr. Rugby” Ntiense Williams, “We are highly delighted with the successful kick-off of the 2012 “Friends of Rugby” Lagos Rugby Union League program amidst pomp & pageantry at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos on over the weekend”.

Williams continues, “The 2012 Lagos Rugby Union League kicked off with Lagos Rugby Football Club defeating Young Lions Rugby Football Club by 27 points to nil, in the opener of the day, while the Police Rugby Football Club dismissed Gosar Rugby Football Club by 8 points to nil in the second encounter at the same venue.

RUGBY LEAGUE TABLE

At the end of the first league matches, defending champions Cowrie Rugby Football Club & Lagos Rugby Football Club are tied on top of the table with 6 points each, but Cowrie RFC has a superior points deference of 29, while Lagos rugby Football Club has 27 points, Police Rugby FC is in 3rd position with 8 points, while the trio of Gosar, Yong Lions & new comers Ilorin RFC are in 4th, 5th & 6th positions respectively.

·                    TABLE

·                    TEAMS       P      W     D    L   PF   PA   PD    PTS
·                    COWRIE     1       1      -    -    43     14    29      6
·                    LAGOS       1       1      -    -    27       0    27      6  
·                    POLICE      1       1      -    -     08      0    08      5
·                    GOSAR      1       -       -    -      0       8    (-08)   -
·                    Y. LIONS    1       -       -    -      0      27   (-27)    -   
·                    ILORIN       1       -       -    -     14     43   (-29)    -

It was a sad weekend for Nigeria’s representatives at the CAF Confederation cup Heartland FC of Owerri and Warri Wolves FC of Warri as both teams crashed out of the continental competition.

Heartland fell 2-1 to Leopards of Congo, which brought the aggregate to 4-4 after a 3-2 home win in Nigeria. Consequently, the people’s elephant lost on away goals rule.
           
Wolves lost 2-0 to Black Leopards in South Africa and brought the two legged aggregate score line to 3-3 after a 3-1 home win inside the Warri city stadium. But the away goal scored by the South African side gave them the headway to the next stage, sending Wolves packing.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s CAF champions’ league representative Sunshine Stars of Akure gave the country something to cheer as a 1-0 home win over AC Djoliba of Mali saw them through to the group stage of the competition.

Sunshine stars had held Djoliba to a one all draw in the first leg played in Bamako, Mali, where part of the team were trapped in the city following sporadic shooting between rebel group and security forces.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has concluded plans to discover and nurture athlets that will take over from the ageing ones, with the National under 18 Athletic Championship billed to hold in Lagos.

The event that is open to all secondary schools in the country will come up on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th May, 2012 at the Yaba college of Technology in Lagos.

Interested students will have to compete under a club or the state they are located.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, president of the AFN Solomon Ogba said the federation is more concerned about young legs that will replace the old ones who are fast reaching their peak.

“ we decide to organise this event with the support of Pastor D.K Olukoya, to start breeding new and talented athletes who will take over from the present stars we have today”

“We give special thanks to Pastor Olukoya for backing this up, because we went to varoius organisation but only Olukoya responded”

Also speaking, Nigeria Olympian Association president Henry Amike said the championship is a good one that is aimed at discovering the best legs in athletics in the country.

After a 4-0 drubbing of DR Congo in a FIFA U20 W/cup qualifier, coach of Nigeria’s Falconets Edwin Okon has boasted that his team will pull a good result in Kinshasa, when they go for the return leg in DR Congo.

Speaking to www.sportsentertainmentng.com, Okon promised that with the spirit in the camp of the Falconets, the return leg, which will come up in two weeks will not be a problem even though it will be played at away.

“Much of the job has been done here; we will just go there and ensure we are not beaten. And by the special grace of God, Congo will not stop us.”

The Super Falconets of Nigeria thrashed DR Congo 4-0 in Abeokuta last Saturday with two goals coming from captain Gloria Ofoegbu, and one each from Ebere Orji and Francesca Ordega.

Ofoegbu, who played her heart out got the curtain raiser in the first half through a freekick and added the fourth in the second half after a good combination with forward, Desire Oparanpozie. Ordega and Orji both got the second and third respectively in the second half.  

Ofoegbu dedicated one of her goals (the second) to Super Eagles legend, Rashidi Yekini, who passed away on Friday, May 4.

English Barclays Premier League, Arsenal have officially made public when their first-team will make the tour of Nigeria.

The Gunners announced on their official website on Friday that their "first-team squad will travel to Nigeria this summer for a pre-season match in Abuja on Sunday, August 5."

"Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that the first-team squad will travel to Nigeria this summer for a pre-season match in Abuja on Sunday, August 5.

"In what will be the Gunners’ first match on Nigerian soil, Arsene Wenger’s side will play at the 60,000 capacity Abuja National Stadium. Arsenal’s opposition will be confirmed soon and is likely to be a leading African national team," the announcement read on the official website of Arsenal.

"The visit to Nigeria will conclude an exciting pre-season tour schedule for Arsenal, who return to both China and Malaysia in July, following the success of last term’s Asia Tour.

"Further details regarding the match in Nigeria will feature on Arsenal.com as soon as they are confirmed."

The Gunners will start their overseas tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 24 before travelling to China and Hong Kong in same month of July.

Attacking midfielder of Sharks football club of Port Harcourt victor Ezeji has expressed confidence that the club will claim the Nigeria Premier League title this season.

Sharks, whose away victory over ABS FC of Ilorin saw them move to 7th position with 33 points, have won four out of their last five games.

Ezeji, who have won the league with Enyimba and Dolphin hinted further that the club is gradually achieving its aim this season

“We want to be in the top ten at this point in time, and the victory over ABS has placed us on 7th, with this feat at the moment, nothing will stop us from claiming the title because there is unity in the team”

Ezeji said it will be a dream come true if he wins the title with a third club in the NPL as he looks forward to quit football as a career.

After several months of waiting, the Aminu Maigari led Nigeria Football Federation recently appointed Tom Saintfiet as the Technical Director of the national football teams.

What this means is that the 39 year old Belgian will oversee all national football teams in the country, namely the Golden Eaglets, the Flying Eagles, the Under 23 Eagles and the Super Eagles, not forgetting all the national women football teams.
This no doubt is an enormous task as part of his responsibility is to plan and prepare programmes for all the national teams.

Grassroots developmental programme will be prepared by the technical director to ensure that age cheat is eradicated.
With all these responsibilities and many more steering at the face of Saintfiet, the question then is- Can he deliver?
But come to think of it, why did the NFF settle for Saintfiet? Are they stock with choice? Are there no credible Nigerians with more experience who can handle the post of a technical Director? Does Saintfiet know Nigeria football so well more than an indigene?  And the question goes on and on.

But the choice has been made. Tom Saintfiet was born on the 29th day of March 1973 in Mol, Belgium. He has played as a midfielder for KVC Westerlo, KFC Lommel amongst others between 1983 and 1997.
He has managed several national sides like Qatar under 17, and has made mark in Africa with Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.

But some Nigerians are also very much experienced and are technically rich to handle the post of a technical director of Nigerian football.

Tuned Disu is a former national footballer who have coached the national under 20 and the Super Eagles teams during the glory days of Nigerian football. Disu, for the past few years have gone to the grassroots to assist Lagos state develop football talents from the cradle, as he is the technical director of the Lagos Junior League.
Adegboye Onigbinde was a two time coach of the senior national team. He took the Green Eagles to the final of the 1984 nations, where his team lost to Cameroon by 3-1.

Onigbinde also took a team of young players comprising of Bartholomew Ogbeche, Femi Opabunmi and Pius Ikedia amongst others to the 2002 Japan/ Korea world cup, where Nigeria crashed out in the first round.
There are other Nigerians like Paul Hamilton and Kasimawo Laloko amongst others.

Saintfiet knows little or nothing about Nigerian football, let alone developing the game from the grassroots. The only record of Saintfiet’s experience about Nigerian football was in 2011.

Just ten days into his contract as coach of Ethiopia in June 2011, Saintfiet led the team to a 2-2 home draw against Samson Siasia handled Super Eagles in an African nations cup qualifier.

But the NFF was more interested in Saintfiet than all these Nigerians. The Aminu Maigari led board claimed that no Nigerian applied for the job, but Onigbinde confirmed in a phone interview that he formally applied for the job of a technical director.
With all that now being put to rest, it is expected that with the coming of Saintfiet, football in Nigeria will develop to the desired height, as all the national team coaches are also expected to give their full support and cooperation, while we hope that Tom Saintfiet will prove himself as the new ‘Moses’ of Nigerian football.

The Lagos State Football Association Chairman Seyi Akinwunmi has charged the Eko Football women team to remain focused in their build up ahead of the National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012.

The Lagos soccer chief who paid an unscheduled visit to the players and their coaches after they defeated Samd ’Or FC by 2-0 in a friendly at Onikan stadium on Friday, appealed to the girls to aim high and make Lagos State proud at the forthcoming festival.

In his words: “Let me remind you that the State has great hopes of winning a gold medal at the festival with you girls. So, you must give your best to accomplish this dream.

“You are Eko Football ambassadors and you must justify that by putting up good performances on and off the pitch. We are going to take you to orphanages, schools, hospitals and television stations as our ambassadors.”

The LSFA boss also revealed that a team of doctors will visit the camp in no distant future to carry out medical checks and also to ensure that the girls are in good condition of health.

Head coach of Eko men Football Team Olatunde Lawson has announced the burial arrangements of his late mother Madam Theresa Bandele Lawson. She was 85 years.

Coach Lawson informed that Madam Theresa will be laid to rest on Saturday 5th of May at Cathedral Saint Pierre et Paul, Aneho, Togo.

Meanwhile, the Service of Songs will hold at Foursquare Gospel Church, Ketu on Sunday 29th of April, while the Wake Keep and Lying in State is slated for the Lawson Royal Palace, Aneho, Togo.

Madam Theresa survived by the Eko Football team head coach, Tunde Lawson, Mr. Marshall Lawson, Miss Aimee Nadu Lawson, Mr. Jackson Lawson, Pastor Mrs. Esther Akpan, Mrs Henrietta Wilson-Bahun, Mrs Marcelle Williams and grand children.

The Nigeria Football Federation is still undecided over where would be used as venue for the forth coming world and nations cup qualifier games in June.

The Aminu Maigari led NFF ruled out Kaduna, which was earlier scheduled to host the Eagles following recent bomb blast by the dreaded Boko Haram.

Consequently, the NFF technical committee, led by its chairman Chris Green embarked on an inspection tour to the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, the UJ Esuene stadium in Calabar and the Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri.

But days after the completion of the inspection tour, the NFF who was expected to name a new venue Wednesday could not conclude, as report says they are waiting for confirmation in getting financial assistance from any of the state governors before announcing the state as the host.

Feelers coming from the Glass House say the NFF will settle for either Ibadan or Owerri, as Calabar will be used as a training camp for the John Obuh tutored Flying Eagles as they intensify preparation for the African under 20 Championship qualifiers.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will engage Namibia in a 2014 world cup qualifier, while Rwanda will be the visitors for the 2013 nations cup qualifier, both games to be played in Nigeria in June.

Former national boxing coach Obisia Nwakpa has said he is not expecting any better result from Nigerian athletes going to the London 2012 Olympics in July. Speaking to Sportsentertainmentng.com, Obisia who is a former Nigerian boxer expressed disappointment over late preparation programmes being put in place by the various sports federations.

“Our administrators are the ones killing our sports. Every country has at least 4 years to prepare for the Olympics but Nigeria started their preparation just six months to the Games.”
He further queried that how can the best be gotten from the athletes when they are not well blended as a team.

“How can they (the athletes) compete against the likes of Great Britain, America, Greece and even South Africa? These countries have been preparing for the past four years, while we (Nigeria) started preparation only six months to the Olympics. This is not good for our sports”

Athletes that will represent Nigeria in athletics and already in Atlanta, USA are Peter Emelieze, Obinna Metu, Stanley Azie, Benjamin Adukwu, Etim Margret, Tobi Abiola, Bukola Agbogunloko, Saul Weigopia and Goddey James.

Three-time Nigerian Professional Golfers Association’s Order of Merit leader, Oche Andrew Odoh would be the country’s sole entry at this weekend’s Zimbabwe Golf Open in Harare.

Odoh who is presently ranked fourth on the latest PGA OOM left Nigeria on Sunday April 15 via South Africa and believes his game is primed for international exposure.

The Zimbabwe Open is a Sunshine Tour Schedule with ZAR1, 500, 000 in total prize purse which he hopes can re-launch him to the Africa’s elite professional circuit.

“I have confidence in my game these days and that is why I am taking this step. I have not felt like this with my game in a long time. I need to put the fitness and the sharpness in my game to some bigger test” he said.

Odoh will be heading to Botswana after his Zimbabwe game this weekend from where he will touch down in Yaoundé for the 3rd Cameroon Golf International Open which Nigerian players have dominated since inception.

The Cameroon Open tees-off on May 9, 2012 at the Yaoundé Golf Course where top professionals from West, East and Central Africa will battle for over 30, 000 Euros total purse.