Nigeria U21 team secures Beach Volleyball semifinals

 

Nigeria U21 teams have qualified for the semifinals of the ongoing Zone 3 U21 Beach Volleyball Championship in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The duo of Emenike Ezike and Emmanuel Udah (Nigeria boys), schooled Benin Republic 2-0 (21-4, 21-6) in their first match before taking Niger Republic to the cleaners 2-0 (21-11, 21-19) in their second match on Friday.

The Nigeria girls team, Happy Wushiland and Esther Mbah did not waste time to dispatch Benin Republic 2-0 (21-10, 21-9) in their first match and won their second match convincingly against Ghana 2-0 (21-14, 21-8).

The coach of Nigeria U21 beach volleyball team, John Iwerima expressed satisfaction over the performances of the team at the championship.

Iwerima said the players exhibited a high level of technicalities in each of their matches.

He said, “I am happy over the performances of each of the players; they are hungry for wins and have shown to the world that they want to win the championship.

“If you look at the matches, you will see that players did not give their opponent chances to express themselves. The players showed a high level of technicality in their two matches. I strongly believe that if these players are given more playing time together, we will have a formidable beach volleyball junior team.”

Speaking from Cotonou, the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod praised the team for making Nigeria proud in the group stages.

The Secretary General of Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 3 said, “I watched the team play and I must confess that they have shown much promise. We are not going to put pressure on the team and the coaches; I believe that they will emerge victorious.”

The Nigeria boys and girls team will face Liberia in their last group stage matches on Saturday.

36 Lions edge past Djeffa in Cotonou

A gallant 36 Lion boys earned a 1-0 win over Beninoise premiership side Djeffa FC  in their fourth outing of the 2021 Benin Republic Tour on Tuesday morning.

36 Lion Fc made a bright start to the game, putting their opponents under immense pressure in the first 30 minute of the match.

After 35 minutes, both sides adopted a cautious approach to end the first half, the two teams created several scoring opportunities but staunch defenders from either side refuse to bulge, and first half ended goalless.

The second stanza of the game commenced with similar tempo like the first stanza, but the Lions were more crafty and attacking minded.

Lions enjoyed free flow attacking runs as usual from the duo of Azeez Oseni and Moses Usor.

The Lions captain Azeez Oseni registered his goal at 62nd minute via spot kick (penalty), after two defenders  sandwiched him in the box. 

It was however a topsy-turvy game in the last fifteen minute for both teams, as the centre referee sound­ed the final whistle to end the game 1-0 at regulation time.

Speaking immediately after the victory, 36 Lion gaffer Akinrele Francis shower praise on his players. "Djeffa FC are a good side and for us to beat them, I told my players before the match to raise their game beyond 100% which they perfect well. 

We have a good team and I'm confident of my players that we can achieve better things in this training tour," he said.

Abidoye Babatunde Blackcoin

36 Lion Media officer 

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AS Cotonou hold 36 Lion in warm up

36 Lion were held to a 1-1 draw by AS Cotonou in the tour of Benin Republic as the highly-anticipated game with AS Cotonou ended in a stalemate on Wednesday morning.

The two clubs based locked horns at Stade René Pleven d'Akpakpa aiming for a win in the friendly.

Following a bright start from both sides in the first half, fans were treated to exciting football as 36 Lion and AS Cotonou opened up play and went on successive attacks.

The roaring Lions drew the curtain raiser on the stroke of halftime through Joe Oloko. The forward latched on a delicious pass from Azeez Oseni to score.

With 36 Lion led by Nigeria youth international Oseni resuming the second half to give it their all, they should have doubled the lead. 

AS Cotonou grabbed the equalizer in the 79th minute via penalty.

The determined Lions were unable to find a winner thereafter which left Oseni and his team-mates disappointed.

“I think we deserved more, but you have to show more also on the pitch,“ the attacking midfielder told the Media post-match.

Speaking about his form so far, he added: “I think I’m good, I’m good. The team, we all good. Training well, we arrived here very focused as always and like I said I always give my best on the pitch and give my heart to help my team-mates. So we need to keep it up, we keep improving and I wanted to win today – that’s why I’m disappointed with the result.”

36 Lion to open training tour with fierce battle against AS Cotonou

36 Lion late Tuesday trained at the Stade René Pleven d'Akpakpa ahead of the their opening game against AS Cotonou.

The Lions who landed in Cotonou on Tuesday from their training camp in Lagos, were very confident during the shape up activities, ahead of the tie which is their first game of the Tour Of Benin Republic.

"We had a feel of the pitch and trained very well. The boys are ready to impress here in Cotonou," CEO of 36 Lion Liameed Gafar told the Media.

"Our first game of the tour is against AS Cotonou on Wednesday morning, we are looking forward to it," he added.

36 Lion will also face five other Benin Republic Premier League teams at the training tour.

The Lions will cover about 400 Kilometers inside Benin Republic, from Port Novo to Cotonou, from Bohicon to Ouidah and Abomey with determination to conquer and win it all.

CAF lauds Nigeria Sports Minister's initiative of Principal Cup

 

The Confederation of African Football shower alot of praise on the Minister of Youth and Sports Nigeria, Mr. Sunday Dare over the rebirth of Principal Cup in Nigeria. In the CAF Pan African Schools Football Championships meeting held at Benin Republic where the Media Aide to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Kola Daniel represented the Minister, after the speech of Mr. Kola Daniel giving a recap of the Principal Cup, how schools participated in the last edition and the present edition coming up this year

The Confederation of African Football Secretary, Mr. Veron was full of praise of the Rebirth of the Principal's Cup in Nigeria, how the Principal Cup in Nigeria can as well bring their representatives towards the Pan African Schools Football Championships. The winner of Principal Cup in  Nigeria will now be representing Nigeria in Pan African Schools Football Championships that was initiated by the CAF President Patrice Motsepe. 

The Essence of Pan African Schools Football Championships is to encourage youth football, to develop the game at the grassroot and that is why Patrice Motsepe brought together Pan African Schools Football Championships.

A meeting that was held and fruitful where countries like Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Togo, and host of others were all in attendance sharing their experiences about school games.