Flamingoes Battle Kenya In Abeokuta

The U-17 Women National Team, also known as Flamingoes, will host
their Kenyan counterparts for the second leg of their FIFA U-17
Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale
(MKO) Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

Led by Head Coach Peter Dedevbo, the Flamingoes arrived in the Rock
City on Friday and will have a ful week to train on the turf of the
MKO Abiola Stadium before Saturday’s qualifying match against the
Kenyans.

“We are happy to have won the first leg by 2-0, but we have pushed
that to the back of our minds as we prepare for the return leg match”,
said Coach Dedevbo, who led the Class of 2010 to the quarter finals in
Trinidad and Tobago.

He said further: “We have settled down well in Abeokuta and have
everything to fully concentrate on our training programme. The NFF
President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has also charged us to ensure that we
go all out against the Kenyans on Saturday”.

Patience Okaeme scored one goal in each half to lift the Flamingoes to
victory at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi on Saturday last week.
Victory on aggregate will reward the Nigerian girls with a final round
clsh with either Botswana or Zambia in March.

Nigeria Premier League Enters Day 2.

Despite the court injunction brought by Sam Sam Jaja, to the federal high court in Abuja, that declared the Nigeria football Federation and Nigeria Premier league board invalid, actions is expected to continue in match-day 2 games billed for this weekend, 21st and 22nd of January 2012 with tantalizing fixtures.

FIFA Referees To Handle NPL ‘Star Matches’

When the Nigeria Premier League season kicks off on Saturday, Only FIFA-badged referees will be listed to handle those games designated as ‘star matches.

Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman has revealed.

Speaking at the badging of Nigerian FIFA referees for the Year 2012 in Abuja on Wednesday, Suleyman said this is with a view to exposing the referees in order for world football-governing body, FIFA and continental body, CAF to appreciate their quality and give them more important assignments.

A total of 27 Nigerian referees received FIFA badges in various categories at the event that took place at the National Institute for Sports, inside the National Stadium, Abuja.

Also speaking at the occasion, which began with a minute’s silence in honour of FIFA referee Auwalu Barau who died exactly a month earlier, NFF President Aminu Maigari challenged them to strive harder in their assignments in order to be accorded bigger duties by FIFA.

BREAKDOWN OF 27 FIFA-BADGED REFS:

FIFA MEN REFEREES: Solomon Wokoma, Bunmi Ogunkolade, Ago Abubakar, Amao Joshua Opeyemi, Henry Ogunyamodi, Benjamin Odey

FIFA MEN ASSISTANT REFEREES: Peter Edibe, Sani Zubair, Robert Aundugh, Chukwudi Onumajuru, Abel Baba, Tunde Abidoye

FIFA WOMEN REFEREES: Felicia Okwugba, Folusho Ajayi, Uloma Nwogu

FIFA WOMEN ASSISTANT REFEREES: Grace Agudosi, Stella Eloji, Bosede Momoh, Agatha Iyorhe

FIFA BEACH SOCCER REFEREES: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, Suleiman Jimeta, Mike Ushie, Sani Mohammed

FIFA FUTSAL REFEREES: Mark Agbo, Saheed Ayeni, Ibrahim Umar, Paul Umuago

Comoequa Debuts in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon

 The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and adidas has unveilled a newly designed official match ball for the 2012 African cup of nations.

The Comoequa

Christened the adidas ‘Comoequa’, the Official Match Ball for the 2012 Orange African Cup of Nations takes its inspiration from the Como River which runs through both host nations - Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and the Equator which runs throughout Africa and units both host nations.   

The adidas Comoequa features a bright yellow base colour inspired by the vibrancy of African culture, and links to the flags of both tournament hosts – Gabon and Equatorial Guinea through colour markings on the central triangular panels. The adidas Comoequa, shares the same construction as the Tango 12, the Official Match Ball for the UEFA Euro 2012™, and is the third ball adidas has produced for the tournament, having started as the Official Supplier of the African Cup of Nations in 2008.

Complementing the design, the adidas Comoequa features a series of triangular panels that are thermally bonded together to ensure a true, stable flight path. Covering each panel of the ball is a grip texture which supports boot to ball contact and enhances ball control. Beneath the outer surface of the ball lies a woven carcass and a new bladder for increased air retention and reduced water uptake.

Etim Advocates Scouting System for Local League

Former nigerian international Etim Esim has advocated for the creation of a scouting system involving ex-internationals to aid the discovery of new talents for the super eagles.

Nigerian Ex-International, Etim Esin

Speaking in an interview with SWB, etim revealed that current Super Eagles coach, stephen Okechukwu Keshi should get the services of ex-internationals in scouting for raw talents in the Nigerian premier league.

He added that the new system will help the coach in inventing a new look super eagles where merit and commitment will be the order of the day.