Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa was the surprise visitor to the camp of Nigeria’s U17 team, Golden Eaglets at ParkView Hotel in Abuja on Wednesday.
Nigeria’s most capped international admonished the players to endeavour to maintain the rich culture of Nigeria football and also make a name for themselves and their families, adding that he regrets not ever playing for the U17 team in his football trajectory.
“You have to work hard. Listen and obey your coaches if you want to succeed at this stage of your football. Sometimes, I regret that I never played for the Golden Eaglets. You have to make use of this opportunity. You are not the best in Nigeria. Many players out there are better than you. The only difference is that you have the opportunity.
“So, you have to work hard. Pray a lot and be determined to make a name for Nigeria and also for yourselves and your families. Do not miss this great opportunity. I was only given five minutes in my debut game for the Super Eagles, but today I am the captain of the team. I never thought I would someday be the captain of the Super Eagles.
“I promise and I assure you that you will be rewarded with N500,000.00 for every goal scored at the U17 AFCON in Algeria next month. Remember to always play as a team. If you are a defender, play with your mates, same for you that is a midfielder. Do not be selfish as a striker.”
Musa, who won his 109th cap for the Super Eagles in the 2023 AFCON 1-0 away win over Guinea Bissau in Bissau on Monday, added: “Promise me that you will make Nigerians proud. Football is the only thing that unites our country. Whether you are a Muslim or a Christian does not matter in football. Winning is what Nigerians are looking forward to.
“So, go to Algeria, conquer and give Nigerians joy,” he said.
AFCON 2023: Super Eagles To Know Opponents In September
By AFFA ACHO, Abuja
Super Eagles will know their opponents in the 2024 African Cup of Nations billed to hold in Cote d’Ivoire in September, just as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fixed the kickoff of the competition on January 13, 2024 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan.
The four-week tournament, pitting Africa’s best 24 nations, will officially conclude on February 11.
Nigeria will cement its ticket to the competition with a draw in its last two remaining games against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.
The 2024 competition will be the 34th edition of the tournament, which Cote d’Ivoire is hosting for the second time, having first hosted the event in 1984.
Already, hosts, Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Burkina Faso and African champions, Senegal, have qualified for the competition.
Yesterday, CAF General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, confirmed that the final draw of the bi-annual event would be held in September this year, adding that date and venue will be confirmed in due course.
With the rapidly growing global interest of CAF competitions recorded in the last few months, the African body is projecting record global television audiences and stadium attendances for next year’s edition of its flagship competition, which also currently holds the record of being Africa’s biggest event.
As evidently seen in recently concluded CAF competitions, the African body has taken giant steps in enhancing the viewing and stadium attendance experience of its competitions with the introduction of cutting-edge broadcast technology as well as digital engagement, resulting in a world-class product that is consumed in real-time globally.
Wimbledon Lifts Ban On Russian & Belarusian Players
Russian and Belarusian players will be able to compete at Wimbledon this summer after the All England Club lifted the ban it imposed last year.
The players will be able to feature this year “subject to competing as neutral athletes” and complying with certain conditions.
They were banned in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus.
Wimbledon starts this year on 3 July at the All England Club (AELTC).
“We continue to condemn totally Russia’s illegal invasion and our wholehearted support remains with the people of Ukraine,” said AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, not taken lightly or without a great deal of consideration for those who will be impacted.”
The decision also covers other British events held in the run up to Wimbledon, most notably the tournaments at Queen’s and Eastbourne.
Conditions players must comply with include:
Agreeing not to support the Russian and/or Belarusian states or their regimes and leaders
Not receiving funding from Russian and/or Belarusian states, including sponsorship from companies operated or controlled by them
Outside of Wimbledon and other British events, players have been able to compete on the game’s professional tours as neutrals – including in the other Grand Slams – whereas Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) were fined for the bans imposed last year.
The AELTC said its decision for the 2023 championship was made after discussion with the UK government, the LTA and international stakeholders.
The AELTC and LTA said they stand by last year’s position but that without changing their stance this year, tennis’ two main professional tours, the men’s ATP and women’s WTA would have cancelled the LTA’s membership.
As a result, Queen’s, Eastbourne and other British grass-court events would not have been staged, damaging British tennis organisations financially.
Russian trio Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Daria Kasatkina – who are all in the top 10 of the men’s and women’s rankings – are among the high-profile names able to play this summer.
Belarusian women’s world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, will also now likely feature.
Players and their support staff will have to sign neutrality declarations in order to compete.
Punishments for breaking the declarations will range from fines to expulsion from the tournament.
Serie A: Osimhen Ruled Out Of Napoli, AC Milan Clash
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of his club’s clash against Milan due to injury.
The 24-year-old Nigerian striker took part in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers during this international break, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau. He did not feature in the second clash with Guinea-Bissau, which took place three days later.
As announced by Napoli, Osimhen returned from international duty complaining of discomfort in his left adductor muscle. A round of medical tests confirmed that he’s suffered a distractive lesion, an injury that could keep him sidelined for a number of weeks.
The Nigerian star will certainly miss the upcoming clash with Milan on April 2 and is also at risk of being ruled out of their two Champions League quarter-final clashes with the Rossoneri, scheduled for April 12 and 18.
Oscar Pistorius Denied Parole Over Murder Of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius, the former Paralympian who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been denied parole in South Africa.
The 36-year-old had been seeking early release 10 years after the Valentine’s Day shooting.
But the prison authorities said he had not served enough time and they would consider the matter again next year.
Ms Steenkamp’s mother, who appeared before the parole board, had opposed any move to free him.
The six-time Paralympic gold medallist has expressed his deep remorse for killing his girlfriend in 2013, but continues to maintain he shot her by mistake, believing she was a robber.
“I don’t believe Oscar is remorseful… or rehabilitated,” June Steenkamp had said before the hearing at Atteridgeville prison, a low-security facility outside the city of Pretoria.
Prisoners become eligible for parole in South Africa after serving half of their sentence.
Correspondents say confusion over the timing of his sentence comes as he was sentenced twice and spent time under house arrest.
Pistorius was initially found guilty of culpable homicide, but on appeal by the prosecutor he was convicted of murder, on the grounds that he must have known his actions – shooting three times through a locked bathroom door in his Pretoria home – would lead to the death of whoever was on the other side.
Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at their home in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day 10 years.
