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JUST IN: Nigeria Soar Into AFCON Semi-finals, Beat Angola 1-0

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Ademola Lookman scored his third goal in two games as Nigeria advanced to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Angola in the last eight.

Lookman again stole the limelight from Victor Osimhen by following his brace in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in the last 16 by breaking the deadlock four minutes before half-time at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.

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The Super Eagles then saw the game out before a crowd of 18,757 in Abidjan, with Osimhen finding the net only for his effort to be disallowed after the VAR ruled him to be offside.

The Napoli superstar, Africa’s reigning footballer of the year, remains stuck on just one goal at this AFCON, but Nigeria’s success has been built around an impressive defence that has now kept four consecutive clean sheets.

READ ALSO: AFCON 2023: Lookman’s Brace Sends Nigeria Into Q/Finals

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The three-time continental champions advance to a last-four tie next Wednesday against Cape Verde or South Africa in the central Ivorian city of Bouake — those sides meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Angola, meanwhile, go home but this Cup of Nations will be remembered as a success for the Black Antelopes, after they won a knockout tie at the tournament for the first time in their history.

Africa’s 28th-ranked side battled bravely here but could not follow up their victory over Namibia in the last round.

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In fact, Jose Peseiro’s Nigeria side struggled to reach the same heights as against Cameroon six days earlier, undoubtedly affected by the heat and humidity which was even more energy-sapping than at previous points in the competition.

READ ALSO: Why Nigerian Referees Are Not Officiating At AFCON — CAF

Angola almost took the lead inside four minutes, as a corner from their right was helped on to Mabululu, whose attempt at the near-post was kept out by Stanley Nwabili, the Nigerian goalkeeper who had passed a fitness test to play.

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Osimhen tried his luck twice from headers but it was Lookman, the Atalanta forward and former England Under-21 international, who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.

Moses Simon collected a pass on the left, accelerated away from Kialonda Gaspar and drove into the area before cutting the ball back for Lookman to finish emphatically.

Nigeria continued to create chances after the break, but Angola did pass up a glorious opportunity to draw level just before the hour mark.

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READ ALSO: AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast To ‘Loan’ Coach Until End Of Tournament

AEK Athens striker Zini, on as a half-time substitute, was sent through on goal and his effort beat Nwabili, only to rebound back off the far post.

It was a major let-off for Nigeria, who then thought they had killed the game off when Osimhen rose to head home a Lookman free-kick with quarter of an hour left, the ball going in despite the Angolan goalkeeper getting a touch.

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However, the effort was disallowed to the frustration of Osimhen, who carried on until the final moments despite taking a succession of knocks and being carried to the side of the pitch on a stretcher at one point.

AFP

 

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Edo Sports Commission Liaises With Education Ministry To Support President Unity Cup, Other

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Edo State Sports Commission has expressed readiness to liaise with the state Ministry Education in giving the necessary backing to this year’s President Unity Cup and Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.

Executive Chairman of the commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, expressed the commission’s readiness on Wednesday when he played host to national leadership of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), led by its National Secretary, Mr. Patrick Okpavuerhe.

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He expressed the commission’s readiness after the YSFON National Secretary requested Edo State to host this year’s President Unity Cup, scheduled for September 25 to October 1, 2025, or alternatively, the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.

Represented by Executive Director representing Edo Central at the commission, Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe, Enabulele assured the YSFON members of the commission’s readiness to collaborate.

READ ALSO:Edo Sports Commission Chairman Felicitates Tenebe On Birthday

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The Commission will review past correspondences and liaise with the Ministry of Education to support these tournaments.

“Edo remains committed to youth and grassroots sports development,” Ikuenobe said.

Earlier, Okpavuerhe commended Hon. Enabulele for his remarkable strides in youth sports development, particularly Edo’s impressive record in grassroots football.

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According to him, the decision of Edo to host any of the tournaments “was taken during our last Central Working Committee meeting in recognition of Edo’s outstanding contributions to grassroots sports.”

READ ALSO:Edo Sports Commission Boss Celebrates Okpehbolo On Birthday

He explained that the President Unity Cup, first held in 1982 after former President Shehu Shagari donated the trophy, has become a platform to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s independence through sports, fostering national unity.

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Founded in 1965, YSFON also highlighted its successful organisation of the Under-14 Boys and Under-17 Girls Chief of Naval Staff Tournament, which has been held since 1999 but never hosted in Edo State.

We are requesting Edo’s support in providing logistics upon approval. Our plan is to host the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament in Benin City, using the President Unity Cup as a test run,” Okpavuerhe added.

READ ALSO:NSF: Aim For Top Honours, Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges Coaches, Others

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Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullah, YSFON’s National Welfare Officer and Acting National Organising Secretary, also praised Edo’s strong showing at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, describing the state as “one of Nigeria’s foremost promoters of grassroots sports development.”

Others present at the meeting included Mr. Kali Gwegwe (Vice President, YSFON South-South Zone), Mr. Osagiede Osamudiamen (Chairman, Edo State YSFON), Mr. Harrison Iyonmana (Secretary, Edo State YSFON), and Mr. Benmore Omoregieva (Welfare Officer, Edo State YSFON).

 

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Edo Cricket Association Presents Indoor Facility Designs To Sports Commission Boss

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The Edo State Cricket Association on Wednesday formally presented the proposed structural and mechanical designs for an Indoor Cricket Facility in Edo State to the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele.

The presentation marks a significant step in advancing cricket infrastructure in the state, aligning with Edo’s broader vision of strengthening grassroots sports development.

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READ ALSO:Enabulele Applauds Team Edo Deaf Athletes For Performance At W’Africa Championship

Those present at the presentation include: Theophilus A. Ibodeme (High Performance Coach and Manager), Osasu Agbonwanegbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President/Chairman, Nigerian Cricket Federation), Esosa Aghohowa (Technical Assistant/Coach) and Afari Abdulhamid (Coach/Field Officer).

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EPL: Newcastle Cancels 103 Season Tickets Over Resale Breach

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Newcastle United have cancelled more than 100 season tickets and issued an apology to fans after uncovering a long-standing ticketing oversight involving unauthorised resales.

The club revealed that seats originally sold to tour organisers nearly a decade ago had continued to be used without detection until a recent internal investigation.

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According to BBC Sports on Tuesday, the issue came to light after it was discovered that a school located almost 200 miles away had obtained tickets for Thursday’s high-demand Champions League fixture against Barcelona — a match that saw over 110,000 supporters join an online queue for the limited number of available seats.

The club explained that when the new owners took over four years ago, they ended agreements with third parties that allowed them to sell tickets.

READ ALSO:Isak Breaks Silence, Insists On Leaving Newcastle; Club Disagree

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That included the deal agreed a decade ago with a small group of tour organisers “for the benefit of school groups” – but the club did not realise they were still selling tickets because there was no formal deal with the organisers.

At a time when we are doing our utmost to protect legitimate access for Newcastle United fans, we want to be fully transparent and apologise for this oversight,” the club said.

Forty-five tickets for the Barcelona match were bought by the High School of Dundee in the same month that 110,000 fans had been in an online queue for the remaining seats for the highly anticipated fixture.

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A spokesman for the school said they purchased them in good faith, after being “approached” by a provider, but the tickets were subsequently cancelled by the club.

READ ALSO:Transfer: Newcastle Drops Isak For Pre-season Friendly Against Arsenal

Newcastle have now terminated a total of 103 season tickets in recent days for breaching terms and conditions.

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The club says the latest situation does not relate to individual supporters re-selling their tickets for St James’ in “this instance”.

The tour organisers bought the season tickets in the 2015-16 campaign.

United stressed that the continued use and unauthorised resale of season tickets at a “higher package price” was not discovered because there was “no formal contract in place for the tour groups”.

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“Upon being made aware of this issue, the club took immediate action,” a statement read.

“The club have not received any funds above the face value price of these season tickets and have immediately returned the seats for sale to supporters who have entered the official ballot for upcoming fixtures.”

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The Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust previously “welcomed” the club “taking visible action to deter and penalise those who may be profiteering from other fans”.

Along with the rise in ticket prices, according to our annual survey, one of the biggest concerns for Newcastle fans is reduced ticket availability due, not only to high demand, but the selling of tickets through third-party sites or other unauthorised means,” it added last week.

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