A former Nigerian midfielder, Felix Owolabi, has called for the overhaul of the Flying Eagles before the 2013 World Cup in Turkey in June. Owolabi spoke on Saturday in Lagos against the backdrop of the team’s inability to defend their African You...
The U-17 national team, Golden Eaglets will on Sunday arrive in Lagos after a three weeks training tour to Doha, Qatar.
This is contained in a statement signed by the team's spokesperson, Morakinyo Abodunrin on Saturday in Abuja.
The team of 30 players and officials, the statement said would depart for Lagos aboard Qatar Airways.
``The Golden Eaglets are due back in Nigeria on Sunday after undergoing a training tour of the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha, Qatar.
``A team of 30 players and officials including the Director, Technical of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Mr Emmanuel Ikpeme will depart for Lagos aboard Qatar Airways and will arrive Lagos about midday,’’ the statement said.
It added that the team would depart for Morroco later in the week to participate in the U-17 African Youth Championship (AYC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Golden Eaglets are preparing for the 2013 edition of the AYC billed for Morocco from April 13 to April 27.
During their stay in Doha, the Golden Eaglets won its two friendly matches by beating Aspire’s Under 18 team 7-1 and recorded a 1-0 win over former Asian Champions, Al Sadd Sports Club complete with former Spanish star, Raul Gonzalez.
The statement quoted the team's head coach, Mr Manu Garba as commending the NFA for the opportunity given to the team.
``The tour of Doha is delightful and successful and now the team is battle-ready for the continental cadet competition.
``We are so grateful to the NFA for organising this training tour for us, coming here has given us the opportunity to prepare well for the forthcoming competition.
``We are focused on our objective to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in UAE as African champions and we want to come back to Aspire to prepare for the World Cup.
The Adamawa Police Command on Saturday confirmed that some unidentified gunmen attacked Midlu Village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa, killing 11 people.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the incident to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.
``So far, the information available to me is that 11 people lost their lives in the village, including two private security men at the deputy governor's house,’’ Ibrahim said.
Meanwhile, an eye witness, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the incident took place in the early hours of Saturday around 2 a.m.
``The attackers went from house-to-house, picking out their victims, who they even called by name.
``They also went to the house of the Deputy Governor, Mr Bala Ngalari in the village where they shot some people and wounded some.
``They killed many people but I don't know exactly how many were killed or injured because I fled the village,’’ he said.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, has assured the nation that the party’s governors forum has come to stay.
Metuh made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday while reacting to Chief Bola Tinubu`s, condemnation of the emergence of the PDP Governors` Forum (PDPGF).
According to him, no amount of attacks by the opposition will deter the governors from working together for the nation`s benefit.
He urged PDP governors to disregard the opposition and to rally round their chairman to initiate programmes that would consolidate PDP's bond with Nigerians.
``Let them continue blowing hot air while we concentrate on delivering quality service to Nigerians. Nigerians are no fools; they know where the protection of their future lies,’’ Metuh said.
Metuh further assured that the PDP would remain committed to building the Nigerian dream.
He stressed that the PDPGF was a significant organ in the realisation of the Nigerian dream and should be encouraged by all people of goodwill
The PDP publicity secretary took exception to the frequent caustic criticisms from the Action ACN.
He noted the ACN leader went beyond the exercise of freedom of expression by commenting on a matter that should not be of any interest to him.
``Since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, the governors have had several forums where they meet to aggregate their common interests.
``We have governors of the ACN always meeting; we also have groups like the Northern Governors Forum, South-East Governors Forum, South-South Governors Forum and so on.
Metuh wondered as to why the PDP Governors Forum should elicit sharp condemnation.
He flayed the tendency to ``poke nose’’ into a party affair unduly.
He urged the ACN leader to limit himself to ACN’s affairs as the party was in ``dire need of redemption’’.
The PDP spokesman noted that the emergence of PDPGF had stirred the opposition to unjustifiably launch severe attacks at the slightest opportunity.
He said that the opposition leaders were afraid of the impact the forum would make under Gov. Godswill Akpabio.
Metuh added that discrediting Akpabio and causing disunity among PDP members were aimed at rubbishing the achievements of the governor.
Mr Farouk Akanbi, NLC Chairman in Kwara, has said that Federal Government’s decision to streamline JAMB and NECO will lead to massive job loss in the country. Akanbi, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Fr...
Many supporters in Ekiti on Friday thronged the venue of formal declaration by Mr Ayo Fayose of his intention to run in next year’s gubernatorial race in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the supporters of Fayose, a one-ti...
The Deputy Governor of Kogi, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said on Friday that rumour mongering and misinterpretation of gestures were the reasons responsible for the border crisis between communities in Kogi and Anambra. Awoniyi stated this in a statement by his P...
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday donated relief materials to displaced persons in Fadan Atakar, Kaura Local Government area of Kaduna following recent attack. The Zonal Director of NEMA, Alhaji Musa Illallah, who presented the ...