RandaFooty: Everything Nigerian football, home and abroad

Niger Tornadoes striker Samuel Agba will quit bachelorhood when he takes his heartthrob Faith Anastasia to the alter on 30th September 2017 in Kaduna. The 23-year-old has played for Jigawa Golden Stars, Rangers, Wikki Tourists and Niger Tornadoes in a career that has seen him become one of the most sought-after strikers in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has called up 23 players for next week’s all –important 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Uyo. Skipper Mikel John Obi and forward Odion Ighalo (both based in China) and England –based Victor Moses, who bossed the two encounters against Cameroon earlier this month, retained their places, but Portugal –based goalkeeper Dele Alampasu dropped down to the standby sector alongside wing back Tyronne Ebuehi, and South Africa –based Daniel Akpeyi and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi return after injury knocked them out of the sessions against the African champions. The list is essentially the same personnel that decimated the Indomitable Lions, with defenders Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu, William Ekong and Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, and Anthony Nwakaeme also included. Two home –based profe

  First leg matches WOMEN Bayelsa Queens 1-0 Nasarawa Amazons Ibom Angels 1-0 Pelican Stars Rivers Angels 0-0 Edo Queens Abia Angels 1-0 Confluence Queens MEN Niger Tornadoes 2-0 Plateau United Osun United 1-0 Sunshine United FC IfeanyiUbah 3-0 ABS FC Akwa United 7-0 Katsina United Feeders   Second leg matches WOMEN Nasarawa Amazons 1-0 Bayelsa Queens (Aggregate 1-1; 2-4 penalties) Pelican Stars 0-0 Ibom Angels (Aggregate 0-1) Edo Queens 0-0 Rivers Angels (Aggregate 0-0; 0-3 penalties) Confluence Queens 2-2 Abia Angels (Aggregate 2-3) MEN Plateau United 2-2 Niger Tornadoes (Aggregate 2-4) Sunshine United 3-1 Osun United (Aggregate 3-2) ABS FC 0-1 FC IfeanyiUbah (Aggregate 0-4) Akwa United Vs Katsina United Feeders (Wednesday, 27 th  September) AITEO Cup Semi Final Pairings (1 st  Leg) WOMEN Bayelsa Queens Vs Rivers Angels (Nembe) Ibom Angels Vs Abia Angels (Uyo) MEN Niger Tornadoes Vs FC IfeanyiUbah (Lo

The quarter-finals of the Aiteo Cup takes place today (Saturday) across three match centres. Second leg games will determine who goes through to the semi-finals. Nigeria Professional Football League champions Plateau United's double dreams is up in smoke except they can put three clear goals past Niger Tornadoes. ABS of Ilorin have the biggest task of all as they look to overturn a three goal deficit against FC Ifeanyi Ubah-a tall order for coach Makinwa and his wards. Duke Udi has come guns blazing debunking claims he has lost the dressing room at Osun United and this game against NPFL side Sunshine Stars will be an opportunity to put paid to those rumors. They take a advantage to Akure looking to make the Aiteo Cup semi-final for the first time. The fourth game, Akwa United vs Katsina Feeders has been postponed. First leg results FC Ifeanyi Ubah 3-0 ABS FC Ilorin Niger Tornadoes 2-0 Plateau United Osun United 1 Sunshine Stars 0 Akwa U

West African juggernauts Nigeria and Ghana will make the grass suffer more than a little bit when they clash in the final of the sub –regional WAFU Cup of Nations at the Cape Coast  on Sunday  evening. The Black Stars edged Niger Republic in the second semi final  on Thursday  to set up a date with the high –flying Super Eagles, who confined the hosts to a 2-0 defeat in a group phase encounter  on Monday . According to the schedule of the final day of competition released by the West African Football Union  on Friday , the Squirrels of Benin Republic and the Mena of Niger Republic will be at each other’s jugular for the bronze medals as from  2pm  ( 3pm  Nigeria time), with the closing ceremony set to take the centre –stage between  4.35pm and 5pm . The final match that will see two teams with seven African titles between them locking horns, will start at  6pm  Ghana time ( 7pm  Nigeria time) Nigeria’s Eagles, who are using the tournament to prepare for next y

OR NOT.... So last week I promised to pen a piece on my experience during the season finale of the Nigeria Professional Football League at the Rwang Pam Stadium. I was specific about the high-handedness of the security forces at the stadium and how they managed to spoil an otherwise fantastic afternoon that culminated in a first-ever title win for my beloved Plateau United. Before I jump into it let me take a moment to reflect on how the DSS and other security outfits nearly made a mess of things during Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Cameroon in World Cup qualifier on September 1st. I wasn't in Uyo for the game but the stories I heard from my colleagues wasn't one to put sunshine into my life. Not that it was the first time this was happening but it was the first time journalists came out in unison to condemn the unnecessary show of force by our security folks. My main man China Acheru lost his phone, a few journos were molested and some verbally assaulted but th

Like you already know I've been in Jos for a whole week doing a lot of things. Chiefly, the NPFL Final Day clash between Plateau United and Rangers International.  It isn't news anymore that Plateau won their first ever NPFL title and it was a carnival in Jos. The whole town was agog and it felt nice to see my people, who have been polarized by religion come together to celebrate. I also had a chance to meet up with colleagues and network a bit. While others went back to their bases, I was still in town holding consultations and meetings-some personal, some Plateau United related. A lot happened in Jos especially during the season finale but that is a story for another day. In fact, I will do a proper post on how I think the police (and by extension other security outfits) are not your friends. Very inept set of humans. The DSS too need to train their men in the art and science of managing human beings and being courteous. From Uyo to Jos, our lack of orga

Head Coach of the home –based Super Eagles squad, Salisu Yusuf has selected goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye, and 16 other players for this month’s West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations tournament for senior national teams taking place in Ghana. Energetic midfielder Rabiu Ali and forward Kingsley Eduwo, who both scored as the Eagles prevailed 2-0 over Benin Republic in Kano to qualify for next year’s African Nations Championship, are also included alongside defenders Eze Stephen, Chima Akas, Osas Okoro and Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, and midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Samuel Mathias and Afeez Aremu. Akwa United’s Gabriel Okechukwu and Ubong  Friday , Katsina United Destiny Ashadi, Peter Eneji of NPFL leaders Plateau United and Lobi Stars’ prolific striker Anthony Okpotu are the new faces on board. Nigeria will play Sierra Leone in the first round of the tournament (which is a knock –out), before eight teams will emerge for a group phase competiti

Extended highlights of the 1-1 draw between Cameroon an Nigeria in Yaounde in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Video courtesy Kora-Live

For those who didn't watch the game, here are the highlights from the good folks at Kora Live. I can't seem to get over the win though.

I don't know about you but I'm still in dreamland. I'm still reveling in Nigeria's 4-0 spanking of Cameroon on Friday night. The Super Eagles played a beautiful game and were never in danger after Cameroon's initial onslaught. The AFCON champions were taught a football lesson by the Super Eagles who put on a masterclass to outwit, out-power and out-gun the Lions. Everyone put in a decent shift and I'm glad we got the three points which have firmly cemented our place at the top of Group B. Before kick-off, I was a bit apprehensive about the goalkeeping and left back areas but I'm glad both Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Elderson Echiejile stood tall-and were counted. Action. Pic courtesy Pulse TV. My player ratings -Do you agree or disagree

Nigeria looks all but set to book a ticket to Russia 2018 after a brilliant display by the Super Eagles to defeat Cameroon 4-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday. Leading Group B of the Africa zone of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers before the game, Nigeria further cemented a firm grip at the summit with a class performance to see off the African champions. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon bossed the early exchanges but Nigeria was able to sustain the early pressure and then seized control of the game. Odin Ighalo put Nigeria ahead on the half hour mark after fending off Cameroon defender Ngedeu to slot past Fabrice Ondoa. The goal seemed to propel the Eagles as Victor Moses and then Moses Simon both spurned chances before captain Mikel Obi popped up in the Cameroon box to slot home the second from a Moses corner in the 43rd minute. The second half was like the first as the Cameroonians once again looked the better team as they took the game to Nigeria. Two

Couldn't pen a proper Big Match Feature for the game so I decided to go with what the good guys are scorenigeria.com put out. Do enjoy the read. While sure pen something proper after the game.

WOMEN Pelican Stars Vs FC Robo Queens Confluence Queens Vs Sure Babes Bayelsa Queens Feeders Vs Edo Queens Rivers Angels Vs Ben Women FC Sunshine Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens Beautiful Tours Vs Nasarawa Amazons Jokodolu Babes Vs Abia Angels Osun Babes Vs Ibom Angels MEN FC Abuja Vs Niger Tornadoes Akwa Starlets/Doma United Vs Plateau United Ngwa FC Vs Sunshine Stars Osun United Vs El-Kanemi Babes Unicem Rovers Vs ABS FC Akwa United/Yobe Desert Stars Vs Shooting Stars Ekiti United Vs Katsina United Feeders FC IfeanyiUbah Vs Heartland FC *  All matches to be played Wednesday, 13 th  September. In case of a draw in any match, there would be no penalties, but a replay at the home of Team B on Saturday, 16 th  September.