Sports
Ranger Int’l, Bayelsa Utd Share Honours In Yenagoa
The reigning NPFL champions, Rangers International FC under coach Fidelis Ilechukwu narrowly missed an opportunity of annexing the maximum points at stake as they were held to a goalless draw by home side, Bayelsa United FC in a match day 23, NPFL 2024/2025 fixture.
The encounter which happened inside a packed, Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, saw the home side under coach, Laddan Bosso searching for early goals with the trio of Simon Daniel, Ifeanyi Ogba, and Yahaya Ibrahim probing for openings that were stoutly denied by the Rangers backline anchored around the quartet of Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Ikenna Stephen, Effimi Nsi, and Kenneth Igboke.
An injury induced substitution at the half-hour mark saw the introduction of Odoh Joel for Effimi Nsi and it turned out to be seamless as the speed star used his pace to a great advantage and pushed back the adventurous home side into their defensive shells as both sides retired to the locker rooms on equal terms.
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At the start of the second stanza, coach Ilechukwu made a double-substitution that saw Daniel Onyia and Williams Wonah take the places of Bashir Usman, and Kingsley Maduforo and it turned out to be an impactful sub as the duo combined well with Godwin Obaje, Isaac Saviour and Hillary Ekawu to pressure the home side who had captain, Gabriel Biriduba and goalkeeper, Elkanah Godgift to thank for containing the onslaught.
With time running out, the home side threw more men upfront to assist Peter Ebimobowei in search of a late goal but got cut out on two well executed counter-attacking football on 90+4 and 90+6 minutes.
First, Daniel Onyia took too much time on the ball after he was set up by Obaje and his effort on goal was cleared on the line by the retrieving backline while two minutes later and deep penetrating pass from Isaac Saviour found an unmarked Obaje whose fine cross could not find any connection to the respite of the home side as the arbiter brought proceedings to an end.
Chief-coach of Rangers, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, who spoke at the post-match media chat, said, “It was a great game from both sides but we had more glaring chances that would have handed us all three points but we are going back happy as the point we got here today is a valuable one. We keep pushing for better results to ensure we end the season on a very positive note.”
It was gathered that Rangers’ will next trade tackles with league leaders, Remo Stars in a match day 24 encounter on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at ‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu with kickoff slated for 3:00 pm.
Tottenham Hotspur will be without star forward Son Heung-min for their crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Wednesday.
The South Korean international has been nursing a foot injury in recent weeks and did not travel with the squad to Germany.
Son also missed Spurs’ 4-2 Premier League defeat at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
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“Sonny didn’t travel in the end, he’s the only one that misses out,” Postecoglou told reporters ahead of Thursday’s clash at the Waldstadion.
“He’s been battling with his foot problem for a few weeks now and managed to play through it. He trained the last few days, he tried to train yesterday and it wasn’t right, so we made the decision to leave him at home to allow him to recuperate.”
Son has been a key figure in Spurs’ European campaign this season, registering three goals and an assist across nine Europa League appearances.
The tie remains finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in London, where Pedro Porro’s equalizer cancelled out Hugo Ekitike’s early goal for Frankfurt.
A win on Thursday would secure a place in the semi-finals.
Postecoglou, whose side has struggled in domestic competition and sits 15th in the Premier League, dismissed concerns over mounting pressure on his position.
“If you don’t think I’m a good coach, that’s not going to change because of what happens tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve got a great opportunity tomorrow, and I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail.”
On the opposite bench, Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoeller expects Spurs to be fully focused on the Europa League, brushing aside suggestions that their poor league form could offer his team an advantage.
“Their latest league setback plays absolutely no role because their only focus is the Europa League,” Toppmoeller said.
Despite Frankfurt sitting third in the Bundesliga, he refused to label his side as favourites. “It doesn’t matter whether any team is the favourite or not.”
Frankfurt will also be without their captain and first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who remains sidelined through injury. Brazilian shot-stopper Kaua Santos is expected to continue in goal.
With the tie poised on a knife-edge, Toppmoeller remained unfazed by the possibility of the match going to penalties — a scenario often discussed when English and German sides meet in European competition.
“I have absolutely no fear of a shootout, because I have total confidence in the boys. And if it comes to penalties, we’ll win on penalties,” he said.
Gabonese football has been thrown into mourning following the death of international striker Aaron Boupendza, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 28.
The player reportedly fell from the 11th floor of a building in China, where he was plying his trade with Zhejiang FC.
The tragic news was confirmed by the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) in an official statement shared on X.
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“The Gabonese international died following a fall from the 11th floor of his building in China, where he was playing for Zhejiang FC,” the statement read.
“Aged 28, Boupendza leaves us with the memory of a great striker who left his mark on the CAN (Africa Cup of Nations) in Cameroon,” it added.
Boupendza, known for his sharp attacking instincts, was a key part of Gabon’s national team at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Panthers reached the knockout stage before being eliminated by Burkina Faso in the round of 16.
In the wake of his death, Fegafoot extended its sympathies, stating: “Fegafoot and the entire Gabonese football family offer their sincere condolences to his biological family.”
Gabon’s president-elect Brice Oligui Nguema also joined in paying tribute to the striker, writing on X: “It is with immense sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese football.”
Meanwhile, local media outlet Gabon 24 reported that an investigation has been opened to determine the exact cause of the incident, noting that “the exact circumstances of this tragedy are still unclear.”
Boupendza was born in Moanda and began his professional journey with French club Bordeaux in 2016, spending much of his early career on loan across France.
His breakthrough came in Turkey with Hatayspor, where he finished as top scorer in the 2020–21 Super Lig season.
The striker’s career saw him lift the Qatar FA Cup with Al Arabi, before further stints with Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia, FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, and Romania’s Rapid Bucharest.
He had only joined Zhejiang FC in January of this year.
The communication materials for the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged the Gateway Games, have been unveiled.
Biztellers reports that the materials include the Games’ logo, theme song, and mascot.
The three were unveiled at a colourful ceremony at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta. The Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele stood in for the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The logo is mainly in Ogun State theme colours of lemon green and yellow. The unveiling of the logo was immediately followed by that of the Theme Song of the Festival.
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It is titled ‘E’kaabo’ a Yoruba word for ‘Welcome’ as Ogun State prepares to welcome thousands of athletes, officials, tourists and VIPs when the 22nd National Sports Festival comes alive on May 16. The Theme Song was composed by Dr Bayo Adepetun.
The jam-packed hall roared in excitement when the festival’s mascot was eventually unveiled.
Named ‘Omo Ogun’, the animated version strolled on the stage and saluted the audience before getting down the stage to greet the dignitaries.
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