Football - Abia ThinkTank News

Mar

02

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

New Rule: Referees To Award Corner Kicks If Goalkeepers Hold The Ball For Over 8 Seconds

Football, International, News Flash, Sports

New Rule: Referees to Award Corner Kicks If Goalkeepers Hold the Ball for Over 8 Seconds The International Football Board (IFAB), the organization responsible for developing the rules of the game, unanimously approved changes to Rule 12.2 (indirect free kick) this Saturday. Under the new guideline, if a goalkeeper holds onto the ball for more than eight seconds, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team instead of an indirect free kick. Following the 139th Annual General Assembly held in Belfast, the IFAB announced several amendments to the rules of the game, which FIFA will implement at…

Feb

25

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Meet The Fastest Footballers In The World 2025

Football, Sports, World News

Meet The Fastest Footballers in The World 2025 Speed is one of the most exhilarating attributes in football. It can transform defense into attack in seconds, leave defenders struggling to keep up, create unforgettable moments for fans, and even alter the outcome of a sports betting slip in an instant. In 2025, some of the fastest players in history have been lighting up the pitch with their blistering pace. Here’s a look at the top 10 speedsters in the game today and how their rapid acceleration has wreaked havoc on opponents. Micky van de Ven (37.38 km/h) Tottenham’s Dutch sensation…

Feb

24

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

“From Enyimba’s 2003 Glory To Ahudiya Queens’ Legacy: Nigeria’s Next Super Falcons Roots To Rise – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Abia North, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Football, Sports

"From Enyimba’s 2003 Glory to Ahudiyia Queens’ Legacy: Nigeria’s Next Super Falcons 🌟⚽ #RootsToRise" In the heart of southeastern Nigeria, where the hum of ambition mingles with the rhythm of bouncing footballs, Abia State has quietly sculpted itself into a powerhouse of sporting dreams. Here, dusty village fields and sunbaked stadiums have birthed legends, shattered barriers, and forged a legacy that transcends trophies—it’s a story of grit, glory, and the unyielding belief that greatness grows from the ground up. Enyimba FC: Where Continental History Was WrittenWhen Enyimba International FC hoisted the CAF Champions League trophy in October 2003, they didn’t…

Jan

28

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles To Face Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania In Group C (See Full List)

Football, News Flash, Sports

(AFCON 2025): Super Eagles To Face Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania in Group C (Full List) The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C along with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in the forthcoming African Nations Cup (AFCON) scheduled to hold from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco. The 2025 edition of the tournament will be the 35th edition of the competition. The Super Eagles will be looking to win its fourth AFCON title after losing out in the finals against host Ivory Coast in the last edition of the tournament. Group A;MoroccoMaliZambiaComoros Group B;EgyptSouth AfricaAngolaZimbabwe Group CNIGERIATunisiaUgandaTanzania Group…

Jan

08

2025

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Football: NFF Appoints Eric Chelle As New Head Coach Of The Super Eagles

FGN, Football, Sports

NFF Appoints Éric Chelle As New Head Coach Of The Super Eagles The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Mr. Éric Sékou Chelle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men national football team, Super Eagles. At its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, 2nd January 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee had recommended the appointment of former Coach of the senior men national team of Mali as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles. This recommendation was on Tuesday, 7th January endorsed by…

Nov

15

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Super Eagles Qualify For 2025 AFCON

Football, News Flash, Sports

Super Eagles Qualify For 2025 AFCON The Super Eagles have secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with two matches remaining in the qualifiers. With 10 points in the bag, the Super Eagles are guaranteed a top-two finish, following a 1-0 victory for Libya over Rwanda in Kigali, Group D. Next up, the Super Eagles will face Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in Abidjan tonight before returning home to complete their qualifying campaign against Rwanda on Monday. Rwanda, with five points and Libya, now on four, cannot surpass Nigeria with just one matchday left for both teams. The three-time African…

Nov

03

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Peter Obi Host Management Of Ijele Sports Club Led By Barr. Ferdinand Afam Naza At His Onitsha Residence

News Flash, Football, Sports

Yesterday, at my residence in Onitsha I had the pleasure of welcoming the management team of Ijele Sports Club, led by the CEO, Barr. Ferdinand Afam Naza, along with Ezeokoli Blessing Chimezie. Based in the vibrant city of Enugu, Ijele Sports Club is a pioneering multi-sports organisation with a mission to elevate sports in Nigeria using international standards. I learnt that Ijele SC men’s football team is eagerly set to make its debut in the Nigerian National League (NNL) on November 30, 2024. This milestone marks a significant achievement not only for the club but also for Nigerian youths who…

Oct

14

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Ex-Green Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Fregene Is Dead

Football, News Flash, Obituary

Ex-Green Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Fregene Is Dead A former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, is dead. Fregene’s death news was confirmed by ex-international and close friend, Segun Odegbami, on Sunday. Odegbami said the Nigerian football legend died after a protected illness in the presence of his wife, Tina, and two of his children. “A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life support for the past one week, passed on to meet his creator. “He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina,”…

Sep

10

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Eguavoen Gives Reason For Resignation As Super Eagles Coach

Football, News Flash, Sports

Eguavoen Resigns As Super Eagles Coach, Gives Reason Augustine Eguavoen has resigned as the interim coach of the Super Eagles. According to Politics Nigeria, Eguavoen said his mandate was only for two games, which he has now completed The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical director was appointed as interim coach after the federation’s attempts to hire a permanent head coach for the national team were unsuccessful. During his brief tenure, Eguavoen led the Super Eagles in two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda. While the Nigerian senior men’s team defeated Benin Republic 3-0,…

Sep

08

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Colombia 2024: Falconets Flog Venezuela 4-0, Hit Round Of 16 In Style

Football, News Flash, Sports

Colombia 2024: Falconets Flog Venezuela 4-0, Hit Round Of 16 In Style Goals by Amina Bello, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Flourish Sabastine and substitute Joy Igbokwe against Venezuela in Cali on Saturday took two-time silver medallists Nigeria to the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Bello guided home a cut-back by the irrepressible Okwuchukwu for the first goal against the South Americans in the 16th minute, before Okwuchukwu turned goalscorer in the 28th minute when she met a corner kick with a bullet header to make it 2-0 for Nigeria. Okwuchukwu, who scored Nigeria’s only goal in…