By Our Correspondent

Two promising youngsters from Kano Pillars FC, Abdulmajid Aminu and Ibrahim Sani Halliru, have been called up to the Nigeria U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, as preparations ramp up for the WAFU B U-20 playoffs. The tournament, which will be held from October 17th to 31st, 2024, in Lome, Togo, serves as a qualifier for the 2025 AFCON U-20.

Both Aminu and Halliru have risen through the ranks of the Kano Pillars youth academy, showing their talents in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season under the tutelage of Technical Adviser Usman Abdallah. Their call-up to the Flying Eagles is seen as a testament to their rapid development and impressive performances on the pitch.

Abdulmajid Aminu: The Rising Center Forward
Abdulmajid Aminu, a dynamic center forward, has been drawing attention for his goal-scoring prowess and ability to hold up play. Aminu has often cited former France international Karim Benzema as his football inspiration, a reflection of his technical ability and composure in front of goal. He also mirrors Kano Pillars’ legendary striker Gambo Mohammed in his movement and work ethic.

Aminu’s performances this season have been nothing short of impressive. He caught the eye in Kano Pillars’ opening match of the NPFL against Ikorodu City, where he made significant contributions. His potential was further highlighted in the club’s Match Day 3 fixture against Remo Stars, where he came on as a second-half substitute and provided much-needed energy and creativity in attack.

Ibrahim Sani Halliru: A Midfield Maestro in the Making
Ibrahim Sani Halliru, known for his creativity and intelligence in the attacking midfield role, is another standout from the Pillars’ youth system. Often likened to NPFL legend Rabiu Ali for his ability to control the tempo of the game and deliver precision passes, Halliru is also capable of playing on the left wing, a position where his agility and technical skill shine.

Like Aminu, Halliru has featured in crucial NPFL fixtures this season, including the games against Ikorodu City and Remo Stars. His versatility, combined with his sharp football IQ, has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in Nigerian football.

Flying Eagles’ Challenge Ahead
The Flying Eagles, under head coach Ladan Bosso, will face stiff competition in Group B of the WAFU B U-20 playoffs. The group includes tournament hosts Togo, regional powerhouses Ghana, and the unpredictable trio of Niger, Benin Republic, and Nigeria. With only a select number of teams qualifying for the 2025 AFCON U-20, the tournament promises to be a fierce contest.

The inclusion of Aminu and Halliru in the national team setup will not only bolster the Flying Eagles’ squad but also provide invaluable experience for the young talents as they represent Nigeria on the continental stage.

With the tournament fast approaching, all eyes will be on these two Kano Pillars prodigies as they look to make their mark and help guide the Flying Eagles to qualification for the 2025 AFCON U-20.

By Our Correspondent

Planned works at the proposed Games Village where athletes will be Housed for the Maiden Inter-Secondary Athletics Championship is almost completed and awaiting commissioning.

Recall that the Inter-Secondary competition begins on October, 18th to 24th inside mainbowl of Gombe Pantami Stadium.

The Chairman AthIetics Association of Gombe State Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe made this known after chairing a meeting with the MOC members and Sub-Committees in Gombe recently.

Gara-Gombe who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Green White Green (GWG) Sports Center Ltd, the sponsor of the project expressed excitement for work done at the Games Village.
He believes that AthIetes will find their accommodation at the games village very comfortable for relaxation and engender better performance.

Hon. Gombe who also received briefings from various committees thanked them for a job well done, urging them to expedite action on other projects for quick completion, according to him, the project already had cost millions of Naira.

History is in the making, this is the first time in Gombe State an individual is taking up a project from the scratch for the benefit of young talented AthIetes.
Gombe reiterated the benefit that accrued to Gombe as a State when he sponsored Primary schools AthIetics Championships in Gombe where AthIetes that represented Gombe State at the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba were drawn from.

Apparently happy for the achievement, the sports entrepreneur insisted that government should encourage private corporate bodies investments in sports through recognition for their effort.

On the importance of the AthIetics Championships, former Gombe United football club Chairman, maintained that, young talented athletes would be discovered, sports Awareness will grow while sports infrastructures would be developed, etc.
He informed that the passion for sports and talents discovery is what motivated him to embark on the project of sports sponsorship

By Our Correspondent

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that its negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia to lead the Super Eagles have collapsed due to insurmountable tax-related issues.

Despite earlier reports suggesting that a deal was close, the agreement fell apart over the last three days, with German tax regulations proving to be a major obstacle. NFF President Musa Gusau explained that the federation could not accommodate the high tax demands imposed by German authorities on Labbadia’s salary.

“We’ve been trying to navigate the tax situation for the past three days,” Gusau stated. “Unfortunately, the NFF could not agree to cover the additional tax burden on his salary.”

Gusau noted that the tax implications were not initially part of the discussions, as both parties had agreed on all other terms of the contract. However, once the tax issue arose, Labbadia insisted that the NFF should cover the full tax amount, a demand the federation found untenable.

“Labbadia had accepted all conditions before the tax matter arose. We did our best to be flexible, but he insisted that the NFF pay the full tax amount, which we simply couldn’t do,” Gusau added.

In response to the breakdown in talks, the NFF has appointed its Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, as the interim coach of the Super Eagles. Eguavoen, who is stepping into the role for the fourth time, will lead the team in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.

Eguavoen’s first test will be against the Benin Republic in Uyo on September 7, followed by a match against Rwanda in Kigali on September 10. The NFF expressed confidence in Eguavoen’s ability to guide the team through this transitional period until a permanent coach is appointed.

This latest setback is a blow to the NFF’s plans, but the federation remains committed to finding a long-term solution for the Super Eagles’ coaching position.