By Daily Sports on March 21, 2019

Libya, the name of a country familiar to Nigerians and other black Africans as the land that serves as a passage to where many consider heaven on earth, Europe. Libya, the name of a country that just dismantled Nigeria’s Under 23 team 2-0 in Tunisia’s Stade De Guerdane in the first leg of the double header AFCON under 23 qualifiers.

The Libyan under-23 showed no fear at all on Wednesday evening as they came face to face against a Nigerian team of fine foreign-based players who play their professional football in illustrious clubs. There were Kelechi Nwakali (Arsenal), Samuel Chukwueze (Villareal) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Liverpool) amongst other players in the books of Europe-based clubs on parade at the start for Nigeria’s coach Imama Amakpakabo yet they were turned over quite easily by the dogged and fleet-footed North Africans.

Libya set the tone for a horrible evening for Nigeria with some early heavy pressing which culminated in Zakaria Alharaish opening the scoring in the 7th minute.

The hosts dominated Nigeria's midfield as they showed better coordination against a hurriedly pieced-together Nigerian side.

Things got worse for the Nigerian Olympics Eagles when their goalkeeper Haruna Abubakar was shown a red for handling the ball outside his box following a threatening Libyan move and some naive Nigerian defending.

The North Africans completed the Nigerian misery in the second half with a beautiful goal off a swift counter attacking move.

The Eagles have a mountain to climb now to qualify for the Under-23 Nations Cup to hold in Egypt later this year, a tournament that will serve as final qualifiers for the upcoming Olympics games scheduled to hold in Tokyo in 2020.

Nigeria will need to score 3 or more unreplied goals when both teams meet March 26 at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba in the second leg.

The loss against Libya serves as another reminder that no matter the quality of individual players, a team needs time to blend as a unit in order to play well and win games.

The culture of relying on foreign-based stars who come in a day or two before matches is not at all a reliable one.

There’s maybe a dilemma for the likes of coach Amakpakabo. Rely on players who they think are obviously not good enough for the level of international football? Or wait for top stars who they would hope would require little time to understand their tactical roles within a given formation?

The solution remains to strengthen our local football, starting from the grassroots. An openness towards having a national playing culture and working from the grassroots to instill that culture, making it easier for players to fit in whether they are home or foreign based players would be key.

***

Rolly FC, The New Boys in Town, Look to Conquer Youth Football in Edo State

The grassroots football space in Benin City has been made richer by the presence of one man who is determined to see the growth of a good youth football culture in Edo state. He is Benin City based Bet9ja Super Agent Roland Inonoje.

The young man has been the brain behind what has recently become a yearly tradition in Benin City, the Bet9ja Super Agents cup, a competition that enthralls with the huge entertainment it brings as top grassroots clubs converge in Benin City to fight for prestige and mouth-watering prizes.

Now Inonoje has taken his love for football sponsorship a notch as he has set up a grassroots club known as Rolly FC.

The club, made up of very young and ambitious talents mostly from Ugbowo in the north west of Benin City, has wasted no time in announcing its presence with eye-catching performances.

Late last year, Rolly FC emerged champions of the CMD Cup, a grassroots competition sponsored by the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin. Rolly waded through a tough field of more established grassroots teams Sporting Dreams of Abuja and Rockers of Benin City to win the tournament.

Rolly FC hammered Rockers (who won the last edition of the Bet9ja Super Agents Cup) 5-1 and hit MFM of Benin 5-0 in the final game to lift the trophy.

The club is already deep into preparations for the 2019 Edo State FA Cup as well as the Bet9ha tournament it is hosting.

Mr Inonoje says: “Rolly’s aim is to produce great talents in football and I’m satisfied with how we have grown so far. People will judge how successful we are in the future but we are working hard now to be great as a club and a individuals.”

•Photo shows Rolly FC players celebrating with the UBTH CMD Cup they win late last year.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 21, 2019

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