Nigerian Falcons to begin 7th World Cup campaign

All eyes will be on Super Falcons as they feature in the seventh FIFA Women’s World Cup starting on June 8 in Canada.

The Falcons are the reigning African champions and the most successful women football team on the continent. The most recent win was at the African Women Championship in Namibia in 2014.

The Falcons have never missed any of the FIFA World Cup tournaments since inception in 1991. However, they have never made it to the semi-finals.

The team only succeeded in getting to the quarter-finals at the USA ’99 but crashed out at the group stages in other appearances.

The NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, has made a pledge of $400,000 if the women get to the finals.

This year the team is packed with young players who represented Nigeria at the

2014 FIFA U20 World Cup.

Some Nigerians are optimistic that the Edwin Okon-coached girls will make it out of the group stages. However, there are others who believe the team will not, based on shoddy preparations devoid of international friendly matches.

Some players like the Liverpool Ladies striker, Asisat Oshaola, would be expected to turn out exceptional performances.

Others are Desire Oparanozie, Courtney Dike of Portsmouth ladies, Francisca Ordega of Washington Spirit and a veteran, Perpetua Nkwocha, who will be making her fourth FIFA World Cup appearance.

The Falcons have been grouped with Sweden, Australia and the U.S. in Group D. They will play Sweden, number five in the FIFA world ranking, on June 8. This is Sweden’s seventh appearance at the World Cup. They are coached by Pia Sundhage .

The Falcons will play number 10 in FIFA world ranking, Australia, on June 12. This is Australia’s sixth World Cup appearance.

Nigeria will play the current number one team, USA, on June 16. The USA is making its seventh appearance and along with Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Norway and Sweden, is one of seven countries to appear in all seven editions of the tournament.

It is the only country to have reached semi-finals in all editions of the tournament. It won in 1991 and 1999.

Source:Premium times

Robbers who rob boutiques so they can dress & look like 'Big boys' arrested in Lagos

A 4-man gang of armed robbers who specialize in stealing from boutiques as well as telecoms shops all in a bid to look like 'Big Boys' have been arrested in Lagos.

The gang members, Ozioma Ike, 20, Kenechukwu Anierobi, 23, the gang leader, Obi Gaza and Ugo Nnakue, 26 who are all apprentice at Lagos auto parts market, were apprehended recently in Lagos after Ozioma was arrested on May 18th  in Mushin with a bag containing many cell phones.

 
On interrogation, Ozioma confessed to belonging to a gang of armed robbers. He was taken to the Mushin police station from where he was transferred to the State Anti Roberry Squad Ikeja, where he led the police to where the others were. 

Ozioma's confession 

“I sent Kenechukwu to follow Obi and the other one to break a shop at Mushin and one boutique on Nkenu Street in Ajao Estate. They went with one rod and two iron cutters. I sent them two times. I shared their loot with my roommate. I chose my size of jeans and shoes and started wearing them. I received four phones while my roommate got about five. We break shops to get expensive shoes, clothes which ordinarily we could not afford. But it was just to show off as big boy traders in Ladipo market and its environs. 

In our second operation, I got 12 jeans trousers, two wrist watches and 13 assorted shirts which I kept for personal use because I did not loot to sell. We succeeded in the third operation but one of us, Kenechukwu, was arrested by police. When police arrested him, we ran away but he later brought SARS operatives to arrest us despite the oath we took not to betray any member in a situation like that. For three years, as an apprentice, my master (who is even my brother) refused to settle me. He even found it difficult to give me pocket money to be like my peers; that was why I joined the gang to get fine clothes to wear like my mates. 

We shared our loot in our sponsor’s house. In the first operation, I got 15 jeans trousers and 10 tops (shirts), while in the second, I got 21 jeans trousers and 13 tops. I used my bag to pack some of the loot. We hanged somewhere till 4 ambefore we started working towards a bus stop. We steal to show off as big boy traders in Mushin,” he said

Another member of the gang, Kenechukwu said 

“I hustle in Ladipo market. usually charged N1, 000 for carrying an engine. I joined them to break shop in Mushin where we got 35 phones. We used cutter, chisel and wheel spanner to break shops.”

Police say all of them will soon be charged to court. 

PHOTOS:Patoranking's 25th Birthday Party Pics

Patoranking's 25th birthday party was star studded!

Top celebrities like Tuface Idibia, Wizkid, Sound Sultan, Waje, Iyanya, Kcee, DJ Xclusive, Olu Maintain, Praiz, Rugged Man stormed the event. Others present were Shina Peller, Dr Sid, Tee Billz and several others. 

Happy  birthday Bro..!

Photos : Lagos Today