U-17 World Cup: Eaglets aim to extend record triumphs •Play Mali in all-Africa final

Record four-time champions the Golden Eaglets will battle Mali in the final of the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile. It is the second time two African countries will play in the final of the event, reports IDRIS ADESINA

Four-time champions the Golden Eaglets on Friday morning defeated Mexico 4-2 in the semi-final to set up a final clash with West African rivals Mali, who had earlier defeated Belgium 3-1, at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina Del Mar, on Sunday.

Mexico, who were also beaten by the Eaglets in the final two years ago in the United Arab Emirates on their way to winning the event for a record fourth time, will earlier battle Belgium in the third-place game.

...cont'd at The Punch

Chile 2015: Nigeria, Brazil in battle of little giants

When Brazil and Nigeria square up in one of the quarterfinal matches of the ongoing 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile on Sunday (today), it will be a battle between little giants writes Idris Adesina

Nigeria and Brazil are no strangers to each other in world football. Having met a few times across all levels, except the U-17 level, a match between the two sides will create a sparkle any day in the world of football. The most recent meeting between the two countries was at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup where the Brazilians emerged victorious over the Flying Eagles.

But the most memorable meeting between the two countries – for Nigerians – was at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when the U-23 team defeated the Brazilians in a dramatic fashion on their way to winning the football gold of the Games. For the Brazilians, it was a day to forget as Nigeria had not been given any chance before the match.

...cont'd at The Punch

Rio 2016 qualification: Tough time awaits home-based athletes

Cont'd at The Punch

With months left to the 2016 Olympics, IDRIS ADESINA reports that the entry standards set by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria has made the road to Rio tougher for home-based athletes

On November 10 when the Athletic Federation of Nigeria released the entry standards for the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio, it noted that they were meant to help the federation select the best athletes to represent the country at the Games.

However, the standards, which are higher than the ones set by world athletics body – the International Association of Athletics Federations – in March, have raised more dust than inspire the athletes to work harder. The time limit set for the achievement of the AFN standards is also shorter than that of the IAAF.