Sports
Gidan Dabat Warriors emerge winners of Hon. Komsol’s Peace and Unity Cup tournament

Gidan Dabat Warriors football team in Quapan Local Government Area of Plateau State emerge the winners of the finals football Peace and Unity Cup tournament sponsored by member representing mikang/Qua’anpan/Shendam Federal Constituency, Hon. Komsol Alphonsus Longgap, held at the Shendam Mini Stadium.

The football tournament tagged, Komsol Peace and Unity Cup 2021 which kicked off in November had 40 registered teams that participated in the tournament.

The Grand Finale of the tournament witness between Dabat Warriors of from Qua’anpan LGA and Yelwa Utd of Yelwa from Shendam LGA, where Dabat Warriors won the match against Yelwa Utd by two goals to one.
Plateau State Governor and Chairman Northern Governors Forum, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong who attended the finals of the tournament commended the Federal Lawmaker for organising the football tournament and described it as a good initiative.
He added that game of football is one of the fundamental factors that unites people across divides, saying Plateau State is now the home of football.
Lalong however pledge to ensure the completion of the Shendam Mini Stadium before end of his administration in 2023.
Member representing Shendam/Quaan’Pan/Mikang Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Alphonsus Longgap Komsol said grassroot sports promotes peaceful co-existence among communities and discover talented youths who represents the country across the glob.
Hon. Komsol thanked and appreciated the Governor for finding the event worthy of attendance; stating that his reasons behind the KOMSOL’S unity cup is to emulate from the peace approach which the Governor has brought back on the Plateau.
He explained that the tournament had 40 registered teams which was aimed at uniting youths in the constituency and promote peaceful co-existence among various communities.
Komsol donated to the position Sharon Bus, Second position Golf Station Wagon and third play Tricycle (Keke Napep) among other consolidated prizes, saying the essence of the competition was to promote peace and unity.
“The aim of this tournament is not far fetch as the name implies ‘komsol Unity Cup’ emanating from my conscious desire to reunite and strengthen the bound between our communities that have existed and shared socio-ethnic cultures for almost a century now, that despite our existing challenges and grievances, we will still have reasons to socialise and smile at each other.
“The game of Football has proven unequivocally to achieved unity effortlessly even amongst a multi-ethnic nation like ours, where people young and old sheath their differences, laugh and shake hands in support of either Plateau United, Arsenal, Chelsea or our National team without asking whether it’s Pan, Goemai, Youm, Piapung, Kanoem or Tehl, a Muslim or Christian who is playing”.
He expressed hope that talented youths that have emerged from the football tournament who play to represent the national team across the world.
“Sports can be a valuable tool for national integration, apart from physical well-being, sports can play an important role for a safer, more prosperous and more peaceful society”.
The Lawmaker added that the tournament is meant to remobilize the teaming hard working energetic youths within his constituency to showcase their exceptional talents and apply their energy positively especially in the perilous times.
Komsol called on the youth and Nigerians to be law abiding, respect constituted authority and shun all negative tendencies in order to achieve permanent peace in the country.
He reinstated his commitment and determination to continue to initiate more people oriented projects that would have direct impact on the lives of the people.
The Executive Chairman of Shendam Local Government Hon. Alex Nanmtuan lauded Hon. Komsol for initiating different programmes that had direct bearing on the lives of his constituents and the state at large.
”It is a good thing that this competition is organised. It is going help take our youths away from engaging in criminal activities. It is also an opportunity for them to discover their talents. For many of them, if this kind of opportunity does not present itself, they may not discover their talents.
“What we need from them is to sharpen it so that they can also compete with other world known footballers and also participate in national competitions.”
He also called on the lawmaker not to relent in his efforts in developing his constituency and called on other politicians to emulate him for the overall development of the country.
Executive Secretary, ACRN, Prof. GH Sharubutu, member of Shendam Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Livinus James, First Class Traditional Rulers among other prominent personalities were physically present to grace the occasion.

Sports
AC Milan wins Serie A Upstarts Como 2-1 as Tijani Reijnders struck in 76th minute

Tijjani Reijnders saved AC Milan’s skin in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Serie A upstarts Como, who gave Dele Alli his debut from the bench only for the former England international to be sent off moments later.

Netherlands midfielder Reijnders struck in the 76th minute after a brilliant Tammy Abraham pass as Milan came from behind to placate angry home fans and move up to seventh in Italy’s top flight.

Sergio Conceicao’s side are three points from the European places in large thanks to Reijnders who also slipped in Christian Pulisic to level the scores seven minutes after the break.
The 26-year-old also hit the bar shortly before rolling home his 13th goal of the season in all competitions, and also went close to netting again with five minutes remaining.
His performance saved his teammates from a severe barracking at the end of the match as they were loudly booed and whistled off the pitch at half-time with Milan trailing to Lucas Da Cunha’s 33rd-minute strike.
Regardless supporters continued to demand that owners, US investment firm RedBird, sell the club as they have at all recent matches.
Defeat was harsh on Como who performed well on one of football’s biggest stages and stay safely nestled in 13th place, seven points above the relegation zone.
The evening ended in the worst possible way for the lakeside club when late substitute Dele, who is trying to revive his career after a troubled few years since leaving Tottenham Hotspur, was shown a straight red card in the final minute for a rash challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Coach Cesc Fabregas also saw red for dissent shortly afterwards as Como make the short trip back from Milan with nothing from another creditable display against more illustrious opposition.

Sports
Mbappe double at Villarreal takes Real Madrid top

Kylian Mbappe’s brace helped Real Madrid climb top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday.

Los Blancos moved three points clear of rivals Barcelona, having played two extra games, with the Catalans visiting third place Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a key clash in the Spanish title race.

Madrid were unhappy the game was taking place fewer than 72 hours after their Champions League win on penalties against Atletico on Wednesday.
However despite their complaints they had enough in the tank to beat their opponents, fifth, at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti began with Vinicius Junior on the bench after the draining victory against Atletico in the last 16.
Villarreal started strongly and Thibaut Courtois got down well to his right to tip Ayoze Perez’s shot around the post.
From the resulting corner Villarreal took the lead, with the ball rebounding to Foyth, who smashed home from close range.
Ancelotti’s side hit back quickly, with Mbappe levelling after 17 minutes.
Brahim Diaz’s attempted lob was saved by Diego Conde, but the French striker dispatched the rebound with minimal fuss.
Soon Mbappe had his second, helping to spread the ball to the right and then finishing with aplomb after Lucas Vazquez found him in the middle of the box.
It was Mbappe’s 20th league goal of the season, putting him one behind the top scorer, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

Sports
Morocco 2025: Flamingos defeat Bantwana 2-0, reach final round of qualifying series

Nigeria rallied to a 5-1 aggregate win over South Africa in the penultimate round of the qualifying series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, to reach the final round slated for next month.

Two-goal heroine in the first leg, Harmony Chidi coolly nodded home from an acute angle in the 37th minute, to compound the fixture for the visitors who lost the first leg at home 1-3.

Shakirat Moshood, who scored a goal in the first leg, was the provider from a well-taken free kick on the right. She turned provider again 11 minutes into the second half, when she found Aishat Animashaun, who lifted the ball over and above Samekelise Mthembu into the net for Nigeria’s second.
Zoe October, Thoriso Mphelo, Khmezi Khoza and captain Katleho Malebana impressed in the ranks of the Bantwana, but they could not find a way through the Nigerian defenceline of Hannah Ibrahim, Jumai Adebayo, Philomena Isaiah and Favour Iheagwam.
Victory sprang the Flamingos to the final round of the qualifying race, where they face the winner of the fixture between Botswana and Algeria next month.

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