News
EuroMatch NPFL: The Whistle That Won Both Sides — Ibuot Nsisong Linus Earns Rare Praise After Kwara United-Ranchers Bees Thriller
Kwara United claimed the three points, but centre referee Ibuot Nsisong Linus emerged as another major talking point from Sunday’s EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter after earning commendation from both sides following the hosts’ entertaining 2-1 comeback victory over Ranchers Bees in Ilorin.
Linus, from Akwa Ibom State, handled the EuroMatch NPFL Matchday Seven fixture at the Kwara State Stadium, working alongside assistant referees Ikponmwonsa Imuetinyan and Morrison Otuwho, with Abdulmalik Abdulganiyu serving as fourth official.
Ranchers Bees carried the advantage into half-time, but Kwara United responded after the break to turn the contest around and secure another important EuroMatch NPFL victory. The visitors were eventually reduced to 10 men following Faisal Sani’s dismissal for a second yellow card.
Despite the intensity surrounding the comeback and sending-off, the encounter ended peacefully, with coaches from both clubs commending Linus and his officiating team after the final whistle.
One supporter, Ismaila, was equally impressed by the referee’s management of the EuroMatch NPFL contest.
“I loved what I saw today—free-flowing football from both sides. The officiating was outstanding, and we pray to see more performances like this,” he said.
“Fans come to enjoy good football, regardless of who wins. When the game flows well and we do not see bias in the officiating, everybody can go home peacefully. You have to give credit to this referee; he deserves commendation.”
Linus has been building his reputation through Nigeria’s refereeing development structure. He was previously identified among the country’s Young Talent referees for a FIFA Member Association course before progressing to EuroMatch NPFL assignments.
Sunday’s performance offered another opportunity for the emerging official to demonstrate his ability in Nigeria’s top flight.
Effective security and medical arrangements also contributed to a successful matchday, while both teams, officials and supporters departed the stadium without any reported incident.
For the EuroMatch NPFL, it was the kind of afternoon that strengthens confidence in the competition: an exciting comeback, competitive football, disciplined benches and an officiating team praised by winners and losers alike.
Kwara United took the points, but Linus took the applause — a notable Matchday Seven moment for the EuroMatch NPFL.
News
Pan-African Scrabble Association’s New President Haruna Adamu Receives Expert Tips On How To Succeed
The new president of Pan-African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Haruna Adamu, has received a useful reel of expert tips from experts of the game on how to succeed in the post he recently attained.
Sports247 reports that the line-up of wise counsel coming Adamu’s way is being led by PANASA’s immediate past president, Engineer Toke Aka, who is also a leading administrator of the sport in Nigeria.
While affirming total support for the new president, who hails from Ghana, Aka urged Adamu to prioritise engagement with national federations, while strengthening PANASA’s secretariat and expanding the impact of Scrabble across Africa.
Aka, who is also a founding member and executive official of World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA), added that Adamu must identify various challenges that are facing national bodies and help them develop strategies to increase participation in competitions.
The immediate past president of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) declared: “I wish him well, and I must tell him that it is what he dreams and that will work. He is leading, and he must be the one to say or ask around to be able to say that this should be.
“If he does not take a step, nothing is going to happen. Nobody is going to push him. So all I say to him is that, as much as I have, I got in the position, he should also strive to take us beyond where we are.”
Aka further stressed what he described as a culture of timidity and limited engagement among some Scrabble administrators across Africa as an obstacle to the sport’s growth, then urged Adamu to note that challenges facing each country can be addressed through better planning, early preparation and support from PANASA, rather than be treated as huge obstacles.
“I don’t see them as problems. I just see them as bad planning. One man can’t do it alone. You need a team. So once your secretariat is up and doing, then what do you do for development? You engage, you ask, you talk.
“Even in countries where they don’t have, talk with the leadership in sports in such countries,” Aka asserted, while advocating persuasion, engagement and proper development efforts as strategies that will help PANASA face challenges facing different countries and provide solutions.
Aka posited that Adamu will succeed through effective leadership, a proactive secretariat and helping national associations overcome their challenges, while building on progress already made and extending Scrabble’s reach to more African countries.
-
News4 days agoGranola crunches up a dictation feature to compete with Wispr
-
News2 days ago
Nvidia weighs playing the cosigner for Nscale’s AI data center in West Virginia
-
News3 days ago
Satlyt takes another step toward turning satellites into space data centers
-
News3 days ago
'Sowore, you can’t fight alone’ – Isaac Fayose reacts to attack on AAC candidate
