Monday 10 July 2017

Lagos Marines Beats Riviera Golden Eagles in Cote D'Ivoire


Rebecca Ejifoma 


The International American football is gradually making a name for itself in Nigeria and dribbling its way into other African countries since ist arrival in 2013. This is as the Lagos Marines stormed Cote D'Ivoire and defeated the Riviera Gold Golden Eagles of Abidjan Felix Houphouet Boigny University Sport Field on June 18 this year.

The Marines had beaten its opponent 13 goals to 12; thereby, claiming victory. According to the Headcoach, Mr. Dominik Mueller, who led the team, it is the first international contest between two clubsides in West Africs. "The turn out was very encouraging. Although the American football is still coming up in Africa, we believe that with time, the sport will be popular here.“

He expressed joy after the successful trip through Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana, „The Lagos Marines had already made a name for themselves in Ghana by running three American Football clinic sessions for scores of children between ages eight and 16 on the beaches and at a primary school in CapeCoast.“


Mueller commended the Lagos state government in Nigeria for providing a conducive platform for the boys to play and continue their training. Mueller added that the Lagos Marines, currently practise on Saturdays at LASUTH/Ikeja. „We are counting on more talents to join the team on both the playing and coaching level.“


The German Headcoach told this reporter that the Association had plans to introduce American Football in secondary schools starting with Lagos then other parts of the country - who utter a respective request with the goal to form talents able to join the US Highschool and College level on a scholarship basis to enable academic scholarship recepients to join as walk-ons.

He emphasised that he Lagos Marines are now considering to play their way 'westwards' along the coast planning to taking on club sides in Takoradi/Ghana and Abidjan/Cote D'Ivoire and hold training camps for these countries as well. „On the National level, there is a pending request from Egypt to play a friendly and an ambitious plan to travel to Nairobi and take on Kenya. Those plans pose an encouraging challenge. 

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