Giants of Africa, GOA, the non-profit organization co-founded by NBA side Toronto Raptors’ president, Masai Ujiri, returned to Lagos, Nigeria to host a youth basketball clinic at Ilupeju Grammar School where they unveiled a basketball court in 2021.
The clinic welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan, respectively The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who shared remarks with the youth and participated in on-court activities.
Through their their non-profit organization, the Archewell Foundation, the British Royal Family made a commitment to donate to GOA by supporting the construction of a new basketball court in Abuja, Nigeria.
This contribution bolsters GOA’s ambitious initiative, ‘Built Within,’ a multi-year, 100-court investment in sports infrastructure across Africa.
“We are grateful to be joined by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at this basketball clinic here in Lagos,” said Masai Ujiri.
“Basketball has the power to unite communities and inspire young people to reach their full potential. Teaming up with the Archewell Foundation, we look forward to creating experiences for young people, empowering them to become leaders, while also fostering pathways to opportunity and hope.”
The basketball clinic participants included boys and girls from Ilupeju Grammar school, along with wheelchair basketball athletes from the Spinabifida and Hydrocephalus Association in Nigeria.
Indigenous Giants of Africa coaches, and Team Nigeria Paralympian and GOA board member, Dennis Ogbe, led the young athletes through activities that not only focused on athletic skill development but also emphasized the importance of inclusivity, teamwork, perseverance, and community engagement.
Prince Harry said “What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing. The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community.”
Megan, The Duchess of Sussex added, “We are thrilled to be here. I lived in Toronto for seven years and that was the first time I’d heard of Giants of Africa – talk about full circle– never did I think we would be able to be here all those years later supporting the expansion of this incredible organization, through our foundation, the Archewell Foundation. We’re so grateful and proud of all the work that you’re doing.”
The Giants of Africa basketball court in Nigeria, sponsored by the Archewell Foundation and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will serve as a testament to the power of sports in transforming lives and communities.
Tag: American Sports
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Team Nigeria athletes to this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, France will be kitted by US-based sports apparel company, Actively Black.
The fast-rising sportswear company announced the collaboration with the Nigerian Olympic Committee yesterday on its Instagram page, emphasizing it was a milestone moment for a black-owned, diaspora brand.
Details about any financial incentives or values that this deal will bring to the Nigerian Olympic contingent are still hazy.
Actively Black was founded in 2020 by former basketball player Lanny Smith, who launched the company to challenge sportswear giants like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok.
According to http://www.cnbc.com, it brought in $5.6 million in revenue last year while promoting a rotating cast of Black designers and reinvesting 10% of sales into organizations supporting social justice, mental health, and physical health in U.S. Black communities. -
Nigeria’s 3rd ranked tennis player Khadjat Mohammed will hope to continue her winning form today when she faces Nadine Hamrouni from Tunisia, in the second round of the African Junior Championships (AJC) in Algeria.
To progress, the J30 Abuja winner played against Modjo Okomo from Equatorial Guinea in one of the second matches of the day, comfortably beating her opponent 6-1, 6-1.
In the men’s version, Seun Ogunsakin, could not see off his Egyptian opponent Samih Mostafa, as the Nigerian lost in a final set battle.
In what looked like an upset, Mostafa, ranked 893 in the world junior rankings, took out Nigeria’s Ogunsakin, rated 628 and the tournament’s number four seed with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.
The Nigerian teenager will now focus on the AJC Doubles event where he is the tournament’s number two seed, alongside Rosa De Arajue from Mozambique.
In the order of play for Wednesday, 17 April, Ohunene Yakubu, the tournament’s number four seed, will play against Algeria’s Houdar Benamar for a place in the quarterfinal of the tournament. -
Spectators who will troop into the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday 5 April 2024 are guaranteed a game for the vintage memory as nine-time African champions Nigeria and reigning continental champions South Africa clash in a highly explosive and no-holds-barred encounter with the Olympics ticket at stake.
Both countries, with stellar talents in the women’s game, are arguably among the best in the world at the moment, and a terrific advertising of the best of women’s football is at hand as from 5pm Nigeria time.
The Super Falcons were Africa’s best team at last year’s FIFA World Cup, but the Banyana Banyana were not far behind as they also made it to the Round of 16 Down Under.
To underscore their seriousness about giving the Super Falcons a good fight for the ticket, the delegation of Banyana Banyana to the encounter arrived in Abuja on Sunday, and have been training for the big match since that day.
On Monday, the South African High Commission started active mobilization of South Africans living in Nigeria to come and support the reigning African champions.
On Wednesday, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi called on residents of Abuja and environs, and even in the neighbouring States, to storm the MKO Abiola Stadium in their thousands to cheer the Falcons to victory.
The above means that a sizable crowd is guaranteed inside Nigeria’s largest football temple on Friday evening.
Coach Randy Waldrum is most likely to stick to his tested-and-trusted World Cup rearguard, including goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and defenders Michelle Alozie and Osinachi Ohale.
Im the absence of the injured duo Oluwatosin Demehin and Ashleigh Plumptre, fullback Alozie could move to left back to give returnee Chidinma Okeke the space on the right, with youngster Shukurat Oladipo likely to pair Osinachi at the centre.
Hard-as-nails Halimatu Ayinde and Christy Ucheibe will spearhead the midfield, with Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and the slippery Deborah Abiodun providing the guile and flamboyance.
Uchenna Kanu, Esther Okoronkwo, Jennifer Echegini, Rinsola Babajide, Gift Monday, Asisat Oshoala and the returnee Chiwendu Ihezuo are all options in the attack.
For sure, Coach Desire Ellis also has dependable weapons in her armoury, not least of them the nimble-footed Thembo Kgatlana, as well as Jermain Seoposenwe, both based in Mexico.
There’s also the crafty Hildah Magaia, as well as midfielders Linda Motlhalo, Jane Refiloe and Nomvula Kgoale.
“We want our people to come to the stadium and support us. The Super Falcons do not fear any team. With their support, we will play with total confidence and overcome,” said goalkeeper Nnadozie.
The return leg will take place at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday 9 April 2024 evening.
Credit: NFF MEDIA
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Heavyweights Nigeria and Cameroon fought to a 0-0 draw in their 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament third round, first leg encounter in Douala on Friday.
The nine-time champions of Africa took the pitch with their usual dash and gloss and forced consecutive throw-ins.
Yet, the game would become a ding-dong as time wore on, and in the 27th minute, midfielder Toni Payne wasted a good opportunity to put Nigeria ahead.
Twelve minutes later, the Indomitable Lionesses caught sight of goal, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, one of the world’s safest pair of hands at the moment, had things covered.
In the second half, the Lionesses stepped up their game as they were urged on by the home crowd at the Stade de la Reunification Douala.
Yet, it was Nigeria that had the ball in the net five minutes into the second half, only for Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabbada to rule Jennifer Echegini off-side.
In another match in the penultimate round of the African qualifying series, reigning continental champions South Africa trounced Tanzania’s senior girls 3-0 in Dar es Salaam, with goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe, captain Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia.
The winner on aggregate of the Nigeria/Cameroon fixture will most likely have to duel with the African champions for a place in Paris.
Both the Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses clash in the second leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday evening.NFF MEDIA
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Giants of African women football, Nigeria and Cameroon will be taking no prisoners when they clash in Douala on Friday for a place in the final round of the African qualifying series for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The Super Falcons, rated top in Africa and still walking with springs in their steps after reaching the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Down Under, exiting the finals without losing a match in regulation time, will remember at kick-off that the Indomitable Lionesses stopped their march to the London 2012 Olympics.
On their part, the Lionesses have grouses of their own, having been bumped by Nigeria in several major events including being denied the Women Africa Cup of Nations title in front of their own fans in 2016, and being shoved out at the quarter-finals of the last Women AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Coach Randy Waldrum has recalled fabulous defender Ashley Plumptre, now based in Saudi Arabia, and Halimatu Ayinde, Toni Payne and Christy Ucheibe will get to play together in the middle again after a stirring outing at the World Cup in Australia.
There’s also the talented youngster Deborah Abiodun.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is one of the most respected safe hands globally, and in forwards Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo, the Super Falcons boast one of the most stellar attacking ensemble in women’s football.
Captain Ajibade scored two of the five goals that eliminated Ethiopia in the second round of the qualifiers, with Oshoala also scoring while Okoronkwo and Kanu were on fire as Cape Verde were put to the sword in the final round of qualifiers for this year’s Women AFCON championship.
Veteran defender Osinachi Ohale is peerless on her day, and younger stallions Tosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran have grown to become true fighters whenever the occasion called for such.
Cameroon, who edged Uganda 3-2 on aggregate in the second round, will be missing star player Ajara Njoya Nchout.
Yet, it will be dangerous to underestimate what the Lionesses can come up with right in their own den.
Both teams will join the same flight to Nigeria’s administrative capital, Abuja for Monday’s return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will take on Tanzania the same weekend, with the winner over two legs to clash with the winner of Nigeria/Cameroon for one of the African tickets to Paris in July.
Tunisia clash with Morocco in an all-North African affair while Ghana host Zambia in Kumasi.
Winners of both games will face off for the second African ticket to Paris. -
A supercharged Steph Curry landed a 42-point haul to help his side Golden State Warriors to a third win on the trot, beating Indiana Pacers,131-109.
Warriors sit 11th in the Western Conference with a 24-25 season record.
At the Madison Square Garden, starman Luka Doncic led visiting Dallas Mavericks to a 122-108 win over the New York Knicks.
The Slovenian superstar ended the night with 39 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds against a depleted Knicks side who only had seven players available in the second half through injuries and trades.
Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan hit 30 points for the Chicago Bulls in a 118-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, while Kevin Durant inspired the Phoenix Suns’ 129-115 victory against the Utah Jazz with 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Reigning NBA champions the Denver Nuggets took a 114-106 win in Los Angeles over the Lakers, Jamal Murray with a double-double of 29 points and 11 assists and the Lakers’ Anthony Davis top-scoring with 32 points.
The Detroit Pistons took a 128-122 win in Portland against the Trail Blazers, despite Jerami Grant’s 49 points.
In other Thursday games, the Orlando Magic beat the struggling San Antonio Spurs 127-111, the Cleveland Cavaliers bested the Brooklyn Nets 118-95 and the Minnesota Timberwolves were 129-105 winners over the Milwaukee Bucks.For support and news stories: woramangra@yahoo.com or via WhatsApp on +2348084193706.