Seun Ogunsakin’s impressive outing in J30 tennis championship in Tunisia has continued to bode well for the Nigerian prodigy.
His championship winning effort in Tunisia at the weekend has translated into a 100 spot climb in the latest Junior ITF rankings released yesterday.
The former African no. 1 U-14 player won the J30 tournament in Tunisia without dropping a set, adding it to the two he previously won in Abuja early this year.
According to the latest ranking, the 15 year old Ogunsakin is now 510th in the world, moving astronomically from the 611th spot he occupied prior to the commencement of the Tunisian tournament.
This new ranking is also the highest the Tunisia-based youngster has ever attained since he started playing ITF competitions a few years ago.
He now occupies 24th in the log of African players in the ITF rankings and is closing the gap on Daniel Adeleye, Nigeria’s highest ranked junior tennis player, who is currently ranked 332nd in the world.
Meanwhile, Ohunene Yakubu dropped 7 spots in the recent rankings after failing to reach the final of the J30 event recently held in Tunisia.
She currently sits as the 581st ranked junior player in the world and among the top 30 on the African continent as she continues with her tennis development at the ITF High Performance Centre in Tunisia.
Tag: NewsNow Sports
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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. -
The 5th JOF Under 13 Grassroots football tournament reached a crescendo yesterday as HB Utility Ilupeju emerged champions of the 64 team competition.
Utility spanked Zamadek of Lagos Island 3-0 in the last game played at the UNILAG sports complex and organised under the auspices of Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association.
Former Nigeria international winger and AFCON silver medalist Friday Elaho who watched the encounter commended organisers of the tournament for staging a befitting grand finale, urging more private sector involvement at the grassroots in order to churn out budding talents that will take over from the ageing ones.
For emerging champions in the 5th edition of the competition, Utility smiled home with a prize money of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira while Latoyem FC received half a million naira after beating Strong Dove of Orile 1-0 in the bronze medal game also played yesterday.
In the individual awards, Ayomide Atiga was voted tournament’s Most Valuale Player MVP, his colleague Toheeb Ojerinde won the best keeper accolade while Abolade Abdulahi of Zamadek scooped the top scorer’s prize.
Speaking after the event, the Chairman/CEO of JOF Nigeria Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun promised that a select group of players who excelled in the tourney would be camped over the year as they undergo training in ethics, morals and other life skills. -
The inaugural Japa Masters Volleyball competition is expected to spark off hostilities as clubs jostle for four million Naira prize money at stake from 6 to 10 August 2024 in Lagos.
According to the organisers, Japa Master, a rapidly expanding travel agency in Nigeria with a passion for sports and recreation, the event aims to unite country’s top volleyball talents and elevate the sport on a global scale.
In line with commitment to giving back to society and fulfilling corporate social responsibility, the tournament serves as a platform to nurture talent and promote the development of volleyball in Nigeria.
Genevieve Obuladike, Manager of Japa Masters Spikers, expressed the tournament’s mission to enhance competitiveness, refine skills, and elevate the standard of play within Lagos and Nigeria.
Emphasizing the scarcity of opportunities through regular competition in Nigeria, Obuladike highlighted the tournament’s role in spotlighting talented players and providing a gateway to international recognition.
In collaboration with Nigerian volleyball authorities, the tournament plans to attract top agents to scout promising talent, offering players a chance to showcase their abilities and potentially secure international opportunities.
Registration for the tournament is now open and closes on June 30th. -
Members of the Super Eagles are expected to start arriving camp on 1st June preparatory to pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic per Soccernet.
Nigeria sit third but will need to defeat South Africa and Benin in June if they are to go top of Group C of the World Cup qualifying.
On June 5, Nigeria will play South Africa, and three days later, they will fly to Benin for the second match.
The Nigeria Football Federation has reportedly received a provisional team list from the team’s new gaffer Finidi George, and the final list is expected to be made public shortly.
The South Africa match will be played at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, hence the Super Eagles will camp in Akwa Ibom State -
Newly appointed Super Eagles’ chief coach Finidi George’s official presentation to the public will hold on Monday 13 May 2024 in Abuja.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation NFF the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, President of NFF Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and his General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, are among prominent personalities expected at the unveiling.
The 52-year-old George spent 20 months as assistant to Portuguese José Peseiro from the summer of 2022, during which the Super Eagles qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and came within 28 minutes of a fourth African title in Cote d’Ivoire three months ago.
George, who passed up an opportunity to coach a second-tier team in Spain to return to Nigeria and lead two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, won the tough-as-nails Nigeria elite division title with the People’s Elephant in his second season and has left the club in with a chance of retaining the title this season, with six matches to go.
When George formally bowed out of the Aba giants days ago, Enyimba FC remained in third place on the NPFL log, with 53 points from 32 matches, four adrift of table-toppers Enugu Rangers and three off second-placed Remo Stars.
As a player Finidi made 62 appearances for Nigeria at senior level, during which he won the Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze, and played in two FIFA World Cup finals.
His immediate task as the new sheriff in town will be to pick maximum points from 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa (home) and Benin Republic (away) in a few weeks.
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Superstar world-record holder Tobi Amusan outclassed a competitive field at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational on Saturday to win the women’s 100m hurdles in a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds.
The Nigerian trailed reigning world champion Jamaican Danielle Williams and American Nia Ali for most of the race but surged ahead in the closing stages, eclipsing the previous world-leading time of 12.42 set by Tonea Marshall of the USA on April 20.
Williams finished second in 12.46 seconds, with Christina Clemens of the USA taking third place in 12.54.
Yanique Thompson of Jamaica secured fourth in 12.59, while Ali slipped to fifth with a time of 12.65.
First placed Amusan ended last season on a high by winning the Diamond League women’s 100m hurdles title in Eugene, Oregon for an astonishing third consecutive time and silencing critics following a disappointing performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest
World leader Daniel Roberts led home a 1-2 finish for USA in the men’s 110m hurdles.
Roberts, competing for the third time this season, secured a comfortable victory with a swift time of 13.17.
Eric Edwards finished second in 13.33, just ahead of Jamaican Lafranz Campbell, who clocked 13.37. -
Super Falcons’ midfield ace Christy Ucheibe maintained her impressive trophy haul in Portugal as she claimed a fourth league title with SL Benfica Futebol Feminino.
SL Benfica secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Racing Power FC today to retain their Liga BPI crown and hand Ucheibe her fourth league honour in Portugal.
The Nigeria international started the season-finale at the Caixa Futebol Campus in Seixal, sporting jersey number 16.
However, it was captain Carole Costa who opened scoring for the champions in the 38th minute from the penalty.
Drama unfolded when Racing Power FC equalised to potentially hand the title to Sporting CP, who were winning 2-0 away to Damaiense.
However, skipper Costa came to her side’s rescue in stoppage time when she netted another penalty to hand Benfica to seal win and the club’s fourth league title.
Ucheibe, who joined Benfica from Swedish club, Assi IF in 2020, has been a part of each of Benfica’s league triumphs, as they claimed the crown consecutively from 2021 to 2024.
Only last week, the 23-year-old midfield dynamo sealed her ninth title with SL Benfica when they won the Portuguese Taca da Liga. -
Rivers Hoopers became the first Sahara Conference team to qualify to the playoffs scheduled to take place later this month in Kigali thanks to a 78-71 double-overtime win over APR on Saturday.
Devine Eke’s put-back sent the game to the first overtime (58-58) before the Hoopers outscored APR 13-6 in the final five minutes to become the first Nigerian side to reach the BAL playoffs.
Peter Olisemeka came up with a remarkable performance, finishing a double-double of 17 points, 19 rebounds while dishing out 5 assists and swatting 3 blocks shots.
On the day that lethal scorer Will Perry had a quiet performance, Eke, who had a slow start, contributed massively on both ends of the floor, finishing with 18 points and 18 rebounds as the Hoopers improved to 4-1 with a game remaining.
APR started the game with a relatively new line-up with Jean Jacques Wilson stepping in for Williams Robeyn, but they ended up needing deeper changes as the game progressed.
APR Obadiah Noel, who scored the opening 2 points, limped off the court four minutes into game, and, to make matter worse for the Rwandan champions, Adonis Filer was stretchered off by the emergency services to receive medical. Noel and Filer never returned to the game.
The Rwandan champions had their toughest game in Dakar and dropped to 2-3 ahead of the last day of the Sahara Conference on Sunday.
“We have a lot of heart,” said an elated Kelvin Amayo who had a rough night turning the ball over 10 times although he contributed 13 points.
Amayo said: “Everybody counted us out, but I have been saying this since the training camp in Lagos and Port Harcourt… A lot of people were laughing at what happened to Nigeria teams before; But we created a really good group.”
Amayo lamented the APR short-handed roster, but he acknowledged the difficulty of coming up on top. “I am sorry for what happened to the other guys but the other group of guys that came in played very hard. They rallied for those guys. First time we beat them by four, but it was a big game too.”
APR face hosts AS Douanes on Sunday while Rivers Hoopers will go up against US Monastir.Credit: BAL
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Multiple African Men’s Singles Badminton Champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori has paid tribute to his resilience after qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Opeyori who is a two time African Games Champion made history by becoming the first Nigerian badminton player to make it to the Olympics back to back (2020 and 2024).
Writing on his Facebook page, Opeyori recounted how he faced challenges like injuries, lack of sponsorship, mental health, visa issues and tough nights, which eventually paid dividends.
“I didn’t give up despite all these challenges, I owned the process and believed in myself that I will make it through the dark times,” he stated.
“Yes, this is me telling everyone that I made it, I qualified for the biggest event in the whole world, I qualified for the second time, making a History of the first Nigerian to do so back to back, I qualified for the #Olympics once again.”
Opeyori dominated Africa in the men’s singles from 2019 till date winning four African Championship titles and two African Games titles.
An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) told newsmen on Saturday that Anuoluwapo Opeyori has broken the jinx in Nigeria badminton by making it to the Olympic Games in Paris.
He revealed that BFN will leave no stone unturned in supporting the dreams and aspirations of the young players in making podium finishes.
Orbih said, “History has been made in badminton as Anuoluwapo Opeyori has secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the release made by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“Three years ago, it was Dorcas Adesokan in the women’s singles and Opeyori with his partner Godwin Olofua in the men’s doubles that made it to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Today, Anuoluwapo Opeyori will represent Nigeria in the men’s singles; the leadership of BFN and Nigeria are proud of him.”
woramangra 