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.
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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. -
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.” -
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has elected new executive officers to run the affairs of the Association for the next three years.
The New Executive emerged after peaceful re-run elections of the Chapter, held on Friday 10 May 2024, at the Media Centre, of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Mr. Kelechi Onwudiwe of Classic FM was elected the chairman, Mr Victor Okoye of the News Agency of Nigeria emerged as vice chairman while Mr. Samuel Ahmadu of SavidNews emerged as the secretary.
Niyi Busari of BSN Sports emerged as Financial Secretary, Miss Jean-Frances Nweze of TVC was elected the Treasurer, Joshua Friday of Radio Nigeria, Assistant Secretary; while Joan Iwuchukwu of Precise Post was elected welfare officer.
The Elective Congress, which had 145 voters was supervised by National SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin, and its General Secretary, Ikenna Okonkwo.
Friday’s re-run elections saw Onwudiwe poll 77 votes to pip Tolulope Oguntimehin of ITV, who scored 68 votes, to the chairmanship position after both contestants were tied on 64 votes a fortnight ago.
In another dramatic contest, Nweze won the treasurer position with 73 votes, edging Taofeek Lawal of Tribune who scored 72 votes after both were also tied on 68 votes in the fierce contest held two weeks ago.
Earlier in the April 26 elections, Mr Joshua had emerged as the Assistant Secretary as he polled 104 votes to defeat Nonso Arinzechukwu, who got 32 votes, while Ms Iwuchukwu clinched the welfare officer post after she polled 88 votes to beat Busayo Olowookere, who garnered 48 votes.
Speaking after the election, the National President of SWAN, Mr Benjamin Isaiah expressed happiness over the Chapter’s successful reunification and urged the new FCT leadership to embark on genuine reconciliation.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman, Mr Kelechi Onwudiwe assured that his leadership will prioritize inclusivity, welfare, and development of all while thanking the National SWAN and SWANECO team for the successful reunification of the Chapter.
“We are all going to work together to build this association, and nobody should harbour any fear about my new leadership. I am delighted to have emerged and thankful to everyone. I want to thank the National body for midwifing this process – from reconciliation to our election,” the veteran broadcaster said.
“I want to also thank the SWANECO team and the entire Congress for the hitch-free election. We are one body – both those who voted for me and those who didn’t. Nobody will be left out. We are genuinely going to be reunited as FCT SWAN to plan a better future.”
The inauguration of the new FCT SWAN exco was wrapped up with the handover of the association’s assets to the new exco by the immediate past chairman, Mr Ndubueze Chidoka. -
19 man playing squad of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets plus officials are expected to arrive today in the Ghanaian capital, Accra for defence of their WAFU B U17 Championship crown in this year’s tournament, kicking off on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.
The five-time champions of the world, swept aside every opposition to achieve glory in another Ghanaian city, Kumasi, two years ago, but failed to light up the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria where they came short in the race to compete for another global honour in Indonesia.
Chief coach Manu Garba who coached the country to world cup gold medal in 2013 will lead a technical crew that has the mandate of not only successfully defending the regional crown, but to continue to improve the squad for a great outing at the U17 AFCON and onwards to a probable sixth global title.
With qualification for next year’s Africa Under 17 Cup of Nations at stake, the Golden Eaglets will begin the defence of their title against a Burkinabe opposition at the University Stadium on Thursday, 16th May with kickoff set for 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time), before matches against Niger Republic on Sunday, 19th May (6pm Ghana, 7pm Nigeria) and Togo on Wednesday, 22nd May (4pm Ghana, 5pm Nigeria).
The match against Niger Republic will also hold at the University Stadium while the clash with Togo will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.
19 EAGLETS FOR WAFU B U17:
1. Adekunle Sunday Adedigba,
2.Sylvester Chizoba Chika
3. Daniel Ofonime Mendie
4.Destiny Samuel
5.Abdulwaris Yunus
6.Boluwatife David Ekishola
7. Ibrahim Damilare Abdulganiyu
8. Edward Oloche Ochigbo
9 Rapha Adams
10. Simon Karshe Cletus
11. Oreoluwa Olawale Agbenla
12.Okorie Marvelous Chibuike
13 Abdulmuiz Adeleke
14. John Ogwuche
15. Qurib Adetola
16.Chinedu Levi Dominic
17.Abdulmuiz Oluwatimilehin Oladimeji, 18.Daniel Vowero Arierhi
19. Imrana Muhammad -
After suffering a loss yesterday to snap their three game winning streak in the Basketball Africa League BAL, Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers are looking forward to making amends in the next game against APR of Rwanda tomorrow.
Rivers slumped 54-56 points to hosts AS Douanes of Senegal in the match, which leaves the Nigerian team’s coach Ogo Odaudu recounting the many mistakes his boys made as they prepare for their 5th tie in the championship.
“First of all we didn’t start very well, it was a major factor, that’s why we struggled the entire game,” Odaudu pointed out.
“We should pay attention to some little things like free throws.
“We lost the game by 2 points but our free throw shooting was like 16 of twenty something, we lost like how many?
” We turned over the ball twenty times.
” We gave up 19 offensive rebounds, we still lost by 2.
“So those are the things we should pay attention to and make sure they don’t happen in our next and we should be fine.”
Latest Sahara Conference standings
After the APR game tomorrow, the Sahara Conference leaders Rivers will face Tunisian side US Monastir this Sunday in their last game of the reverse stage, with top two teams in the standings automatically qualifying for the 2024 BAL playoffs in Kigali.
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