Category: Sports

CAF announces new dates for AFCON, WAFCON

Defeat

By Vivian Ibobo

Lagos, June 21, 2024 (NAN) Egypt’s Table Tennis player, Farida Badawy, on Friday defeated India’s top seed, Manika Batra, in the women’s singles at the 2024 WTT Contender Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match took place at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The 20-year-old Egyptian’s triumph in the thrilling match with Batra, ranked 28 in the world, was in spite of her low world ranking (331).

Badawy, playing without a coach, took a 2-0 lead against the seasoned Indian superstar.

Batra fought back to level the score at 2-2, setting the stage for a tense deciding game.

Badawy’s determination was evident as she caught up with Batra, leading 8-5.

At 10-6, victory seemed within reach, but Batra rallied to 10-8.

In the end, Badawy secured a historic 3-2 win (11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8) to mark the pinnacle of her international career.

Badawy expressed joy and relief, “I’m very happy to be here in Lagos, playing against Manika Bartra, India’s top player, and winning 3-2—it’s a dream come true.

”I hope to perform well in my next match I am ready to give my best in all my game to come victorious.

”Lagos fans played a crucial role in supporting me throughout, adding that Nigerian fans are incredible acknowledged their cheers lifted me when I needed it most.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong

Great achievers FC win 2023/24 Enugu FA league

League

By Benson Ezugwu

Enugu, June 21, 2024 (NAN)  Great Achievers Football club of Enugu, on Thursday won the 2023/24 Enugu State Football Association (FA) League.

The team defeated Inter FC of Enugu 3-2 through penalties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match was played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The first 45 minutes ended with a goal apiece while the second half could not produce any goal.

After the regulation time the match was decided on penalties.

The Chairman of the Enugu State Football Association, Tony Ugwu commended the winners and other participating teams for their gallantry.

“I am happy with the quality of the game. It shows that Great Archievers can represent the state in other stages of the game,” he said.

He said that the winners will go home with N500, 000 prize momey in addition to the trophy, while the second and third runners up, FC Inter and Disdent FC, will get N300, 000 and N200,000.

Also speaking, the coach of the team, Michael Onyeukwu, commended his players for their dedication and precision on goal.

“I am so happy; it’s not easy to defeat defending champions.

“I thank God; my players and our fans for this victory, ” he said.

NAN reports that with the victory, Great Archievers have qualified to play in the Nigeria Nationwide League.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Police nab Vigilante man, one other for allegedly culpable homicide in Adamawa

Killing

By Ibrahim Kado

Yola, June 21, 2024 (NAN)The Nigerian Police, Adamawa Command has arrested two men over alleged murder and fraud.

The command’s Spokesperson,SP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed their arrest in a statement issued in Yola on Friday.

Nguroje said, one of the suspects, a 31-year old Mali Bori, was arrested for allegedly firing and killing two men, Emmanuel Shehu and Almond Shehu, both residents of Bori village, Koma District of Jada Local Government Area(LGA).

“The suspect had a dispute with the Victims over a farm located at Bori, in Jada LGA, which resulted into a fight.

“During the altercation, he used his Dane gun and shot the victims leading to their unfortunate dead”, he said.

According to Nguroje, investigations are on going.

According him, the other suspect, a 36- year old Aliyu Yakubu, a resident of Jalingo Daddawa village in Hong LGA, is being held for alleged fraud murder of one Bassey Isah.

He said on June 13, the suspect deceived and dishonestly obtained by fraud from the victim three bags of maize, under the pretense that he would print and produce Naira notes for him.

“The suspect further demanded and received from the Victim a Toyota Starlet car, a Motorcycle, and a Carry Go tricycle, promising to make him rich over night.

“The suspect then took the victim to a forest, where he brutally struck him with an iron rod and buried him.”

Nguroje said that the suspect volunteered confessional statement to the allegations and would be charged to court for Culpable Homicide (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

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Rehearsal

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

Lagos June 20, 2024 (NAN) The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has urged Nigerian athletes to treat the upcoming African Championship in Cameroon as a perfect rehearsal for the Olympic Games in Paris.

Enoh gave the charge in a statement issued on Thursday by Diana-Mary Nsan, the minister’s Special Assistant on Media.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had announced a list of 40 athletes to represent the country at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon.

Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and Chidi Okezie, were some of the big names to the competition.

The Minister emphasised the importance of the championship as a precursor to the Olympics, highlighting its role in preparing athletes for podium success at the world’s biggest sporting event in Paris.

“The African Athletics Championship should serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics.

“I charge all our flag bearers to represent the green and white flag with pride and aim to bring back the first position trophy at the end of the tournament,” the statement quoted Enoh as saying.

The minister, while noting the significance of the season and the heightened scrutiny athletes would face, urged the Team Nigeria athletes to be cautious about their diet and hydration.

“Knowing fully well the remarkable achievements you had in Ghana, I believe you can replicate and even surpass those feats. You have done it at the African Games; you can do it again.”

He said that the dedication and hard work of the athletes continue to inspire hope and pride among Nigerians. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria drops from 30th to 38th position

Ranking

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Ilorin, June 20, 2024 (NAN) Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped by eight points from 30th to 38th in the FIFA World Ranking for June after lacklustre performances in the World Cup Qualifying matches.

According to the ranking table released by the world football governing body on Thursday, Nigeria dropped from 1,520.27 points it had in April to 1,498.93.

The drop on the global stage also reflected on the continental stage as the Nigerian team also dropped from the 3rd position to the 5th behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Cote d ‘Ivoire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo, and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in Abidjan, Cote d`Ivoire.

On the global scene, no fewer than 187 national team bouts have been contested since the last ranking in April, and the throng of changes in the latest standings comes as no surprise.

The top three, however, remain unshakeable. Argentina (1st) retains their place at the summit, with France (2nd) and Belgium (3rd) hot on their heels.

But there is movement behind them, as Brazil (4th, up 1) and England (5th, down 1) swap places.

Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th) and Spain (8th) consolidated  their spots in the top 10, while  Croatia (9th, up 1) overtook Italy (10th, down 1), which nonetheless held onto a place among the leading pack. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Olympics

By Vivian Ibobo

Lagos, June 19, 2024, (NAN) Offiong Edem, Nigeria’s international Table Tennis player, says she is targeting a quarter-final berth at the Paris Olympic.

Edem said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday at the opening of World Table Tennis Contender 2024 in Lagos.

”It is a good thing I qualify for the Olympic Games; I am very excited to still be playing actively and this will be my fifth. It’s not really easy, but you have to stay disciplined and committed.

”It was not an easy task, am very happy I made it to my fifth Olympics and I’m going to play my best and give my best to my nation.

”For me after the qualifier, I have been practicing and also we have tournaments too here in Lagos which will help me to prepare for the coming Olympics.

”I am aware we have training in Germany and I don’t know how true is that plan, but I know it will really go a long way for our preparations,” she said.

She also said the training in Germany would really help because she would be able to acclimatise over there .

She said, ”In 2020, I won the top 50 player and lost in the second round, I want to move further this time and I’m just trying to be focused.”

NAN reports that Edem, ranked 113 in the world, made her debut at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.

She will be making her fifth Olympics appearance at the Paris games.

The former African Games champion has been the mainstay of the Nigerian female team. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong

NFF denies banning Osimhen from Super Eagles

Ban

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Abuja, June 19, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has described as false, reports in some online mediums that the federation has banned Super Eagles’ forward Victor Osimhen from the team, for his recent social media outburst.

NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, in a statement on Thursday, expressed amazement at the reports.

According to him, the federation has neither instructed a process nor has a process been concluded to ban the player from the national team.

“The NFF hereby implores the media to join hands with the body to positively resolve issues and then focus on the big picture all the time, rather than needlessly escalate certain matters.

“There was no official communication from the NFF, yet some persons have gone to town to talk about a ban on Osimhen from the National Team. This is not good at all,” he said.

The general secretary said the focus of the NFF is to get the Super Eagles on track in the 2025 AFCON and 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“Our focus is to resolve all matters around the Super Eagles and be able to look ahead with confidence to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the remaining six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series.

“This is not the time to spread falsehood and foul the public space the more.” Sanusi said.

It will be recalled that Osimhen recently went on a rant on social media against Finidi George, the former Super Eagles head coach, few hours after he resigned from the job.

Osimhen had accused Finidi of allegedly questioning his commitment to the national team. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Players
By Vivian Ibobo

Lagos, June 19, 2024 (NAN)Some international Table Tennis players on Wednesday commended the organisers as well as the hospitality of Nigerians at the ongoing WTT Contender Lagos.

The players, XU Huiyao and LUO Jiecheng, made this known at the World Table Tennis Contender Lagos at the Molade Okoya Thomas indoor Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament which served off on June 19 will end on June 23.

They said that their respective experience in Nigeria so far had been wonderful, adding that the atmosphere was also very good for them.

They also said that being their first time in Nigeria they found the people very welcoming.

They said that they started from the qualification match and progressed in their game in spite of challenges.

They said that their perseverance and skills in training enabled them to win their game,
adding that they were very happy and would also be better prepared in subsequent games.

Also, Francis Antwi, an international table tennis player from Ghana, who competed in the men singles said he is proud to be in Lagos playing the WTT Contender.

”As this is my second time at the event and I have just won my first match in the qualifying round 3-0 and I’m very happy.

”I am very proud to be here to play such a nice event, have won my first round match so I’d just be focused on training and waiting for my next opponent.

”My opponent might be from China or wherever, so I’m just focusing, training for the next round.

Similarly, Mustapha Mustapha, a Nigeria table tennis player, said it was his second time competing in WTT contender Lagos,

He said,”Last year I lost at the first round of the qualifying draw and I told myself next year it has to be better.

”I couldn’t lose at the first round last year and still come and lose at the first round again.

”Even though I had a tight match against my junior brother, he’s also very good, I think it was a 50/50 match, it was just a hard luck for me and I wish to do better.

”I am looking forward to getting into the main draw, I have one more match to win against a player from Ghana. I wish myself luck because I know am going to do better.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong

Win

Stuttgart, June 19, 2025 (dpa/NAN) Hosts Germany on Wednesday became the first side to qualify for the Euro 2024 last 16 after Jamal Musiala’s controversial goal and an Ilkay Gündogan strike in a 2-0 win over an enterprising Hungary.

Croatia’s draw with Albania earlier and the situation in Group C means there will be at least two third-placed sides who cannot match Germany’s six points.

The four best third-placed teams out of six groups would qualify for the knock-out stages alongside each top two.

Germany’s 5-1 thrashing of Scotland lit up the opening of the tournament and Julian Nagelsmann unsurprisingly kept the same starting line-up.

Hungary, who lost 3-1 to Switzerland in the first match, started brightly but Germany got the opener midway through the first half.

Musiala rifled home his second of the tournament after good work from captain Gündogan.

Hungary appealed for a foul by Gündogan in the box before he pulled it back, but a video review allowed the goal.

Hungary continued to threaten but Gündogan settled matters on 67 minutes when he swept in left back Maximilian Mittelstädt’s low cross.

Manuel Neuer was kept busy on his 17th Euro appearance as he moved level with ex-Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon as the goalkeeper with the most Euro outings.

The Marco Rossi’s side also had a goal ruled out for offside.

Hungary’s hopes of progressing are slim but they next meet Scotland, who will later play against Switzerland in the other Group A game. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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2024 Olympic Games: No challenges in Boxing camp-Official

Boxing

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

Lagos,  June 19, 2024 (NAN) Dapo Akinyele, the Secretary General, Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBBF), on Wednesday denied claims that the Olympic bound team are facing challenges in camp.

Akinyele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that all is well in camp and that the boxers have intensified their training  since the camp started.

“All is well in camp, we are not facing any challenges at all, in fact we also learnt of the so called challenges through the media but all this is not true.

“We have two boxers in camp, Omole Dolapo and Cynthia Ogunsemilore are currently training ahead of the Paris Olympic Games to hold July 26 to Aug. 11,” he said.

NAN reports that members of the Nigeria boxing Federation, officials and athletes are currently training at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resorts in Oyo state.

The boxing federation had camped at the same venue for the last African Games where they won eight gold and two silver medals.

The venue was chosen by the ministry of sports developments for athletes to intensify preparations for the Games.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh