Sports
NFL Bans Uwazurike Indefinitely Over Betting
Denver Broncos defensive end, Eyioma Uwazurike, will miss the entire upcoming National Football League season after being banned for betting on games last season, the league said on Monday.
The NFL said Uwazurike had been given an indefinite suspension for placing bets on games in breach of league gambling rules.
A statement from the league said Uwazurike would not be eligible to apply for reinstatement to the league until July 24, 2024 at the earliest.
The 25-year-old Uwazurike made eight appearances for the Broncos last year in his debut season after being chosen in the fourth round of the draft with the 116th overall pick.
·Uwazurike is one of a slew of NFL players who have been handed recently for breaches of strict league rules forbidding gambling by players.
Indianapolis duo Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry were suspended last month along with free agent Demetrius Taylor.
Four members of the Detroit Lions were suspended in April along with a member of the Washington Commanders.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”