Sports
ASAAC:Nigeria Loses Out In 100m Events
Women’s 100m hurdles world record holder Oluwatobi Amusan, who was dealing with a sour throat that stopped her from competing on Friday morning, was responding to treatment, according to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
The camp was also rattled by the news of Ofili Favour and Rosemary Chukwuma facing a probable sanction by the AFN technical department for abandoning their women’s 100-metre events.
There was, however, some cheering news later in the day, as the athletes received new kits from AFN and some athletes made some strides in their respective sessions in the evening session, with the mixed 4x400m relay team winning silver Silver in 4x400m relay
Mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Dubem Nwachukwu, and Patience Okon-George won silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, bringing the stick home in 3:13.72.The gold went to South Africa in 3:13.12, while Botswana got the bronze in 3:15.93.
Women’s Hammer fianl Sade Olatoye won silver in the women’s hammer throw, producing a best effort of 67.72 m and solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest hammer throwers in African history.
Men’s 400m semifinals Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie qualified for the men’s 400-metre final. The former finished very fast, clocking a time of 45.83s to place third ahead of Chidi Okezie, who also got through in 45.96s. Anthony Pesela won the race in 45.40s.
In another race, Samuel Ogazi also qualified for the final by clocking a time of 45.44s, finishing very well ahead of Donald Chiyangwa, who ran 45.51s, while Haron Adoli followed in 45.66s.Women’s 400m semifinals
Esther Joseph qualified for the women’s 400m final, clocking a time of 52.26s to finish second in her semifinal race. Miranda Coetzee won the race in 50.91s, just 0.01s off her personal best.
Bronze in men’s long jump making his international debut for Nigeria, Goodness Iredia claimed the bronze medal in the men’s long jump final, jumping a mark of 7.75 m. Emmanuel Njoku, his compatriot, finished 4th in the event with a best effort of 7.72 m. Lionel Coetzee won the gold with 7.78 m.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.