Sports
Female Athletes Are Nigeria’s Olympic Hopefuls – NOC
The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Tunde Popoola, has said that Nigeria’s medal hopes at the Paris Olympics largely rest on female athletes such as Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume.
Despite participating in the Olympics since 1952, Nigeria has only secured a total of 27 medals, including just two gold medals, both won in 1996 in Atlanta.
This remains the country’s most successful outing, with Chioma Ajunwa winning gold in the women’s long jump and the football team, led by Kanu Nwankwo, clinching the second at the expense of super powers Argentia and Brazil.
“The men dominated previously, but this time, it’s all about the women. They qualified for the football event and almost every single event in athletics. It’s a good thing, and we appreciate their growth,” he said in an interview with Tidesports source.
“The women have done more because they are more committed. I’m not saying the men aren’t, but women are more dedicated, and that’s the reason they are doing well.”
Ajunwa’s achievement in 1996 stands out as Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medal, highlighting the persistent trend of Nigeria’s female athletes consistently outperforming their male counterparts.
This trend continued at the 2000 Sydney Games, where Gloria Alozie secured a silver medal in the women’s 110-metre hurdles, salvaging Nigeria’s presence on the podium.
In the most recent Tokyo Games, Team Nigeria won two medals, both from women: Brume, who claimed bronze in the women’s long jump, and Blessing Oborududu, who won silver in wrestling.
With the Paris Games only weeks away, it appears hopes are once again pinned on the women to bring home medals.
Nigeria’s female athletes are world-class, while many of their male counterparts, particularly in athletics, are less experienced.
Taiwo Popoola, Vice President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, echoed these sentiments, attributing the women’s success to their dedication.
“The women have done more because they are more committed. I’m not saying the men aren’t, but women are more dedicated, and that’s the reason they are doing well,” he said.
To put the NTF VP’s statement in perspective, Elizabeth Anyanacho, another female athlete, is the only qualified taekwondoist for the Paris Olympics. She was also Nigeria’s only representative in the sport at Tokyo 2022.
Nigeria’s medal hopes in Paris largely rest on the shoulders of athletes like Tobi Amusan, Brume, wrestlers Oborududu, and Odunayo Adekuruoye.
Amusan, in particular, is a standout athlete. She set a world record time of 12.40 seconds in the women’s hurdles in Kingston, Jamaica, in May 2024.
Sports
Osimhen Rejects Napoli’s Salary Cut
Victor Osimhen has rejected a huge pay cut by Napoli and a new contract as his transfer saga remains unending with a week to the close of the window.
Despite the rumours, there has been no concrete offer for the Super Eagles striker with suggestions that he may end up staying put at Napoli.
Commentator Massimo Sparnelli revealed that Napoli proposed a pay cut, an extension of his contract until 2030, and make him the face of the Italian.
Osimhen is currently on over 10m Euros a year and his contract will run out in June 2026.
Napoli want him to agree to a lower salary of between 6m and 7m Euros a year.
“The player refused,” Sparnelli revealed to CalcioNapoli24.
“I can assure you that De Laurentiis made these proposals to him while promising to make the face of Napoli, but Osimhen refused.”
Sports
Administrator Blames Shoddy Preparation For Nigeria’s Poor Olympic Outing
An astute football administrator in the State Mr. Williams Mapuibi Inko has attributed the cause of Nigerian contingents’ dismal performance at the just concluded Paris 2024 Olympics Games to poor preparations from the authorities concerned.
Baring his mind to our reporter via telephone conversation recently, Mapuibi Inko maintained that there was no magic Nigeria athletes would have performed that would have guaranteed her a medal from the event, considering her poor level of preparation to the event competing against notable World Sports beaters on Parade.
“Honestly, the Nigerian athletes had hardly had enough and regular track and field event preparation before the championship, coupled with poor organization among the overbloated officials who were only interested in what they would gain as individuals from the two weeks outing”
On whether it will be ideal to sack the Sports Minister John Enoh, following the woeful out of the Nigerian athletes at the concluded Olympic games, the Outspoken Mapuibi Inko, who is the President of Diobu International All Stars Sports Club says he has some little reservation for now.
“Perhaps, I will subscribe that some professional and seasoned Sports administrator should be engaged to work with the Sports Minister so that different good ideas would be brought together to prosecute another major competitive event to guarantee better result of winning laurels at the end of the day”, he submitted.
In a different development, Mapuibi Inko has encouraged members of the Diobu All Stars International Sports Club to affirm faith and continue to imbibe the spirt of oneness with a view to strengthening the team for effective outings.
“Speaking to our reporter after taking a critical assessment of the club so far, Mapuibi Inko stated that it was a clear fact that Diobu International All Stars is on the right path of progress, having seen the vision of the Club towards ensuring that it’s dreams of hitting it big in the comity of other All-Stars Football Club in near future is actualized”
He further, posited that the Club which had been the cynosure of all eyes in Diobu axis is making frantic effort to acquire all necessary sporting facilities, ranging from Jersey, footballs etc. to enhance their routine football trainings at St Andrews School Field, Mile one Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“Besides, we are also training very assiduously to ensure that we are physically fit and capable to engage in any competitive matches within and outside the state”
“Again, we are equally looking forward to establishing a good working relationship with the Basic Senior Secondary School management Board as to intimate them more of our vision and readiness towards encouraging grassroots sport development in Post-Secondary Schools in Rivers State, aimed at catching them young”
The amiable Diobu International All Stars Sports Club boss, however, expressed happiness with the current improved numerical strength of the team, which according to him, is in line with the good ideal and vision of the Club right from its formation stage.
Sports
Rangers Qualify For C.C.L 2nd Preliminary Round
Reigning Nigeria league champions, Rangers International F.C has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 second preliminary round with a 2-1 aggregate win over Comoros Islands champions, U.S de Zilimadjou in the first preliminary round of the premier continental club competition.
In the second leg, first preliminary round game played inside Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, August 23, 2024, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ were forced to a 1-1 draw by the tiny Island nation.
After both sides ended the first half on a goalless note, with begging chances fretted away by the home side, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu had to make quick substitutions that saw Kazeem Ogunleye and Chiedozie Okorie make way for Ekeson Okorie and Bashir Usman just ten minutes into the second stanza.
The substitution turned out to be an inspired one as Ekeson Okorie, in one of his dashing runs into the box was fouled and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, and Kenechukwu Agu expertly converted for the opening goal of the encounter on the 79th minute to send the fans that thronged the stadium into a frenzy.
Youssouf Mohamed, however, drew the Comoros side level with just four minutes left on the clock as he nodded home an inviting cross that the Rangers backline found hard to defend just a few seconds after they missed a promising attacking move at the other end of the pitch.
Despite the draw, the Nigerian side progressed to the next round of the competition where they are scheduled to engage either St. Louis F.C of Seychelles or Sagrada Esperanca F.C of Angola with the Angolan side enjoying a 1-0 lead from the first leg played in Seychelles last week.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu in his post-match chat, said, “We are happy to have qualified for the next round of the competition even though when I believe that we did not up our game today against the Comoros champions. This goes a long way to show the mystery of the game of football. Sure, I am worried at our rate of converting chances but I am optimistic of getting over this challenge before the next window for new registration. I believe that the start of the new league season will go a long way in helping us stabilize with regards to cohesive play from my players.”
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Police Neutralise Kidnap Kingpin In A’Ibom
-
News4 days ago
Traditional Ruler Pledges Support For Fubara, Slams Awuse
-
News4 days ago
Fubara, Canadian Envoy Synergise On Health Sector Growth, Investment Relations
-
Health4 days ago
Oyo, Osun Customs Seizes N713m Worth Drugs, Contraband
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
MOSIEND Hails Tinubu Over Ajayi’s Appointment As DSS DG
-
News4 days ago
Don Harps On PR Importance In Societal Dev
-
Featured4 days ago
Stop Creating Enmity, It’ll Hurt You, Fubara Tells Police …Donates 100 Vehicles To Boost Response To Emergencies
-
Health4 days ago
Kebbi Harmonises Doctors’ Salaries To Curb Brain Drain