Sports
T.B. Joshua Predicted Super Eagles Crash
Controversial Nigerian Cleric, T.B. Joshua is in the news again after revelations that he accurately predicted the result of Nigeria’s Super Eagles astonishing failure to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“I was just sitting down and God showed me the game between Nigeria and Guinea next” Joshua stated on Sunday October 2, 2011 during a church service, broadcast live on his Christian television station Emmanuel T.V. “What I saw was not favourable towards Nigeria. If at this time we are stopped it would be very shameful.” Expounding on the match details, he said, “Any one who scores first takes the day. I am seeing the Guinean side shouting,” Joshua had said.
Stating that it was not within his powers to change the outcome, Joshua had added, “if I could do it alone, I would pray and fast to ask God to change the result. But it’s not possible for me to do it. Two of us must believe to make things happen. We must agree and instruction must be given. Let’s honour God and carry him along. Pray as if it all depends on God; play football as if it all depends on you.”
Six days later in the crucial final qualifying game for nations cup, Nigeria forced Guinea to a 2-2 draw after the visitors scored first.
In a telephone chat with reporters at the reception hall of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja shortly after the match, West Bromich Albion striker, Osaze Odemwengie affirmed that the team knew of T.B Joshua prediction and were unhappy that they did not meet Joshua before the gains. “We thought we could see him to see how he could overturn the negative prediction but officials came with another prophet who prayed for us and told us that all was well.”
Reporttedly, Joshua has predicted the results of several other international matches involving Nigeria, especially in their run-up to qualification for 2010 World Cup. He owns a football academy named My People FC which produced Lazio starlets, Sani Emmanuel and Ogenyi Onazi. Emmanuel was voted the MVP at the 2009 U-17 World Cup. Joshua caused quite a media stir in Ghana after their 2009 U-20 World Cup triumph when Coach Sellas Tetteh controversially said he had been in communication with him throughout their final game against Brazil.
His ministry, which regularly attracts African political heavy weights such as Zimbabwe’s Morgan Tsvangarai and Ghana’s John Atta Mills, is renowned for claims of healing, prophecy and extensive humanitarian activities.
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.