Sports
Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League In Top Gear
The first phase of the ongoing Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League entered top gear on Friday with intriguing results from the two centres in Akure and Jos respectively.
Nigeria my only on Friday defeated Kada Queens 65-51 just as Nigeria Customs defeated Nasarawa Amazons 60-41.
The two winning sides in the Savannah conference taking place in Jos are looking to end the first phase on a bright note to be on course for a ticket for the finals billed for Lagos in October.
In the Atlantic Conference, MFM after the disappointment of losing to First Bank 55-36 in Match Day 2, bounced back to beat Sunshine IGP Queens 67-54.
Dolphin after losing first two games also bounced back to beat Sunshine Queens 44-40 in a highly interesting encounter which kept fans in Akure at the edge of their seats all through the duration.
First Bank is still maintaining a winning streak win as they beat Bayelsa Whales 61-26. First Bank has won all their three games and looks set to end the first phase of the league unbeaten.
Today, First Bank will clash with Dolpin, IGP Queens will face Bayelsa Whales just as Sunshine Angels will take on MFM in the Atlantic Conference.
The first phase ended yesterday.
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.”