Sports

African Games: Nigerian Women Athletes Make Country Proud Again

Published

6 months ago

March 27, 2024

Before, the saying that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do better’ is usually met with resistance.
In sports, that saying has been validated over and over again with the performances of female athletes in comparison to their male counterparts, especially when it comes to quantifying their contributions to their country’s success at multi-sports events like the Olympic, Commonwealth and African Games.
For Nigeria, the women have once again proven to be the most consistent and reliable by winning the most medals for the country at the just-concluded 13th African Games in Ghana. Nigeria finished second behind Egypt in the overall medals table with a total of 121 medals comprising 47 gold, 34 silver and 40 bronze.
The women’s contribution to Team Nigeria’s haul is 71 compared to the male athletes’ 47, while three were won in mixed events. That number makes up 58.67 per cent of Nigeria’s total medals.
Significantly, the women also won 35 out of Team Nigeria’s 47 gold, leaving 11 to the male, while the other one was won in the mixed 4x400m relay, which was inspired by one of the two women in the quartet, Omolara Ogunmakinju.
The women’s gold medal haul is a whopping 74 per cent of Nigeria’s total gold.
Interestingly, the women’s 35 gold would have been enough to see Nigeria top the overall medals table, if it was an all-female affair as Egypt, who won the Games recorded 33 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze medals from their female athletes.
On the other hand, the men’s 11 gold would mean Nigeria would finish joint third with Tunisia, who’s men also won 11 gold medals while Egypt will retain their number one spot with 66 gold from their men and Algeria second with 19.
There were also 18 silver medals from the women, two more than the 16 won by the men. In terms of bronze medals, the men had the upper hand with 20 medals, two more than the women’s 18 while two medals were won in mixed games for a total of 40.
Notably, there were stellar performances from Nigeria’s female wrestlers at the Games as the six of them (Blessing Oborududu, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Hannah Reuben, Christiana Ogunsanya, Mercy Genesis and Esther Kolawole) had a clean sweep of the wrestling event.
Also, four among the five weightlifters who won three gold medals each are women (Eze Joy, Ayodele Ruth, Lawal Rafiatu, and Olarinoye Adijat).
All the seven female boxers for Nigeria also won medals – five gold (Joy Ojo, Patricia Mbata, Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Blessing Oraekwe, Jacinta Umunnakwe) and two silver (Zainab Adeshina, Kareem Shukura).
In athletics, world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, retained her African Games title by winning a third consecutive crown while long jumper Ese Brume also successfully defended her title by winning a second African Games gold in the event.
According to the 2023 African Games website, in terms of representation, Nigeria’s 437 contingent also had more women (221) than the men (216).
Beyond the 2023 African Games, female Nigeria athletes have shown greater prospects than their male counterparts.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the women won all the gold for Team Nigeria as the country put up their best outing ever, snatching a record 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals to erase their previous best performance at the Games, 11 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals in 1994 in Victoria, Canada.
The men took the back seat, managing just three silver and six bronze medals out of a total haul of 35 medals.
At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Nigeria’s only two medals were won by two female athletes, Blessing Oborududu (silver in wrestling) while Brume won bronze in long jump.
Amusan (gold) and Brume (silver) were also the only two medallists for Nigeria at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, USA, where the former stormed to the current women’s 100m hurdles record (12.12s) and also became the first ever world champion from Nigeria.

Sports

Okrika Utd Coach Hails Fubara Over Simplified Tournament

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The Head Coach of Okrika United FC, IsaacTama has commended the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara for hosting of the Simplified Football Tournament in the State.
Coach Tama made the commendation yesterday after Okrika United defeated Degema LGA 2-0 at the competition holding at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt.
He expressed joy over his side’s victory, saying that his team had worked so hard before the kick-off of the tournament.
“The Governor has done very well because it has been like five to six years we saw competions among the 23 LGAs in the State.
” As you can see, we are very happy because this tournament is showcasing our local players from all the LGAs.
” So, I thank Governor Sim Fubara. We trained over two months before the competition so we prepared very well, I am surprised that we scored only two goals. The first half was so tough because the Degema team was so hard and rough in their approach, so my players were distraught. In the second half, I made two substitutions that yielded the two zero win. I saw that they were playing karate football so I changed the strategies to play from defence and attacking from the wings.
” You know, the competition has three phases, the first is to come out of the group stage, for now, we are pushing from the group stage, then, we move on” Tama said.
He described the CTC chairman of Okrika LGA, Princess Oga as the best chairman in the State, adding that she released money for the team on time.
“Before we started, we asked for N12.8 million and she did not delay in taking action. She even promised to pay players N30, 000 each if we win the match we just played. “Women CTC Chairmen are the best ooh?, ” Tama stated.

Sports

Tinubu Declares Youth Games Open In Asaba

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The 8th editon of National Youth Games (NYG) was declared opened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday, at Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, Delta State.
It was a colourful opening ceremony characterized with funfares, even as the heavy down could not stop the colorful ceremony.
Excitment was on the air when athletes, coaches and people from all works of life witnessed the ceremony in a full capacity Stadium.
Speaking Presidency Tinubu said the game was to hunt talents and noture them to stadium, as he accepted the abysmal performance of Nigeria’ athletes at the just concluded Paris Olympics.
He noted that Sports in Nigeria’ is declining occasion by ageing Sportsmen and stressed for norturing young athletes that will represent the country.
The President who was represent by the minister of youth and sports, Hon. John Enoh said sports plays a crucial role in creating wealth, peace and international diplomacy.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Bonny To Retain Football Club After Tournament

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The Caretaker Chairman of Bonny Local government Council of Rivers State, Hon Anengi Barasua Claud – Wilcox has promised to retain the Bonny Stars FC after the Simplified Football Tournament currently going on at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt.
According to her, Bonny LGA is known for footballing, so retaining the team at the end of the tournament would help the youths to promote their careers in the round leather game.
Hon Claud – Wilcox made the promise in an interview with sports journalists shortly after Bonny Stars FC played out a goalless draw against Eleme LGA at the Simplified Governor’s Cup for the 23 LGAs in Port Harcourt.
She praised her team despite the goalless draw, adding that the Eleme team were also a good team.
” I am very proud of my team as you can see, the opponents look young but my boys look stronger.
” The game ended well, 0-0. I think our main purpose in the tournament is to win the cup and it will go a long way for our support to Governor Sim Fubara.
“The name of the tournament, Simplified football Cup Rivers State shows that the 23 LGAs are all Simplified.
” We want to ensure we win the competition and bring the cup to Bonny LGA.
” Retaining the team yes because Bonny is known for good footballing and is also a way of encouraging the youth for them to promote their career” Hon Wilcox said.
The Bonny CTC Boos also revealed to empower other sport like female football, tennis, track and some indoor games most especially in school to keep the youths busy..
” Our target is to win the competition to showcase that the Governor is our own.
” We will try as much as possible to keep the team because is a way of encouraging the youth and to set the mind a way crime” She said.
The Chairman used the medium to advise Rivers people to engage the youth in sporting activities because it goes a long way to encourage them and keep them active, while advancing their fitness and health.

Kiadum Edookor