By Oluwaseun Nubi

As the maiden African Paralympics Games draw near, Team Nigeria says preparations are in top gear for the games.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the games will hold from Sept. 3 to Sept. 12 in Accra, Ghana.

NAN also reports that the games will prelude the All Africa Games to hold in Ghana in 2024.

Sunday Odebode, President, Paralympic Committee Nigeria (PCN),  said in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos that the athletes had been training for the Games.

He added that they were fully prepared to make the country proud, and would participate in different sporting events in the Paralympics.

“The athletes will participate in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and amputee athletics, all in both the male and female category.

“I can state categorically that the team is fully ready and well prepared for the Games.

“Though it is not going to be easy ride but with the level of preparation adequately put in place, our athletes are fully in top gear.

“They are also well equipped and prepared for the games”, he said.

Also,the PCN Secretary, Isah Suleiman, assured that all hands were on deck to ensure a successful outing for the team.

He said that the athletes were  in good frame of mind to make the country proud. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Victor Okoye

Nigeria’s representatives in the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba and Remo Stars FC of Ikenne have crashed out of the competition on home soil.

This was after both sides failed to take advantage of playing at home in their preliminary stage, second leg encounters at Aba and Ikenne respectively.

Enyimba were held to a 0-0 draw by Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi in Aba, Abia, while Remo Stars lost by 3-2 on penalties to Medeama SC of Ghana at Ikenne, Ogun.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars restored parity on 1-1 aggregate when Medeama SC goalkeeper Felix Kyei spilled a corner into his own net.

Remo thought they had got the go-ahead goal in the closing minutes of the return leg tie, only to see their effort chalked off for offside as the match went into the lottery of penalty shootout.

In the ensuing shootout, the visitors netted three of their kicks to advance to the first round of the competition.

While, Enyimba, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions lost 4-3 on aggregate.

Finidi George’s side dominated the game but were let down by their poor marksmanship.

The visitors sat back and put up a spirited display to thwart Enyimba’s attack ending the encounter goalless to the disappointment of Aba fans and Enyimba officials led by newly appointed chairman, Kanu Nwankwo.

The home fans were left with nothing to cheer at the end as a 1-0 win would have seen Enyimba scale through to the second round.

Both the People’s Elephant and Remo Stars will now shift attention to their preparations for the new NPFL season, which is expected to kick off next month. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Aderonke Ojediran

Abubakar Lawal, the Group Managing Director (GMD), GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd., has charged Sen. John Enoh, the minister of sports development, to collaborate with corporate bodies to develop sports.

Lawal gave the charge in a statement by Andrew Ekejiuba, Head of Media & Publicity, GTI/TNFF, released in Lagos.

Lawal said it was important to provide a safe and conducive environment for sports to thrive in the country.

“GTI is willing and fully ready to collaborate with the new sports minister to harness the potential in Nigeria’s sports industry.

“The country is blessed with talented sportsmen and women at the grassroots, but how to unearth these future superstars remains a herculean task, which must be surmounted,” said Lawal.

He said GTI had already taken up the NPFL project with the aim of making the Nigerian football league a thriving and transparent business enterprise.

“GTI as strategic partner to the NPFL will ensure that our football is restructured and repositioned in line with international best practices, and our efforts are already bearing fruits.

“I want to congratulate Sen. Owan-Enoh on his appointment, and we hope he hits the ground running because of the enormous challenges facing the sports ecosystem.

“I pray with the support of Corporate Nigeria and other well-meaning stakeholders, the new sports minister should be able to take Nigerian sports to enviable heights,” he said.

Lawal, reiterated GTI’s commitment towards its partnership with the management of the league.

“We’ll continue to work closely with the newly inaugurated Board of the Nigeria Premier League led by Gbenga Elegbeleye towards a seamless execution of the upcoming season,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Aderonke Ojediran

Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medalist, on Friday called on athletes representing the country at global events such as the ongoing World Athletics Championships to maintain high level of professionalism.

Ajunwa, a former track and field athlete and football player, said this against the backdrop of Tobi Amusan’s failure to defend her title at the World Athletics Championships in Badapest, Hungary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jamaica’s Danielle Williams won the title in a season-best of 12.43s while Olympic champion, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn came second in 12.44s.

Kendra Harrison of U.S. came third in 12.46s and World champion, Amusan came 6th in 12.62s in her third consecutive final.

NAN reports that at the 2022 World Championship in Eugene, USA, Amusan came first with a of 12.40 (African record) before setting a new world record of 12.12 to smash the 12.20 world record set by Kendra Harrison in 2016.

“We should be thankful that she was finally cleared. But even at that one can see the effect, there’s nothing like when one is competing with a clear head.

“I know the effect of suspending her for months really affected her, but I don’t want to dwell on that. She has to learn her lesson; she’s a top international athlete.

“The people we’re dealing with focus all eyes on the black man, that is why our athletes need to be more careful and show professionalism,” she said.

NAN reports that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had suspended Amusan over an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within 12 months.

Subsequently, the panel of Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, found that Amusan had not committed a violation and lifted the suspension.

Ajunwa, who is an advocate against drug abuse and the use of banned substances, told NAN that athletes of international repute should endeavour to lend their voices to the cause in other to educate upcoming talents.

“It’s unfortunate that even when you stage a campaign against drug, instead of them coming to learn, they don’t, even the home based athletes; that shows that their minds are made up.

“Sometimes I perceive they don’t know what it takes to be a champion. I pray God guides them because they don’t want to guide themselves. Amusan is a world star; she’s a role model that should lead by example.

“Trust no one. My problem in sports started from when I started drinking water in my bottle.

“You can put your water in your cup another person may have spiked it, politics is everywhere. This should serve as a lesson to everyone,” she said.

Ajunwa further said as a top international athlete, it was important to inform AIU of one’s whereabouts.

“Whenever she’s leaving her base, she owes it to them, she should tell them, and they should be able to reach her.

“They’re not happy that a Nigerian broke the record and set a new one, it will take a while for someone else to break that record,” she said.

The championships which kicked off on Aug. 19, would end on Aug. 27. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Salif Atojoko

By Victor Okoye

Nigeria’s Women Football National team, the Super Falcons have moved eight places to become 32nd in the world and first in Africa in the latest FIFA Women’s ranking released on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Super Falcons previously ranked 40th in the rankings released in June before the World Cup.

The Super Falcons had the second highest point increase of 94.14 to move from 1554.94 to 1649.08.

They were only second behind Morocco, who had a point increase of 104.22 to move from 1334.08 to 1438.3 and are ranked 58th in the world.

Nigeria had a good campaign at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, finishing second in the group without losing a game.

That was before eventually bowing out to the Lionesses of England after a 4-2 loss on penalties in the round of 16.

Sweden, which earned a third-place finish at the World Cup, is now ranked number one in the world.

Similarly, World Cup winners Spain are now ranked second in the world, with the USA, England, and France completing the top 5 in the latest rankings.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan on Thursday failed to defend her world title after finishing sixth in the final of the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Jamaican Danielle Williams, 30, won the title in a season-best of 12.43s, while Olympic champion, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn came second in 12.44s.

Kendra Harrison of U.S.A came third in 12.46s.

Amusan, 26, who is the World Record holder came 6th in 12.62s in her third consecutive final.

The Nigerian queen of track had in 2022 at the World Championship in Eugene, USA, came first with a 12.40 (African record) before setting a new world record of 12.12 to smash the 12.20 world record set by Kendra Harrison in 2016.

She had her anti-doping suspension provisionally lifted just before the commencement of the championship.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships which started on Aug. 19 is expected to end on Aug. 27. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

========
Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Sen. John Owan-Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, has pledged to prioritize athletes’ welfare and improvement in sports facilities across the country in his bid to reposition sports.

Enoh stated this on Wednesday, shortly after inspecting the package A and B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

He described the stadium, which was built in 2003, as a national monument that must be constantly maintained and improved upon in line with international best practices.

“It’s interesting that amidst the so much I have seen, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is a national monument for this country.

“I believe that since it was built in 2003, it has remained a very definitive national monument. There is about nothing you will find elsewhere (abroad) that you cannot find here.

“But from 2003 till date, the facility has gone through a lot and has suffered a lot,” he said

Enoh specifically decried the state of the athletes’ hostel, within the package B of the stadium, stressing the need for a facelift.

“I had to go to the athletes’ hostel and part of the briefing I had was that the initial conception of this place is that the Games Village was supposed to be part of this facility.

“So it’s a bit unacceptable that after several years, we find the facility in this sorry state.

“The ministry under my leadership will do all it can to ensure that the hostel becomes functional again,” he said.

The minister said he was going to adopt a systematic approach to the rehabilitation of all major stadia in the country, adding that the next point of call will be the national stadium in Lagos.

He said aside the improvement in facility, the welfare of athletes will also be given serious attention so as to enhance Nigeria’s chances of podium finish at international events.

‘The kind of  treatment we put in place for the comfort of our athletes remains very critical in terms of our goals and objectives and winning laurels that this country so desires,” he said.

Enoh said as part of efforts to ensure proactive and seamless coordination, he will be operating from his office at the stadium and not moving to the Federal secretariat.

He, therefore, directed the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, to relocate all other departments to the stadium office, for efficient service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was accompanied on the tour by the permanent secretary and relevant directors in the ministry. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Olayinka Owolewa

Kwara will feature in 25 events at the forthcoming National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Mr Ibrahim Bako, the state’s Director of Sports Commission has revealed.

Bako made this known on Tuesday in Ilorin during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ahead of preparations for the games.

He said the commission is intensifying training for the athletes as they look to excel at the main event.

The director explained that the commission is putting team coaches on their toes to step up their trainings aimed at good performance at the games.

According to Bako, it is not going to be a jamboree as only the best will be selected for the games.

NAN reports that the state will take part in Athletics, Ayo, Badminton, Baseball, Boxing, Chess, Cricket, Cycling, Dart, Fives, Deaf Athletics, Golf, Handball and Judo.

Others are: Karate, Para Table Tennis, Scrabble, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

The games will is scheduled to hold from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 in Asaba. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Olawale Akinremi

Stakeholders in the sports sector have advised John Owan-Enoh, Nigeria’s new Sports Development minister to with technocrats, who would share in his vision to succeed in his assignment.

The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Mr Jubril Mohammed, a Legal practitioner, advised the minister to surround himself with technocrats who share in his vision and mission for the sports industry.

Mohammed said that the minister performed well as an administrator, while serving at various ad hoc committee levels at the National Assembly.

“It is important to state at this point that ministerial position does not necessarily require a qualification or certificate to be able to perform.

“In the past, we have had professionals in other fields, who were appointed into sports ministry and they performed creditably well.

“All that the minister needs is to be focused and surround himself with technocrats who would work with him to take the ministry to the next level,“he said.

Mr Femi Amusan, a football coach and sports consultant, expressed optimism that the minister’s credentials might not speak well of a number one sportsman, but that he must write his name in gold in sports administration by taking it to the next level.

“Owan-Enoh should try as much as possible not to be known as a minister of football development, but for all sports.

“He must look deeper into school sports development because it is the future of Nigeria`s greatness among the committee of nations,”he said.

Amusan advised the minister to ensure that sports men, women and their coaches, who represented the nation at various international sports competitions, were appropriately compensated.

Mr Niyi Alebiosu, Chairman, Oyo State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN), urged the minister to focus more on grassroots sports development.

Alebiosu urged him to ensure that all internal problems ravaging some federations were quickly addressed in the overall interest of Nigeria.

He called on the minister to continue with all the innovation embarked on by the immediate past minister, Sunday Dare, especially sports facilities across the country.

Festus Onigbinde, a former Super Eagles coach who declined comments, simply responded, “let them do anything they want about sports.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Joseph Edeh