By Emmanuel Afonne

The Federal Government has urged the country’s women’s national basketball team D’Tigress to shun drug addiction and other forms of social vices for them to enjoy the benefits of winning the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Tournament.

Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development gave the advice on Sunday during a light reception organised for the team at the VIP lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

“In sports you must be a clean athlete; by this I mean you should shun drug addiction and other forms of social vices,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that D’Tigress returned on Sunday from Kigali, Rwanda, host of the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket tournament, through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and were received by officials of the Ministry of Sports.

The Nigerian ladies emerged as African champions for the fourth consecutive time on Friday following their 84-74 win over Senegal in the final of the tournament.

Abubakar described the feat as phenomenal, noting that President Bola Tinubu was proud of the team’s performance and achievement at the competition.

“The team demonstrated the resilience of the Nigerian spirit and this propelled the ladies to victory at the championship.

“They should always be prepared whenever they are called upon to represent the country especially now that the Olympics will be coming up in 2024 in France.

“So, whatever strategy adopted must be replicated at the games for us to remain at the top.

“We must commend the management of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) led by Musa Kida, in spite of his health challenge, raised a formidable team that made this nation proud.

“I just received the team and the next step will be to submit a report to Mr President and from there, the president will know the appropriate time to receive them,” Abubakar said.

Coach of the team, Rena Wakama, expressed gratitude to the nation, especially the NBBF, for giving her the opportunity to lead the team.

Wakama also lauded her players for ensuring that the country recorded her fourth straight victory at the tournament.

“I also thank my parents, my fellow coaches who encouraged me on the task and I assure everyone that we will continue to grow the game.”

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Amy Okonkwo said she was delighted with the love, focus and team spirit demonstrated by the players and coaches.

Okonkwo noted that love among the team was the reason they won the tournament.

“It was a difficult and physical tournament which demanded a lot of hard work.

“Luckily, I had my teammates and coaches behind me and they enabled me to win the MVP,” she said.

Also speaking, D’Tigress Point Guard, Elizabeth Bologun, said their toughest match was against Mozambique.

She urged federation to work towards providing the team with assorted kits for future outings.

NAN reports that the D’Tigress became the second team ever after their Senegalese counterparts to win four consecutive titles and extending their unbeaten run to 23 games.

The last time the team lost a game in the Women’s AfroBasket was in 2015 against Cameroon in the semi-finals. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Victor Okoye

Igoche Mark has lauded Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, D’Tigress for their victory at the 2023 Afrobasket championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that defending champions D’Tigress on Saturday, defeated their Senegalese counterparts 84 – 74 in the final of the championship to win their fourth straight title.

An elated Mark, told NAN that D’Tigress victory was confirmation of her dominance of the sport in Africa.

He commended the team for their superlative performance in the tournament and praised them for doing the nation proud.

“Clearly now D’Tigress dominance of the sport is indisputable.

“This is the evidence that Nigeria’s women basketball can be ranked as a World-class programme.

“We have to sustain this momentum. This is remarkable, winning the Afrobasket Championships for an unprecedented fourth time.

“I salute the team (D’Tigress) for their professional commitment and execution. They have indeed put smiles on the faces of Nigerians and have done the nation proud against all odds,” he said.

Mark was also full of praise for Nigeria’s top basketball investor, Mohammed Shehu, whose state-of-the-art basketball facility (Mo’ Arena) in Abuja served as camping ground for the D’Tigress before the Afrobasket Championship in Rwanda.

“I’ll also like to appreciate and congratulate Mohammed Shehu for the successful completion of his state-of-the-art basketball facility (Mo’ Arena), a befitting arena and one of the best, if not the best in the country.

“We are grateful for your benevolence in making it available for our ladies to use as their camping ground before setting out to achieve this great feat,” he said.

Nigeria has been on top of women’s basketball in Africa after winning it five times in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

The 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket was a remake of the 2019 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket that was hosted by Senegal in which Nigeria won their second straight title after seeing off the hosts 60-55 in a packed Dakar Arena.

They would later meet again, this time at the 2021 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket semi-finals in Yaounde, Cameroon, where Nigeria once again walked away with a flawless 73-63 victory.

Nigeria would later claim the famous three-peat in the capital city of Cameroon.

D’Tigress had a smooth start to their tournament and kept a perfect record since setting foot on the court at the BK Arena on July 28 enroute to the final.

They finished with significant victories over DR Congo, Egypt, Mozambique and hosts Rwanda before beating Senegal in Saturday’s final.

Rena Wakama, a former player who led D’Tigress to victory was the only female head coach at the 2023 edition of FIBA’s flagship event for women.

The result also meant she became the first female coach to have accomplished this feat in the history of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Edeki Igafe

Former Super Eagles defender, Sam Sodje has expressed discontent over comment by Fatma Samoura, Secretary-General of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), disparaging the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Samoura had reportedly told Super Falcons in their dressing room, that FIFA decided to pay their prize money directly to them rather than through the NFF.

This is contained in statement signed by Sodje on Wednesday in Warri.

Sodje, a former Tottenham Hotspur FC of England player and former Special Adviser on sports to former governor of Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, said the comment was uncalled for.

“I read with shock, the statement purportedly made by Samoura in the dressing room of the Super Falcons at the ongoing Women`s World Cup.

“A FIFA official need not make this disparaging statement openly because those who were in charge of football administration in Nigeria should have been sanctioned when it noticed it,“ he said.

He said it was disrespectfully for her to castigate and implicate Nigeria, a nation that has contributed so much to football without investigating the genesis of this problem.

“The Federation Secretary should understand that Nigeria as a country, has very serious and honest sports administrators that can hold their position anywhere in the world.

“What Nigeria and in fact Africa needs now is encouragement and not castigation.

“FIFA needs to respect Nigeria and Africa because we, as a nation and a continent, have contributed so much to world football and the growth of FIFA as an organisation,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Victor Okoye

A former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, has called on the Federal Government to invest more in sports going by the key role the industry plays in uniting the nation.

Okiro made the call at a football match organised to mark his 74th birthday celebration in Abuja.

“Governments at all levels must endeavour to use the instrument of sports to give the youths a sense of belonging while fighting crime and other social vices in the society,” he said.

The former Chairman of the Police Service Commission used the occasion to admonish the Super Falcons to give the country credible representation at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“Sports is something we cannot toil with. We must be serious with it.

“Of course sports is a strong source of harnessing diversities that may exist in a political system for sustainable socio- economic and political development.

“Youth must be engaged through sports and this will help to reduce crime in the society both in rural and urban areas,”Okiro said.

The birthday celebration which attracted a lot of dignitaries saw FCT police women team slugging it out with St. Joseph Catholic Women Organisation team Mukassa, Gidamangoro.

The Police women team eventually won 2-0 after spirited efforts from both sides.

Dorcas Thomas and Francisca Tseke scored in each half of the encounter for the police team.

Chief host of the celebration, Alhaji Aminu Majidadi, described Okiro as an icon of security who also brought sports to the Nigerian police.

“Okiro is a very wonderful man, an elder statesman, a man who believes in one Nigeria, a man who does not discriminate, a man who shows compassion to people.

“These and so many other attributes made us celebrate him as he marks his 74th birthday today.

“We also pray and wish that he will serve as minister of police affairs in this dispensation.”

Also speaking, a childhood friend of Okiro, Alhaji Bello Ajala, said the former IGP’s legacy was top notch.
“We attended the same primary school, the same secondary school and we are very close.

“He is a man of the people who has done much for the Nigeria Police; the image of the force became alive because of his love for professionalism.

“Yes he is a professional to the core and does not tolerate indiscipline. Thank God that sports is being used to celebrate him today.

“He is indeed a lover of sports especially football and track Field events.”

Coordinator of the friendly football match, Anselem Baha, highlighted the contributions of the former IGP in repositioning the image of the force.

According to Baha, the friendly football match is used to celebrate Okiro because of his love for football.

“And this is why we decided to use this football match to signpost his love for sports and you know with sports there is no division.

“We have succeeded in using sports to preach peace, tolerance and togetherness.”

Medals, trophies and other memorabilia were handed out to winners and guests who graced the occasion. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Victor Okoye

Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing enthusiasts have advocated more development of the sport at the grassroots in the country.

A cross section of the enthusiasts who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of the 1st African Admiral Porbeni Canoe Race championships in Abuja, commended the organisers of the event.

The championships also served as an Olympics pre-qualifier event, ahead of the main qualifying tournament in November.

No fewer than 100 athletes from five African countries – Ghana, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo and host Nigeria – took part in the event which held at the Jabi Boat Club, Abuja.

They said there was a need to continue to organise more of such events in other parts of the country, to ensure the sport’s development at the grassroots.

President, International Canoe Federation (ICF) Thomas Konietzko expressed satisfaction at the quality of the event, adding that he was impressed with the number of talents available in the country.

“I think we have so many talented athletes here in Nigeria and this competition has proven that African organisers are able to organise Canoe competitions on a very professional level.

“We have to develop sports in Africa and as a first important step, we need more regional competitions here.

“The lack of equipment is also another important issue and we have had meaningful discussions with the Federation on how we can help to engage more kids in the sport.

“With time, more African athletes will pick interest in the sport and even go ahead to qualify and compete for medals at the Olympic games,” he said.

Joao Afonso, 1st Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) said there was a need to create opportunities to discover and develop talents in the sport.

Afonso noted that more than 60 per cent of the African population were youths, adding that ANOCA was working hard to create conditions for them to practise and keep themselves busy with the sport.

“We have to change our African mentality because here we believe that the only sport existing is football.

“So, there is a need to change the narrative.

“We have a total of 42 sports at the Olympics, of which football is just one out of so many others,” he said.

Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) said the federation had the capacity to develop the sport at the grassroots, especially with the vast waterways and talents that abound in the country.

“It is very important to develop the sport at the grassroots and we have a lot of waterways and talents scattered everywhere in the country.

“We are in discussion with both the ICF president as well as other international organisations to provide the federation with more equipment.

“We from the NOC will continue to give them all the necessary support so they can be able to excel,” he said.

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Emmanuel Ogalla said he was happy that the event was the first of its kind, adding that he would like to see more editions in the years ahead.

He also stressed the need to schedule the event in other parts of the country to bring it closer to the reach of all Nigerians, especially at the grassroots.

“We thank our retired Admiral Porbeni for keeping the flag flying for all these years. He has indeed been representing us well in the sport.

“Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing is a principal sport in the Nigerian Navy and that is why we have taken it as part of our own responsibilities.

“We also know that sport is very important for youth development as it keeps them busy and fit so they can contribute meaningfully to national development.

“The Nigerian Navy will continue to give all the necessary support that is required to keep the federation running,” he said.

Festus Porbeni, President of the Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation, said the idea to organise the event came from his desire to ensure that the sport was developed at the grassroots.

“I found out that Nigeria was good in rowing theoretically but we were not practising it as much.

“So, I had to engage all stakeholders of the sport to ensure that we get fully involved in the sport.

“We now have boats here and manufacture them locally in Nigeria. It is a very good thing rather than importing from abroad,” he said.

He said the tournament helped the federation to discover new talents, adding that there were plans to expand as time went on.

“We want to ensure that we develop the sport at the grassroots, that’s why we organised it in Jos, Lagos, Imo and now Abuja.

“So, we are trying to project it as much as possible; anywhere there is a body of water in any part of the country we will explore the possibility of hosting the event there,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Victor Okoye

Team Nigeria on Sunday emerged as the overall winner of the maiden African Admiral Porbeni Canoe Race championships in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championships which also served as an Olympics pre-qualifier event began on Thursday ended on Sunday at the Jabi Boat Club, Abuja.

No fewer than 100 athletes from five African countries including, Ghana, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo and host Nigeria took part in the four-day event.

Team Nigeria amassed a total of 34 medals, including 21 gold gold, 11 silver and two bronze to emerge as the overall winners of the event.

Sao Tome and Principe with a total of 20 medals, including three gold, 11 silver and six bronze finished in the second position.

While, Senegal with a total of 16 medals, including one gold, three silver and 12 bronze settled for the third position.

Ghana with three bronze and Togo with two bronze medals finished in the fourth and fifth positions respectively.

The various race events competed for include; 500m KL3 women, 200m KL3 men, 1,000m K1 men, 1,000m K1 women, 1,000 C1 men, 1,000 C1 women, 5,000m K2 men and 200m K1 women.

Others were; 500m C2 men, 200m C1 women, 500m KL2 men, 200m KL2 men, 200m C1 men, 200m K1 men, 500m C1 women and 500m K1 women.

Nigeria’s Ayomide Bello finished as the overall best female athlete, winning three gold medals in all the three events she competed for including the 1,000m C1 women (5mins.06secs.50ms), 200m C1 women (55secs.57ms) and 500m C1 women(2mins.55secs..88ms)

Bello was ranked 13th in the 2019 World Championships in Hungary and also won four gold medals from four events as rower at the Admiral Porbeni Boat Race in 2021.

Also Nigeria’s youngest athlete Yinlayefa Godhelp won gold in two events which she competed for, including the 1000m K1 women (5mins. 16secs.54ms.) and 500m K1 women (3mins.01secs.50ms.) respectively.

Godhelp only discovered within the last 12 months has proven herself as a young sensation from the National Sports Festival, winning 500m C1 race.

She went on to represent Nigeria at the second Africa Beach Games in Tunisia 2023 where she finished an impressive fourth position in what was her first ever international event.

Other gold medalists were Temitope Olasupo in 200m(15secs.21ms) and 500m KL2 men ( 2mins.45secs.62ms) Pere Paghamotei in 200m C1 men (48secs.49ms), Blessing Amusan in 200m K1 women ( 1min.56secs.), Ayoola Amusan/Endurance Godhelp in 500m K2 men (2mins.06secs.21ms) and Joseph/Michael Moses in 500m C2 men (2mins.23secs.27ms)

Team Nigeria smiled home with a 3,000 dollars prize money, while Sao Tome and Principe pocketed 2,000 dollars with Senegal settling for 1,000 dollars.

Moses Michael, Team Nigeria’s Captain expressed joy at the team’s victory, adding that it wasn’t an easy feat even though everyone had high expectations for the team.

“Everyone expected us to win and the team spirit was very high.

“Our sport is not like football where you see pitches everywhere where you can train. Even if you see water, you won’t easily have access to the boat.

“So, it is very difficult to train and stay fit and if somebody is out of the sport for a month or two, there is no way you can get your fitness right within a week.

“But, we thank God that we did our best and the victory for us is a very good one,” he said.

On preparation of the team for the Olympics qualifiers in November and Paris 2024, Michael stressed on the need to open training camp early for the athletes, adding that the Olympics was already around the corner.

“We have already discussed as a team about what we want and are ready to present our request to the federation president.

“We are already planning to travel to Germany for another pre-qualifying event next month, so as to enable us amass enough points before the Olympic qualifiers in November.

“We also want to appeal to the Federal Government to assist us because November is around the corner and Olympics training is expected to commence immediately.

“Some athletes in other countries start preparing for the Olympics a year ahead of the event. So, it is very important we resume camp immediately,” he said.

NAN also reports that dignitaries at the event were Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff and Thomas Konietzko, the President, International Canoe Federation (ICF) and and Festus Porbeni, President of the Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation.

Others are Joao Afonso, the 1st Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and Habu Gumel, the president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza