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Benue Braves Coach Confident of Finals Ticket After Whipping Rivers Hoopers

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Regina Akpera, the Head Coach of Benue Braves Basketball Club of Makurdi, says her team is confident of achieving the maximum goal at the Basketball Final Eight Championship in Lagos.

Akpera told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that their team spirit was very high after they beat Rivers Hoopers 78-66 to reach the semi-finals.

She said the team’s fighting spirit gave them the victory and they were confident the performance could spur them to reaching their first-ever final match at the Final Eight Championship.

“We played well and we are determined from the begining to the end and never allowed Rivers Hoopers to dominate at any point.

“Personally I dedicate the victory to God Almighty, because this achievement has been long overdue.

“Our team is very young but very energetic and the fighting spirit is very high and this has kept us believing from the begining that we are the team to watch out for,” the coach said.

Similarly, David Mustapha, the team’s captain, expressed the determination of the team to progress into the final.

He said the team was very strong and coordinated, with the desire to play and win together.

Mustapha said this was what motivated them to do well and play strongly against any opposition.

“We are here to prove a point and we shall stop at nothing to prove our capabilities. We play together as a team and believe strongly that we can go beyond the semi-finals.

“To berth in the final match will be a dream come true and as long as we stick together, we can achieve. I believe strongly in our team spirit,” he said.

In results of the final group games played on Thursday, Kano Pillars crushed Lagos Islanders 78-39, while Gombe Bulls demolished Police Batons 74-39.

Nigeria Customs had to endure two overtime plays to beat hard-fighting Kwara Falcons 80-72 to also record their win.

NAN reports that the competition’s semi-finals will see Kwara Falcons up against Benue Braves while Rivers Hoopers face Nigeria Customs on Friday.(NAN)(

SPORTS

Tottenham Interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze

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Tottenham FC are exploring a deal for Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze.

Thomas Frank is looking to bolster his options in the final third after attacking midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

South Korea forward Son Heung-min left the club after 10 years earlier this month having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, while midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is still out after knee surgery.

Thus Eze has scored 14 goals across all competitions for Palace last season, including in their 1-0 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The 27-year-old made his England debut in 2023 and has won 11 caps for the Three Lions, including three appearances at Euro 2024.

Tottenham are also in talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinhobut multiple sources have indicated that Eze is now emerging as a player of serious interest for Spurs.

There is no confirmation whether Tottenham will look to progress with deals for both Brazil winger Savinho and Eze.

Arsenal also have an interest in Eze but are currently looking at trying to move players on, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira set to leave.

However, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham’s active interest in Eze results in Arsenal accelerating a move for the England international.

Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m in 2020 and has scored 40 goals in 168 appearances.

His contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire in the summer of 2027.

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Liverpool Stepping up bid to Sign Palace’s Guehi

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Liverpool are stepping up their attempts to sign Crystal Palace and England center-back Marc Guehi.

Palace captain Guehi has a year left on his contract, but Chairman Steve Parish said earlier this week he could be sold this summer to avoid him moving on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

Sources have said that Liverpool have held initial talks with a view to signing the 25-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts.

Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.

The 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.

Guehi was the subject of bids worth up to £65m from Newcastle last year.

The FA Cup winners are believed to want £40m for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.

The Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.

They have also had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though sources have said the Swede remains determined to move to Anfield.

Signing Guehi and Isak would take Liverpool’s summer spending above £400m.

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Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

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The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.

7 and Aug.
10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.

“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.

Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.

He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.

Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).

The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.

“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.

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