SPORTS
Elephant Girls Lift Sam Oguche Basketball Trophy
The FirstBank Female Basketball Team, the Elephants Girls, yesterday defeated MFM Queens in the finals of Sam Oguche Basketball competition.
With the victory, the Elephant Girls once again proved their team as a force to be reckoned with in the Nigeria basketball circle.
The event, held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Surulere, in Lagos, saw the Bankers overrun Olukoya Queens by 52-40 in the keenly contested encounter.
The match, dubbed a one-sided affair by fans, commenced on a fast pace with the former African Champions dominating their opponent in the first quarter by 16-6.
The Second quarter saw the Bankers consolidating their hold on the lead with another excellent performance, winning 28-14.
Although the MFM Queens fought back in the third quarter, their resolve had little or no effect as FirstBank Female Basketball team held on to the lead.
Cheered on by their teaming fans in the fourth Quarter, the Elephant girls showed their resolve to maintain their position as the best female Basketball team in Nigeria and one of the best on the continent, with their victory by 52-40.
Satisfied with the performance of the girls, the Coach, Lati Erinfolami, said that the team would continue to work hard to maintain the high standard they are noted for.
“It was a good game. The girls were determined to excel and that was why they dominated from the beginning to the end. I will continue to encourage them to work. This is just the beginning for us this season.
“With the team’s current form, it’s safe to say the team will replicate their victory runs in the ongoing Dr D K Olukoya Basketball tournament in Lagos,” the coach said. (NAN)
SPORTS
Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles Hand Mali First Win in 49 Years
The Super Eagles were given a reality check by Mali’s Les Aigles as they succumbed to a 0-2 defeat in a friendly game in Marrakech, Morocco on Tuesday.
Reports says that the rare win by the Malians against Nigeria was their first in 49 years.
Goals by El Bilal Toure and Kamory Doumbia sealed the win for Mali.
The last time Mali defeated the Super Eagles was on Sept.
5, 1975, also in a friendly which ended 4-1.Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Eagles were unbeaten in eight straight fixtures against the Malians, recording five wins and three draws.
Interim coach, Finidi George, gave starting shirts to Jamilu Collins, Raphael Onyedika, and Kenneth Omeruo.
The trio replaced Bruno Onyemaechi, Frank Onyeka and Benjamin Tanimu, who all featured in the 2-1 win against Ghana on Friday.
The Malians dominated the early stages of the game and almost took the lead less than five minutes into the game, but were denied by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The breakthrough for Mali eventually came in the 14th minute as El Bilal Toure capitalised on a defensive error by Nigeria to score.
The Eagles were forced into a first half change as Moses Simon went off injured in 34th minute and was replaced by Cyriel Dessers.
The early part of the second half saw the Super Eagles start brightly but the Malian defence held firm.
Despite starting the half on a positive note, it was Mali who almost doubled their lead but the Eagles defence intercepted a dangerous cross from the left.
Dessers was presented an opportunity in the 65th minute as he was sent through on goal but blasted his shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Iheanacho had a chance of his own barely a minute later, but took a low shot which was parried away for a corner.
With 12 minutes left, the Eagles won a freekick in a decent position but Iheanacho’s floated attempt was again cleared away by the keeper.
Mali then doubled their lead in the 87th minute thanks to Kamory Doumbia who raced into the Eagles’ 18 yard box and fired past Nwabali to earn his side a well deserved win.
Up next for the Super Eagles is the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June against South Africa who held Algeria to a 3-3 draw at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Tuesday. (NAN)
SPORTS
Wrestling : 4 Nigerian Wrestlers Secure Olympic Qualification in Egypt
Four Nigerian Wrestlers on Saturday qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics in their various events at the ongoing African championships and Olympics qualifiers in Alexandria, Egypt.
Reports says that the wrestlers will now join Odunayo Adekuoroye, who secured qualification in 2023 after winning a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg category at the World Championships in Belgrade.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist Blessing Oburududu booked a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a 2-0 pinfall victory over Uilau Tarkong of Palau in the 68kg.
World Military Champion, Hannah Reuben Pipped Amy Youin of Cote D’Ivoire 6-0 in the 76kg category to secure Olympics slot in Paris .
Esther Kolawole joined the list of Nigerian athletes going to Paris for the Olympics after overcoming Angelina Rodrigues of Cape Verde 10-0.
African Games champion, Christiana Ogunsanya in the 53kg category overpowered Egyptian Shaimaa Mohamed 10-0 to secure qualification.
However, Mercy Genesis narrowly missed out on Paris Olympics in this window after a 5-7 defeat to Nada
Mohamed of Egypt in the 50kg weight class.
Reports says that five female wrestlers will represent the country in the Paris 2024 Olympics .
NAN reports that Nigerian male freestyle wrestlers will hope to join their female counterparts on Sunday when they take to the mat.
Sunday will be the final day of this window’s qualifiers.
NAN reports that the remaining Olympic slots will be decided on May 9 to 12 at the 2024 World Qualification Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.
NAN reports that the African championships and Olympic qualifiers which started on Monday in Alexandria, Egypt is expected to end Sunday.(NAN)
SPORTS
Flying Eagles Crash Out of African Games
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been knocked out of the men’s football event of the 2023 African Games in Ghana after a 3-2 defeat by Senegal.
Reports says that the Flying Eagles took an early lead in the second minute through Charles Agada in the match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening.
Idrissa Traore, however, equalised for Senegal in the 21st minute when his low shot beat the time in the encounter.
Chibuzor Izuogu put Nigeria back into the game when he equalised to make it 2-2 through a brilliant free kick.
Pape Diouf converted from the spot for the winning goal to send Senegal to the semi finals.
The Flying Eagles ended their campaign with only one victory against South Sudan, losing their opening match 2-1 to Uganda and 3-2 to Senegal.
Nigeria finished third in the group behind Uganda and Senegal, with South Sudan coming fourth.
After the match, Bosso said he was disappointed at the result and blamed poor preparation for the performance.
“I’m disappointed because this game was the best we have played so far in this tournament.
” I didn’t have enough time to scout for players and what I did was to watch few games in Uyo and other places .That’s where I saw the two Enyimba players, Daga and Chibueze,” Bosso said.
Nigeria won the men’s football silver at the last African Games in Rabat, Morocco in 2019 after a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in the final.(NAN)