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ITTF World Table-Tennis Championships: Quadri, Mati Advance to Round of 64

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Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Taiwo Mati have both advanced to the round of 64 at the ongoing 2023 ITTF World Table-Tennis Championships finals in Durban, South Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World number 12 Quadri defeated Ovidiu Ionescu of Romania 4-2 (11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9) in a men’s singles round of 128 encounter.

Quadri who is also Africa’s number one ranked player, was on the front foot early in the match as he took a 2-0 lead against his opponent ranked number 109.

Ionescu looked poised to stage a comeback as he broke Quadri’s serve in the third set to make it 2-1, but it was short-lived as the Nigerian bounced back in the fourth for a 3-1 lead.

The Romanian had another short spell in the fifth as he narrowed the gap to 3-2, but Quadri came back roaring in the fifth and final set to make it 4-2.

He overpowered his opponent as he ammased a superior point of 60 as against the Romanian’s 53 with his biggest lead (6) coming in the fourth set to advance to the round of 64.

Also, campatriot Taiwo Mati pulled a stunning comeback victory from the brinks of two sets down to win Czech’s Lubomir Jancarik 4-2 (7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8) in another round of 128 fixture.

World number 94 Jancarik looked to dominate and impose his game early on Mati who is currently 99 on the ITTF rankings as he took the first two sets in quick successions.

But the 18 year-old Nigerian was resilient, showing character and mental strength to upset his opponent against all odds.

He came back strong in the third set and never looked back from then on, hitting his opponent with his trademark left-handed attacks in the final third to progress to the round of 64.

In the women’s singles round of 124 fixtures, Nigeria’s world number 61 ranked player Fatimo Bello walked over Liopa Santhy of Vanuatu 4-0 to advance to the round of 64.

However, Nigeria’s other representative in the women’s singles event, world number 154, Olufunke Oshonaike crashed out after she lost 0-4 (7-11, 4-11, 6-11, 7-11) to world number 153, Charlotte Lutz of France.

Lutz proved too strong for the Nigerian as she totally dominated her opponent with 44 overall points won as against Oshonaike’s 24 with her biggest lead of 7 coming in the first and fourth set.

In the men’s doubles event, the pair of Bode Abiodun and Quadri were knocked out as they lost 2-3 (14-16, 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 3-11) to the duo of Hungry’s Nandor Ecseki and Adam Szudi in a round of 64 encounter.

While the pair of Nigeria’s Cecilia Akpan and Offiong Edem also crashed out of the women’s doubles event after losing 0-3 (5-11, 3-11, 10-12) to the duo of Hungary’s Dora Madarasz and Georgina Pota in the round of 64.

The week-long 2023 ITTF World Table-Tennis Championships which served off on Saturday will end on Sunday in Durban, South Africa. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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SPORTS

Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles Hand Mali First Win in 49 Years

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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)

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Wrestling : 4 Nigerian Wrestlers Secure Olympic Qualification in Egypt

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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)

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Flying Eagles Crash Out of  African Games

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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)

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