SPORTS
Kenya, Ethiopia Win Medals as Nigeria Breaks Records
At the end of Day 9 of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, there were spectacular performances from African countries who won a cumulative six medals in three events, but it wasn’t just the medals that generated all the discourse; two African records tumbled to cap off what had been a good day for the continent.
After years of toiling hard, Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir finally has a World title to his name, galloping with speed in the home straight and bolting his way to glory in the men’s 800m final.
The Olympic champion had fallen short three years ago in Doha, but he wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip from his grasp, digging deep to produce the much needed win.Korir finished strongly ahead of the impressive Marco Arop who had set the pace for him, but he went down an extra gear crossing the line in a Season’s Best of 1:43.71. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati also finished strongly, running hard to get Silver in 1:44.14, his country’s first medal at these World Championships.
In what was a tactical battle in the women’s 5000m, Gudaf Tsegay had more to cheer for after clinching gold, the first time she will be winning a World title. The Ethiopian set her stall early, sharing leads with her compatriot Letesenbet Gidey, and they even played mind-games with each other, talking to themselves mid-race.
But it was Tsegay who outwitted the field, sprinting out from the final bend, en route winning gold in a time of 14:46.29. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet got the Silver in 14:46.75, while Dawit Seyaum held on to Bronze in 14:47.36 to complete an Ethiopian 1-3 on the podium.
Meanwhile in the field events, Hugues Fabrice Zango is a gift that keeps giving for Burkina Faso. For the umpteenth time he became his country’s sole medallist at a major championship, leaping a distance of 17.55m to clinch Silver in the men’s triple jump event.
Prior to the 2019 World Championships, no athlete from Burkina Faso had ever won a World Championships medal, but Zango successfully ensured his country got on the podium yet again, winning his second consecutive World Championships medal.
Zango isn’t just repping the Green, Red and yellow star of the Burkinabe flag, he was sailing on the wings of the African continent, being the only African athlete who made it to the final of this event. In fact, he was one of only two African athletes who even qualified for the Triple Jump in Eugene.
Perhaps one of the best performances of the day came in women’s 100m Hurdles, where Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan led qualifications across heats, racing to yet another African Record of 12.40s to emerge fastest in all the six heats. Amusan was blistering, flying over the hurdles in quick pace to suggest that she is in a good shape to finally exorcise the demons of not having won a global medal.
“I did not know I was going that fast. The aim was just to qualify. At these championships, I am aiming on the podium for sure and want to take the fastest time, trying to execute well. I trust my hard work so I am just going to come out here and do what I have to do-” Amusan said after the race.
She has now broken the African Record three times in a space of 10months, indicative of a lady in the form of her life and what she is capable of. It might still be early days with two more rounds left on Sunday, but going into the semis with the fastest time ahead of your closest challenger at 12.48s, should give her a big boost.
On the other hand, a Nigerian team was also at the end of another African Record, this time women’s 4x100m, who broke the 30-year-old record of 42.39s set at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, racing to a new AR of 42.22s.
The quartet of Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma & Grace Nwokocha got the stick round in 4th place, almost making it to the podium, but narrowly missed out to Germany who got the Bronze.
The Nigerian National League (NNL) side, Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, has trimmed its squad and retained a few quality players to push for promotion to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
Lobi Stars Chairman Simon Ikya made the disclosure in a statement signed by Austin Tyowua, Principal Media Officer to the club, and made it available to newsmen on Thursday in Makurdi.
Ikya said that the club took the decision after a meeting with all the players and technical staff at McCarthy Stadium, Makurdi.
The chairman explained that the decision was rooted in duty rather than dislike.
He stated that the players on the exit list would be granted clearance at the end of April once their entitlements were settled.
Ikya added that for those retained, there would be no room for laxity.
The chairman urged them to tighten their belts, keep the focus, and drive the Federation Cup campaign all the way to its final stop.
Meanwhile, the list of retained players was read out by the head coach, John Onuh.
The Kogi State Government has pledged to prioritise the development of basketball in the state to boost the sport’s profile and promote youth engagement.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Anyebe, made the pledge at the inauguration of the Kogi State Basketball Association on Tuesday in Lokoja.
Anyebe assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to the development of basketball under the administration of Gov.
Ahmed Ododo.Represented by the Director of Sports in the state, James Igah, the commissioner said the administration would focus on nurturing basketball, particularly in rural areas, to enhance youth development.
He added that the government would collaborate with the association to promote sports development across the state.
Anyebe urged the newly inaugurated executives of the association to come up with innovative ideas to advance the sport.
Responding, the Chairman of the Kogi State Basketball Association, Mustapha Abdullahi, reaffirmed his commitment to the growth of basketball in the state.
Abdullahi, who is also the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, commended the state government for its efforts in promoting sports development.
A top US lawmaker called on FIFA to pay for World Cup public transportation costs on Tuesday following a report that local authorities in New Jersey are planning massive price hikes during the tournament.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said on X that football’s world governing body — which stands to earn $11 billion from the tournament — should foot the bill for transport costs to World Cup venues.
Schumer was responding to a report in The Athletic on Tuesday, which said New Jersey Transit is planning to charge fans more than $100 for tickets from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during the World Cup.
A return ticket for the journey normally costs $12.90.
“FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill,” Schumer commented.
“The least FIFA can do is ensure New York residents can go to the stadium without being gouged at the turnstile. I am demanding FIFA step up and cover transportation costs for host cities and states.
“New York commuters and residents should not subsidise an $11 billion windfall.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also took aim at the reported price hike.
“The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible,” Hochul wrote on X. “Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me.”
NJ Transit did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP.
The Athletic quoted a spokesperson for the agency as saying that no firm decision had been taken on World Cup ticket pricing.
“The ticket prices for match day travel have not been finalised, and any reference to cost would be unconfirmed speculation,” the spokesperson said.
The Athletic report cited NJ Transit sources as saying that the cost of laying on services for the eight matches due to be held at MetLife Stadium — including the final on July 19 — would cost around $48 million.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has said the state will not pass on the cost of transportation to local taxpayers.
“We are not going to be paying for moving the people who are viewing the World Cup on the back of New Jersey taxpayers and New Jersey commuters,” Sherrill said on Monday.
The issue of public transport fare hikes affecting World Cup venues also emerged in Boston, where the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed earlier this month that return tickets from the city to Gillette Stadium would cost $80 — up from the usual price of $20.
Joseph Undu Bags National Safety Personality Award in Lagos
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja Award-winning Nigerian journalist and security analyst, Joseph Saater Undu, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Safety...
FG Reaffirms Commitment to ACReSAL Project at Mid-Term Review in Kaduna
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has reaffirmed its commitment to the successful implementation...
Mutfwang Holds Close Door with Former State Governors
ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, Jos Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has convened a strategic meeting with former governors of the state towards addressing the security challenges bedevilling the state. The meeting held...
Lobi Stars Trim Squad to Push for Promotion
ShareThe Nigerian National League (NNL) side, Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, has trimmed its squad and retained a few quality players to push for promotion to the...
Pope Criticises ‘Tyrants’ Who Spend Billions on Wars after Trump Spat
SharePope Leo has criticised leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants” in unusually forceful comments during a...
Nigerian Men Scared of Bold, Confident Women, Phyna Claims
ShareFormer Big Brother Naija winner, Josephine Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has claimed that she is still single because Nigerian...
Residents Decry Persistent Power Outage in Abuja Community
ShareBy Raphael Atuu, Abuja Residents of Waru District in Apo, within Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, are raising the alarm over what they...
2027: Tinubu Meets Coordinators, Renews Plea for Unity, Rule of Law
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has called for unity, resilience and renewed commitment to nation-building, urging Nigerians to...
Gunmen Abduct 14 UTME Candidates in Benue Enroute Exams Centre
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi A wave of concern has trailed the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) nationwide following the...
Army Honours Fallen Heroes as Brig. Gen. Braimah, Others Laid to Rest in Maiduguri
ShareFrom Muhammad Muhammad Al-amin, Maiduguri The Nigerian Army has conducted a solemn burial ceremony for Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Captain...