SPORTS
Nigeria Shines in All Africa Para-Badminton Championship
Nigeria continued its dominance of the Para Games as the nation’s athletes won a total of thirteen medals at the just concluded All Africa Para-Badminton Championship held in Kampala to top the medals table.
Nigeria represented by highly rated Athletes clinched eight gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the championship held at MTN Arena, Lugogo stadium, Kampala, Uganda.
Nnanna Jeremiah Chigozie and Bolaji Mariam Eniola won three gold medals each to replicate their performance at the Uganda International Para-Badminton Championship held at the same venue last week.
Nnanna Jeremiah Chigozie/Bolaji Mariam Eniola subdued the pairs of Mohammed Ismail (EGY)/Martha Cheve (ZAM) 21-8, 21-5(2-0) to clinch gold in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5.
In the Women’s doubles SL3-SU5 final, Eniola paired Okoro Chiyere to beat Sumini Mutesi-Rose Nansereko (UGD) in two straight sets, 21-5, 21-8.
The golden girl, Eniola sent home girl Elizabeth Mwesigwa of Uganda packing in the Women’s Singles SL3 21-9, 21-4 (2-0) while Chiyere Okoro edged out Morenike Oloutou of Benin Republic 21-11, 19-21, 21-16 (2-1) in the final of Women’s Singles SL4+SU5.
Nanna Chigozie exercised his dominance on Hassan Muniru of Ugandan 21-14, 21-5(2-0) in the Men’s singles SL4 final while the combination of Olanipekun Gbenga and Akpan James recorded another gold for Nigeria in the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 beating Hassan Muniru and David Mukisa 21-9, 21-9(2-0).
Ijeoma Gift lost to Shaimaa Abdelatif of Egypt 14-21, 10-21(0-2) in the Women’s Singles WH2 final while it was all Nigerians affairs in the SL3 Men’s singles final as Chukwuebuka Eze defeated Olanipekun Gbenga 21-19, 14-21, 21-17 (2-1).
Nnanna Chigozie and Bolaji Mariam Eniola won Gold in the Mixed doubles SL3-SU5 while Okoro Chiyere clinched gold in the Women’s Singles SL4+SU5 Combine.
In the Men’s SL3-SL4 doubles, Olanipekun Gbenga and Eze Chukwuebuka won Gold for Nigeria while Eze combined with Nnanna Chigozie to pick gold in the SU5 Men’s doubles.
WH2 Gift Ijeoma- Silver, Men’s singles WH2 Ohaeri Emmanuel -Bronze, Mixed doubles WH1-2 Ohaeri Emmanuel -Sylvia Nakenda-Bronze.
Speaking on the success recorded by the Nigerian team, the President, of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, BFN, Francis Orbih, thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria for the support given to the Badminton Federation which enabled the country’s contingent to participate in both the international and continental tournaments.
He stated that he was particularly happy with the performance of the team at the two championships which were qualifiers for Paris 2024 Paralympics. “The federation is determined to ensure that Nigeria continues to present quality representation at all competitions”, Francis said.
Following are the results of Match Day 1 fixtures in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday and dates of the remaining fixtures:
Akwa United FC 1-1 Abia Warriors FC
Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Kano Pillars FC
Katsina United FC 1-1 Bendel Insurance FC
Niger Tornadoes FC 0-0 Nasarawa United FC
Shooting Stars FC 1-1 Plateau United FC
El Kanemi Warriors Vs Kwara United FC (postponed )
The following Match Day two fixtures
Would be played on Sept.
25:Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers international FC
Enyimba international FC Vs Lobi stars FC .
(NAN)
Following are the results of remaining Match Day one fixtures played on Sunday in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)Heartland FC 1-3 Enyimba international FCKwara United FC 1-2 Niger Tornadoes FCBendel Insurance FC 0-0 Rivers United FCPlateau United FC 1-0 Katsina United FCKano Pillars FC 3-0 Ikorodu City FCSunshine Stars FC 3-0 Bayelsa United FCAbia Warriors FC 0-2 Remo Stars FCNasarawa United FC 1-1 Shooting Stars FC.
(NAN)
The interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, said his team can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.
Eguavoen stated this after his team spanked the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
“We have quality players to beat any team but we respect team anyway.
Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceived your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,“he said.
Equavoen attributed the victory to the formation adopted by the technical crew, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.
“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know with the caliber of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation.
“Football is about you win, lose and draw, I don’t believe we have a poor result,” he said.
He, however, said that the former Super Eagles coach didn’t do a good job but it has to do with believe, what is at stake and what you want to achieve.
“Psychologically as a group, we are agreed, where we are and where we are going to be. We will definitely achieve it,” Equavoen said.
He commended the performance of the defence , describing it as superb, adding that the team had been training together for one week.
The coach said that asking six players to warm up for the second half was to buy time, adding that there was no need to rush to change.
He said the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a good team, adding that they came with a good game plan.
Report says that Eguavoen was appointed interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and coach Bruno Labbadia failed.
NFF explained in a statement that it failed due to the stringent regulations of German tax authorities.(NAN)
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