SPORTS
Safety Shooters Down Tojemarine Academy in Handball Premier League
The Safety Shooters male handball team of Abuja yesterday defeated Tojemarine Academy of Lagos 24-19 on match day five of the 2021 Prudent Energy Handball Premier League.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victory gave Safety Shooters, who are the event’s defending champions, the opportunity to maintain their lead in the competition.
The team owned by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was recording their fourth victory in the 11-team male category of the league at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The Safety Shooters had earlier defeated Plateau Vipers 22-18, won 33-19 in their second match against Kada Stars and 31-18 against Police Machine.
Tojemarine Academy on their part have defeated Rima Strikers 24-23, lost 21-27 in their second match against confluence, and earned a walk-over against COAS.
Speaking after the match, the coach of Tojemarine Academy, Musa Ojisabo, told NAN that the loss to Safety shooters was inevitable.
“When you are up against an experienced team and you have players that are just coming up, such is expected.
“They are of different levels and their (Safety Shooters) performance level is high, given that they are the defending champions, but we tried to manage our players to concede few goals.
“We will however work harder as we approach the remaining matches. We are going to push the players to maintain our position in the league and avoid relegation.
“Our players’ ages range from 17 to 20 years and they are new, but we will believe that in our next matches they will do better. We will work harder to improve,” he said.
NAN reports that Tojemarine Academy of Lagos will on Tuesday face Lagos Seasiders while the Safety Shooters will meet Kano Pillars.
In another match played in the league on Monday, Confluence Stars defeated Plateau Vipers 22-20.
NAN reports that a total of 21 teams, comprising 10 female and 11 male teams, are participating in the premier league.
The league, which commenced on Thursday, will end on Nov. 3. (NAN)
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.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award for the best female goalkeeper.
The 24-year-old recently joined Brighton Women FC from Paris FC after helping the French side win their first major title in nearly two decades.
Nnadozie delivered a heroic performance in the final of the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine, where Paris FC edged Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw at Stade de l’Épopée in Calais.She was also instrumental in Nigeria’s success at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Super Falcons secured a record-extending 10th continental crown against host nation, Morocco.
Her standout displays earned her the Best Goalkeeper award and a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Other nominees for the Yachine Trophy include Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Cata Coll (Barcelona Femeni), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea Women) and Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal Women).
Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained 36th position in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking.
The latest ranking was released on FIFA’s official website yesterday.
While the Super Falcons remain the number one team in Africa, WAFCON 2024 runners-up Morocco are third on the continent and dropped to 64th spot in the world.
Former WAFCON champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa maintained 54th place in the world and second in Africa.
Ghana’s Black Queens who claimed third place at the WAFCON dropped to 67th position in the global ranking.
The Super Falcons recently won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after coming from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Second half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and substitute Jennifer Echegini completed the turnaround.
Okoronkwo, scored a goal and provided two assists against the Moroccans was Named Player of the Match.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Captain Rasheedat Ajibade won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Meanwhile, World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024.
The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024.
However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the USA in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind Spain.
The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them.
France completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.
The next edition of the Women’s World Ranking will be published on 11 December 2025.
Abia APC Group Tackles Gov Otti Over N54bn ‘Phantom’ Projects in Schools
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja As the purported expenditure of over N54 billion by the administration of Governor Alex Otti on...
Tambuwal Was Arrested to Weaken Structure of ADC in North West, Says Ex-APC Chieftain, Ojo
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja A Security Expert and former Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan...
Kogi Community, Takete Hold Annual Festival Oct 25
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The Central Planning Committee (CPC) of the annual Takete Ide Day (TID)festival has announced October 25...
Tambuwal Detention: Continuation of agenda to Harass, Intimidate, Decimate Opposition – Atiku
ShareBy Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja Former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar has said that the only reason former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal...
Customs Hands over Seized Items worth N10bn to Relevant Agencies
ShareBy Tony Obiechina Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for illegal and substandard imports following...
Wale Edun Commends Lotus Capital’s Leadership in Non-interest Finance
ShareBy Tony Obiechina Abuja The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has commended Lotus Capital’s...
Ododo Promises Engagement of Youths in Policy Formulation
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo has promised that youths in the state would be effectively engaged...
Int’l Youth Day: Make Youth Devt National Priority, Akpua Tells Govt
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja Founder of the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD), Dr. Hillary Akpua, has...
Int’l Centre for Protocol, Diplomacy UK Partners with NCAA to Uplift African Aviation Industry
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa The city of Enugu, Nigeria recently became the epicenter of aviation innovation as the International Centre...
I Believe in Polygamy but it’s Very Challenging, Says Varsity Don
ShareFrom Aliyu Askira, Kano A lecturer with Kaduna State University, Bilqeesu Abubakar said as a Muslim she believes in the...
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish