SPORTS
Tunisia Beat Cote D’Ivoire to Successfully Defend AfroBasket Title
Tunisia on Sunday won the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket title, after beating Cote d’Ivoire 78-75 on Sunday at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda.
It was the Tunisians’ third AfroBasket title, having claimed the trophy in 2011 in Madagascar, and the 2017 edition of the tournament at home.
With the win, Tunisia became the first team to win back-to-back AfroBasket titles since Angola in 2009.
Omar Abada finished with 10 points, while Michael Roll was magnificent by contributing 18 points and nine assists.
Makram Ben Romdhane contributed eight points and 10 rebounds and Salah Mejri came up with 22 points and six rebounds for Tunisia.
Makram Ben Romdhane was named the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Most Valuable Player.
Souleyman Diabate was 4-of-5 from behind the arc to finish with a game-high 22 points, and his teammate Jean-Francois Kebe added 10 points in the losing cause.
Cote d’Ivoire had a strong start to the game, but Tunisia regrouped in time to close the opening quarter with a 25-18 lead.
Tunisia went for the break leading 47-34.
The Tunisians had stepped on the court with one primary goal: to neutralise Cote d’Ivoire’s key player Matt Costello.
And the Tunisians’ plan worked to perfection as AfroBasket debutant Costello did not score his first two points until four minutes into the third quarter.
In spite of the 13-point deficit at the break, Cote d’Ivoire opened the third quarter with a sense of urgency.
The Ivorians used a 10-2 run to cut the reduce the damage to five points (49-44), forcing Dirk Bauermann to call a time-out to reorganise his troops.
Soon after Cote d’Ivoire’s short-lived resurgence, Tunisia responded with a 5-0 run for a 57-46 lead.
And even though Salah Mejri had picked his fourth foul with 4:10 minutes left in the third quarter, which forced Bauermann to rest him, the African champions never panicked.
They kept total control of their AfroBasket 2021 destiny.
Cheered by a significant portion of fans inside the Kigali Arena, Cote d’Ivoire rallied to single-digits in the fourth quarter.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Souleyman Diabate, who came up with an outstanding performance, converted a three-point, followed by a free-throw, cutting the points gap to just three points (78-75).
That was the moment the Ivorians’ last hope of staying in contention happened, especially after Tunisia turned the ball over with 10 seconds left.
However, after a timeout called by Natxo Lezcano, Costello who had been superb throughout the tournament turned the ball over to allow the Tunisians’ celebration.
Cote d’Ivoire tried time and time again to try and reverse the score, but trailing by 16 early in the game proved costly to the team that last won a AfroBasket title back in 1985.
Tunisia closed their FIBA AfroBasket 2021 campaign with a perfect 6-0 record.(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)