Category: Sports

Marylove Edward and Usman Kushimo with outstanding performances have clinched gold medals at the 14 and under – female and male categories respectively of the 2018 ITF/CAT West and Central African Qualifiers held in Togo.

Marylove Edward emerged victorious over Koumba Niangadou with a 6-1, 6-0 win against her Malian opponent.

The win inspires great promise for the year 2018 for the tennis prodigy, who, at the age of 12, became the youngest player in Nigeria’s tennis history to reach the final of an open tournament.

In the boys’ 14 and under, Usman Kushimo defeated Mariano Kpodeziaou of Benin Republic 6-4, 6-3 to make it a double for Nigeria in the category.

The heroics of the duo, ensured Nigeria shot to the summit of the medals’ table at the expense of Cote d’Ivoire, which is fast emerging as the major threat to Nigeria’ s dominance of the annual regional championship.

The star player and top seed of the Francophone nation, Eliakim Coulibaly, proved phenomenal against Nigeria’s Gabriel Friday in the boys’ 16 and under final decided at the Stade Omnisports, Lome.

Nigeria also had to settle for less in the girls’ 16 and under, as Oyinlomo Quadri, who won gold last year had to settle for bronze after fending off the challenge of Serena Geli of Togo.

Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun with excellent performances for Sporting retain the 2018 Portuguese Cup played at High Performance Center in Caldas da Rainha.

Aruna Quadri started the whitewash against ADC Ponta do Pargo with a 3-0 victory (11-7, 11-9, 11-8) after beating Énio Mendes to give Sporting the confidence going into the second match.

Portuguese international, Diogo Carvalho increased the lead for Sporting with another 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-4) triumph of Nigeria-born Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu.

The partnership of Bode Abiodun and João Monteiro completed the 3-0 rout for Sporting as they defeated the duo of Idowu and Nigeria’s Jide Ogidiolu with a 3-1 (11-7, 14-12, 8-11, 14-12).

Since joining Sporting two seasons ago, Aruna Quadri has been instrumental to the team dominance of the Portuguese winning everything at stake in the league as well as becoming the first Portuguese team to feature in the ETTU Champions League and also making it to the quarterfinal of the championship.

In celebrating the victory, Aruna Quadri said:

“I am happy that we were able to retain this title because we worked hard for the title. It was not an easy win because every team in the league is now getting quality players and I must thank the management of Sporting for the huge support.

We will be playing the first leg of the ETTU Champions League this week against France’s Stella Sporta La Romagne and I hope that the win would help our confidence going into the Champions League quarterfinal match on Friday.”

Simidele Adeagbo becomes the first African woman to compete in the Skeleton category of the Winter Olympics.

Simidele Adeagbo, who will be joining the historic Nigerian bobsled team at the 2018 Winter Olympics, qualified after coming 3rd in her 5th qualifying race.

36-year-old Adeagbo is currently ranked 84th in the world, although she first time she ever touched a skeleton sled was in September 2017.

Continue reading Simidele Adeagbo Is Africa’s First Female Skeleton Athlete For Winter Olympics

Rivers United have been ranked the best Nigerian football club in 2017 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in its latest club world ranking.

In the IFFHS ranking covering the period between 1st January 2017 – 31st December 2017, Rivers United had 86 total points with an impressive leap from its position of 651 in 2016 to 221 in 2017.

Continue reading IFFHS Ranks Rivers United As Best Nigerian Football Club In 2017

Fortuna Sittard, coached by ex-Nigeria captain and manager Sunday Oliseh, has led the Dutch club to their first trophy in 23 years.

Sunday Oliseh guided Fortuna Sittard to a comfortable 2-1 win over Ajax Jong with the victory confirming Fortuna Sittard as winners of ‎the second period in the Eerste Divisie – their first silverware since 1995 after finishing as league leaders at the end of matchday 20.

The Fortuna Sittard Stadion outfit have recorded consecutive league wins over RKC Waalwijk, Den Bosch, Utrecht II, Go Ahead Eagles, Helmond Sport, PSV II and Jong Ajax in their last seven league games.

Fortuna Sittard’s last league defeat was a 1-0 loss to Cambuur on November 17, 2017. A single defeat between match day 12 and 20 in the second period of the Jupiler League.

In the words of Sunday Oliseh:

“We wanted to win this for the fans because they have not won anything in over 20 years, from a club that was dying in January to a club that is winning a Period title.

Our victory over Jong Ajax 2-1 today @FortunaSittard not only makes it a record 7 victories in a row but secures us the 2nd Period title. Fortuna’s 1st title in 23 years. God is Great!”

Sunday Oliseh’s side now sits at the summit of the Eerste Divisie log with 44 points from 20 games.

Asisat Oshoala has been named the 2017 CAF Women’s Player of the Year footballer in Accra, Ghana.

Asisat Oshoala previously won the award in 2014 and 2016. She beat Cameroonian Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa to the top prize.

In her words:

“2017 has truly been an emotional journey for me.

This is truly one of the best moments in my career. I want to encourage young girls out there to not let people discourage you and to follow your own heart.”

The former Arsenal Ladies and Liverpool Ladies player inspired her Chinese side Dalian Quanjian to a double with 19 goals – the club’s second title in their history and Cup double and she was crowned the League’s Best Striker.

10 Nigerians have now won ten (10) of the fifteen (15) CAF African Women Footballer of the Year Awards.

• 4 – Perpetua Nkwocha (2004, 2005, 2009, 2011)
• 3 – Asisat Oshoala (2014, 2016, 2017)
• 2 – Cynthia Uwak (2006, 2007)
• 1 – Mercy Akide (2001)

Winners have emerged at the 4th Nigeria Pitch Awards 2017 held in Uyo.

Asisat Oshoala, who was crowned 2016 Queen of the Pitch, beat fellow Super Falcons players Onome Ebi and Desire Oparanozie to the Queen of the Pitch award.

Continue reading Winners Of The 4th Nigeria Pitch Awards 2017