Sports
NTTF Postpones Trials For Commonwealth Games
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has postponed the planned final trials to select players for the Commonwealth Games holding in New Delhi in October.
The trials were initially scheduled to hold at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, between June 22 and June 23.
NTTF secretary Segun Oguntade told newsmen in Lagos yesterday that the trials were postponed because the venue was not available for that period.
“We went to confirm the date on Monday at the Liberty Stadium only to be informed that a basketball tournament had been scheduled for the venue before we booked our date,’’ Oguntade said.
He said the trials would now take place on June 24 and June 25 at the Liberty Stadium.
Oguntade said the trials, at which the players’ skills and experience would be assessed, were compulsory as players for the Games would be selected during the exercise.
“We want to use the trials to actually assess their individual performances so as to select the competent ones who will represent the country in New Delhi in October,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, 20 home-based players, 10 male and 10 females, who were selected at the second stage of trials held in April, were currently in camp, he said.
These players, he said, would be joined by their foreign-based counterparts such as Segun Toriola, Seun Ajetumobi, Monday Merotohun, Abiodun Bode and Funke Oshinaike.
“Letters have been sent to them to be available for the trials which incidentally comes up during their off season,’’ Oguntade added.
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CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.
He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.
According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.
“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.
Sports
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.
Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.
Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.
Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.
The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.
Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.
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