Sports
Ex-US Basketball Player Rates Zenith Playoffs High
The Players’ Representa
tive on the Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Olumide Oyedeji, has said that the just-concluded 2013/2014 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League Playoffs was one of the best in recent times.
Oyedeji made the assertion while reviewing the competition which was held in June in Lagos.
He said the inclusion of the All Stars game among the best 24 selected players of the championship for the first time further brought the entertainment to spectators.
Oyedeji, a former U.S.-based professional basketball player, said the introduction of the veteran’s game and the three points shoot out were part of the side attractions that made the championship more glamorous.
“We are happy about this edition, we wanted to bring something new to celebrate with our sponsors Zenith Bank for their 10 years unwavering support to the development of the game.
“We also wanted to add some more interesting aspects for the participants and the fans.
“The veterans’ game was important because we wanted to recognise those who have been a core part of the championship, hopefully, we will continue with this concept,” Oyedeji said.
First Bank of Lagos emerged the 2013/2014 champions.
A determined First Bank fought hard to overcome the former four-time champions, First Deepwater, 64-61 in their semi-final clash and began to believe that the championship could be theirs.
However, they still had to face high flying Dolphins Club of Lagos, 65-51 to finally clinch their sixth title having waited for four years.
Ironically, it was Dolphins who halted First Bank progress in their semi-final clash of the 2012/2013 edition which was later won by First Deepwater.
According to Scot Nnaji, the coach of the national female team, D’Tigress, First Bank, First Deepwater and Dolphins can be regarded as the elite teams of the competition.
“The likes of First Bank, First Deepwater and Dolphins are obviously the best teams in the championship.
“They have the best organisational structure and a very good culture of developing youths through basketball.
“They have also been in the forefront for many years and with their passion for the game they will always dominate the scene for many years to come,’’ Nnaji said.
However, Aderemi Adewunmi, First Bank coach, expressed satisfaction over his team’s performance.
He stressed that his team was the best team in the championship, adding that his side was well prepared for the championship psychologically and physically.
“We played well throughout the campaign and clearly deserved to win the trophy at the end.
“However, we still had to work hard all through and did not allow any complacency to set in until we were crowned champions.
“It is a great achievement for us winning our sixth title, because we have waited for five years to win this title, so it is precious to us,’’ Adewunmi said.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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