Connect with us

Sports

3SC Return To Premier League

Published

12 years ago

on

Shooting Stars have
returned to the elite league in Nigeria after they pipped closest rivals Akwa Starlets 1-0 at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan on Saturday.
Shooting Stars, who were relegated to lower division last season, finished top of NNL Division B with 50 points from 30 matches.
Gabros also gained promotion from Division B after they won 2-0 at Ekiti United on Saturday.
Elated Oyo State commissioner for youth and sports, Umar Farouk Arisekola Alao, saluted the victorious Shooting Stars.
He said, “I’m so happy today with the performance of the team and they really made the state proud because this is the first time the team will be promoted instantly after 35 years. This is a new beginning and we are going to prepare well for the Nigeria Premier League Football.”
Experienced defender Sylvanus Ebiaku gave 3SC an early lead in fifth minute from the penalty spot after Okiki Afolabi was fouled inside the box.
Overall, it was a fitting final match between 3SC and Akwa Starlets, who gave a very good account of themselves in the first half.
Shooting Stars coach Franklin Howard shed tears of joy after his club won promotion back to Nigeria premier league over the weekend.
Howard wept uncontrollably after 3SC pipped Akwa Starlets 1-0 courtesy of a Sylvanus Ebiaku penalty goal in the fifth minute for the Ibadan to finish top of Nigeria National League Division B with 50 points.
Howard, who also gained promotion in 2010 with ‘The Oluyole Warriors’, said his tears were that of joy and accomplishment.
“I’m so happy today for the trust the management of the team has in me and the encouragement from the fans after my appointment here,” he said.
“This is the second time I will gain promotion for this team and I’m happy to work here.” Midfielder Oladele Eweje said he was delighted to have made history with 3SC and promised to stay put with the club in the top flight.
“I am very happy to have helped my club return immediately to the top division of Nigeria League. This is where we belong,” he said. Hundreds of happy fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with team after the match.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Sports

Rivers-born Chess Player Clinches Third Position At World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship 

Published

6 days ago

on

August 10, 2026

By

A veteran Rivers State chess player, Apollos Akomaka, has finished in joint 3rd place at the just-concluded World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship held in Abuja.
Akomaka, who is the director of physiotherapy at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, overcame a shaky start to secure a podium finish in the 11-round rapid event that began on August 2.
The tournament featured top chess players from several countries.
After losing his opening game, the defining moment for Akomaka came between Rounds 7 and 11.
He raised his game and began defeating some of the top-ranked players in the event.
The Rivers-born player ended the championship tied for 3rd place in the U2000 category with 6.5 points out of 11, alongside Cameroon’s national champion, Noumbo Vidal.
His final game was against Vidal, with the Nigerian playing the black pieces.
Vidal opened with a queen’s gambit but quickly transposed into an English opening with a double fianchetto attack.
Akomaka responded sharply with a king’s Indian defense and soon launched a kingside attack from a defensive position.
The pressure paid off, resulting in an immediate material gain, a knight for a rook, and leaving Akomaka with a strong attacking advantage.
Vidal fought hard to avoid mate and managed to steer the game into an endgame, where he found some respect. At that point, the Cameroon champion offered a draw, which Akomaka accepted.
Speaking after the event, Akomaka said that he is resilient and determined after the poor start but happy that he finished on the podium.
He expressed optimism that in subsequent competitions he will make Rivers State proud and Nigeria at large.
Akomaka has won both local and national chess championships in recent times.
He is passionate about chess; besides, he has equally sponsored several national chess tournaments in Nigeria.
The World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship concluded with Akomaka of Rivers State,
Nigeria, battling back from an early loss to end among the top three in his category
Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue Reading

Sports

Team Nigeria Secures Women’s 4x100m, 4x400m Finals at World U20 Championships

Published

6 days ago

on

August 10, 2026

By

Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, securing places in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals after strong performances in the heats.
The Nigerian quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu booked their place in the women’s 4x400m final after clocking a season’s best of 3:35.28.
Nigeria finished third in the heat behind Italy and Great Britain, doing enough to advance to the final and remain firmly in contention for a medal.
In the women’s 4x100m, Ugoh joined Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu as Nigeria produced another season’s best, clocking 43.65 seconds to secure an automatic ticket to the women’s 4x100m final.
The qualification was sealed by a sensational anchor leg from Ezechukwu. Receiving the baton nearly 20 metres behind the United States, the Nigerian launched a determined charge down the home straight, rapidly closing the gap before edging the Americans at the line to claim the third automatic qualifying position.
Nigeria stopped the clock at 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, who finished in 43.67 seconds.
The performances mean Nigeria will now contest both women’s relay finals, further strengthening the country’s medal prospects at the championships.
In Saturday’s evening phase of the event, Success Uyibo will compete in the 200m women’s final while the 4x100m compete in the women’s final.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue Reading

Sports

Poor welfare forced me to dump Delta for Enugu, says world – Nwachukwu

Published

6 days ago

on

August 10, 2026

By

World Record holder and Commonwealth Games champion, Goodness Nwachukwu, has revealed why she dumped Delta State for Enugu State.

The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.

But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.

Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue Reading

Trending