Sports
NYG: Sports Directors Hail Ministry, Urge Improvement In Screening Standard
The state directors of sports have commended the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for the successful organisation of the just-concluded 4th National Youth Games (NYG) at the University of Ilorin.
The directors gave the commendation while speaking with the Tidesports source at the end of the Games held from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 in the ancient city of Ilorin.
Some of the directors, however, called for improvement in the areas of screening and accommodation of athletes in subsequent editions of the games.
Rivers Sports Commission, Director, Ezekiel Ordu, noted that a more scientific method should be employed in ascertaining the age of the athletes.
“There should be an improvement in screening because we should not be talking about ascertaining age through physical examination of the athletes in this age.
“The federal government should get a scientific method to screen the athletes because it will help us in case of protests by disqualified athletes.
“Such measure will help us to ascertain the real age of the athletes instead of having cases of age forgery,” Ordu said.
The Benue Sports Director, Philip Nondo said that the method of screening adopted at the event in Ilorin should be discouraged in subsequent games.
“I congratulate the sports ministry for the organisation of the games.
“No one is perfect; from what we have seen so far, the screening was okay initially by us except for some states that wanted to win medals by all means, and injected athletes that are ineligible to take part in the competition.
“They should stop discouraging the younger ones as the first screening was perfect, but the re-screening was what spoilt the whole exercise.
“So, if you give people some work to do, allow them to do so without interference,” Nondo said.
General Manager, Ekiti Sports Council, Deji Shawon, advised the organisers to fine-tune the accreditation and accommodation arrangements in subsequent games.
“We ought to have a system to be able to register childbirth so that we don’t always have cases of age cheats.
“There were so many fake birth certificates presented; so, the system should be upgraded so that when we have children right away from birth, they will be registered and won’t have to go through the nitty-gritty such as this.
“There is need to improve on accommodation because these are young children from good homes, sleeping on good beds and from good environment at home.
“For them to come here and sleep anyhow isn’t encouraging; it is something that can be improved upon.
“So, when we come for the next edition, most of these things will be put right.
“There is also the need to improve on feeding because putting little accompaniments on food isn’t the best,” Shawon said.
On his part, Director of Sports in Niger, Baba Sheshi, said that the hostels should be renovated before the next edition of the games.
“Even the children have derive maximum satisfaction from the games, and this will go a long way in uniting us.
“But, there is room for improvement in terms of logistics and accommodation though we were told that the university management was ready to start the renovation of the hostels to be used for the just-concluded event.”
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.