Sports
‘I Cried When I Missed Olympics’
Nigerian judoka, Enku Ekuta, says she cried when she lost the chance to be at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, after losing at the African Senior Championships in Dakar, Senegal.
The 21-year-old said inadequate preparation by the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF)made her lose points, which ended her dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
According to her, if she had qualified, she would have emulated her mother, Catherine, who represented the country at the 2004 Games in Athens.
Ekuta was on the verge of qualification for the Games, but missed out after failing to secure a podium finish in Dakar
Tidesports source gathered that Ekuta had, however, put the disappointment behind her.
“I did not win a medal in the last competition I went to, so I lost the continental quota. There was the option of a wild card, but it was late already. After I lost the continental quota, I just gave up because that was the last competition that I had before the Olympics,” Ekuta said.
“I felt very bad because I really worked hard for this. But I don’t feel bad any more because I know that if we had started my qualification on time, all these wouldn’t have happened. So, next time, thankfully I have a sponsor, I am going to start competition proper on time and I won’t lose anything.
“Our federation president started sponsoring and that was the end of 2019. In 2020, there was no competition till the end. When I lost my fight, I was really sad. I cried there (Dakar) when I lost the fight because I knew what had happened.
“But it’s not the end of the world, there is still 2024 and there is the Commonwealth Games next and the African Games next year.
“I am really disappointed about the lack of support, but I reserve my com-ments.”
Niger Tornadoes have threatened to withdraw from the Nigeria Premier Football League after the league body banned the Bako Kantagora Stadium in Minna from hosting top-flight matches, Tidesports source reports.
The chairman of the Niger State Sports Commission, Danjuma Masu, described the decision as unfair and unjust, accusing the authorities of targeting the club through what he alleged were politically motivated actions.
Speaking in Minna while addressing members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Masu said the directive forcing the club to relocate its home fixtures outside the state was driven by personal and selfish interests.
“Not that the stadium is bad,” Masu said.
The issue raised is about camera angles, and that can be fixed within one week. Playing politics with sports is unacceptable and should be discouraged.”
Masu insisted that the Niger State Stadium compares favourably with many approved venues across the country, arguing that it is better than at least ten other stadiums currently hosting league matches.
He called on the league to immediately reverse the decision, warning that the club could be forced to pull out of the competition if the ban remains in place.
“Rescheduling of Tornadoes’ matches to other states is politically motivated, personal and driven by selfish interests,” he said as relayed by Tidesports source. .
The state may withdraw the club from the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), if the situation does not improve.”
The Nigeria Premier Football League had earlier announced the ban on the Bako Kantagora Stadium, declaring the venue unfit under new broadcast and television rights agreements that require higher technical and infrastructural standards.
In a letter dated January 30, 2026, and signed by the league’s chief operating officer, Davidson Owumi, Niger Tornadoes were informed that the stadium no longer meets the requirements to stage league fixtures under the new broadcast framework.
As a result, the club was directed to relocate its remaining home matches for the season and choose an alternative venue between the Rasheed Yekini Main Bowl in Ilorin and the Jos Zaria Road Stadium. The league warned that failure to communicate a choice within the stipulated timeframe would lead to a venue being allocated on the club’s behalf.
Despite the directive, Niger Tornadoes were permitted to host their matchday 24 fixture, a 2–2 draw against Bendel Insurance, at the Kantagora venue due to the short notice of the decision. The relocation order is expected to take effect from the subsequent home games.
The club is now expected to move to the newly renovated Lafia City Stadium in Nasarawa for future home fixtures until the Kantagora Stadium meets the conditions set by the league board.
After their away match against Ikorodu City in Lagos on Sunday (today), Niger Tornadoes are scheduled to host Rivers United, Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars away from Minna.
Viktor Gyokeres scored twice as Arsenal comfortably beat Sunderland to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points.
The Gunners looked like they were going to be frustrated by a well organised Sunderland defence before Martin Zubimendi’s excellent strike beat Robin Roefs, after hitting the post.
Sunderland did cause problems, with Brian Brobbey unsettling the Arsenal backline with his physicality and the forward had a shot cleared off the line by Kai Havertz after keeper David Raya fumbled a long ball into the area.
Declan Rice and Havertz went close with curling strikes before substitute Gyokeres slammed the ball into the net after being teed up by Havertz in the 66th minute.
The Swedish international then finished into an empty net in stoppage time after Gabriel Martinelli rolled the ball across the box to him.
After Aston Villa’s draw with Bournemouth and Manchester City not in action until yesterday afternoon, the victory adds more pressure on Arsenal’s title rivals.
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi began his 2026 season with victory at the Orlen Cup in ?ód?, producing a dominant 20.82m throw to win the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Poland, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Africa record holder finished ahead of Romania’s Andrei Toader, who placed second with 20.55m, while Serbia’s Armin Sinan?evi? took third on 19.93m.
Poland’s Szymon Mazur, the best-placed home athlete, finished fourth with 19.69m, with Italy’s Nick Ponzio completing the top five on 19.58m.
The rest of the field was headed by Piotr Go?dziewicz (18.02m), Jakub Korejba (17.55m), Wojciech Marok (17.48m), Damian Rodziak (17.23m) and Ukraine’s Maksym Lebediuk (15.75m).
Enekwechi’s winning mark gave him a clear margin over the field and underlined his status as one of world’s leading throwers, as he laid down an early marker for the new campaign in his traditional season-opening competition.
The result also marked an improvement shift in his Orlen Cup history. This was his third consecutive appearance at the meeting and his third straight season opener with the event, having previously finished second in 2024 with 21.14m and again in 2025 with 20.88m.
On this occasion, he converted consistency into victory, finally standing on the top step of the podium in ?ód?.
Enekwechi is the reigning two-time African champion in the shot put, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a two-time African Games champion, having won titles in 2019 and 2023.
His performance in Poland continues a career trajectory that has established him as Nigeria’s leading figure in the event and one of the continent’s most reliable performers on the global circuit.
The women’s competition at the meeting was won by Poland’s Zuzanna Ma?lana.
With the 2026 season now under way, Enekwechi’s opening victory at the Orlen Cup sets an early tone for the year ahead, as he builds momentum towards major continental and international championships.
The next edition of the Orlen Cup is scheduled to take place in ?ód? in February 2027.
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