Sports
Alozie Commends AFN Over Abuja Grand Prix
Nigerian-born Spanish athlete, Gloria Alozie, has praised the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the way it organised the Abuja Grand Prix which took place at the National stadium main bowl, Abuja, recently.
Alozie also noted that the tartan track used for the meet was second to none, as it measured with what obtains in Spain and other developed countries.
The athlete, who last competed for Nigeria at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games where she won a bronze medal said she felt honoured and excited running before the Nigerian crowd again, stating however, that she was emotionally wearing the colours.
Alozie revealed that she was always moved by the Nigeria National anthem whenever she competed against Nigerians. The former Olympic Games bronze medalist, who was beaten to the third position at the 100 metres women hurdle by Nigeria’s Toyin Augustus and Trinidad and Tobago’s Alesha Barber respectively, said: “though I don’t have any regrets because I know I wear it inside of me.”
On why she could not win the race, Alozie said she was just returning from injury, adding also that Toyin Augustus had always beaten her in the 100 metres hurdles in recent times because she had not been training.
Alozie also explained that she decided to come for the Abuja Grand Prix to show that she had not dumped Nigeria, stressing that she left the country due to circumstances beyond her control.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
-
News7 hours ago
OMULGA Chair’s Dev Strides Excites Group
-
News7 hours agoNDLEA Arrests Saudi-Bound Wanted Drug Kingpin, Storms Lagos Colos Lab
-
News7 hours agoPolice Arrest Sex Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 15 Young Girls InOndo
-
News7 hours agoRSG CHARGES JOURNALISTS TO SHOWCASE GOVT PROGRAMMES
-
News7 hours agoFG approves 3 critical civil service policies
-
News9 hours agoTinubu CongratulatesSoludoOn Re-election, Lauds INEC
-
News7 hours agoAlesa land-owners hail Fubara, Mayor of Housing Over New City Project
-
News7 hours agoRSG REITERATES COMMITMENT TO ERADICATING SEXUAL, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE