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‘Only Miracle Can Give Nigeria Olympic Medal’a

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A former coach of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tobias Igwe, has said that long-term preparation was the key to winning medals at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Igwe told the newsmen in Lagos that it would be a “rare miracle” for the country to get a medal.

He wondered why there was no articulated programme for Team Nigeria’s preparation for the Olympics.

“It’s going to be a tough on Team Nigeria to get any medal, the short time approach is wrong, it’s not working; if they win any medal it would be through sheer luck.

“Countries whose athletes win medals effortlessly at global sports events like the Olympics do so through long-term programmes with the athletes peaking at the right moment,” he said.

Igwe added that it would be difficult for any athlete to achieve good results on their own without the input of a trainer.

The coach lamented the lack of progress in the area of grass roots sports development which he described as the nursery for budding talents.

On how grass roots sports development can enhance the quality of athletes and produce world class athletes, he said the coaches need to reacquaint and update themselves.

He urged the country’s track and field coaches to put more effort in their quest for nascent and stressed the need for regular refresher course for Games Masters in schools.

“The game masters are the closest link to this students, it is whatever knowledge he has that will determine what the student knows, and most of them don’t know the rudiments of the discipline they cover,” he said.

Igwe lamented the politicisation of grass roots sports development in the country which he described as a “cog in the wheel of its progress.

“The politics practised in the federation has affected its well being that’s why grassroots sports development is being retarded; politics has taken its toll.

“I was able to discover Mary Onyali, Henry Amike and Clement Chukwu and others too numerous to mention. I did not waver because I was after talents and wanted the best of the youngsters, see what they have become,” he said.

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CAFCC: Enyimba International In Pot 3 For Draws

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African soccer governing body has released the pots for the qualified teams for the group stage of the Confederation Cup, Tidesports sources reports.
Enyimba International is among the 16 qualified teams for the group stage of the competition.
The People’s Elephant was placed in pot 3 alongside ASJaaraf, CS Constantine; Bravos Do Maquils, Lunda Suliat, Orapa United, Black Bulls, and Stellenbosch. Pot 1 consists of Zamalek, RS Berkane, Simba SC, and USM Algers while Pot 2 has ASEC Mimosa, Stade Malien, Al Masry, and CS Sfaxien.

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AFCON 2025 Qualifiers : Super Eagles Host Libya, Oct 11

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria will host the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matchday three encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, October 11.
The two teams will clash in a matchday four encounter at the Tripoli International Stadium four days later.
The Super Eagles started their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 home win against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
The three-time African champions were held to 0-0 draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in their second group game.The West Africans occupy top spot in Group D with four points from two games.
Libya are bottom of the group after amassing one point from two games.
Only the top teams in each group will advance to the tournament proper in Morocco beginning in December 2025.
Meanwhile, Libya has opted to host Group D leaders Nigeria at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Matchday 4 encounter. The facility is located in the city of Benina, some 19 kilometres outside the country’s second city, Benghazi.
Known previously as Hugo Chávez Stadium, the stadium is a 10,000-capacity facility with an artificial turf.
Both countries will do a Matchday 3 battle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 11th October, before the clash in the city at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, 15th October.
While the match in Uyo will kick off at 5pm, the battle in Benina will commence at 8pm Nigeria time.
Libya remain bottom of Group D after two rounds of matches, following a 1-1 at home to Rwanda (a game that was played at the Tripoli International Stadium) and a 1-2 loss to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan.
Nigeria tops the pool with four points, after a 3-0 spanking of Benin Republic in Uyo on Matchday 1 and a scoreless draw with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali on Matchday 2.

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NYG: Kano Athletes Protest Over Allowances In Asaba

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Kano State athletes, who participated in the concluded 8th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, last Friday called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address the issue of their poor camp allowances.
The athletes, speaking anonymously, expressed dissatisfaction with the daily allowance they received, claiming it was significantly lower than that of their counterparts from neighbouring Northwestern states.
“We were given less than N20,000 for ten days, while athletes from Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara received N50,000. Jigawa athletes were paid the highest, receiving N80,000,” one of the athletes said.
Despite the disparity in allowances, the athletes secured five gold, three silver, and one bronze in the competition.
They urged the governor to intervene and resolve the issue.
Also, the athletes commended the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, for supporting other athletes representing the state in sports like football and basketball and hoped for similar support.
The objective of the National Youth Games, initiated by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, is to promote unity, peace, and understanding among youths while addressing issues of restiveness and unemployment across the country.

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