Sports
Igiebor Scores As Nigeria Beats Venezuela
Sandwiched between Brown Ideye’s not so simple tap-in and Ogenyi Onazi’s pile-driver with seconds left, Nosa Igiebor’s audacious volley was the highlight of Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Venezuela.
Not even a sloppy turnover which gifted Frank Feltscher in what looked like a comeback goal could take away from Igiebor’s eye-popping volley.
Shorn of top starting talent like Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, John Mikel Obi, Ike Uche, Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi looked to his home stars, returnee players and debutants to face a Venezuela side which finished fourth at the Copa America.
There were first-time starting shirts for Portland Timbers’ Bright Dike, Sunshine Stars’ Solomon Kwambe and Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi. Obafemi Martins was also shoved into the thick of battle on his return to the national team after over a year out.
Predictably, far from being a classic, this was ragged for extended spells, with the pockmarked pitch doing little to help, and Nigeria looked to be on the ropes early on.
With right-back Solomon Kwambe revelling in the freedom of foraging upfront, Venezuela were finding joy loping balls over and in behind the hole at right-back.
Between Egwueke and felklow centre half Godfrey Oboabona, they contrived to escape danger time and again.
But the warning signs were always there. Egwueke left a trailing foot after being beaten clean. Arando headed in the freekick, but the goal was chalked off, correctly, for offside. And it was as much a relief to Keshi, as it must have been to the defenders that the half ended with no score.
That all changed four minutes into the second. The impressive Kwambe, marauding down the right channel, was fed by Igiebor. His driven cross, clean as a whistle, evaded Martins, but not Ideye.
His ecstatic celebrations came nowhere near Igiebor’s a few minutes later. Venzuela dallied with clearing a ball, it fell to the midfielder, who set it up with his chest and looped a quite sumptuous volley past the stranded Hernandez.
All the Venezuela keeper could do was look as the ball sailed above him and under the cross bar.
Despite being two goals up, Nigeria needed Austin Ejide to come up with big saves time and again. And he did.
But there was nothing even he could do for Fletscher’s goal. Oboabona, trying to play the ball out of defence, got his pocket picked by Arango, who fed Feltscher with the Nigeria defence forced to play catch up. Ejide had no chance.
With Venezuela pushing for the equaliser, Ameobi, on as a sub for the last half hour, showed admirable strength to hold off his marker, and lay the ball for the arriving Onazi. The youngster’s finish was as precise as it was composed.
And Keshi will have to look at which of these players will make the cut as he fine-tunes his final squad.
The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.
Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.
Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.
Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.
The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.
Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.
Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.
Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.
“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”
The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.
The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.
“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.
“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”
The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.
With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.
The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.
Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.
As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.
His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.
In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.
It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.
Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.
Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.
We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.
It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.
The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.
The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.