Sports
2012: Nigerian Sports In Restrospect
As curtain draws on the year 2012, it has been a harvest of mixed feelings as the sporting events of the year are assessed.
The Sports sector in Nigeria, despite the abundance of manpower, talents and opportunities has fraught with many disappointments, crisis and few reasons to celebrate. Indeed, the country can be said to have witnessed a 2012 of woes, especially, at international sports meets.
The most populous black nation with over 167 million people went to the London 2012 Olympic Games and left without a medal to show for its participation. It was Nigeria’s worst Olympic performance since 1988.
Nigeria, by every standard should be among leading sporting nations in the world but the reverse seems to be the case as it continues to real from underwhelming performances from continental to international competitions.
Overall, positives for the country in 2012 could only be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Perhaps, the major causes for celebration for the country this year were the heartwarming performance of Nigeria’s Paralympians to London 2012 Paralympics, Super Eagles qualification for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, women football teams, Falconnets and flamingoes average performances at the FIFA Youth World Cups in Azerbajan and Japan and the evolving national male under-17 football team which has qualified for the African U-17 tournament with a performance and style that suggest that the country may be on the path to rediscovering her potency in youth football.
The Paralympians unlike their Olympics counterparts, went to London, saw and conquered; winning a total of 13 medals made up of six gold, five silver and two bronze medals. The disabled athletes were the kings of power lifting as 12 of the country’s medals were won in the event, smashing several world records, while a consolatory bronze medal was won in the women’s shotput by Euchania lyiazi.
Nigeria placed 12th out of a total of 74 countries on the medals table was Africa’s third best, behind Tunisia and South Africa.
Impressed by the starling performance of the Team Nigeria Paralympians, President Goodluck Jonathan rewarded participants with monetary and national honours awards.
Contrastingly, Team Nigeria’s poor show at the Olympics proper led to an inquest in the shape of the Presidential Retreat on Sports.
The country’s disappointing outing at the Olympics was attributed to poor funding and shambolic Sports administration.
According to the Minister of Sports and Chairman of National Sports Commission, NSC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, Team Nigeria’s disastrous outing could be a blessing in disguise for setting the tune for the country to begin to engage in a successful development of her sports sector rather than dwelling in the telling disappointment.
Thus, President Goodluck Jonathan called shareholder at the summit to brainstorm and interact at the Presidential retreat to return Nigeria to the pinnacle of Sports development and excellence.
According to the President, restoring Nigeria’s part glory in Sports and bringing dignity to the nation at Sporting events is not negotiable.
“This is because there is no sector in the country’s national life that has greater force of mobilizing and uniting Nigerians as Sports. It is only in Sports that Moslems and Christians sing the same songs, dance the same steps; therefore, we must encourage sporting activities in this country.”
To achieve the desired target and yearning for reorganisation, the President charged the 38 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to look at the area of sports they have comparative advantage to concentrate on and develop.
Unfortunately, the problems and disappointments of 2012 were not restricted to the country’s participation at the London 2012 Olympics.
Apart from scrabble, which did well in the year under review to retain its title as Africa’s leading scrabble playing nation, almost all other sports associations have one yoke or tale of woes to tell.
Nigeria’s Rex Ogbakpa emerged continental champion in Scrabble, taking over from his compatriot, Wellington Jighere-Ogbakpa won 21 of 30 games played with a cumulative of +1700 points to beat another Nigerian, Owolabi Lukman, who had 20 wins with cumulative +1171 points to the top prize. Another Nigerian, Omosefe Prince finished third with 19 wins and cumulative points of +1069.
It was a Nigeria affair at the 9th African Scrabble championship in Zambia as the competition was only stiff within Team Nigeria’s contingent and only them smashed each other in the top 10, in spite of the noteable absence of several Nigeria’s key players like two-time African Champions, Dennis Ikekeregor, Wellington Jighere, Chinedu Unujose, Summy, Moshood, Rashide and others.
Football
Football which has been the most popular sport in the country had a mixed feeling among Nigerians in the year under review. The visible achievement was the qualification of Super Eagles for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Unlike the horrors of 2011 where all the national teams failed to qualify for their respective continental and world cup campaigns, the teams including the Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets picked continental tickets to represent Nigeria at their respective African Youth Championships in Guinea and Morocco.
While the Falconets and Flamingoes distinguished themselves at the FIFA Under-20 and 17 Women World Cup held in Japan and Azerbaijan, reaching the semifinal and quarter finals of the events respectively, Super Falcons failed to defend their African Women title in Equatorial Guinea.
The team finished fourth in the event behind host, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Cameroon. Not-too-impressed by the team performance, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disbanded the team immediately on their return from Equatorial Guinea. But that was after Coach Kadiri Ikhana who guided the team to the tournament resigned his appointment.
The Super Falcons entered the competition as defending champions but lost to South Africa in the semi-finals and also failed to beat Cameroon in the third-placed game. NFF noted that there is no need keeping the team which failed to retain the AWC trophy in Equatorial Guinea. They also lamented the poor showing of the team after they gave them every necessary support before the competition. They however, promised to reconstitute the team in no distant time.
Also, Nigeria’s representative in both CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup put up abysmal performance with the exception of Sunshine Stars of Akure which made it to the semifinal of the CAF Champions League before having their ambition cut short by Egyptian giants and eventual winners, Al Ahly.
NPL Imbroglio
Nigeria’s football administration is never devoid of any crisis. And in the year under review, the Chief Rumson Victor Baribote led Nigeria Premier League (NPL) administration after overseeing probably the worst league season in history was sacked by club owners. Pundits believe they acted on the instruction given to them by their masters at the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The two hotels in Abuja where the impeachment/dissolution of the Baribote-led NPL board were drawn and implemented are more of a battle ground than the convivial atmosphere naturally associated with sports events (in the words of Romanus Ogwu)
Baribote was unanimously kicked out at the 7th annual congress of the NPL held on December 11 in Abuja after being accused of misappropriation of funds, lack of transparency and accountability which the club owners claimed were responsible for the inability of Nigeria’s top flight to attract sponsorship for the past two seasons.
The Nigeria Football federation, NFF at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Port Harcourt, ratified NPL congress decision in sacking Baribote and therefore set up a 13-man committee which includes former Nigerian international, Nwankwo Kanu.
In the twilight of the year, we were once again reminded that football is not far from controversy in the country as super Eagles Striker Osaze Odemwingie hit the NFF, Coach Stephen Keshi and the national team with veracious outburst following the release of provisional 32-man list for the 2013 Nations Cup and his omission from the list
Athletics
Three weeks to the London Olympic Games, Team Nigeria regained the top spot of Africa athletics by winning the 18th African Athletics Championship held in Port Novo, Republic of Benin. Vivian Chukwuemeka’s dominant display in the women’s shot put final and the fantastic 4x400m run by the Nigeria’s men and women’s relay teams headlined the last day of competition and the country’s successful return to the summit of African athletics.
Chukwuemeka, the 2002 Commonwealth Games queen set a new African, national and championship record of 18.86m to lead a Nigerian top three sweep of the medals at stake in the Shot put. Chinwe Okoro who won Nigeria’s first gold medal at the championship settled for silver (16.21m) while Omotayo Talabi picked the gold with a put of 15.63m.
The women’s 1600 relay set the tone for an intriguing finish with a new championship record of 3:28.77 to beat Botswana led by individual 400m winner and reigning world champion, Amantle Montsho. This victory tied Nigeria and Kenya on nine gold medals each with the men’s 4x400m event the decider for Nigeria which needed to win the gold to be crowned African champions.
The quartet of Salihu Issah, Amaechi Morton, Abiola Onakoya and anchor-leg runner, Saul Weigopwa ran superbly and deservedly picked the gold with a new 3:02.39 seconds record to put Nigeria on top of the medals table 12 years after it last enjoyed that privilege in Dakar, Senegal.
The last day haul of five gold, two silver and two bronze medals was thus enough for Nigeria to push aside Kenya which beat the Nigerians by just one gold medal two years earlier on home soil in Nairobi. Nigeria thus finished first with 10 gold, six silver and five bronze medals with Kenya second with nine gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals. South Africa, the 2008 champions came third with six gold, 10 silver and eight bronze medals.
Nigeria set a total of three championships and one African record in the five-day competition with Chukwuemeka topping her 17.60m championships record set in Tunis in 2002, the first time she was crowned African champions in the event with an African-record setting 18.86m. Blessing Okagbare also erased Chioma Ajunwa’s 6.78m record with a new 6.96m record while the women’s 4x400m relay team erased the 3:29.26 record set by the quartet of Shade Abugan, Margaret Etim, Bukola Abogunloko and Ajoke.
Basketball
Though Nigeria’s flag-bearers at the London Olympic Games’ basketball event were beaten and dismantled by United States which set an Olympic record with 156 points, the highest ever in Olympics history against Nigerian team, the team made history.
The fact that D’ Tigers made their first appearance in the basketball at the Olympics setting a new record of African team to win a match at the Olympics was a laudable achievement.
Even though Nigeria had always been an African superpower, one of its weakest zones in sports is the basketball ranking. Their journey to Olympics qualification wasn’t an easy one even as basketball analysts such as ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla said that Nigeria had no chance.
Despite many stumbling blocks, they shocked everyone by beating European powerhouse Greece and Venezuela on their way to qualifying for the 12-team basketball competition in London. The team made an impressive start to the London games, winning their first game, beating Tunisia 60-56. With the victory, D’Tigers becomes the first basketball team in African’s sporting history to win a match at the Olympics.
National Sports Festival
Sports events in the year under review came to a climax with the successful hosting of the 18th National Sports Festival by Lagos State. The event came to a thrilling end with Team Delta State coming first and taking away the prize money and giant trophy.
Erstwhile Champion Team Rivers finished second, followed by host, Lagos State.
Popular artistes like Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Whiz Kid, Seun Kuti and the Egypt 80 band held the sizeable crowd at the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the closing ceremony spellbound for the duration of the event. There was also several rounds of fireworks display which will go down as one of the best in the country in recent times.
Though the fiesta was marred by claims of poor officiating and under hand tactics by desperate officials and states, the festival was largely successful as the enthusiastic hosts set out to create an atmosphere of friendship.
Minister of Sports and National Sports Commission Chairman, Bolaji Abdulahi, who stood in for the President of the Federal Republic Goodluck Johnathan rated the Eko 2012 Games very high. He commended the athletes for their resilience and for the spirit of sportsmanship demonstrated all through the games.
Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.
Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.
Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.
Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.
Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.
It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.
Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.
Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.
The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.
Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.
Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.
Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.
England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.
Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.
A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.
Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.
AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)
AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.
Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.
ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.
But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.
This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.
Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.
AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.
The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.
The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.
Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 2023.
Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute.
Ferran Torres then netted twice in the second half, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance.
Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later.
Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd.
The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.
Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goal difference, but Real Madrid had the chance to replace them, if they won at Elche in their game in hand, late last night.
Poland striker Lewandowski got his side off to the perfect start when he drove his low shot in off the arm of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon for an eighth league goal of the season.
The home side extended their lead in first-half added time as Yamal’s superb pass off the outside of his foot set up Torres for a good finish.
Lopez made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart, drilling a shot past Simon from near the penalty spot.
Sancet’s tackle from behind on Lopez was initially deemed a yellow card, but upgraded to red after the referee consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR).
And just before full-time, Yamal twisted and turned before sending Torres away to claim his second goal, which was originally disallowed for offside but overturned following a VAR check.
It was a dream return to their ground, with the reigning Spanish champions having mostly played at the 55,000 capacity Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill since renovations on the Nou Camp began in June 2023.
They were forced to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, this season after failing to get a permit for the Nou Camp through safety reasons.
Pogba Returns To Action In Ligue 1 (6)
Paul Pogba played his first minutes of professional football in more than two years as he came off the bench during Monaco’s 4-1 defeat by Rennes at the weekend.
The 32-year-old was introduced in the 85th minute at Rennes’ Roazhon Park, though his side were already four goals and a player down, following a red card for captain Denis Zakaria.
French World Cup winner Pogba broke down in tears when he joined Ligue 1 club Monaco last summer, after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 19 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
Pogba’s last competitive appearance was 811 days ago, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli on 3 September 2023. He left Juventus by mutual consent in November 2024.
Pogba was provisionally banned from football for four years after a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in February 2024, following a doping test in August 2023.
Pogba maintained it was a mistake and that he was given a supplement without knowing it contained a banned substance.
The former Manchester United midfielder was permitted to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his ban.
Pogba watched from the bench as goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas put Rennes out of sight.
Fellow substitute Mika Biereth pulled a goal back for Monaco in the 95th minute, but a second consecutive 4-1 defeat means Sebastien Pocognoli’s side drop to eighth in the table with 20 points after 13 games.
