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24 Home-Based Players Make S’Eagles List …World Cup Qualifiers

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13 years ago

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Super Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi, has unveiled a list of 24 home-based professional players for the all-important World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya on March 23 in Calabar.

According to a news release in Lagos yesterday, the list of foreign professionals will be released tomorrow.

The release added that Keshi had mapped out plans to ensure that only fit and ready players would be invited for the March 23 showdown.

On the 24-man home-based Eagles list are Chigozie Agbim and Sunday Mba, who was one of the heroes of Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON win.

Others are Godfrey Oboabona, (Sunshine Stars) who featured in all the matches in the AFCON, Gabriel Reuben, and the duo of Papa Idris and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

But the surprise package in the team is Shooting Stars of Ibadan goaltender, Dele Ajiboye, who started with the U-17 and has been with the Flying Eagles, U23s and now the Super Eagles.

A young and agile goalkeeper, Ajiboye, is expected to bring his wealth of experience gained through the ranks to bear in the battle for a starting place in the team.

The team will be camped at the Bolton White Apartments, Zone 7, Abuja, from Sunday, March 10, from where they will be joined by their foreign based colleagues.

Below is the full list of invited players:

Chigozie Agbim (Rangers), Akpeyi Daniel (Heartland), Dele Ajiboye (3SC), Egwueke Azubuike (Warri Wolves), Papa Idris (Kano Pillars), Zango Umar (Kano Pillars), Oboabona Godfrey (Sunshine Stars), Kwambe Solomon (Sunshine Stars) and Chibuzor Okonkwo (Rangers).

Others are Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars), Benjamin Francis (Heartland), Zubaru Muhammad (Tornadoes), Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben (Kano Pillars), Gambo Muhammad (Kano Pillars), Ubale Mannir (Kano Pillars), and Pius Samson (Ranchers Bees).

The rest are Ohanduku Gomo (Sharks), Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland), Saka Ayo (Enyimba), Jiya Muhammad (Bayelsa), Emeka Ezeh (Rangers), Anthony Okputu (Lobi Stars) and Adepoju Taofeek (3SC).

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Rivers-born Chess Player Clinches Third Position At World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship 

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5 days ago

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August 10, 2026

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A veteran Rivers State chess player, Apollos Akomaka, has finished in joint 3rd place at the just-concluded World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship held in Abuja.
Akomaka, who is the director of physiotherapy at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, overcame a shaky start to secure a podium finish in the 11-round rapid event that began on August 2.
The tournament featured top chess players from several countries.
After losing his opening game, the defining moment for Akomaka came between Rounds 7 and 11.
He raised his game and began defeating some of the top-ranked players in the event.
The Rivers-born player ended the championship tied for 3rd place in the U2000 category with 6.5 points out of 11, alongside Cameroon’s national champion, Noumbo Vidal.
His final game was against Vidal, with the Nigerian playing the black pieces.
Vidal opened with a queen’s gambit but quickly transposed into an English opening with a double fianchetto attack.
Akomaka responded sharply with a king’s Indian defense and soon launched a kingside attack from a defensive position.
The pressure paid off, resulting in an immediate material gain, a knight for a rook, and leaving Akomaka with a strong attacking advantage.
Vidal fought hard to avoid mate and managed to steer the game into an endgame, where he found some respect. At that point, the Cameroon champion offered a draw, which Akomaka accepted.
Speaking after the event, Akomaka said that he is resilient and determined after the poor start but happy that he finished on the podium.
He expressed optimism that in subsequent competitions he will make Rivers State proud and Nigeria at large.
Akomaka has won both local and national chess championships in recent times.
He is passionate about chess; besides, he has equally sponsored several national chess tournaments in Nigeria.
The World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship concluded with Akomaka of Rivers State,
Nigeria, battling back from an early loss to end among the top three in his category
Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor
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Team Nigeria Secures Women’s 4x100m, 4x400m Finals at World U20 Championships

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5 days ago

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August 10, 2026

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Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, securing places in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals after strong performances in the heats.
The Nigerian quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu booked their place in the women’s 4x400m final after clocking a season’s best of 3:35.28.
Nigeria finished third in the heat behind Italy and Great Britain, doing enough to advance to the final and remain firmly in contention for a medal.
In the women’s 4x100m, Ugoh joined Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu as Nigeria produced another season’s best, clocking 43.65 seconds to secure an automatic ticket to the women’s 4x100m final.
The qualification was sealed by a sensational anchor leg from Ezechukwu. Receiving the baton nearly 20 metres behind the United States, the Nigerian launched a determined charge down the home straight, rapidly closing the gap before edging the Americans at the line to claim the third automatic qualifying position.
Nigeria stopped the clock at 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, who finished in 43.67 seconds.
The performances mean Nigeria will now contest both women’s relay finals, further strengthening the country’s medal prospects at the championships.
In Saturday’s evening phase of the event, Success Uyibo will compete in the 200m women’s final while the 4x100m compete in the women’s final.
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Poor welfare forced me to dump Delta for Enugu, says world – Nwachukwu

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5 days ago

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August 10, 2026

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World Record holder and Commonwealth Games champion, Goodness Nwachukwu, has revealed why she dumped Delta State for Enugu State.

The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.

But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.

Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.

 

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