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D’Tigers players confident of victory at Afrobasket Cup

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Three home-based D’Tigers players, who debut for the senior national male basketball team at Stankovic Cup in China, have expressed confidence in Nigeria clinching the Afrobasket Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire in August.

Nigeria clinched the third position at the second stage of the Cup held between June 27 and July 9 in Guangzhou, China.

The national team players told newsmen in Lagos that they were happy of being part of the bronze medal winning squad at the Cup.

The players noted that the exposure they had during the competition had imparted positively on them, and they commended the Nigeria Basketball Federation for the opportunity.

Nkem Ojougboh, the Captain of Comets Club of Lagos, said that with the exposure, they were confident that Nigeria would clinch the forthcoming Afrobasket Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire.

“For me, the experience I had at the Stankovic Cup is unforgettable and it will help me to do better in other international competitions.

“I had a wonderful experience playing with other quality players from other clubs, most especially foreign clubs.

“We had two weeks training camp in Abuja before we left for China. It was great getting used to other players and understanding the drills of the national team.

“We have a good chance of doing well in Abidjan, considering our next camp coming up in the U.S. The drilling and training would make us as well prepared,’’ Ojougboh said.

In the same vein, Micheal Ohiero, a guard for Mark Mentors Club of Abuja, described his experience as a great one, saying they wanted to do better than coming third in the competition.

“We came third in the Cup in China, we could have done better, but it was still a brilliant outing for us.

“We have a better chance of doing well in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, if we continue with the crop of players we have.

“I believe in my teammates and the coaching crew and also in the federation in all that is being done for our successful outing in Abidjan,’’ Ohiero said.

Contributing, Yahaya Abdulwahab, a forward player for Mark Mentors, said that it was a great experience of being selected to play for Nigeria as a home-based player.

“The basics that I have learnt playing in the local league were very vital to my role with the national team.

“We are going to have a better chance of doing well in Abidjan when we come back together to train and practice with much time at our advantage.

“We just have two weeks of rest before we get back to camp in Orlando, Florida, U.S., where we will be together for another four weeks.

“This is good enough for us to know one another better and understand the game strategies that we will use to conquer in Abidjan,’’ Abdulwahab said.

The two Mark Mentors players also affirmed their confidence in their team’s chances of excelling in the DStv/Final Four playoff coming up later in the year in Lagos.

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European Giants Circle For Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race

Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.

Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.

According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.

“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.

“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”

Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.

The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”

It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”

The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.

Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.

His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.

Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.

The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor

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Tennis Event Boosts Grassroots Development Push

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A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.

The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.

On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.

In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.

Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.

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W/Cup Qualifier: Flamingos In Impressive Opener

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Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.

The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.

Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.

Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.

The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.

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