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Anambra Wins South-East Athletics Championships

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Team Anambra have emerged winners of the two-day Onyedum U-18 Athletics Championships for South-East states at the Rojenny Sports Complex, Oba, Idemili South.
According to the final result sheet, Anambra won 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals out of the 19 events featured at the championships to become champions.
Enugu  is second on the log with three gold and three silver, while Abia occupied the third position with two gold, three silver and three bronze
Imo finished fourth with two gold, two silver and two bronze, while Ebonyi was last with just two silver medals.
The hosts, Anambra won all the medals in the female Short Put through Chinenye Okonkwo, Chinaza Nwosu and Priscilla Oforkaife who threw 12.35m, 8.7m and 7.885m, respectively.
In Triple Jump, Nnenna Chinonye from Imo, leapt 9. 31m to win gold ahead of Justina Onoja and Miracle Onuma both from Anambra who leapt 9.1m and 8.96m respectively.
Anambra swept the available medals in Discuss male and female, 1,500m race male and female, but did not have presence in 100m female which was won by Enugu through Tobechukwu Ugbor in 12.1 secs.
The competition featured 100m and all jumps and throws excluding pole vault and hammer as well as sprint and races between 100m and 1,500 metres.
Veteran national athletics coach, Tobias Igwe, told newsmen that the results were quite inspiring for the athletics family.
The coach said the essence of the competition was not just to win but to engender positive competition among budding athletes who had become competition rusty.
Igwe lauded the sponsor, Patrick-Eestate Onyedum and the Proprietor of Rojenny Stadium, Oba, for providing the facility that was not readily available in some states.
Also, a former Commissioner for Sports in Edo, Brown Ebewele, deplored the tartan tracks at the stadium which, he said, had collapsed just after two years of installation.
Ebele expressed satisfaction with the quality of competition and urged state governments to partner with the private sector that were interested in advancing sports since they could not do it alone.
Congratulating his athletes, the coach of Anambra, Jonny Igboka, said they could have done better if the environment was better.
Igboka, who is the Director of All Sports Foundation Nimo (ASFAN), said the secret of the success was his movement across the schools in the state to scout for potential athletes.
The competition ended on  Saturday.

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CAFCL: Finidi Laud Players Over Impressive Performance 

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Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt head coach, Finidi George, has lauded his players (boys) after they defeated Les Aigles du Congo 1-0 in the second leg of preliminary round of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL).
He admitted that the game was a perfect display of football artistry from both sides but believe that his players  will  grow stronger against Black Bulls in the second preliminary round in Mozambique.
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Finidi said this on Sunday shortly after his side saw off Les Aigles du Congo 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
 This feat qualified the pride of Rivers State for the second round of the preliminary stage by 1-0 goal aggregate, as their opponents forced them to goalless draw in Congo.
“It was not far from a perfect display, my players to get the job done by getting the only goal of the game. We know it has not been easy, but we’ll build on this win.
“The most important thing is that we have scaled through this round and  now we will focus on our next opponent” Finidi said.
He noted that the players were nervous in the first half and missed key opportunities to seal the tie early.
” We had chances, but there were lapses and mistakes, during first half break we advised them to  calm down, in the second half, we also created more opportunities but could not convert the chances as they come ” he said.
Finidi also explained the inexperience of his squad, with several players making their continental debut.
“Most of my players have not played at this level before, so the nervousness was expected. In every game, they’ll gain confidence. I’m not worried, they will get better,” he stated.
The former Super Eagles Coach assured fans that Rivers United are ready for the Mozambican champions and make a statement.
“We’ll prepare well for the Black Bull. It’s going to be tough but this win gives us something to build on” he added.
Rivers United will travel to Maputo for the first leg of the second preliminary on October 17, 2025 before returning to Uyo for the return leg where the winner over the two legs will make it into the group stage of the CAFCL.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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Umuahia Hosts Africa Para- Badminton Championship 

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A badminton fever has gripped Umuahia with the arrival of over 150 athletes and 60 officials from 14 countries for the maiden Abia International Para-Badminton and All-African Badminton Championship.

The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.  On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.

Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.

Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.

“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.

“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”

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FIFA U20: Flying Eagles Narrowly Loss to Norway 

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Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.

Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.

Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.

Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.

Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.

 

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