Sports
Russia 2018: S’ Eagles Can Still Soar, But …
Nigeria’s opening World Cup defeat by Croatia definitely was not what the Super Eagles were expecting or hoping for as they began their campaign in Russia.
Having had so much fanfare accompany the Super Eagles to the World Cup, one would be forgiven to have expected that excitement and oomph to automatically translate into good performances on the pitch.
If Nigerians had already been getting carried away by the pre-World Cup hype, then the 2-0 defeat to Croatia has definitely brought them back to reality. Losing in any sport is always hard to take, make no mistake, but there is a way to lose and a way not to lose.
It wasn’t really the defeat that hurt fans of the three-time African champions, but the manner in which they surrendered to Zlatko Dalic’s side. It was listless, tame and dreary.
Having seen a well-organized Iceland team hold Argentina to a 1-1 draw earlier, it would not have been out of place to expect the Super Eagles to come out bursting at the seams knowing full well they needed to win, or at least not lose, following the aforementioned draw. However, they did not get the memo.
There were a couple of surprising inclusions in Gernot Rohr’s lineup too, notably Leon Balogun and Oghenekaro Etebo. The former was an injury doubt only 24 hours earlier, while the latter was preferred to the out of sorts Ogenyi Onazi whose performances in recent games had prompted calls for his omission from the side. Rohr obliged and his selection would certainly have been met with several nods of approval.
In the events that ensued, you definitely feel the Nigeria manager and players would be pulling their hair out at how meekly they let the Blazers walk all over them. Even more frustrating for the fans of the Nigerian team is the fact that Croatia’s win came not after an emphatic display, but an error-ridden performance on their part.
The prevalent defensive frailties – most especially from set-plays, are not showing any signs of diminishing, and it was not so much of a surprise the European nation’s goals originated from situations that have unnerved the side recently.
The drafted-in Etebo was the unlucky player to inadvertently put Croatia ahead. Although, it should be noted that the initial error was made by Odion Ighalo who was beaten to the first ball by Ante Rebic, before Leon Balogun who, in trying to anticipate where Luka Modric’s corner would drop, left his position on the edge of the six-yard box unguarded.
Mario Mandzukic duly flew in with a diving header that went in off Etebo.
The second came after William Troost-Ekong was duly punished by referee Sandro Ricci for wrestling Mandzukic to the ground and Modric converted the resulting spot-kick with ease.
The Super Eagles then lost their shape totally after the Croats doubled their lead, and were saved by their opponents choosing to see out the game rather than go for the kill.
Lessons have to be learned in the aftermath of the defeat and the side has to get better.
Those improvements will be provoked by hard choices made by Rohr in his selection.
In-form players need to feature and enough of square pegs in round holes.
At right-back, the out of sorts Abdullahi Shehu might have to make way for the young Tyronne Ebuehi, who has impressed whenever he deputized in that role. Mikel John Obi needs to play deeper, irrespective of the fact that he thrived in the hole in qualifying, he plays better in a defensive-midfield role that allows him dictate the tempo of the game.
That, in turn, frees up Nigeria’s most creative player in Alex Iwobi who is somewhat wasted out wide when he can do so much more damage centrally.
However, following the magnificent Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi playing well as a pair in the pivot against Croatia, should the out-of-form Mikel then be dropped from the side?
Up front, the under-fire Ighalo might have to make way for another forward, be it Kelechi Iheanacho or the untested Simy Nwankwo.
Admittedly, the forward was often isolated in the Croatia defeat, and the dreadful transitions of the team made his job a lot more difficult.
Nevertheless, it should be on the record that the Changchun Yatai forward has not scored for the Super Eagles since the 4-0 defeat of Cameroon in September last year.
Iheanacho has not been firing on all cylinders either, but he has not been given as many opportunities anyway, so his poor return is fairly expected. The untried Simy gives the team a target-man figure in the side and he’s someone the players can play off, as he’d offer better hold-up play than the aforementioned duo.
Another worrying trend is the tendency of the team to start slowly and then grow into the game.
Playing well consistently over the course of games rather than in fits and starts would definitely have a better effect on the side as they wouldn’t have to play catch-up every time by falling behind. Things certainly need to get better, and Nigeria’s head coach will need to get the best out of his players in the next two games if they’re to stay in the competition.
You still get the feeling that four points from games against Iceland and Argentina might do the trick and secure qualification from what is shaping up to be a tightly contested group.
However, the former are dogged and committed, while the latter have a godlike figure in their ranks… it will be difficult, but definitely not impossible if Rohr takes heed from the lessons learned against Croatia!
-Omidiora writes for Goal.com
Seye Omidiora
The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist spoke to Tidesports source her desire to defend her para singles title in the women’s category and to also secure a qualification berth for both the regional West Africa para table tennis event in Abeokuta in September and the continental championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt in November.
The multiple Paralympian said, “My expectation is to come out great at this wonderful tournament and to qualify for the forthcoming tournament that is coming up in Nigeria and Egypt in September and November. Last tournament, I won the singles. I won three golds at the last ValueJet tournament. And I want to believe and hope that I will maintain my position by coming in first position.”
Ugwueke had featured in the para event at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in January, where she suffered a stunning defeat to eventual finalist and tournament runner-up Taiye Oyinloye, who in turn was beaten 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) by Commonwealth Games medallist, Kate Oputa, to become the women’s class 1-5 champion.
The ValueJet Lagos Para table tennis Open, which is in its seventh edition, is an event sanctioned by the governing body ITTF Africa and put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission.
The event will come to a close on July 11, with the competition serving as qualifiers for the country’s players for the regional tournament in Abeokuta.
A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events.
Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.
Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.
The AIU announced in the June 2025 sanctions list on July 1 that 21-year-old quarter-miler Uko was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation committed on June 5 2024. Her infraction falls under whereabouts failures, having missed three tests within a 12-month period.
The AIU confirmed that her period of ineligibility will run until 23 July 2026 and all results recorded from the date of the infraction have been officially disqualified.
Uko rose to fame after clinching three gold medals at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, winning the women’s 400 metres, 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay.
Stephen Eloji (June 2028)
Sprinter and hurdler Stephen Eloji tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-
The 25-year-old was active in the American collegiate circuit, recording strong performances in the 110m hurdles and relay events as recently as April 2024, including at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Music City Challenge.
Ada Princess Bright (September 2027)
Ada Princess Bright is serving a four-year ineligibility period after testing positive for Metenolone during the National Athletics Trials held on July 6 2023 in Benin City.
She had an active season prior to her suspension, competing in national meets in Lagos, Uyo, and Benin, and earning a relay gold at the African U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.
Grace Nwokocha (August 2025)
Nwokocha is serving a three-year ban after testing positive for SARMS substances including Ostarine and Ligandrol during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The fallout was significant, as Nigeria was stripped of its women’s 4x100m relay gold medal at the Games. Prior to her suspension, she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, posted a personal best of 11.00s in the 100m, and reached the semi-finals in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She is ineligible to compete until 2 August 2025.
Yinka Ajayi (January 2030)
Ajayi, a 400m specialist and one-time Olympic representative, is currently serving an extended eight-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.
The first sanction, issued after she tested positive for Metenolone in an out-of-competition test in Iowa, USA, led to a four-year ban starting in December 2021. However, further findings of tampering led to an additional four-year penalty in 2024, extending her suspension until January 25 2030.
Glory Okon (January 2026)
Glory Okon is serving a four-year ban for testing positive for Metenolone following an out-of-competition test conducted on December 2 2021 in Nigeria.
She previously won gold in the 400 metres at the 2019 African U-20 Championships in Abidjan and featured prominently at the 2021 National Sports Festival in Benin City.
Blessing Okagbare (July 2031)
Once the face of Nigerian athletics, Okagbare is now serving a 10-year ban following multiple anti-doping rule violations. She tested positive for human growth hormone and EPO in an out-of-competition test in June 2021.
Her suspension came while competing at the Tokyo Olympics and was announced in February 2022. It was later extended by an additional year in June 2022 due to further breaches.
Divine Oduduru (February 2029)
Oduduru’s career was derailed by anti-doping violations linked to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On October 12 2023, a Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU imposed a six-year ban on Oduduru after he was found guilty of possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances and methods. The case stemmed from the wider investigation into Eric Lira, the first individual convicted under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, who supplied banned substances to athletes, including Okagbare, ahead of the Tokyo Games.
Oduduru’s ban is effective from February 9, 2023 and will run until February 8, 2029.
Henry Azike (Lifetime ban)
Azike is one of two Nigerian athletes currently serving a lifetime ban after testing positive for Metenolone, an anabolic steroid. His case was classified as a second ADRV, automatically triggering a lifetime suspension from the sport.
Azike last competed in 2011, including at the Doha Amir Cup and Nigerian Championships in Calabar.
Vivian Chukwuemeka (Lifetime ban)
Two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Vivian Chukwuemeka is serving a lifetime ban for a second doping offence after testing positive for Stanozolol at the 2012 National Championships in Calabar.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion and multiple-time African gold medallist had previously served a two-year ban following a 2009 positive test. Her personal best of 18.43m remains the African record in women’s shot put.
Invited players into the Super Eagles B camp ahead of the rescheduled African Nations Championship tournament are feeling the pressure of selection, three days into their training camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The eighth CHAN tournament is taking place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between August 2 to 20.
Ahead of the tournament, head coach Eric Chelle had invited an initial 35 players to camp and they began training on Monday with 21 players.
Five more players arrived on Tuesday to take the number to 26 while 28 players trained on Wednesday morning with the rest expected before the end of the week.
Captain of the team through the qualifiers, Junior Nduka, spoke about the intensity of the sessions and the jostle to make the final squad.
“Everybody is under pressure but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” Nduka said.
River United and former Flying Eagles forward, Aniekeme Okon, also admitted the pressure.
“It puts pressure on us, 35 players being invited, everybody is going to give out their best with an expectation of being selected. So we keep pushing.”
Ikorodu City defender, Leonard Ngenge also said, “Obviously, it puts everyone under pressure even myself. But I just need to do my best to be on the coaches’ radar.”
Nigeria, the 2018 runners-up, are in group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo.
The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.
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