Sports
NCF U-17 Cricket Tourney Ends With Excitments
The Final match of the National Under-17 Cricket Championship for Boys ended with thrills and excitements, reminding all and sundry about the beauty of the game.
North West cruised to the final after beating North Central in the semi-final, while South-South thumped South West to also qualify for the final. Edo Boys High School, Benin City was packed to full capacity by home fans, and spectators.
South-South emerged doubles champions of the Girls and Boys Under-17 Cricket tournament, as they lifted Boys and girls trophies.
South-South won the toss and elected to bat first. The opening pair of Elijah Saturday and Selim Salau started brightly, racing to 45 runs in the power play over. The Genius of Chidi Onwubualili got hat trick wicket which dealt a serious blow into the Bating attack of South-South. Wickets fell every other over, leaving South-South to settle for a below par score of 93 runs all out in 25.1 overs.
Elijah Saturday scored 32 runs off 36 balls as the best performer with the bat for South-South.
Chidi Onwubualili finished with 4 wickets, conceding 19 runs in 6.1 overs, strongly supported by Theophilus Jeremiah with 3 wickets for 32 runs in 8 overs for North West.
In the second innings, South-South took the game to North West, piling pressure from the first ball. Onslaught led by Prosper Useni, North West lost 5 wickets for 18 runs in the power play over, leaving too much to ponder for the middle order batsmen.
A spark of hope from Kenneth Boniface came to an end with the catch and moment of the tournament by Effiong Godswill in Mid-wicket, quenching every ray of hope of comeback by the North-West team.
North West eventually finished with 52 runs all out in 18 overs.
Isaac Oyemba got 3 wickets, conceding 19 runs in 6 overs, supported by Destiny Chilemayan with 3 wickets for 5 runs in 3 overs and Ogbemudia Eweka with 2 wickets for 8 runs in 4 overs.
Kenneth Boniface scored 16 runs off 19 balls and Paul Pam scored 14 runs off 34 balls as the only double figures for North-West.
Destiny Chilemayan was named player of the match.
South-South won by 41 runs and crowned tournament champions.
High light of the tournament was the presentation of awards to teams and individual athletes winners.
South-South (Winners Trophy and Medal Champions North West (Runners Up Trophy and Medal). Runners Up. South West (3rd Position Trophy and Medal) 3rd Position North Central 4th Position South East 5th Position.
Individual awards were most Valuable Player (Award +20,000) Boniface Kenneth (North West)
Best Bowler (Award + 15,000) Theophilus Jeremiah (North West)
Best Fielder(Award +15,000) Joshua Sunday (North West) Best Batsman(Award + 15,000) Elijah Saturday (South-South) and
Best Behaved (Award + 15, 000) was awarded to Godswill Effiong (South-South) respectively.
Special awards by sponsor of the competition, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), MVP. Team South-South cart home (15,000)…Destiny Chilemayan
MVP. Team North West (15,000) was awarded to Chidi Onwubualili Moment of the Game (15,000)and Godswill Efiiong respectively.
Sports
Amusan places third in Diamond League opener
The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.
Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.
Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.
Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.
The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.
Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.
Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.
Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.
“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”
Sports
Falcons To Tackle Senegal in Pre-WAFCON friendly
The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.
The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.
“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.
“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”
The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.
With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.
The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.
Sports
Okpekpe Road Race Unveils Partners, Appoints Dr. Bojuwoye
Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.
As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.
His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.
In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.
It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.
Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.
Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.
We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.
It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.
The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.
The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.
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