Sports
Tokyo 2020: Coach Affirms Nigeria’s Wrestlers’ Good Shape

Head Coach of Nigeria wrestling team, Purity Akuh, has said that the country’s contingent to the delayed-Tokyo 2020 Olympics is in ‘good shape’ and ‘ready to do the job’.
Five Tokyo-bound wrestlers, Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), Blessing Oborududu (68kg), Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), Adijat Idris (50kg) and Ekerekeme Agiomor (86kg) – have been intensifying preparations for the Games in Yenagoa for over two months, under the watchful eyes of the seasoned coach and his colleagues.
With barely one week before their departure to Japan for the final phase of camping ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Akuh disclosed that the training plan of the team has been followed religiously, adding that the athletes are focused for the task ahead.
“They (the athletes) are in good spirit. When they are staying in an environment where all the needs have been taken care of, so their mindset is okay.
“Everything is fine. Medical, the nutrition and everything is perfectly okay. And they are in good shape.
“So, I think when an athlete has rest of mind, when everything he needs is taken care of, I think his mind will be ready to do the job,” he said.
Regarding training, Akuh stated that things have been going according to plan, reiterating that the athletes are in ‘good shape’.
“Training has been very well. We are following our periodisation, following everything we have planned, and this is our final preparation.
“For me, my assessment is that the ladies are in good environment.
“The nutrition is well-planned, and we are following the things on our plan, and they are all in good shape. I am very happy that they are all in good shape, avoiding injuries. So, we are good for now,” Akuh stated.
The five wrestlers (4 females and one male), who are scheduled to depart the country for Japan on 13th July, will be hoping to make history for Nigeria in Tokyo by winning medals at the Games.
No Nigerian wrestler has won an Olympic medal hitherto.
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CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.
He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.
According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.
“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.
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FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.
Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.
Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.
Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.
The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.
Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.
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