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Cricket W’Cup Qualifier Important For Nigeria – Captain

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3 years ago

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Captain of Nigeria’s male senior cricket team, Sylvester Okpe, says the goal of the team ahead of the forthcoming ICC T20 Sub-Regional Qualifier is beyond the World Cup ticket, The Tidesports source reports.
The Yellow Greens have been in camp since the end of October and have had their initial 20-man list pruned to 14 ahead of the qualifiers.
In a chat with The Tidesport source Okpe said the objective of the team remains unflinching.
He added that reaching the regional final as well as the World Cup will not be only a win for Nigeria, but will also propel the careers of the players.
“It’s all about qualifying for the next round. Not only to improve rankings but to also get more games as a nation and as players. So, every player understands that and I’m sure they would be supportive,” Okpe told The Tidesports source.
Nigeria is currently ranked No. 43 in the world with 1482 points in the November T20 rankings.
The training camp has afforded the players to put their skills to use in front of the new head coach and high-performance manager, Steve Tikolo, who was appointed last month by the Nigeria Cricket Federation.
The Kenyan has been working with national coach Clive Ogbimi and other backroom staff.
Okpe described the new dispensation of coaching as worthwhile.
“Well, it’s been great so far, with so much being impacted already. All the players are excited already having him around and looking forward to an exciting journey with him,” the captain noted.
After their camping in Nigeria, the Yellow Greens will embark on a training tour of Zimbabwe, before proceeding to Rwanda for the regional qualifiers.
The tournament which is expected to take place from the 28th of November to the 8th of December has Nigeria drawn in group B alongside Tanzania, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Eswatini, The Gambia and Cameroon, with top 2 teams scheduled to progress for the next phase of qualification.
Only Romanian great Gheorghe Hagi (8.00) and Swedish icon Kennet Andersson (7.89) were rated higher than Finidi at USA ’94.
French ace Florin Raducioiu (7.88) and legendary Brazilian captain Dunga (7.84) completed the top five.

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Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification 

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4 days ago

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November 3, 2025

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Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.

We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.

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ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION 

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4 days ago

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November 3, 2025

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The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.
Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.
According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.
“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.
“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.
The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.
He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.
” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.
By: Tonye Orabere

 

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DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN 

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4 days ago

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November 3, 2025

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The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.
Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.
He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.
The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.
He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.
“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.
Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.
It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council  meeting held  in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.
By: Tonye Orabere
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