Sports

2026 W/Cup: Nigeria Ready For S’Africa, Benin

Published

3 weeks ago

May 22, 2024

Nigeria’s defensive midfielder, Frank Onyeka has revealed the country’s determination to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track against South Africa and Benin next month.
The Super Eagles are looking to turn over a new leaf under Finidi George after getting off to a disappointing start in Group C with successive 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Jose Peseiro oversaw the first two matches and vacated his post after guiding the team to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, with assistant coach George eventually named his permanent successor last month.
Onyeka, who played a key role in the country’s run to the AFCON 2023 final, believes the appointment of George as head coach can only benefit the squad and insists they are looking to make amends against Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs.
“He’s a good coach, good guy, he helped the players during the AFCON and now he’s been appointed as the coach, so I guess everyone is happy,” the Brentford midfielder told local journalists in an interview.
“In all seriousness, we have to go to that game [against South Africa] with everything because of what it means to us and to the country. Two points from two games is not good, so we need to win our next two games. We’ll give everything and be ready for it.”
Nigeria will come up against a familiar face in Gernot Rohr, who held the reins of the national team for a record five years between 2016 and 2021 but is now in charge of Benin.
“We know Gernot Rohr and it’s not going to be easy,” Onyeka added. “The teams in Africa are not easy to play against, so we’ll go with all seriousness in the hope that we get the win.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has backed the Super Eagles to continue the country’s dominance over South Africa.
This comes after the Super Falcons of Nigeria qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after defeating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 on aggregate recently.
The NFF has now revealed that the Super Eagles will host Bafana at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 7th June in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
“Exactly four months after they were bumped and relegated to the third-place match of the Africa Cup of Nations by the Super Eagles, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are in jitters as they will come up against the three-time African champions again, in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo,” an NFF statement read.
“Only recently, the Super Falcons pushed the Banyana Banyana, reigning African champions, off the bus to this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, instead grabbing the ticket to make sure of a first appearance at the glamour tournament for the first time in 16 years.
“The assured manner of Nigeria’s victories in the two fixtures have left the hierarchy of South African football flummoxed, and there is no adequate time to recover or rejig strategies before the Bafana Bafana come up against the Super Eagles in a Day 3 encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 7th June.
“With two points from their previous two matches, but aware of the hold they have over the Bafana Bafana, the African vice-champions are confident of the three points on the day, which could see them fly to the top of the pool.”

Sports

Okowa Lauds Athletes Ahead Olympics Trials

Published

4 days ago

June 12, 2024

The Tide

President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has once again mandated all athletes looking to represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to attend the Nigerian Trials, which hold from June 16 to 18 inside the main bowl of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City.
Making his stance clear in Monday’s release by the athletics body, Okowa commended the athletes for their determination to qualify for the Olympics.
He said, “The athletes have shown commitment, determination, and desire to succeed in their careers by picking Olympic qualifications. They deserve our collective appreciation.”
He added, “The athletes would be picked in accordance with their performances at the trials because it would largely determine who goes to Paris for the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Alli, says the state is waiting to welcome athletes for the trials.
He said, “We are the hosts of the national trials, and athletes and spectators are welcome.”
The trials are expected to throw up the best of Nigeria’s athletes based at home and abroad for the Olympic Games in Paris in July.

Sports

Emerging Star Eyes Olympics Place For Nigeria

Published

4 days ago

June 12, 2024

The Tide

Nigerian track and field star, Favour Ofili, has set her sights on the upcoming national Olympics trials after she pulled off a stunning victory in the women’s 100m at the New York Grand Prix, defeating a stellar field that included Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica last Sunday.
The 21-year-old clocked a season-best 11.18secs to take the win, America’s Morolake Akinosun was second in 11.20secs while her compatriot Aleia Hobbs ended in third place in 11.21secs.Thompson-Herah, the Tokyo Olympics 100m and 200m gold medalist, could only manage ninth place in 11.48secs as she continues to search for her best form this season.
“Just like practice, stay calm and just go, finish your transition because that’s the issue, and whatever happens will happen. I wanted to get the standard here and I give God glory for the win,” Ofili told Tidesports source after the race.
“For the trials, stay calm and just do what I know how to do, go back and do some training before I go back home for the national trials.”
The Olympic trials are scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State from June 16 to 18. The trials will serve as the selection of the nation’s athletes for both the Senior Africa Athletics Championships, holding between June 21 and 28 in Douala, Cameroon and the Paris 2024 Olympics, which hold from July 26 to August 11.

Sports

Olympic Day Celebrations Hold June 29

Published

4 days ago

June 12, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), at the weekend, said the annual Olympic Day celebrations would be held on June 29 across the country.
The Olympic Day is a global event that commemorates the birth of the modern Olympic Movement, founded by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894.
Speaking with news men, the Secretary-General of the NOC, Babatunde Popoola, said this year’s celebration holds special significance as it precedes the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
It’s where Nigerian athletes will compete and inspire the world with their achievements.
“Olympic Day is a chance for people of all ages and abilities to experience the magic of the Olympic Games in their own communities.
“It is an ideal platform to highlight the benefits of physical activity and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect,” Popoola said.
Popoola said that NOC had received positive responses from various states and stakeholders, and preparations were well underway for the nationwide celebration.
He added that no fewer than 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory have indicated their plans to organise activities for the event.
The states are: Abia; Anambra; Bayelsa; Delta; Edo; Enugu; Ebonyi; Lagos; Kogi; Gombe; Jigawa; Kebbi; Kano; Kwara; Taraba; Imo; Ondo; Plateau; Rivers; Nasarawa and Osun
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NOC Sport For All Commission, Abdul Ibrahim, said that Olympic Day was a special day to come together, move together, and learn about the Olympic values.
“We encourage everyone to participate and experience the joy that only sport can bring,” he said.
According to him, a series of activities have been lined up in Lagos, with fitness clubs at the National Stadium Complex and the general public gearing up to take part in the global event.
“The celebration will conclude with the presentation of diplomas signed by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.
The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel and other dignitaries will officially flag off the event in Abuja,” he added.