Sports
Lagos, Oyo Win Big At Cycling Tourney
Lagos and Oyo States were big winners at the 3rd edition of Cycling Lagos, an initiative organised by BrandEscort Communications in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Lagos State Cycling Association.
The competition themed ‘Sustainable Healthcare’ was kicked off by the Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Adebanji Atewogboye, in a celebrity race that started from Teslim Balogun Stadium and proceeded along Alhaji Marshal Road and back to the stadium.
Atewogboye emphasised that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is committed to providing a solid platform for athletes in the state to succeed, saying, “The event is fantastic for the young athletes participating, and our focus is on partnering with and promoting talented athletes from the grassroots. We appreciate the organisers, Cycling Lagos.”
The event, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Fit3 and supported by Stanbic IBTC Bank, Cway, Nutrify, Nestle Nigeria Plc, McVitie’s, ADVAN, and NNPC, saw Lagos State pro cyclist Tijani Quwam emerge as the winner in the male category after riding for 56 minutes, 29 seconds.
Agbo Francis from Ogun State came in second with 56 minutes, 34.24 seconds. Moshood Garuba, also from Ogun State, came in 3rd after riding for 56 minutes, 34.24 seconds.
In the professional female race, Lagos State’s Patricia Nunachi came in first after racing for 56 minutes, 38.44 seconds, while Angulum Doris from Lagos came in second with a time of 58 minutes, 22.58 seconds. Kate Oyewole, also from Lagos, finished third with a time of 58 minutes, 28.47 seconds.
celebrity race that started from Teslim Balogun Stadium and proceeded along Alhaji Marshal Road and back to the stadium.
Atewogboye emphasised that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is committed to providing a solid platform for athletes in the state to succeed, saying, “The event is fantastic for the young athletes participating, and our focus is on partnering with and promoting talented athletes from the grassroots. We appreciate the organisers, Cycling Lagos.”
The event, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Fit3 and supported by Stanbic IBTC Bank, Cway, Nutrify, Nestle Nigeria Plc, McVitie’s, ADVAN, and NNPC, saw Lagos State pro cyclist Tijani Quwam emerge as the winner in the male category after riding for 56 minutes, 29 seconds.
Agbo Francis from Ogun State came in second with 56 minutes, 34.24 seconds. Moshood Garuba, also from Ogun State, came in 3rd after riding for 56 minutes, 34.24 seconds.
In the professional female race, Lagos State’s Patricia Nunachi came in first after racing for 56 minutes, 38.44 seconds, while Angulum Doris from Lagos came in second with a time of 58 minutes, 22.58 seconds. Kate Oyewole, also from Lagos, finished third with a time of 58 minutes, 28.47 seconds.
In the amateur male category, Isiaka Ibrahim from Lagos State came first after riding for 15 minutes, 22.11 seconds, followed by Ajibade Ibrahim from Oyo State in second with 15 minutes, 22.13 seconds, and Sagiru Ibrahim in third with 15 minutes, 28.08 seconds.
In the amateur female category, Olawale Peace from Oyo State was the winner after racing for 16 minutes, 48.88 seconds, while Lilian Odumegwu from Lagos came in second with a time of 16 minutes, 48.88 seconds, and Ejima Peter from Lagos State came in third with 17 minutes, 25.50 seconds.
The children’s demographic was not left out of the competition, with Mukadan Isiaq from Oyo State coming in first with a time of three minutes and 41.10 seconds in the U-15 male category, while Babatunde Ramadan from Lagos State came in second with three minutes and 41.11 seconds, and Emmanuel Unimna of Lagos State came in third with three minutes and 41.15 seconds.
In the U-15 female category, Aminu Olamiposi, from Oyo State, won with a time of three minutes and 46.22 seconds, followed by fellow Oyo indigenes Adeola Olabisi, second with three minutes and 47.12 seconds, and Mukadan Rodia, third with three minutes and 47.14 seconds.
The male U-10 category saw Akinola Destiny from Oyo State come in first with a time of two minutes and 35.22 seconds, while Emmanuel Popoola from Lagos came in second with a time of two minutes and 35.24 seconds, and Adesola Opeoluwa, also from Lagos, came in third with a time of two minutes and 35.25 seconds.
In the female U-10 category, Odebiyi Hikimat from Oyo State came in first with a time of two minutes and 36.25 seconds, while Aminu Olamiposi, also from Oyo State, came in second with a time of two minutes and 36.27 seconds, and Victoria Kalejaiye from Lagos came in third with a time of two minutes and 36.29
seconds.
Sports
Lewandowski Leads Top Stars Missing From W/Cup Roll Call
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Sports
Para Games: Team Rivers Wins 53 Medals On Day 5 … Director Praise Athletes
Sports
Ondo Women Shine At Gov Diri Wrestling Classics
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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