Connect with us

Sports

Handball: Nigeria U-18 Team Lands Algeria For Tourney

Published

2 months ago

on

Pix: Women Handball Team line up

Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team will be departs the country yesterday , ahead of the 2025 African Women’s Youth Handball Championship, which will take place in Oran, Algeria, from September 14 to 21, Tidesports source reports.

The team, which had been preparing for the biennial competition at the Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba, Lagos, will be led by head coach John Uzor as they look to finish on the podium as well as pick up a ticket to the World Championships for next year.

Coach Uzor had earlier expressed optimism on his team’s chances at the continental tournament during an interview with our correspondent, “The previous set went for the same tournament two years ago and they came out third. So you know much is expected of us. At least surpass them or maintain the standard. And this time around, we have more countries coming. So we are doing everything possible to imbibe and inculcate some things into the team so that we can achieve better than what they did before.”

“I know that we will be favoured. Five teams to qualify, we will surely qualify. At least, even if we do not finish on the podium, we are eyeing at least a spot at the World Cup. Yes, that is what we are saying. We know we’ll finish at the podium, all things being equal. But we’ll qualify for the World Cup. That’s the most important thing,” he added.

A total of 11 countries will be competing for honours at the U-18 handball tournament, which will be played at two venues in the city of Oran, namely, the Miloud Hadefi Complex Arena, which boasts a capacity of 7,000 and the 5,000-seater Hamou Boutlelis Sports Palace.

Nigeria will slug it out with Angola, Tunisia, Kenya, Benin Republic and Madagascar in Group A, while hosts Algeria will tackle defending champions Egypt, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Zambia in Group B.

Nigeria finished on the podium at the 2023 edition, held in Monastir, Tunisia, after defeating three-time champions Angola 28-24 in the bronze medal fixture.

The 2025 edition of the tournament will serve as qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Youth World Handball Championship, as well as the IHF Women’s Intercontinental Phase.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification 

Published

2 days ago

on

November 3, 2025

By

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.

Continue Reading

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION 

Published

2 days ago

on

November 3, 2025

By

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

 

Continue Reading

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN 

Published

2 days ago

on

November 3, 2025

By

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
Continue Reading

Trending