Sports

Beyond Limits Intensify NPFL Return

Published

5 months ago

March 9, 2026

Beyond Limits Football Academy strengthened their push for Nigeria Premier Football League promotion with a 2–1 victory over local rivals Gateway FC in an Ogun State derby in the Nigeria National League at the MKO Abiola Stadium on Saturday , Tidesports source reports.

The match lived up to expectations as both sides produced an intense contest, but it was the visitors who emerged victorious to maintain pressure in the race for promotion from Conference A.

Beyond Limits made a brighter start and took the lead after 13 minutes when Celestine Peter headed past the onrushing goalkeeper to give his side an early advantage.

Gateway responded with greater attacking intent and nearly levelled shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Daniel Aiyenugba produced a sharp save in the 27th minute to deny the hosts from a powerful header following a corner kick.

The pressure eventually paid off for Gateway late in the first half as central defender Abiodun Ayeni reacted quickest to a loose ball from another corner to fire home the equaliser in the 38th minute, sending the teams into the break level at 1–1.

Beyond Limits regained control after the restart and restored their lead ten minutes into the second half. A well-worked move between Mark Akpabio and Yusuf Saka created space inside the box before Akpabio calmly sliced his finish into the top corner in the 55th minute.

Gateway pushed forward in search of another equaliser during the closing stages, but Beyond Limits held firm through five minutes of stoppage time to secure all three points.

The result keeps the 2024 NNL champions firmly in contention for promotion despite the uncertainty surrounding their eligibility for the top flight due to the presence of their parent club, Remo Stars, in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

However, with Remo Stars currently battling relegation, Beyond Limits could still become eligible for promotion should the situation change at the end of the season.

The academy side remain locked in a tight battle with Inter Lagos for the Conference A lead.

The Lagosians retained top spot with 24 points after a 5–0 victory over Abia Comets in Mobolaji Johnson Arena, staying one point ahead of Beyond Limits.

Beyond Limits will look to maintain their momentum and go top when they host Edel FC in Ikenne in their next league fixture, while Inter Lagos will be on a bye.

For Gateway, the defeat deepens their struggles in the second tier, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the conference and facing the prospect of a second consecutive relegation to the third-tier Nigeria Nationwide League One.

Their next test comes away to fellow strugglers Abia Comets in Aba.

Sports

Rivers-born Chess Player Clinches Third Position At World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship

Published

4 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

A veteran Rivers State chess player, Apollos Akomaka, has finished in joint 3rd place at the just-concluded World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship held in Abuja.

Akomaka, who is the director of physiotherapy at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, overcame a shaky start to secure a podium finish in the 11-round rapid event that began on August 2.

The tournament featured top chess players from several countries.

After losing his opening game, the defining moment for Akomaka came between Rounds 7 and 11.

He raised his game and began defeating some of the top-ranked players in the event.

The Rivers-born player ended the championship tied for 3rd place in the U2000 category with 6.5 points out of 11, alongside Cameroon’s national champion, Noumbo Vidal.

His final game was against Vidal, with the Nigerian playing the black pieces.

Vidal opened with a queen’s gambit but quickly transposed into an English opening with a double fianchetto attack.

Akomaka responded sharply with a king’s Indian defense and soon launched a kingside attack from a defensive position.

The pressure paid off, resulting in an immediate material gain, a knight for a rook, and leaving Akomaka with a strong attacking advantage.

Vidal fought hard to avoid mate and managed to steer the game into an endgame, where he found some respect. At that point, the Cameroon champion offered a draw, which Akomaka accepted.

Speaking after the event, Akomaka said that he is resilient and determined after the poor start but happy that he finished on the podium.

He expressed optimism that in subsequent competitions he will make Rivers State proud and Nigeria at large.

Akomaka has won both local and national chess championships in recent times.

He is passionate about chess; besides, he has equally sponsored several national chess tournaments in Nigeria.

The World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship concluded with Akomaka of Rivers State,

Nigeria, battling back from an early loss to end among the top three in his category

Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor

Sports

Team Nigeria Secures Women’s 4x100m, 4x400m Finals at World U20 Championships

Published

4 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, securing places in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals after strong performances in the heats.

The Nigerian quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu booked their place in the women’s 4x400m final after clocking a season’s best of 3:35.28.

Nigeria finished third in the heat behind Italy and Great Britain, doing enough to advance to the final and remain firmly in contention for a medal.

In the women’s 4x100m, Ugoh joined Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu as Nigeria produced another season’s best, clocking 43.65 seconds to secure an automatic ticket to the women’s 4x100m final.

The qualification was sealed by a sensational anchor leg from Ezechukwu. Receiving the baton nearly 20 metres behind the United States, the Nigerian launched a determined charge down the home straight, rapidly closing the gap before edging the Americans at the line to claim the third automatic qualifying position.

Nigeria stopped the clock at 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, who finished in 43.67 seconds.

The performances mean Nigeria will now contest both women’s relay finals, further strengthening the country’s medal prospects at the championships.

In Saturday’s evening phase of the event, Success Uyibo will compete in the 200m women’s final while the 4x100m compete in the women’s final.

Sports

Poor welfare forced me to dump Delta for Enugu, says world – Nwachukwu

Published

4 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

World Record holder and Commonwealth Games champion, Goodness Nwachukwu, has revealed why she dumped Delta State for Enugu State.

The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.

But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.

Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.