Sports
Edo 2020: Swimming New Record Holder Looks Forward To Olympics
A new record holder in swimming at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival in Edo, Gagbe Ifiezegbe, says she stands a chance for better performance at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, if given an opportunity.
Ifiezegbe told newsmen yesterday in Benin that she would ensure a qualification for the final of swimming event at the Olympics.
She said if she would be picked for the Olympic, she would give her best to it.
Tidesports source reports that the swimmer had won four gold medals for Team Bayelsa at the sporting event, tagged Edo 2020, setting new records in two swimming categories.
Ifiezegbe beat Deborah Okpochini of Delta’s record of 2.20.28 minutes in the 200 meters freestyle women category with 2.17.05, in the game, Okpochini also participated.
She also set a new record in the 100 metres freestyle women with 1.01.54 minutes breaking the long time record of 1.02.66 set by Okpilobo of Ondo at the NSF in Lagos, 2012.
The athlete capped the feat with gold medals in the 400 metres individual medley women and 1500 metres freestyle women.
She explained her desire to reclaim her lost glory informed her persistent training for the festival.
“Before, I was the champion though, but in 2018, she (Okpochini) beat me.
“She was winning the gold medals; I won 14 silvers in that competition, but I told myself because they used to call me golden girl.
“But when it got to Abuja, I won silvers all through and I said I need to come back to golden girl.
“So, I have to work for it. I had been training for this competition before they started shifting it.
“I have won four gold medals and for all the gold, I placed the records,” she boasted.
The swimmer however regretted that she had been coming to the national sports festival since 2004 without making it to the Olympics.
Sports
Fury, Joshua Fight Sealed
Fury, (left) and Joshua
The proposed blockbuster fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been signed and will go ahead, according to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.
Fury had suggested on Friday that the long-awaited all-British showdown was unlikely to happen, but Hearn insisted the fight is contractually agreed.
“We’ve signed the contract, we’re waiting for a date,” Hearn told Tidesports source yesterday.
Hearn said neither fighter could simply withdraw from the agreement.
“The fight’s signed. No-one can pull out of the fight. You can’t just pull out of a contract,” he said.
The main issue still to be resolved is where the fight will take place.
The bout had been expected to happen in the United Kingdom in November, but Saudi organisers Sela are pushing for it to be staged in the United States.
Joshua and Fury have separate contracts with Sela, with New York’s Madison Square Garden reportedly among the preferred venues.
The fight is also expected to be broadcast on Netflix.
Hearn said the Joshua camp would prefer the fight to remain in Britain but could consider a move to the United States under the right terms.
“We know everybody and his dog involved in the fight wants to do the fight in America. We don’t,” Hearn said.
The promoter added that discussions with Sela were continuing, but stressed that there was no indication the fight itself was in danger of falling apart.
“We’ve told Sela and the team, ‘If you want to do it in America, these are the terms that we can move forward with. But we’d rather not please,’” he said.
Fury and Joshua have been expected to meet in one of the biggest fights in British boxing history, with the venue and date now the major outstanding details.
Sports
Arsenal Want Osimhen To Take Pay Cut
Arsenal want Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, to accept a reduction in his wage demands as a condition for completing a move to the Emirates before the summer transfer window closes.
The Gunners remain hopeful of landing the Nigeria international, with manager Mikel Arteta keen to strengthen his attacking options after failing to convince Atletico Madrid to sell Julian Alvarez, who is said to prefer a move to Barcelona over a return to the Premier League.
According to sources, Arsenal have held direct talks over a deal for Osimhen but are unwilling to make an excessive contract offer, leaving any potential agreement dependent on the striker’s willingness to compromise on his salary.
The 27-year-old currently earns in excess of €20 million (£17.1m) annually at Galatasaray, a figure Arsenal are said to be unwilling to match. Negotiating a fee could prove another obstacle, with Galatasaray president, Dursun Ozbek, insisting the striker is not for sale, a stance underlined by the club’s rejection of a €130 million (£111m) offer from Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal, earlier this month.
Having missed out on Osimhen, Al-Hilal reportedly turned their attention to Aston Villa striker, Ollie Watkins, only for their latest £45 million approach to also be rejected, further highlighting the difficulty clubs are facing in prising top forwards away from their current sides this summer.
Despite the ongoing speculation over his future, Osimhen has enjoyed a strong start to the season in Turkey.
He scored twice and provided an assist in Galatasaray’s 4-0 away win over Erzurumspor on Friday, having also netted twice in a 2-2 draw with Corum FK. The forward is expected to continue leading the line for the Turkish champions as Arsenal await his decision on a possible switch to the Premier League.
Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a convincing victory against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta ended the club’s 22-year wait for a league title last season – and with a faultless display against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues in their opener, his team reminded the rest of the league why they are favourites to retain the crown.
First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the reigning champions firmly in control, and captain Martin Odegaard added a third soon after the restart to seal a comfortable win on the opening day of the campaign.
Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a convincing victory against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta ended the club’s 22-year wait for a league title last season – and with a faultless display against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues in their opener, his team reminded the rest of the league why they are favourites to retain the crown.
First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the reigning champions firmly in control, and captain Martin Odegaard added a third soon after the restart to seal a comfortable win on the opening day of the campaign.
Sports
PH TO HOST NPBL PLAYOFFS
Port Harcourt has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Playoffs for a fourth straight year, following a slight schedule adjustment by the League Management Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
Originally slated for Aug. 22–29, the Playoffs (Phase 3) will now run from 29 August to 6 September at the Basketball Stadium, 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers State.
In a communiqué issued on 21 August 2026 by NBBF Vice-President and League Chairman Babatunde Ogunade alongside Secretary-General Amina Amanchi, the federation commended the qualifying teams for their professionalism and performance thus far.
Per the updated schedule, participating teams are expected to arrive on 29 August for pre-tournament technical meetings, with competitive action running from 30 August through 5 September, while team departures take place a day later.
The eight-team, round-robin tournament features four qualifiers from the Atlantic Conference—Rivers Hoopers, Maktown Flyers, Hoops & Read, and Lagos Raptors—alongside Savannah Conference representatives Aso Sky Hawks, 313 Warriors, Gboko City Chiefs, and Kano Pillars.
The selection of Port Harcourt re-establishes Rivers State as a central venue for elite domestic basketball in Nigeria and once again brings the action closer to the teeming fans, following a successful staging of the playoffs and Final Four at the same venue last year.
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