Sports
Super Eagles, Chipolopolo In Crucial Encounter
It is the second group match day
today for Super Eagles of Nigeria as they get set to clash with the defending
champions, Chippolopolo of Zambia at the ongoing 2013 African Cup of Nations in
South Africa.
The encounter is crucial to both teams after they failed
to secure maximum points in their respective opening matches, courtesy of 1-1
draw results.
But today, the Eagles and Zambians will be hard pressed
for victory.
For Coach Stephen Keshi and his wards, it is time to
live up to pre-championship hype and rating.
Despite finding it difficult to subdue the stallions of
Burkina Faso in their Group C opening match on Monday, Keshi and some of his
players have declared their determination to crush Zambia today.
However, the encounter will neither be easy for the
Super Eagles nor the Chipolopolo.
It is a must win duel for either team and it is expected
to have all the trappings of a titanic battle.
The Super Eagles’ camp is buoyed by the expected fitness
and availability of Chelsea winger, Victor Moses, who missed the encounter
against the Burkinabes. Moses will
expectedly be deployed to the flanks where his combination with Ahmed Musa
would feed Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike to explore chances against the
Zambians.
The Nigerian players who were guilty of wastefulness and
selfishness in the first match must avoid such tendencies today if they must
make hay.
Moreso, Captain Joseph Yobo and his co-defenders must be
winy of the nimble footed Zambians who have proved that they have the knock to
raise their game whenever the stakes are high.
Today’s match will certainly shape the group’s
leadership picture and chances of progression.
Zambia is desperate to lay a marker by stopping Nigeria
today, but the quality in the Super Eagles is expected to shine through at the
end of the 90 minutes.
Indeed, Mikel Obi and Nosa Igiebor showed their class
against Burkina Faso, that calm and calculated display is what is expected from
all the departments of the Super Eagles, especially, in front of goal, if the
Eagles, and indeed, Nigerians are to celebrate their first victory of the 2013
cup of nations today.
The second match of the day is the group C’s other game
between Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. All
teams are currently level on one point and would begin to define their chances
after the matches.
Sports
NBF eyes Commonwealth Games redemption
The Nigeria Boxing Federation has set its sights on six gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the body looks to recover from the administrative turmoil that undermined its preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
NBF Vice President Omonlei Imadu told our correspondent, “Our target is 10 medals, six gold, while others can come in silver and bronze colours. We are truly determined to make this a reality in Glasgow.
“We have moved focus now to the camping phase. Our aim is to ensure that the boxers are in perfect shape during and after the camping.”
Diaspora boxer Patricia Mbata, the African Games gold medallist based in the United Kingdom, was among the women’s finalists, while Kenneth Anigboro topped the men’s 90kg class. Other female finalists are Udoette Happiness and Gafar Fathia (51kg), Ajishola Kadijat and Gbadamosi Aishat (57kg), Sodipe Damilola and Ismail Abibat (65kg), Blessing Orakwe (70kg), and James Queen and Odoka Celestina (above 70kg). The male finalists are Ogunremi Michael and Habeeb Qazeem (55kg), Abdulwahab Abdulrahmon and Saliu Ridwan (65kg), Folly Hassan and Nwoha Precious (70kg), Daniel Joshua and Sharafadeen Fawas (80kg), and Anigboro Kenneth and Abiodun Adesoji (90kg).
National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade, who attended Nigeria’s Commonwealth trials, also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s prospects.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria have a successful outing at the Games, and the prospects in boxing truly excite me,” he said.
Nigeria’s push for improvement comes after the backdrop of a difficult period for the sport at the last Olympics.
Boxers who competed at Paris 2024 also raised concerns about poor preparation, with Zainab Adeshina stating there was no adequate equipment for training and Ifeanyi Onyekwere describing the build-up as a one-week camp filled with stress.
Nigeria also suffered a 4-3 defeat to Ghana in a Commonwealth Games warm-up friendly in Accra recently, a result Imadu acknowledged as a reminder of the work still required, while noting that the federation was in advanced talks with two other nations over additional preparatory fixtures before the Games.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, where boxing will feature across 14 events — seven men’s and seven women’s categories.
The NBF vice president also commended the board members for their commitment and altruism towards the welfare of the athletes.
“As a federation, we would like to appreciate these board members for their patriotism. This is an attestation of their dedication to the advancement of boxing in the country. As a body, we would continue to encourage the selflessness of our colleagues so we can collectively deliver on our mandate to revamp the squared ropes sports across the board,” he said.
The Yucateco boss further states the NBF’s readiness to deliver medals at the Games in Glasgow.
“Like I said previously, our focus has not shifted. We strongly believe that every boxer on the plane to Scotland must return with a medal for Nigeria, hence we took the lead as the only federation to call its athletes to camp ahead of time. 30 of our boxers have been in camp since April, and the federation has been solely responsible for their welfare since they commenced training,” Imadu added.
At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, nine Nigerian fighters returned with four medals — one silver through Elizabeth Oshoba and bronzes for Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe and Ifeanyi Onyekwere.
Sports
PH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
Sports
Remo To rebuild After NPFL Relegation
Remo Stars were relegated on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Bendel Insurance F.C. in Benin City.
The Sky Blue Stars initially looked on course for survival when experienced striker Victor Mbaoma gave them the lead on the stroke of half-time, but the situation changed dramatically deep into stoppage time when Chijioke Akuneto equalised for Bendel Insurance to secure a 1-1 draw.
The delayed fixture between Kun Khalifat F.C. and Wikki Tourists F.C. later confirmed Remo’s fate, with the newcomers winning 3-1 to preserve their top-flight status and condemn Remo Stars to life in the second division.
In the wake of a season that saw them garner just 47 points from 38 games, only one year after winning the league title, the Sky Blue Stars described the outcome as heartbreaking.
“We understand the disappointment and frustration this season has brought. We did not deliver the performances or consistency required to maintain our place in the division. We take full responsibility for that failure.’’
“To our fans who filled the stands, supported the team online and stood by us even during our darkest moments, thank you. Your loyalty means everything, and we recognise that we owe you much more than what this season produced.
“Our focus now turns towards rebuilding with purpose and determination. Important decisions will be made, and every effort will be directed towards returning this club to where it belongs.”
They became the first defending NPFL champions to suffer relegation since Bayelsa United in the 2009/10 season.
They also became only the fourth reigning league champions to drop into the second tier during a title defence campaign after Stationery Stores in 1993 and Shooting Stars in 1999.
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