Author Archives: Sports Angle International-SAI

By Tolu Atobatele

The leadership of the foremost Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos SWAN has applaud and commended the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over his continued support for sports and quality leadership.

The Executive Committee, under the leadership of Debo Oshundun, applauded the latest announcement which saw the official hand over of a 3-bedroom flat at the Babatunde Raji Fashola Housing Estate, Iponri, to the First Olympic Gold Medalist in Nigeria and in Africa, Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara (MON), in fulfilment of a 25-year-old pledge by the then Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The gesture, according to the association, will not only encourage others to strive for greatness, but is also a testimony of the labours of our heroes not being in vain.

“We wish to thank His Excellency for this noble gesture of honoring our heroes, and in the process, encouraging those coming behind.

“Recently, he handed Patrick Pascal a key to his apartment for his exploits at the Atlanta ’96 Games.

“Now, it is the turn of Chioma Ajunwa (Assistant Commissioner of Police) for being the first athlete to win Nigeria’s first individual gold medal at any Olympics.”

In a related development, a whooping sum of N20million was also doled out to six Lagos elite athletes that would be representing Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan.

Jide Omotayo (Table Tennis), Seye Ogunlewe (Athletics), Ahmed Koleoso (Para table tennis), Adijat Olayori (Weightlifting), Anuoluwapo Olayori (Badminton) and Godwin Ofolu (Badminton) were all given money as training grants by the state as part of support for Team Nigeria as they intensify preparation for the games.

”The governor has demonstrated his belief in using sports as one of the tools for youth engagement and empowerment.

“It is also noted that Gov. Sanwo-Olu gave Lagos SWAN a brand new 18- seater to aid the association in discharging its duty.

“The state contingent was also adjudged as the best kitted team at the 2020 Edo National Sports Festival.

“The training grants given to these athletes will go a long way in preparing them for the challenges in Tokyo”, Oshundun said.

At a brief ceremony held on Thursday in Alausa, Governor Sanwo-Olu also approved and handed a cheque of N146 million to the Lagos State Sports Commission.

The sum is in fulfilment of the state government’s promise to Team Lagos athletes to the 2020 National Sports Festival held in Benin, Edo State.

“We salute Mr Governor for being a shinning light for other states on how to adopt policies, encourage and reward athletes, as well as focus on grassroots sports development.”

Lagos SWAN, on this day, felicitates the Governor on his 56th birthday celebration.

The association wishes him sound health, long life and prosperity as he continues to steer the affairs of Lagos State.

By Tolu Atobatele

Team Nigeria’s women 4x400m relay team will be among the 16 nations that will file out for the event at the delayed 2020 Olympics after the team scorched to a 3:26.84 African lead Thursday at the Lagos Open Athletics Championship in Lagos. The team, anchored by Patience Okon-George has now jumped to the front of the queue for the four available slots on offer for the event in Tokyo. The quartet of World U-18 fastest girl so far this year, Imaobong Nse Uko, NCAA 200m finalist Favour Ofili, Knowledge Omovoh and Okon-George is now ranked 13th in the ranking for the best 16 nations that will be in Tokyo ahead of Belarus (3:28.14), Australia (3:28.64) and Switzerland (3:28.77) who have all provisionally qualified. The 4x400m team has now become the second Nigerian relay team to qualify after the women’s 4x100m team led by Blessing Okagbare sealed their passage to the games with a 42.97 seconds run at the National Championship (Olympic Trials) last Thursday at the sports ground of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba,Lagos. Nigeria won a silver medal in the event 25 years ago at the Atlanta Olympics where Falilat Ogunkoya led Charity Opara, Bisi Afolabi and Fatimah Yusuf to also set a new 3:21.04 seconds African record. The men’s 4x100m team however failed to make it despite improving to 38.59 seconds. The men’s 4x400m team also failed to qualify but will, together with the 4x100m and 4x400m mixed relay teams get their final chance to book their flights to Tokyo at the MOC Relays on Sunday at the Sports ground of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba in Lagos.

By Tolu Atobatele

Chairman, Lagos State Athletics Association and a board member of the newly constituted Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Alao, has charged the Team Nigeria relay teams to go all out and get the qualification standard for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In an interview with Sports Angle reporter, Alao said the athletes had what it takes to qualify therefore should be focus and give it their all on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadiun tartan track during the Lagos Open Athletics Meet.

“They shoud all go out and get the needed time because we are all looking forward to them getting the time for the Olympics,” he said.

“I want to appreciate the Lagos State Government led by his excellency, Babajide Sanwoolu, for supporting the AFN in hosting the countries in Nigeria for the relays.

“The most important thing is for them to do their best and I am sure they are going to get the time needed to be in Tokyo.

“Despite the fact that they failed to achieve it during the Olympic Trials, I have no doubt in my mind that they will get it done on Thursday.”

The teams failed to take advantage of the AFN Olympic Trials and Invitational Relays which ended on Sunday but have another opportunity to either make or mar their chances to book their flights to Tokyo to participate in the Olympic Games which holds between July 23 to August 8, 2021.

With Divine Oduduru and Raymond Ekevwo absent, it will always take more than talent for the team to run inside 38.46 seconds which is the time that has provisionally qualified Trinidad and Tobago for the Games.

Officials are confident the team can run much faster than the 39.40secs it ran on Sunday if the baton exchange can be perfected.

The women’s 4x400m team will also have to put behind them the disappointment of not even breaking 3:31 on Sunday and will go all out after a four day rest to break 3:29 and get on the plane to Tokyo.

The Nigerian relay team will have to run 3:28.13 to be absolutely certain of making the trip to Japan next month.

The men’s 4x400m team and the 4x400m mixed relays will also have to give their 100% before they can dream of running at the Olympics.

The men’s 1600 team will have to run 3:02.58 to provisionally move into the final qualification spot or 3:02.41 to be absolutely certain of making the trip to the Olympics.

The mixed relay team will also need to run 3:13.57 to be absolutely sure of qualification while a 3:15.45 performance can provisionally get the team to occupy the final qualifying spot (16th).

By Tolu Atobatele

Engr Ibrahim Shehu Gusau got re-elected as President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) at the 2021 Elective Congress held earlier on today Monday June 14 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

Gusau polled 20 votes to defeat his opponent Uche Muoma who got just two votes from the 22 delegates present at the venue as he emerged the favoured candidate to lead the federation for the next four years.

The 1st Vice President representing the North West Zone Sunday Omotayo Adeleye polled 15 votes, to emerge winner ahead of Solomon Abari Patrick Estate who got 4 and 3 votes respectively.

For the 2nd Vice President position, Nneka Ikem Anibeze polled 13 point to beat Esther Hindi Mallim who came close with 8 votes while Janet Wilson managed one vote.
Patrick Estate (South East), Dr Paul I Wakama (South South), Solomon Abari (North East) and Vitalis Lashimi North Central all emerged and came through their zones as representatives.

Other members of the board include Olu Sule a representative of the Technical Officials and Coaches alongside Moses Suleiman who represents the athletes.

In his acceptance speech, Engr Gusau thanked the delegates for their support in making his first term a success while counting on their continued support for the next 4 years.

“This is really humbling. I will like to thank all the delegates for finding time to come to Kebbi in the face of intimidation.

“We call on everybody to join hands with us to build athletics because the 14 of us cannot do it alone.

He revealed that, “Very soon, we will be constituting Commissions to oversee the daily affairs of the federation while we have time to face other serious matters.”

He thanked the World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics for their continued support as he hopes for stronger ties with the two bodies.

By Tolu Atobatele

President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria Ibrahim Shehu Gusau got re-elected earlier today Monday June 14 at the elective Congress held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State to run the affairs of the federation for another four years.

Gusau polled 20 votes to defeat his opponent Uche Muoma who got just two votes from the 22 delegates present at the venue to emerged the favoured candidate to lead the federation for the next four years.

The 1st Vice President representing the North West Zone, Sunday Omotayo Adeleye scored 15 votes, to emerge winner and beat both Solomon Abari and Patrick Estate who has 4 and 3 votes respectively.

As for the 2nd Vice President role, Nneka Ikem Anibeze polled 13 points to edge Esther Hindi Mallim who came close with 8 votes while Janet Wilson had to settled for one vote.

Others like Patrick Estate (South East), Dr Paul I Wakama (South South), Solomon Abari (North East) and Vitalis Lashimi North Central all emerged from their zones as representatives while the remaining members of the board include Olu Sule a representative of the Technical Officials and Coaches as well as Moses Suleiman representing the athletes.

Giving his acceptance speech after his victory, Engr Gusau thanked the delegates for their support in making his first term a success while counting on their continued total support and commitment for the next 4 years.

“This is really humbling. I will like to thank all the delegates for finding time to come to Kebbi in the face of intimidation”.

“We call on everybody to join hands with us to build athletics because the 14 of us cannot do it alone”.

He revealed that, “Very soon, we will be constituting Commissions to oversee the daily affairs of the federation while we have time to face other serious matters.”

He thanked the World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics for their continued support as he hopes for stronger ties with the two bodies.

By Tolu Atobatele

Newly invited Super Falcons player and West Virginia University striker Nicole Payne Oyeyemisi has revealed that the level of competition within the Super Falcons camp is highly competitive as she looks forward to impressing and lay claim to a permanent shirt in the team if handed her debut by the coach, Randy Waldrum against Jamaica.

The striker who is an ex US national U17 striker posited that she was very excited getting her first invite to the female national team of Nigeria and confessed their is a stiff competition for places in the team.

“I was very excited to get the call up to the Super Falcons, it is blessing to play and compete with the players here”.

“I never thought I would get a call up this soon but again it’s a blessing to be here, to be able to play with my Sister and compete with a lot of players here”.

Nicole Payne rates the Super Falcons as one of the best teams in the world and best in Africa and says she was elated on having the opportunity to alongside her sister and others while she also indicated that the competition in the team is very high as the speed of play is very high.

“Having trained with the girls this morning, it was great, a very Competitive environment and it was a very high speed of play, so it was very good to be able to get to know the ladies and be able to play with everyone and prepare for these games”.

Oyeyemisi looks forward to contributing her quota to the success of the team in the tourney and hopes to have a longer stay with the team.

On the forthcoming game against Jamaica if fielded.

“I am going to go out there to try my best and represent the country, she concluded’.

Nigeria will be playing Jamaica on Thursday in the opening game of the United States of America’s Summer series, a four nation tournament which also includes host nation USA and Portugal women teams.

By Tolu Atobatele

Nigeria national team soccer coach Gernot Rohr said the team will be ready for the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier which starts in September of this year.

The team despite failing to win or put up a good performance in the double header international friendly match against Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Austria kick starts their quest for a ticket to the greatest football showpiece on earth when they host Liberia and play away to Cape Verde in three months time.

Indomitable Lions who won three of their African title at Nigeria’s expense in 1984 (Ivory Coast), 1988 (Morocco) and 2000 (Ghana/Nigeria) took the Super Eagles to cleaner winning with the odd goal in the first of the two friendly games on Tuesday and held them to a goalless draw in the second game on Friday.

Every avid soccer fans across the country and beyond demonstrated their anger on the not too impressive performance of the team in the games but the Franco-german gaffer has assured Nigerians of an improved Super Eagles team in September when the world cup qualifiers starts.

“I think we’ll be ready by September for our world cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.”

“In the beginning of September we only have a few days to prepare and four days later we have to play in Cape Verde.”

The two first matches are very very important. When you see the result of Cape Verde against Cameroon they beat them 3-1 on their synthetic pitch, we know already that it’ll be a very difficult match.” He said.

 Voetbal.com reports that Belgian giants Anderlecht have had their 2.5 billion naira (€5 million) bid for Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi rejected by Liverpool.

Awoniyi has never hidden his desire to play for the Reds but has not made a single appearance for the Anfield side since joining them six years ago.

The thorny issue of his work permit has, however, been finally resolved, and the former Golden Eaglets star is eligible to feature for Liverpool in the English Premier League.

Awoniyi recently completed a loan spell with Union Berlin. He impressively notched five goals and four assists in 21 games despite injury limiting his appearances and productivity towards the end of the Bundesliga campaign.

The German club announced they would not be making the 24-year-old’s stay permanent as he returned to England.

But it appears Liverpool have no intention of retaining his services for much longer as the dethroned league champions are willing to listen to offers for Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

However, the Anfield giants reportedly want more than the five million euros offered by Anderlecht. They would likely be ready to let the Super Eagles hopeful depart permanently for twice that amount.

Awoniyi has been excellent during several loan spells in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany and should not be short of suitors when the summer transfer window kicks into full gear.

By Tolu Atobatele

The Eagles were a shadow of themselves in the first match of the two games played last Friday. The game ended 1-0 in favour of Cameroon while the second match played earlier this evening ended goalless.

The Super Eagles put up a very woeful performance as they drew blank in the two friendly matches against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Austria.

The Nigerian team failed to live up to expectations and lack cohesion. The passes were poor with lack of purpose and directions in both games.

One important thing obvious in the two matches was lack of technical input from the German coach Gernot Rohr who continued to exhibit his technical deficiency and reason he should not be saddled with the responsibility of managing the team.

The coach prior to the games complained of lack of quality in a team that had the 2020/2021 Belgian Jupiler League top scorer Paul Onuachu with over 30 goals, the resurgent Leicester City Kelechi Iheanacho, who took the shine off Jamie Vardy in the second half of the English Premier League Season and Wilfred Ndidi, one of the best defensive midfielder in the English Premier League.

Lorient striking sensation Terem Moffi was on fire for his club last season while Simmy Nwankwo scored 20 goals for lowly Crotone, a modest club in the Italian Serie A.

Rather than harness these talents to get the desired results the coach is busy lamenting lack of quality in the team of which confirms that he’s bereft of ideas to lead the team to glory.

The Super Eagles will probably qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar but the dream will surely fade out with Gernot Rohr in charge and NFF hasn’t done anything good at all allowing Rohr to still take charge of proceedings- Nigeria may go to the world cup just to add up the numbers.

Nigeria might have luck on her and get to the semi-final of the AFCON in Cameroon even as the coach himself posited that his team do not posses the quality to win the tournament compared to countries like Cote d’ Voire, Senegal and host of other top African teams.

The NFF has refused to see what soccer fans are seeing instead celebrated the bronze the team won in 2019 and the German was rewarded with a bumper contract to keep him on the job. Five years in the saddle of things he has not been able to build a solid and compact team that Nigerians will be proud of.

At the 2018 world cup in Russia the world had expected the Super Eagles to get out of a group that had a rag-tag Argentina, Croatia and Iceland but to the surprised of many the team was bundled out at the group stage no thanks to his (Rohr) technical and tactical ineptitude which cost the team greatly.

It is a pity that rather than moving forward, the team has been on a decline since the German was hired. His backers would point to the fact that he qualified Nigeria for major tournaments with games to spare. Good. Apart from that what else?

The longer the so called German expatriate stays on the job the more decline the team experience and this inflicts severe sorrows on the avid soccer fans. The Nigeria Football Federation should come out and tell Nigerians why it is so difficult to part ways with the coach.