2020 Olympics: Missing Ugandan athlete found – Japanese police say

Tokyo – A Ugandan athlete who went missing in Japan last week after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics has been found in the Mie prefecture, local police said on Tuesday. Weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko was found in the town of Yokkaichi after being registered as missing from a team training camp in Izumisano some 170 kilometres away. Kyodo news agency cited Izumisano officials as saying the athlete left a note at his hotel saying he wanted to work in Japan before buying a train ticket to Nagoya. Olympic Organising Committee CEO Toshiro Muto said they would seek information before making decisions in the case. Under strict Olympic coronavirus regulations, athletes are only allowed to move between their accomodation and venues for training and competition. Beatrice Ayikoru, head of the Ugandan delegation, had said the 20-year-old lifter was supposed to fly home on Tuesday, adding the team would cooperate with authorities in the search. The Ugandan team arrived in Japan last month, but after two positive coronavirus tests —- in spite of every member being vaccinated —- they only started …

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Nigeria International, Ndidi eyes Leicester glory

Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi is hungry for more success after helping his English club Leicester City clinch the 2020/21 FA Cup. The 24-year-old was one of the Foxes’ top performers on their road to the cup final where they stunned favourites Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium with Ndidi playing the entire match. Ndidi pointed out that winning the oldest football tournament in the world was “incredible” and that he is now hoping to win more silverware next season. “Now we’re just putting in the work. We’re beginning to get our fitness and trying to look ahead to the games. We’ve always known [Rodgers’] philosophy and everything,” Ndidi told the club’s website. “We know our targets. We, as players, we know what we want as a group. We know what we want to achieve and I think it’s something that we all look forward to.” Leicester won the 2015/16 Premier League, their first top tier title, becoming one of seven clubs to have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992. “I’m really proud of the group with what we …

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Tokyo 2020: Be Our Worthy Ambassador – Gumel

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel has urged the Nigerian contingent, “Team Nigeria” who will participate at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan to be worthy ambassadors of the country. Gumel, on his arrival at the Narita Airport in Tokyo on Sunday spoke with the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Phemmy Adetula, that all our athletes and officials are most important. In his word, “I have to congratulate every athlete representing Nigeria at this games. They are our worthy ambassadors who have toiled day and night to bring glory to our great country. As you are representing Nigeria, you are representing yourselves and your families as well. So, it’s very important that you represent well. Your whereabout before, during and after the games is key to us as Nigeria Olympic Committee and we implore you to stay clean and win clean medals”. Gumel thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the fatherly role he played for making the athletes have a sense of belonging as they …

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2021 Volleyball League: Kano Pillars, NSCDC top table

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja – Kano Pillars and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) currently top the table in the men’s and women’s category respectively after the end of the first phase of the 2021 Nigeria Volleyball Premier League on Sunday. In the men’s category 2018 Super Cup silver medallist, Kano Pillars is occupying first position with 24 points after 9 matches; NSCDC is second on the log with 21 points while defending champion, Nigeria Customs Service is third position with 20 points. An improved Nigeria Police Force is fourth on the log with 18 points, rejuvenated Nigeria Correctional Service with some new signings are fifth with 16 points while COAS Spikers is sixth on the table with 11 points. Newly promoted side, OFFA Volleyball Club is seventh on the NVPL with 10 points and depleted Sunshine Spiker occupies eighth position with 10 points. In the relegation zone are; Nigeria Immigration Service in ninth position with 5 points while UCEM of Enugu has zero points in 10th position. The Head Coach of Kano Pillars VC, Musa Baba-Musa told …

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Kenyans Dominate, Youngest Runner Emerge At The Maiden Edition of Airtel Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – The Airtel Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon was concluded successfully on Saturday, 17th of July, 2021 as Kenyans dominated each category of the marathon. The 21km race was won by Hosea Kiplimo who finished the race in 1:02:36 while his counterpart, Rhonzas Kilimo finished second in 1:02:57. The third position went to another Kenyan, Timothy Ronoh, who raced to the finish line in 1:02:59. The women’s race was also won by another Kenya, Sandra Chebet in a time of 1:10:42, with two Ethiopians taking the second and third positions respectively. Gebaynesh Ayele came second and Beyenu Degefa was third with a time of 1:10:52 and 1:11:02. The first Ijebu man to finish the race was Femi Olusanya, a police officer from Ijebu Ode and promised to do better in the next edition. Airtel Ijebu Heritage Half birthed the youngest marathoner ever, 11-year-old Abigael Ogunbowale, who completed the 21km of the race. Speaking after the marathon, MD/CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Company, Hon. Bukola Olopade said he’s happy with the organization of the marathon …

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Bunmi Haruna replaces Chidoka Ndubueze on NUJ ExCo

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – Chairman of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, Bunmi Haruna has replaced Chidoka Ndubueze on the board of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) state chapter executive committee. Haruna, who was duly elected as the new SWAN FCT chapter chairman on July 4, 2021, was inducted into the NUJ Executive committee on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at the body’s Congress at the Utako Secretariat, Abuja. Chairman of NUJ FCT chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, during the induction said journalists who have decided to disassociate themselves from the body are equally not members of SWAN. Ogbeche however assured the Haruna-led SWAN of his support and promised to give the SWAN chapter a financial take-off. According to him, “Irrespective of any situation, the right thing must be done. We are in total support of the Haruna-led SWAN and that was why we wrote some letters to different Agencies, Ministries and Parastatals to recognise him and his members as the only SWAN body in FCT. And we will still write more letters when …

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Tokyo Olympics: Nigeria’s athletes in Japan lament ‘sleeping difficulty’

Some Nigerian athletes due to participate in the Tokyo Olympics have complained that they are suffering sleep disruptions. Some of the athletes lamented that they are struggling to acclimatise to the time zone in Japan, which is eight hours ahead of Nigeria’s. In a video clip from Tokyo, by Chika Chukwumerije, a member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, the Olympians said it would have been worse if they got to Tokyo late. Quadri Aruna, table tennis player and Team Nigeria’s captain, said, “It’s a good decision to be here early. I came two days ago, still myself and some of the athletes are finding it very difficult to sleep. “I think that in the next five days, we will be able to acclimatise and this will help us a lot by the time the Games begin,’’ Aruna said. Offiong Edem, another table tennis player, said her sleep and training time had been affected due to the new time zone. “Since I arrived here a few days ago, I have been having issues with sleeping, due to the time difference, but …

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USA, Canada advance to Gold Cup quarter-finals

The United States and Canada both recorded emphatic wins on Thursday in CONCACAF Group B play, advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament in Kansas City. The Americans routed tiny Martinique 6-1 and Canada did the same to shorthanded Haiti 4-1 at the Children’s Mercy Park, the home of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City. Canada has won their first two group games, and the US remain in second place with the same record but are behind by one on the total goals tiebreaker. The leaders will square off Sunday in Kansas City in the group finale. Daryl Dike scored a brace to power the US to a one-sided victory over Martinique, a Caribbean Island with a population of just 350,000. Miles Robinson, Gyasi Zardes and Nicholas Gioacchini scored the other goals for the US, while Martinique got their lone goal in the 64th-minute on a penalty kick that was converted by Emmanuel Riviere. In the early game, Cyle Larin scored twice in the second half as Canada knocked off Haiti, who were down seven players due to Covid-19 …

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EkoFootBall/FCAAN Football U-15 Tournament Begins July 17

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – The Ekofootbal/FCAAN Football tournament has been scheduled to hold at the Agege Stadium, Lagos from Saturday July 17 to Tuesday, July 19, 2021. The tournament which an initiative of the Seyi Akinwunmi-led Lagos Football Association, is a programme under the U-15 Ekofootball Future Stars. Following the decision of the Lagos FA follow up on the various developmental programmes of the FA, the Technical Committee headed by Mr. Dotun Coker, recommended an inclusive Mini Tournament based on the sponsorship purse and discussions with sponsors. The eight participating teams include; Team Ikeja, Team Badagry, Team Ikeja, Team Lagos, Team Epe and FCBescola.Others are Ekofootball Future Stars and Ekofootball Future Stars 2. According to the Vice Chairman of the Lagos FA, Otunba Tade Azeez, the tournament venue will be staged at the Agege Stadium. And it will be played by two groups of four teams each of 30 minutes duration each half and 10 minutes rest.This will be in three match days starting from Saturday July 17 to Monday, July 19, 2021. The tournament in …

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Bonfere Jo Calls For Early Preparation For Next Olympics

….expresses disappointment Nigeria football not in Tokyo By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – After twenty five years that Nigeria last won gold in Atlanta 96′ Olympics. Bonfere Jo the coach who lead the team to that epic event has expressed his disappointment over the inability of football event not been represented in this year’s Olympics in Tokyo from Nigeria. Bonfere Jo while expressing his disappointment calls for early preparation for the team from local players to foreign players down to coaches to have at least a three to two years early preparation and not a firebrigade approach. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, on his visit to mark twenty five years anniversary of the gold medal won in Atlanta. The coach is also around to give advice and help raise youth football. “Nigeria Abuja is no longer a big country in football. Normally Nigeria was expected to qualify for Tokyo but unfortunately did not. We have done a great achievement with Nigeria in 1996, winning the gold and beating south American teams, now the situation they cannot follow up …

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Basketball: Nigeria Loses To Australia 108-69 In Exhibition Game

Australia defeated Nigerian D’Tigers in their last exhibition game ahead of the Olympics. D’Tigers basketball team were thrashed 108-69, losing by 39 points in the last exhibition game before the Olympics. Coach Mike Brown changed the starting lineup for this game in an attempt to give some players more minutes. Josh Okojie and Gabe Nnamdi kept their starring roles while Jahlil Okafor, Miye Oni, and Chimezie Metu came in for Ike Nwamu, Precious Achiuwa, and KZ Okpala. The game against Australia came after the Nigerian team defeated the number one ranked the U.S. and blowing out fourth-ranked Argentina. Source

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Alleged Corruption: Investigate Kida-led NBBF Board – Group To FG

By Our Correspondent Abuja (Precise Post) – Group under the auspices of Nigerian Sports Advancement Group (NSAG) has called on the Federal Government to investigate Musa Kida led Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) over alleged corruption. The group in a press briefing held in Abuja on Monday said that while the FG has released money for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the federation through the basketball team’s coach opens a GOFUNDME account where ex-basketball players who based abroad sent in money to assist the team in Olympics participation, therefore, the need for proper accountability. NSAG Chairman, Barr. Charles Offiong said the NBBF should be asked to give an account of the money realized in the last four years because according to him, no single home-based basketball player was listed in the Olympics male (D’Tigers) and the female team (D’Tigress), wondering what they have been using the money for if not to develop players for such events. “Our responsibility is to raise the alarm whenever things are no longer going well with our sports; mostly from the administrative angle to enable us …

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2021 Volleyball League: Nigeria Customs bullies NSCDC on Day 5

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – Nigeria Customs Service bullied Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-19) in the men’s match at the ongoing 2021 Nigeria Volleyball Premier League in Ilorin on Sunday. NSCDC who were unbeaten before the game came with much promise but motivated Nigeria Customs Service defeated them with class. The coach of Nigeria Customs Service, Jonah Adamu dedicated the win over NSCDC to the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) for motivating the team. Adamu said Customs had no option other than to beat NSCDC because they lost to Kano Pillars on day 2. He said, “The team is dedicating this win to the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) because during our free day, we were motivated by him. He told us that the pride of the service was at stake and we had no choice but to beat NSCDC. “If you recall, we lost to Kano Pillars few days ago and it will be disastrous if we had …

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Raja hold on to clinch CAF Confederation Cup

Abuja – Raja Club Athletic of Casablanca held their nerves to clinch their second CAF Confederation Cup title after beating Algerian side JS Kabylie 2-1 in the final match on Saturday. Soufiane Rahimi and Ben Malango scored for Raja within the first quarter of an hour of the game played in Cotonou, Benin Republic to put them in the driver’s seat. However, Kabylie came back stronger in the second half with Mohamed Zakaria Boulahia halving the deficit just moments into the second half. Raja were reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute, when Omar Arjoune was sent off for a high boot. But the Moroccan side held on to ensure they clinched the victory and their second Confederation Cup title. Raja got into the lead via a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) awarded goal. Rahimi ran behind the defence to pick up a decently-looped ball from Arjoune before rounding the goalkeeper and tapping into an empty net. The assistant referee had initially raised his flag for offside, but upon review, VAR awarded Raja the goal. They were 2-0 up in …

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How Argentina, Messi ended long Copa America title drought

Berlin – Argentina ended their 28-year wait to lift the Copa America after Angel Di Maria’s first-half goal clinched a 1-0 victory over Brazil in Saturday’s final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Di Maria, who was promoted to the starting line-up for the final match, coolly lobbed over Brazil goalkeeper Ederson for the 22nd-minute winner. Argentina had been Copa runners-up at four of the past seven tournaments, losing to rivals Brazil in 2004 and 2007, but finally claimed the country’s 15th continental crown. The triumph also marks Lionel Messi’s maiden piece of major silverware with Argentina, with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner dominant throughout the tournament. He finished with most goals (four) and most assists (five). In a physical encounter, Brazil superstar Neymar received plenty of attention while Messi was unable to exude his normal influence for La Albiceleste. Brazil started the better but could only manage scuffed efforts on goal from Everton and Richarlison before Argentina struck against the run of play. The outstanding Rodrigo De Paul’s hopeful ball forward eluded Selecao left-back Renan Lodi, …

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See the moment Ashleigh Barty wins first Wimbledon title

Ashleigh Barty won her first Wimbledon title on the 50th anniversary of fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s maiden crown, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 on Saturday. The 25-year-old Australian — who wore a specially-designed dress in tribute to Cawley’s iconic scallop one she sported in 1971 — adds the Wimbledon crown to her 2019 French Open title. “I hope I made Evonne proud,” said Barty. It was the first women’s Wimbledon final to go to three sets since 2012 when Serena Williams beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska. Barty had looked like cruising to victory after soaring into a 4-0 lead over her opponent — the Australian’s start so blistering that she won the first 14 points. Three things to know about Wimbledon finalist Karolina PliskovaHowever, 29-year-old Pliskova steadied herself and also due to Barty faltering on several occasions especially serving for the match in the second set the Czech took it into a decider. However, Barty got the break early and with one or two wobbles she got herself over the line sinking to her knees, her hands …

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