The Nation Newspaper

Tag: All Africa Games

  • Paralympic Committee to push for place in All African Games

    Newly elected board of Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) says it is determined to do everything possible to get the sports a place in the All Africa Games.

    Secretary of the body Suleiman Isah who revealed this in a chat with Sportinglife Wednesday, said inclusion in the All Africa Games will not only boost the sport but will further offer the players wider opportunity to showcase their skills while proving beyond doubt that there is ability in disability.

    “The new Executive believes so strongly that getting the sport into the All Africa Games will make a huge different.  We intend to collaborate with African Paralympic Federation to achieve this,” he enthused

    He dismissed insinuation in some quarters that that the PCN’s recent election was not fair, noting that on the contrary the election was free and conducted in accordance with the PCN constitution.

    He said “this is the first time we are having an election into the board of PCN in the history of Para sports in Nigeria and that was why the congress upheld the constitutional provisions in article 26.2 that zonal representative must be persons with disabilities and existing board members ”

    “So everything was done to make it credible, even candidates for executive positions were nominated by the federation and this has shown that the country is ready to embrace the best practices in the management of Para sports,  ”

    The new board of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) has Brig Gen Eruwa Emico as President, Bankole Anderson Abiodun as 1st Vice President, Akindoju Idedayo Olaloye as 2nd Vice President and Suleiman Isah as Secretary.

    Other members of the board include Lawal Modupe Abosede (Treasurer), Odior Sunday Ketu (Asst Secretary) while Ruel Ishaku and Flora Uwunwa are male and female players’ representatives respectively.

  • AAG: Egypt, Nigeria win table tennis team titles

    AAG: Egypt, Nigeria win table tennis team titles

    Just like in 2011, Egypt over the weekend retained the title in the women’s team event of table tennis at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville.

    It was with much efforts and tactical discipline that Egypt defeated Nigeria to hold on to the gold medal in the female event.

    Two wins from Dina Meshref and a win from Nadeen El-Dawlatly salvaged the victory for Egypt in an epic final that ended 3-2 in favour of the North African.

    Also, veteran Segun Toriola turned back the clock when he recorded an emphatic victory over Mohamed El-Beiali and Omar Assar to help Nigeria reclaim the men’s team throne ahead of the North African. Since the tournament began, Toriola remained unbeaten with this needed victory for Nigeria.

    “This is not the first time I will be playing the deciding match but my coach told me to concentrate. But I must say it was more difficult for me in the match. I remained focused and I am happy that I won the match for my country. I feel good winning the title again and I am now strong mentally,” said elated EL-DAWLATLY Nadeen.

    [ad id=”403656″]Meshref Dina added: “I am very proud that we won the title this year because looking at the roll of honours, Nigeria has won the African Games title more than any country in Africa. So I am very happy that we were able to retain the title we won four years ago in Mozambique. This goes to show the Egypt is improving and our generation has really worked hard for this success.”

    On the victory over Egypt, Toriola said: “I think the competition just started with this victory because we still have five medals to fight four. But prior to the match, I told my teammates that we should have confidence even when we were down 2-1 in major. I knew that if I had to beat Omar Assar, I need to be confidence and not to play with any caution. If I am too conscious I will make mistakes against Omar. I think it was the confidence in the team that gave us the victory.”

    For the 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri, it was a sweet victory. “In our last meetings he defeated me but I could remember that I had also beaten him twice. But today I found answer to him because we play same style and he believes my style suits him. I am so grateful to God that I was able to find answer to Mohammed El-Beiali tonight. This is a big victory for after our women team narrowly lost to Egypt earlier,” Quadri said.

  • NSC seeking official carrier for athletes to All Africa Games

    NSC seeking official carrier for athletes to All Africa Games

    The National Sports Commission has solicited support from well meaning Nigerians and cooperate organisations as the country athletes prepare to take part in the 11th African Games; scheduled for Congo Brazzaville.

    The sport commission led by its Director General, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut yesterday held a meeting with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Max Air, Dahiru Bara’u Mangal in Abuja and asked the airline to be the official carrier for the Nigeria contingent to the Games.

    According to Yakmut partnership with the commission will be a mutual benefit. He explained;“I have been observing with keen interest the support Max Air have been giving to develop sports such as football and polo in Katsina State, and I am sure you be interested to partner and sponsor the Federal  Government outing in forthcoming All Africa Games in the Congo by using your airline to airlift our athletes to the games”.

    Mallam Yakmut added that given present economic reality, there is absolute need to seek for partner and support from well-meaning Nigerians to contribute their quota in sponsoring contingents to this year’s All Africa Games.

    According to the Director General,  “the thrust of this meeting is to request you to partner with the National Sports Commission in the area of being the official carrier”.

    He added that the airlines stands to benefit tremendously from this proposal as it would be a win-win situation for both parties, saying the use of logo of the airline and advertorial of the companies activities will receive adequate attention from the commission.

    The Secretary of the company; Sani Ibrahim,  who responded on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer,  Dahiru Mangal assured that the organisation will partner with the Commission to perform the task.

    His words “We are happy to be part of the arrangements and appreciate the privilege of being chosen as the official airline, we will do our best to ensure the airlift of Nigerian athletes to Congo is successful”.

  • NSC’ll give priority to Olympics, All Africa Games -Yakmut

    •Sambo to commission High Performance Centre

    To compete favourably in international competitions, the Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut, says the Commission will henceforth ensure that all Olympics and All Africa Games’ sports will get enough assistance.

    Yakmut, who revealed that the NSC under him would pursue a four-point roadmap, said the NSC had already started evaluating all the facilities in the country to ensure they play key roles in rebuilding the country’s falling sports sector.

    He was in Lagos at the weekend to inspect facilities at the National Stadium, which has been left comatose by successive administrations since the return of civilian rule in 1999.

    According to the former national team volleyball captain, elite athletes and those events where Nigeria has medal potential would get adequate attention to ensure they are in competitive form at all times.

    He said: “I was in Lagos when Ese Brume first came on the scene at the D.K. Olukoya Championship. A talent like that should be programmed to be at the height of her game by now. We will look at ways to help such talents develop properly.

    “Recently, our elite athlete, Blessing Okagbare, complained of the neglect of the grassroots and someone like her cannot be dismissed because she knows what she is saying. We will look at ways to address the issues she raised because that is what would help us grow.”

    Yakmut disclosed that he has a four-point roadmap, which include “things that must be done in the first 100 days; things to achieve within six months and one year; the long term, which is what must be done within the four years of my tenure; and the legacy of my tenure.”

    He revealed that the 140-bed High Performance Centre in Abuja would be opened on Wednesday by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, adding that Category A athletes would move into it immediately, “but it would be finally opened for camping in June.”

  • All Africa Games: Oshoala promises fans ticket as Easter present

    All Africa Games: Oshoala promises fans ticket as Easter present

    Ahead of Friday’s return leg 2015 All Africa Games qualifier between Nigeria and Mali in Abuja, Super Falcons and Liverpool Ladies attacker, Asisat Oshoala says she and her teammates are raring to go.

    The former Rivers Angels forward on behalf of her teammates wished lovers of the game a happy Easter, while also noting that they will give their all to qualify for the Games.

    “Actually as it stands now it’s not about me but the country. We’ll surely give our best to ensure we qualify.

    “ I’m also wishing our fans happy holidays. All football lovers who are rooting for the team to qualify for the All Africa Games, we promise to secure the ticket as our Easter present to them,” the Liverpool Ladies striker said.