Author: Enitan Obadina
4 years ago, Chidi Okezie and nine other Nigerians were on the streets of Tokyo protesting instead of competing at mankind’s biggest sports event, the Olympics. The reason for the Protest? The Nigerian Athletics Federation failed to ensure the athletes get the mandatory four tests before the Olympics. Their future was sacrificed for the internal politics that engulfed the AFN, the national anti-doping agency, and the sports ministry. “Four years ago, my world shattered. I faced the crushing blow of disqualification due to no fault of my own. My dream of competing in the Olympics was ripped from my hands,…
It’s been weeks since Rivers Hoopers became the first Nigerian team to medal at the Basketball Africa League, BAL with a win over Cape Town Tigers in Rwanda. Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers completed their adventure at the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with a dominant 23-point blowout of South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers to clinch third place, securing Nigeria’s first-ever podium finish at the BAL with an 80-57 victory. The third-place finish celebrated all over Nigeria was a culmination of the journey that started after their first participation in BAL three years earlier. After a 1-4 record at the inaugural…
From flying without wings in the first ten games of the season, keeping clean sheets, and showing why their debut season was exciting, to barely staying out of the relegation zone, Doma United’s Dilemma has come full circle. Currently, Doma is 18th on the table, with a game in hand before the last game of the season. The two teams above Doma in the relegation battle are two and three points ahead of them, but the goal difference will likely hold the ace. Doma’s dilemma is in the number of goals difference during their good run as they averaged 1.72…
The 2024 Nigeria athletics trials will come alive in Benin today with the country’s elite stars battling for pride and national team selection for the African Athletics championships. From 100mh world record holder, Amusan to American collegiate superstars, the 2024 Nigeria athletics trials won’t be short of stars and surprises. SportsIntel previews some of the flashpoints of the national trials with the stars and dark horses to look out for. The men’s 100m defending champion, Usheoritse Itsekiri will be up against the former champion, Favor Ashe, at the National Trials in Benin. In the Men’s 100m leader table, Ashe is…
The NPFL reached its peak in the Oriental derby involving Rangers and Enyimba before descending into an abyss in the same breath. That’s the beauty and the beast of league football. In the winner takes all game, Enyimba was running away with a valuable point until a brain fart moment by Enyimba’s defender, Eze led to a penalty call by the center referee. A Tough call by the referee following a pull on Rangers’ Godwin Obaje right inside the box by Enyimba defender. The spectacle gave way to a stalemate as Enyimba players left the pitch after a last-minute penalty…
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the first goal for the Finidi George era as the Super Eagles came from a goal down to record a third straight 1-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Themba Zwane put South Africa ahead with a sumptuous finish leaving the Nigerian defence dead for the first goal in the 29th minute. The Nigerian team struggled in the first half, leaving spaces behind for the South Africans to explore and they almost got more goals. The first half ended with Nigeria behind, but all that changed with an early second-half goal in the 46th minute from…
Shooting Stars of Ibadan maintained their invisible status playing under the floodlights in Ibadan with a 4-0 trashing of Abia Warriors in the NPFL matchday 34. Before the game, Shooting Stars hadn’t beaten Abia Warriors at home in two games and five games overall in the league. In Aba, coach Olarenwaju Yema Daniel returned to the saddle to lead Enyimba to a comfortable 4-1 win over Rivers United. Mbaoma scored his 14 and 15th of the season while an additional brace from Elijah Akanni completed the rout. Akwa United’s 2-0 win against Heartland completed matchday 34 and SportsIntel provides the…
Seven Nigerian players have gone unbeaten with Kanu Nwankwo doing it twice for Ajax and Arsenal.
The first glimpse of a revival was at the African Games in Ghana where Chidi Okezie won the men’s 400m, an achievement that last occurred in 1987.
Former Nigerian international, Finidi George has emerged as the new Super Eagles coach, stepping up from caretaker role. The former assistant and caretaker coach of the team got the nod ahead of Emmanuel Amuneke and other foreign coaches. A statement from the Nigeria Football Federation reads: “The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.” The appointment makes him the 37th coach of the Super Eagles and the 10th Nigerian coach since 1960.…