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D’Tigress Devour Guinea, Focus on Senegal as Next Meal
D’Tigress consolidated their hold on top of Group B at the ongoing FIBA Afrobasket Women’s competition with another commanding 106-33points victory over Guinea.
After a good outing against Egypt, Dallas Wing player, Akhator Evelyn again recorded a double-double as she shot the team to victory and replicated the same 24 points scored in the team’s last game.
With seven rebounds, three assists and four steals against the Guineans, Akhator ensured that her team retained their lead all through the game as they coasted to another comfortable win.
Ogoke Sarah who was at the heart of the team’s offensive transition scored 13points and had two assists with home girl, Akashili Nkechi having two assists and scoring 12 points against the rattled Guineans.
On her part, Elonu Adaora recorded 11 points, 2 steals and two rebounds.
For the third time in the competition, all the registered 12 players recorded their names on the score sheet with Atletico Lanus (Argentina) player Nwaigwe Ugochi, the lowest, weighing in with four points.
Speaking after the game, Elephant Girls basketball club of Lagos player, Akashili described the game against Guinea as a test run ahead of the all-important encounter against defending champions Senegal on Wednesday.
“Guinea is not really a strong team. We just played them to boost our game against Senegal tomorrow.”
Speaking further, Akashili revealed that their game plan which was to use more of their big men against Guinea in preparation against a more physical Senegalese side actually worked as planned.
“Now, we know how to play Senegal with our big men. For Senegal, they have size on their side. So we put it into practice against Guinea as we used more of the big men and it worked.”
For Nwaigwe, the game against Guinea was better than their last three games which has given her the hope of a good outing in their next game.
“I feel like today was a lot better game. We are gelling together, our defence is getting a lot better and we needed this win for Senegal so that we can take it to them a bit more focused. I am really excited for tomorrow.”
According to her, everybody contributed on and off the court which made the victory sweeter.
For Israel based Nyingifa Atonye Jennifer, their victory was a testament to their continued improvement as individual players and a team.
“It was a slow start for me to get adjusted to a new team, new players, but, with each game, I think our game is improving. We are getting better. Our team chemistry is going up and I think we have a really good chance to take this momentum all the way to the finals.
“A lot of us are actually moving around our positions to make us flexible in every spot and it makes our offence flow a lot better,” Nyingifa concluded.
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Manu Garba proud of Eaglets as team countenances Niger Republic
Coach Manu Garba has asserted that he is proud of the Golden Eaglets after Thursday’s scoreless encounter with their Burkina Faso counterparts in the Group B opener of the WAFU B U17 Championship.
Five-time champions Nigeria created several scoring chances particularly late in the game at the Accra University Stadium, but failed to utilise even one that could have earned them the three points and handed them early leadership of the pool.
However, Garba said the boys played a cohesive game in their first-ever international outing and deserve credit for their display.
“We are proud of our team’s performance. Although we didn’t secure the win that we hoped for, our players showed great teamwork and sportsmanship. We look forward to our next match and the opportunity to continue growing and improving.
“The boys will get better with experience and exposure.”
Against the Burkinabes, the Eaglets showed flair and fluency, but a heavy downpour in the final 15 minutes of the game disrupted the general flow of play, with the pitch waterlogged and effective control and passing impossible.
The Golden Eaglets go up against their counterparts from the Niger Republic on Sunday evening (6pm Ghana time; 7pm Nigeria) with renewed hope and vigour to pick up the three points that will enhance their chances of a place in the last four.
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Paris to face major disruption ahead of Games opening ceremony, says police chief
Paris will face major disruption ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony along the Seine on July 26, as organisers ramp up security measures to safeguard the event, the city’s police chief said on Thursday.
Organisers hope the opening ceremony, in which 160 boats carrying athletes from around the world will travel a 6 kilometre route along the Seine river towards the Eiffel tower, will deliver a jaw-dropping spectacle. Some 300,000 spectators will watch from the banks of the Seine as a global audience tunes in on TV.
But the ceremony is also a major security headache, taking place against a backdrop of wars in Ukraine and Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron has already floated the possibility of scrapping the river ceremony and reverting to at least two back-up plans if the security risks become untenable.
Paris residents with a view of the Seine can invite friends to watch the opening of the 2024 Summer Games from their balconies, but should prepare for heavy traffic and limited movement, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said at a press conference.
Adjacent metro stations, most river crossings and all water traffic will be halted in the week before the open-air ceremony, Nunez said, adding that some bridges will remain open “in order not to cut Paris in two halves.”
Everyone who wants to access the immediate surroundings of the Seine in the week before the Games will need to sign up on an online platform, Nunez said. Local residents hoping to access their homes, which are among the most prestigious addresses in France, will need to do the same.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who also spoke at the event said the disruption would impact around 20,000 residents and business owners.
Asked about Macron’s comments earlier this month, Nunez said his teams were still working on the ‘Plan A’ of the river ceremony.
“As of today, we have no reason to be worried,” Nunez said.
-Reuters
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New dawn expected as Nigeria sports ministry partners with Yanga Games
Towards creating a new dawn for Nigerian Sports, the Federal Ministry of Sports has signed a landmark agreement with top lottery company Yanga Games to raise the revenue profile of the Ministry and ensure a new deal for the welfare of athletes.
Speaking during the unveiling of the partnership between the Ministry and Yanga Games in Lagos on Friday, Chairman/CEO of Yanga Games Derrick David Kentebe said: “we are so super excited by this opportunity to work with the Ministry of Sports Development to change the narrative about Sports in the country.
Continuing, he remarked: “We see opportunity for marketing our athletes and sports generally . We shall avail ourselves the best use of this unique and special partnership. We shall pursue this mandate with vigour, passion and unrivaled commitment to bring benefits to all the critical stakeholders.”
The agreement according to Kentebe will provide support for retired athletes, enhance grassroot sports Development and advance the potentials of special athletes.
He assured that ” Yanga Games has the capacity to raise funds on behalf of the Ministry of Sports for athletes Development, endorsement and sponsorship deals for athletes”.
Minister of Sports Senator John Owan Enoh assured that the Ministry has total and absolute confidence in Yanga Games to deliver on the given mandate.
“Gone are the era when we depended solely on government to fund sports development. We are partnering with Yanga Games to bring maximum benefits to the athletes and all critical stakeholders.
“We shall give institutional encouragement and support to the Management of Yanga Games to succeed in this onerous task of rebuilding our sports sub sector.”
Speaking further, Kentebe said ” We shall raise about 34 Billion in the next four years to assist athletes and improve sports in the country.
“We shall help to develop grassroot sports and sustain youth involvement through raffle draws, fund raiser and other avenues.
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