Sports

Tokyo Olympics: NFF congratulates Dare, Sports Ministry

Published

3 years ago

August 10, 2021

The Nigeria Football Federation has felicitated with the FederalMinistry of Youth and Sports Development and the person of theMinister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare on Nigeria’s outing atthe 32nd Olympics which ended in Tokyo, Japan few days ago.

In a press statement issued by NFF Director of Communication Mr Ademola Olajire on Tuesday in Abuja stated Nigeria earned one silver and one bronze medals from the Games, with aslew of promising performances as a number of athletes reached thefinal of their events. For the first time since 1996, a Nigerianathlete was in the final of the glamour event of the Games – the men’s100m sprint. Young hurdler Oluwatobiloba Amusan narrowly missednetting a medal as she finished fourth in the women’s high hurdlesfinal.

“The Nigeria contingent may not have returned with the harvest ofmedals that many hoped for, but there are bright lights all around andsome brilliant individual performances that give hope for the nextGames in Paris.

At the end of the day, the silver and bronze medalsearned in Tokyo make the just-ended Olympics Nigeria’s best outing in13 years. That is commendable.

“The Sports Minister, in his personal capacity, and the Ministry ofSports as a body worked their socks off.

The Honourable Minister was exemplary; he explained, encouraged and empathized with the athletesas necessary and led the cheer at most of the venues where Nigerianathletes competed.

“He is such a wonderful breath of fresh air from the immediateMinister of Sports who rather constituted himself into a bulwalk anddivisive force against Nigerian athletes at the last Olympics inBrazil. We do not wish to recall his inglorious remarks against thefootball team when the team was camping in the USA. That football teameventually ended up winning Team Nigeria’s only medal – a bronze – atthe Games.”

Pinnick was particularly delighted at the performance ofmulti-talented Ese Brume, who won the women’s long jump: “I am happyfor Ese (Brume) because I played a role in her discovery andnurturing. I am fulfilled at her career progression and I believe shewill be there in Paris in three years’ time to win the gold medal.

“I also pledge that our football teams will return to the Games inthree years’ time in Paris and compete favourably for the goldmedals.”

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Sports

Nigerian teenager, Ilenikhena outshines Yamal Scores, As Monaco beat Barca 2-1

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2024

The Gleamer

Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena scored on his Champions League debut as Monaco produced an upset against 10-man Barcelona.

The 18-year-old substitute raced on to Vanderson’s long ball over the top of the defence in the 71st minute and blasted his shot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Eric Garcia had earlier been shown a straight red card with just 10 minutes gone when he fouled Takumi Minamino as the last man after a poor pass out from the back by Ter Stegen.

Monaco took the lead soon after when Maghnes Akliouche slotted past Ter Stegen who was rooted to the spot.

Barcelona’s own teenage star Lamine Yamal equalised with his first Champions League goal when he latched on to a long ball and cut inside before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.

But Ilenikhena’s goal, his first since signing from Royal Antwerp in the summer, condemned Barcelona to an opening defeat.

Vanderson’s strike from the edge of the area was pushed past the post while Minamino had an effort deflected on to the crossbar for the hosts.

It could have been a more emphatic win but Folarin Balogun had a penalty overturned late on following a video assistant referee (VAR) check after he was adjudged to have gone down too easily under the challenges.

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