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AFN: Ministry To Continue Supervisory Role Of Intervention Without Interfering

Published

5 years ago

February 9, 2020

AFN: Ministry To Continue Supervisory Role Of Intervention Without Interfering

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has said the Ministry will continue to align with Sports Federations that adhere to processes and rules guiding their activities even as government will only intervene without interfering.

The Minister, who was fielding questions from journalists in Yenagoa Bayelsa state in the sidelines of the Restoration Cup tournament, said the decision of the ten members of the Athletic Federation Nigeria (AFN) board to impeach its former President, Engineer Shehu Gusau, conformed with its rules

“The ministry of Youth and Sports Development is really focused because we have the Olympics ahead of us. Beyond the AFN we have other sports federations dealing with internal board matters and that will continue for a while.

“For the AFN, the position of the Ministry is clear. The government reconizes the Olamide AFN leadership. They have been able to provide the Ministry with all the processes that have taken place. We stand with the ten members of the AFN board, we don’t stand with the two or three members.

“We’ve seen their reports, their meetings, their resolutions, the suspension, the impeachment. They have submitted this report to us; it’s from the board, it is not from the Ministry.

“Nobody will tell the Federal Government to turn its eyes away from decision of the majority of the board members and support the minority.

“Every programme that has been put in place for the Olympics is on track and not just for the AFN but all other sports going to the Olympics. We are not distracted at all.
“Ultimately, the resolution of whatever is going on lies with he board. The government gets interested where it affects the interest and the development of sports in Nigeria. We will remain playing our supervisory role, intervening but not interfering,” the Minister said.

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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