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Beach Volleyball: Olympics Ticket Is In Our Hands-Coach Imoudu

Published

5 years ago

March 4, 2020

The head coach of Nigeria Beach Volleyball team, Francis Imoudu said the Olympic ticket for Tokyo 2020 Olympics is in the hands of the players and coaches.

The second phase of the Tokyo Olympics beach volleyball qualifiers will take place in Abuja from 4^th to 8^th March, 2020.

Imoudu said the level of preparedness by the team is in top gear adding that some of the best volleyball players are in closed camp.

He assured Nigerians that the women’s team will not disappoint judging by their current ranking as number three in Africa.

Imoudu said, “The ticket for Tokyo 2020 Beach Volleyball Olympics is in our hands; Nigeria is hosting the second phase of the qualifiers and this should give us edge over other countries. We will be banking on the support of the home crowd when the qualifiers begin on the 5^th of March”.

“The team has been in camp since last month and the level of preparedness is high. Some of the players who partook at the first phase in Ghana know what is at stake. I want assure Nigerians that the women’s team will not disappoint judging by our ranking and the kind of players we are parading”.

The experienced coach revealed that the countries participating pose lesser threat to Nigeria.

“No disrespect to the countries attend the qualifiers but they pose little threat to us because we are determined to be in Japan later this year”, he said.

According to the Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB), the participating countries; Zambia, Kenya and Congo will arrive Nigeria on the 4^th of March for the qualifiers taking place at Jabi Lake, Abuja.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde has withdrawn and Togo is expected to replace them. The top 2 teams at the qualifiers will book ticket to the finals as 7 other countries are hosting the second round of the 2020 CAVB continental Tokyo Olympics qualifiers.

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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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