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NSF 2020:Stakeholders applauds FCTA For Timely Aproval of Fund

Published

5 years ago

January 17, 2020

Joel Ajayi

Major stakeholders in federal capital territory have heaped huge commendation on the FCT adminstration for timely approval of fund for the forthcoming national sports festival holding in Edo state.

The preparation for the games start with zonal elimination across the six geopolitical zone while FCT which is in the North Central will be travelling to Ilorin for their elimination series.

FCT has never had it so good when it comes to participating in national event with a case study of the last National Youth Games in Ilorin where the athletes have to go through harrowing experiences.

However, since the coming on board of Minister of State for FCT ,Ramatu Tijani and FCT sports department placed under her,she has made it a point of duty to ensure that sports men and women are properly taken care off with their entitlement paid as at when due .

Joel Ajayi ,Sports editor for AljaziraNigeria Newspaper and CEO of the Gleamer News said these are good times for sports men and women in FCT because they have minister who is a mother that understand the plight of children and has made it her prerogative to protect its people

On his own, Salifu Usman,who is the head of sports desk for leadership newspaper said he hopes this would not be a flash in the pan because this is what should be the standard if we are really serious about about sports development in FCT

The zonal elimination competition which will hold in Ilorin, Kwara state involves seven states from the North Central. The states includes; Plateau, Nasarawa, Kwara, FCT, Niger, Kogi and Benue.

The seven states will compete for the tickets in eight team sports; rugby, cricket, beach volleyball, football, basketball, handball, volleyball and hockey.

All the eight games involve men and women teams.

FCT finished 7th on the final table of the 2018 National Sports Festival held in Abuja with 21 gold, 9 silver and 24 bronze.

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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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