Sports

Olympic Qualifier: Lawal, Adijat Win 3 Gold, 3 Silver For Nigeria at AWC

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2023

Nigeria on Monday began her quest for 2024 Olympic Games qualification in grand style as Lawal Rufiatu and Olarinoye Adenike Adijat won 3 gold and 3 silver medals respectively at the ongoing 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia.

The championship also serves as the 2024 Olympics qualifier.

Competing in the 59kg women category, Rafiatu won three gold medals in Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total while Adijat claimed all the three silver medals in the same category.

Lawal Rufiatu, 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner in the category, lifted 95kilos in snatch, 122kilos in Clean & Jerk and 217kilos in total to win all the three gold medals in the category.

Olarinoye, 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner in 55kg, claimed all the three silver medals with a lift of 93kilos in snatch,118kilos in Clean & Jerk and 211kilos in total as she continued her impressive s performances in the new category.

Olarinoye moved from 55kg in late 2022 to 59kg. In her first competition in the new category at the 2022 National Sports Festival, NSF, she won three silver medals.
Two Tunisians and a Moroccan shared the three bronze medals.

Nigeria will continue her quest for more medals in Tunis on Tuesday, May 16, as two lifters will be on stage as well. Joy Eze, (71kg women) and Edidiong Umofia (73kh men) will compete.

Nigeria’s 5th athlete, Akano Desmond (89kg men) will round off Nigeria’s participation in the championship on Wednesday, May 17.

Nigeria weightlifters will participate in six Championship qualifiers as they seek to return Nigeria to global weightlifting map in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The 2023 Africa Weightlifting Championship which commenced on May 11 will end on Friday May 19th.

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Sports

Speaker House Reps, Abbas, Others Thumbs NFF President Over NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches

Published

11 hours ago

March 19, 2025

The Gleamer

…Says It Will Boost Nigeria’s Economy

By Joel Ajayi

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for initiating the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches, describing it as a transformational project that will boost Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Speaker Abbas praised the initiative and pledged the National Assembly’s full support.

“This is a noble project, and the National Assembly will give it full support. I congratulate the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, and I thank FIFA for agreeing to fund this project,” he stated while cutting the ceremonial tape.

He also assured the House of Representatives’ support for the visionary leadership of Engineer Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the NFF in other key areas where assistance is required.

Leading the FIFA delegation, Gelson Fernandes (Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer/Regional Director, Africa) reiterated FIFA’s commitment to funding the project, emphasizing that infrastructure development has been a priority since the tenure of President Gianni Infantino began.

Expressing his excitement, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated that the hostel and training pitches will serve all Nigerian national teams, leagues, and academies.

“Indeed, my joy knows no bounds. From the day my Executive Committee and I were sworn into office in Benin City on Friday, 30th September 2022, I was determined to push this project forward as a legacy for Nigerian football.
“For sustained success, we must provide a conducive environment, infrastructure, equipment, and support systems that enable players and officials to perform at their best.

“Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management but also reduce costs, allowing us to invest more in grassroots development programs.”
Several dignitaries present at the event applauded Gusau’s leadership, determination, and commitment to football development in Nigeria.

The event was well attended by local and international stakeholders, including sports enthusiasts, who witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches.

In addition to the hostel, the project includes:Two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass). Reconstruction of the existing synthetic pitch.

Also, Spectators’ sitting terraces with 1,838 seats.Two dressing rooms for players, each accommodating 27 players.Two dressing rooms for officials.

The construction is expected to last 24 months and is fully funded by FIFA under its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme.

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