Sports

Taekwondo: Nigeria Army emerges champions of 11th Korea Ambassador Cup

Published

2 years ago

October 23, 2023

The Gleamer

… Chief of Army Staff has invested heavily in Sports says Brig Gen Bello

Joel Ajayi

Team Nigeria Army have emerged overall champions of the just concluded 11th Korea Ambassador Cup in Abuja on Sunday.

Nigeria Army won a total of 10 medals consisting of four gold, four silver and two bronze at the indoor sports hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium.

An elated Director of Physical Training in the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Abdulrahman Bello said the improvement of the athletes can be traced to the investment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja in sports.

Brigadier General Bello said sports have witnessed a huge turn around adding that various sports are already revived.

He said, “I am so happy because part of the command/philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is training.

“The performance of the athletes at the Korea Ambassador Cup is a sign of effective training; you saw that Benjamin Okuomose finished his opponent within a minute. I am happy the Army has achieved the aim and the command philosophy.

“Our performance shows we are working and sports are being revived in the Nigeria Army. Before now, it has not been rosy like it is under the Chief of Army Staff and God willing, you’ll witness more great feats from the Army”, he said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Army heavyweight athlete, Benjamin Okuomose knocked out Nigeria Police Force athlete, Ofe Mordicia in the men’s -87kg final.

Okuomose spent no time dismantling officer Mordecai in less than one minute to retain his Korea Cup title on Sunday.

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Sports

35 Days to Go: Nigeria Set to Host African Junior Athletics Championship in Abeokuta

Published

4 hours ago

June 9, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

With just 35 days to go, Nigeria is revving up preparations to host the 3rd edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) African Junior Athletics Championship, scheduled to take place from July 16 to 20, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Returning to Nigerian soil, the prestigious biennial event will welcome the continent’s most promising Under-18 and Under-20 athletes to the newly refurbished MKO Abiola International Stadium, which recently played host to the 22nd National Sports Festival.

Over 500 athletes from more than 50 African nations are expected to compete in this year’s championship, making it one of the largest gatherings of young athletic talent on the continent.

South Africa, the reigning overall champions, will be looking to defend their title, but Nigeria’s young stars are also eager to make a strong statement on home soil.

“This is not just a competition; it is a celebration of Africa’s future in track and field,” Hon. Bukola Olopade, DG of the National Sports Commission said.

“Nigeria is honored to host once again and to demonstrate its world-class capacity in organizing major sporting events,” he added.

The choice of Abeokuta—also known as the Gateway City—underscores the state’s growing reputation as a hub for sports development, alongside other Nigerian cities. With its state-of-the-art facilities and strategic location, the city is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for athletes, officials, and fans alike.

The CAA African Junior Championships is widely regarded as the breeding ground for the continent’s future Olympic and world champions.

As the countdown continues, all eyes will be on Nigeria to once again rise to the occasion and reinforce its status as Africa’s true sporting giant.

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