Sports

Team Nigeria Kisarazu Camp opens July 23rd

Published

5 years ago

May 13, 2021

JoelAjayi

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has unveiled a comprehensive plan for Team Nigeria towards a podium success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

According to the roadmap, the final stage of local camping will commence from May-15th- July 23rd in Bayelsa, Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. Track and Field National Olympics Trials takes place June 17- 19th, African Athletics Championship from June 22- 26th, 2021.

The last phase of the camping will be in Kisarazu from July 3- 23rd, while the 1st batch of athletes will enter the Games Village from August 8th.

Nigeria will present about 80 athletes in 10 Sports at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Wrestling, Judo, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Badminton, Male and Female Basketball are some of the events Nigeria has qualified. Others are Track and Field, Weightlifting and Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing.

Nigeria decided to narrow down her participation to sports where she has competitive advantage in winning medals.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has repeatedly maintained that Team Nigeria will improve on her performance of the last two Olympics, where she won only two bronze in Football and Track and Field

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Sports

Nigerian Goalkeeper James Honoured with Spot in Finland’s Team of the Season

Published

28 mins ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Ibrahim Lawal

Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper Samuel Friday James has earned recognition among the best-performing players in Finland following his impressive displays for SJK Akatemia in the 2026 season.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper ranks second among the league’s selected best-performing XI, with an average rating of 7.61, according to statistics published by Totori News.

James’ performances have stood out despite the challenging campaign faced by his club, with his consistency between the posts making him one of the bright spots in the team.

The former Mavlon FC goalkeeper has recorded four clean sheets in Finland’s Ykkösliiga this season, while his shot-stopping ability has further underlined his growing reputation in European football.

According to available season statistics from FootyStats, James has made 20 league appearances, playing 1,800 minutes. He has conceded 32 goals and made 75 saves from 109 shots faced, giving him a save percentage of approximately 68.8 per cent.

His four clean sheets account for 20 per cent of his league appearances, demonstrating his ability to keep opponents at bay despite the defensive challenges confronting his team.

James has also shown composure and resilience in difficult matches, including his recent international outing for Nigeria against Russia, where he made his senior Super Eagles appearance in the 3-3 friendly draw on October 6.

Standing at 1.95 metres, the young goalkeeper possesses the physical attributes required for the modern game, combining his reach with quick reactions and an increasingly valuable experience of European football.

His rise has been particularly encouraging following his move from Lagos-based Mavlon FC to Finland in 2025. Since then, he has continued to develop through regular competitive football and has attracted attention for his performances.

James’ latest statistical recognition of 7.55 rating in the team of the season adds to his growing profile as Nigeria continues to assess goalkeeping options for the future.

At 20, the goalkeeper will be hoping to build on his progress in Finland and establish himself as a regular contender for the Super Eagles, while continuing to improve his performances at club level.

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