 Team Nigeria have established their dominance on the continent after they clear the stable to emerge champions of the 2019 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships which ended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday.
Nigeria won four gold medals, two silver and four bronze to top the medal table. The team had earlier secured the most coveted gold medal in the team event on Thursday and followed that up with further three gold medals in the individual championships. Top stars Anuoluwapo Opeyori and Dorcas Adesokan produced the most stunning shows after they dethroned Georges Paul and Kate Foo Kune from Mauritius in the men's and women's singles respectively. Mauritius' Kune had reigned as African champion since 2014; she even beat Adesokan in the final of the last edition in Algeria, but she met a determined Nigerian this time, who showed grit to hand down to her a 21-12, 21-13 defeat in the final of women's singles. In the men's singles, Godwin Olofua, ranked third in Africa, had shockingly defeated top seed, Paul, in the semi-finals to set up all Nigerian affairs final with Opeyori. It was a thrilling encounter between two friends and mates but Opeyori won 21-17, 16-21, 21-17 to claim his maiden African title. It was also an Nigerian affairs in the women's doubles as the pair of Adesokan and Deborah Ukeh defeated Amin Christopher and Chineye Ebere. In the mixed doubles, Algeria's duo of Koceila Mammeri and Linda Mazri successfully defended the title they won last year at home when they defeated Nigeria's Enejo Abbah and Peace Orji 15-21, 21-16, 21-18. Meanwhile, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the organization of the tournament and the performance of Team Nigeria. He announced a reward of $100,000 for Team Nigeria for their efforts in the competition. "The President of the Badminton Confederation of Africa just told me that this is the best tournament they have ever conducted; that's is a every encouraging one. We are happy to grab the opportunity of hosting this event and our government will continue to support badminton and of course sports in general," he said. Adesokan described her performance as the best in her career. "Anytime I want to play against her I was always jittery but I told myself that had to change this time. I have done it, Kate will never beat me again," she said. More also, she proved her worth with an excellence performance when Deborah Ukeh pair with her to beat their compatriot Chineye Ebere and Amin Yop Christopher in a game that finished 21-14, 21-17. In the Men's doubles Isaac Minahpee and Eneja Abah conceded defeat to Algeria duo of Kociela Mammeri and Youcef Sabri Madel as they won with a slim margin 21-17, 21-17. In a nut shell, team Nigeria came first with 4 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze medals while Algeria emerged second with 2 gold thereby leaving Mauritius at third position with 2 silver medals. Adding ice to the cake was Music interlude, awards dole out to Vips, mascot display, raffle draws, certificate given to player's and umpires including dancing competition. Finally, whatever that have a start must have an end, as CBA draw the cotton to a close tonight with the Minister of Sports, BCA president, Rivers State governor, BCA secretary-general, Hon. Igale, Emir from North and Rivers State Sports commissioner, Comr. Sirawoo among others dignitaries were all in attendance at the closing ceremony in Port-Harcourt; Nigeria.
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 The National Under 19 Male Team will today play in the final of the IHF International Trophy Challenge in Prestina, Republic of Kosovo. The national cadet male team will hope to get a much needed victory against favourite Chinese Taipei in the final of the championship on Sunday. The two teams played each other in the preliminary stage and Chinese Taipei claimed an emphatic victory over the coach Emeka Joseph Nnamani tutored side who arrived on the same day they played against the Chinese. The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Sam Ocheho is optimistic of the team doing well in the final and has charged the boys to follow the coaches instructions. The secretary general of HFN lhaji Maigidasanma Mohammed who is with the team alongside the technical director of the federation, Mr. Ferdinand Emeanna, believes the cadet boys are highly motivated to win the game and have faith that Nigeria will come back home with the trophy. Meanwhile, the national under 21 male handball team defeated Australia 37-21 in a classification match on Saturday. The junior male national team had lost out in the preliminary stage as they suffered slim defeats to Chinese Taipei and host, Kosovo.  President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) Mr. Sam Ocheho has praised The national under 19 handball male team after they qualified into the final of the IHF Intercontinental Challenge Trophy taking place in Prestina, Republic of Kosovo. The coach Emeka Nnamani tutored side defeated Canada 32-25 to advance into the finals of the International Handball Federation sanctioned intercontinental championship and Ocheho is very elated at the never say die Nigeria spirit in them. For Ocheho, the feat is a testament of the progress ongoing in HFN since the present board came into administration. 'What more can I say? I am delighted at the feat of these young men. Despite losing their first game, they are in the final. This is the never give up spirit of every Nigerian ". He said "On behalf of HFN, the handball family and Nigerians I say I a big congratulations to them". He then advised that they take the final game seriously and strive to come back with the trophy. The cadet team had lost their first game to Chinese Taipei 36-18 but bounced back to defeat Paraguay 34-21 and then defeated Canada. Coach Emeka Joseph Nnamani praised his team for their resilience and for adhering to tactical instructions from the technical bench to the later. 'I am very proud of my team. They have played what we taught them at home. We won the game with our goalkeeper and our technical system worked" He concluded. The secretary general of HFN Alhaji Maigidasanma Mohammed also congratuled the team and urged them not to give up in the final.  The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) have released the final team lists for the national under 18 and under 21 male teams that will be participating in the IHF International Challenge Trophy in Kosovo. The teams, presently enroute Kosovo for the International Handball Federation organised championship have been training in Lagos for about a month in preparation of the championship. Some of the players were picked at the recently held National Under 18&21 Handball Championship held in Rowe Park Sports Center in Yaba. Technical director of HFN, coach Ferdinand Emeana who has been with the teams all through their training camp in Lagos, expressed satisfaction with the preparation and is confident of the team's performance at the International championship. "The coaches have done a good job nurturing the cadet and junior teams for this competition. I am very confident that they will do well in the international championship and make Nigeria proud". Coach Ferdinand said. Meanwhile the President of HFN, Mr. Samuel Ocheho has urged the teams to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and to be disciplined as they represent the nation in Kosovo. Ocheho who is also confident that the teams will do well in the championship, promised that the HFN will do everything possible to support the team. The junior team will begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei on the 10th of April and play Paraguay two days later. Under 18 Team list Yusuf Farouk Dauda Abubakr Abubakar Abdurahman Okafor Obinna Shared shittu .o. Salim Ahmed salim Yahaya ismala Batura sani mohd Salam Hakeem D Dikko Ibrahim Ekpodio ebinate k Adelakun Adeshina s Yashau Anas Mohd bello Coaches: Emeka Nnamani, Musa Oji Sabo Under 21 Team list Terumu seremun E Rotibi Gbenga Cole Gbenga Owolabi Ibrahim A Ataboh Abdulahi Solomon Agbaji M Mohammed Alhaji Acfa Mohammed D Abdulahi Suleiman usman Joseph Gbolahun Agada Anthony Femi Onamade Dele Kevin gbenga Mohammed Anas Coaches: Shittu Adewunmi, Alex Borisky Technical Director: Ferdinand Emeana  Gallant Cadet And Junior National Handball Teams Arrive Nigeria After Impressive Outing At IHF international Trophy Challenge in Kosovo
The national under 19 and 21 male handball teams arrived Nigeria on Monday night after their outstanding performance at the just concluded IHF International Trophy Challenge in Kosovo. Receiving them at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos was the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) Mr. Sam Ocheho and some members of the board as well as pressmen. Ocheho praised the teams for making Nigeria proud and promised that the federation will continue to support the teams. Alhaji Maigidasanma Mohammed, secretary General of HFN, who is the leader of the delegation to Kosovo thanked all Nigerians for the goodwill messages, prayers and support for the teams. The national under 19 male handball team came second as they lost narrowly to Chinese Taipei in the final 27-26. They had played the Chinese Taipeins in the first game of their group 36-18 but bounced back to defeat Paraguay 34-21 The cadet team then defeated Canada 32-25 to advance to the final. The national under 21 male handball team, meanwhile defeated Australia 37-21 in a classification match to finish fifth in the under 21 category. The junior male national team had lost out in the preliminary stage as they suffered slim defeats to Chinese Taipei and host, Kosovo. |
AuthorSunny Canto the Sports enthusiast. Archives
August 2019
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