Sports

Nigeria’s Olympic cyclist hails German team over bike loan

Published

5 months ago

August 11, 2024

Admin

Nigeria’s first ever Olympic cyclist has praised the German team for giving her a bike to compete with in the Paris 2024 Olympics after she was unable to source one of her own.

Ese Ukpeseraye had initially only been registered for the women’s road race but competed in two track events – which require a different kind of bike – at “short notice”, she said on social media platform X.

The 25-year-old wrote that with no bicycle to race with and in the spirit of sportsmanship the German team had come to her rescue.

Her post prompted several Nigerians online to question the competency of their national sports authorities, but Nigeria’s sports minister insisted the situation was unavoidable.

John Owan Enoh said the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world’s foremost cycling authority, offered Nigeria last minute slots in two women’s track events “due to the disqualification of a country”.

The offer was made after Ukpeseraye and the rest of Team Nigeria had arrived in Paris for the games, Mr Enoh said.

“For this track race reallocated to Team Nigeria, a very special equipment (approved specifically for the Olympic track game) is used,” he posted on X.
“It’ll take months to have it delivered after ordering and making payment.”

Online commenters remained sceptical, however. Some linked Ukpeseraye’s case to incident earlier on in the games, where Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili discovered last minute that she could not race in the women’s 100m as she had been left off the entry list.

“I would have asked what happened to Favour Ofili who missed her 100m race because whoever was supposed to fill in her name for the competition failed to do so. Does that also take months to import?” one X user wrote.

Others asked why Nigeria was yet to win any medals at this year’s games. It is an outcome even Nigeria’s government seems frustrated by – the information ministry touched on “the disappointing performances of Nigerian athletes” in a recent press release.

In this year’s games, Ukpeseraye became the first Nigerian – man or woman – to compete in a cycling event.

Her first event was the women’s road race, but she was among a number of athletes who failed to complete the 154km (96-mile) route.

“It was an honour to represent Nigeria at this level. Although I couldn’t finish the race, being here is a victory in itself,” she is quoted by the Nigerian media as saying.

Ukpeseraye also missed out on the finals of the two track events she competed in – she finished sixth in her keirin heat and 28th in the sprint qualifiers.

However, she remains proud of her achievements, writing on X that she has “set the ball rolling for cycling in Nigeria”.

News

Haaland signs 10-year contract with Manchester City

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Austin Ojomah

By Francesca Hangeior.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2034, the club announced on Friday.

The 24-year-old Norwegian, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, has been a pivotal figure in the club’s recent successes.

His initial contract was set to expire in 2027, but the new deal reflects the club’s confidence in Haaland’s importance to their future.

“Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year Manchester City contract, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2034,” the statement said.

Reflecting on the new contract, Haaland expressed his delight at extending his stay.

“I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club.

“Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters, and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody,” he said.

Haaland thanked his teammates, manager Pep Guardiola, and the City staff, stating, “They have made this such a special place to be, and now I am City no matter what. I want to keep developing, keep working to get better, and help us achieve more success going forward.”

Since his arrival, Haaland’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. In his debut 2022/23 season, he scored 52 goals across all competitions, the highest-ever tally by a Premier League player in a single season, breaking the previous league record of 36 goals.

His goals were instrumental in City’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.

In addition to collective success, Haaland garnered numerous individual accolades in his debut season, including the PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards.

Despite an injury that sidelined him for nearly two months during the 2023/24 season, Haaland continued his prolific form, scoring 38 goals in 45 appearances, including 27 in the Premier League, securing a second consecutive Golden Boot.

Sports

SAD: Footballer slumps, dies during match in Osun

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Austin Ojomah

By Francesca Hangeior.

Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of Adeyemi Adewale, a football player for the Ilesa West Local Government Area team, who slumped during a match in Osogbo, the state capital.

Adewale, 29, was participating in the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match at the Ataoja School of Science on Thursday when he collapsed on the field.

Efforts to save him proved futile as he was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead upon arrival.

Spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident in a statement, adding that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death have commenced.

“Today, (Thursday) while the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match was going on at Ataoja School of Science, one Adeyemi Adewale ‘M’ 29yrs, a player of Ilesa West Football team, slumped on the pitch.

“He was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by a doctor,” the statement said.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the teaching hospital’s morgue.

Sports

Remarkable Comeback As Amad Diallo 12 Minute Hat-trick Seals Victory For Manchester United Vs Southampton

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Three late goals from Amad Diallo dragged a below-par Manchester United to a 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Amad Diallo proved the saviour for Manchester United once again as they came from behind to sneak a late win against basement club Southampton.

United will have fancied their chances of getting back to winning ways against bottom of the table Southampton, but the hosts were second best from the off, deservedly falling behind to a Manuel Ugarte own goal just before halftime.

Staring down the barrel of another home defeat, United upped the ante after the break, getting back on level terms through Diallo eight minutes from time, before the Ivorian completed the turnaround in the 90th minute.

Amad Diallo is the hero for the hosts, his hat-trick getting them out of a huge hole against a Southampton team who deserved more than they got from the game.

An absorbing and entertaining game ends in a home victory.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have Amad Diallo to thank for saving their blushes.