Unseeded Nigerian conquers African champion

Isau Ogunkunle (NGR) in action at the Africa PTT Championships in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday June 30, 2019..

Nigeria’s Isau Ogunkunle announced his emergence at the Africa Para Table Tennis Championships holding in Alexandria, Egypt, as the 33-year-old humbled African Champion - Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid in the men’s singles Class Four in the first round.   Isau Ogunkunle may not a familiar name in Africa but the Nigerian has made name for himself at the 2019 Africa PTT Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, when he caused the biggest upset at the tournament after beating the Egyptian 3-2. Ogunkunle who is competing in Class Four as one of Nigeria’s representatives was set up against his idol - Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid and he knew that for him to prove a point in Africa, he must surmount the world number 11 and Africa’s number one. As Nigeria’s national champion, Isau Ogunkunle did the impossible in front of the Egyptian fans when he humbled the home hero in the first round of the Class Four singles event. From the start of the encounter the unseeded Nigerian was full of confidence against the tournament’s number one seed by winning the first game at 11-8. But Mohamed Sameh Eid had to rely on experience with a lot of topspin from the backhand to win the next two games at 8-11, 6-11. Having discovered the weakness of his opponent after losing the second and third games, Isau Ogunkunle decided to play more to the Egyptian forehand and this worked for him as he won the fourth game by 11-2. The final and deciding game went the way of the Nigerian who led from the start to the end to win at 11-7. The excited Nigerian did not hide his joy after the big win when he said, he would be unstoppable having surmounted his biggest challenge in the competition with the victory. “In 2011 when I first played against Mohamed Sameh Eid, he defeated me 3-0 but after the match he came to me to comfort and encourage me not to give up. Since then we have been friends and we communicate with each other regularly. He became my idol in the game,” Isau Ogunkunle said. However, the romance for table tennis for Isau Ogunkunle did not come by leisure but by sheer determination to make it big in life. “I was in school in 2005 when I lost my father and it was difficult for me to continue schooling so I dropped out. I decided to embrace shoe-making as a vocation. But it was in 2010 that somebody who came to patronize me invited me to table tennis hall and that was how I started playing table tennis,” the Nigerian said.

Egypt’s Eid Saleh sets new record in Africa

Egypt’s Eid Saleh sets new record in Africa Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh (EGY) makes it to fifth Pralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 in Alexandria, Egypt on Monday July 1, 2019...

At 41, Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh becomes the first Africa para table tennis player to be featuring in five Paralympic Games after the world number 11 avenge her group loss to Nigeria’s Isau Ogunkunle in the final of the men’s Class Four on July 1, 2019, to secure the continental sole slot to Tokyo 2020. From the group stage of the 2019 Africa Para Table Tennis Championships holding in Alexandria, Egypt, where he lost 2-3 to the Nigerian, Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh who is current African champion knew that it would not be an easy ride to Tokyo. Having put the group stage defeat behind him, Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh went to work to ensure he set another clash against the unseeded Nigerian. Being the last match of the session, Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh and Isau Ogunkunle gave the fans something to cheer as both players sized up each other to the admiration of the fans. Even when Isau Ogunkunle was trailing Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh, it was clear that the match would go into full length. With applause greeting every point won by the Egyptian, the final game made some of the fans to sit at the edge of their seat and without any doubt the win received a rousing applause from the home fans. For five minutes every activity at the Olympic Club Hall was standstill as the victory was celebrated in a big way by the home fans including the President of Egypt Table Tennis Federation (ETTF), Moataz Ashour. An elated Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh admitted that this has been the toughest qualification for him having featured in previous four Paralympic Games. “I am so excited that I will be going to my fifth Paralympic Games in Tokyo but I must admit that it was a difficult route for me this year. My opponent is a good player and I think he is still young and can still make it to the Paralympic Games. But generally, this has been the toughest qualification for me and I am so happy that I will becoming the first African para table tennis player to compete in five Paralympic Games,” Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh said. From the 14 athletes that qualified for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Egypt picked eight slots, Nigeria picked five while Tunisia secured one slot.

Nigeria vs Madagascar Preview: Why I will make changes to team's line up..Gernot Rhor We will try and win...Madagascar coach

Coach Gernot Rhor is set to name a different Squad that defeated Guinea last week Wednesday as the team file out this Evening against Madagascar. This is to put pressure on players and intensify competition in every position www.sportspedalng.blogspot.com can report.

The coach made this known at the pre Match  conference held in Alexandria on Saturday when he was answering questions from journalists. 

The Belgian German tactician who uncharacteristically made five changes to his starting line up  against the syli stars responded affirmitively when ask whether he will make changes to his squad that played against Guinea as the set to take on the braise from Madagascar 

"Will I make changes? Yes, because I want to put everyone under pressure and have that competition in each position. We’ll see in the last training tonight which changes we will do,” .

The coach however reterioted that the focus of the team is the to finish top of the group in order to avoid second in other group because it is better to play third. 

“It’s important to finish first of the group, it’s better to play a team in third than second so we will do all to finish top,” Rohr told reporters at the pre-match news conference.

According to the coach,the match will be very interesting as the team is highly motivated to win the match in order to top the group 

“It will be a really interesting match against a team that has a lot of offensive qualities. I think it will also be a ‘final’ in the group, the winner will be top and that’s a big motivation for us.”

The tactician will be playing against the country home of his in law as the Madagascans are having stellar outing so far in their debut appearance. 

They are yet to lose a game having drawn their first game against Guinea 2-2 and defeated Burundi in their last game to garner 4 points and a point against the Super Eagles will guarantee them a second place finish and avoid the calculations that come with qualifying with the third best finish across the groups

Madagascar coach,Nicolas Dupuis knows the task at hand and declare that his team will try and win .

“We’re going out there to try and win knowing we’re not favourites. One point will be enough for us to finish second. 

We’re not yet qualified for the last 16 so I’m not going to try and calculate things. It would be a shame for it to end here.”

Madagascar will be meeting the Super Eagles for the first in AFCON in their 3rd ever game in the competition while the Super Eagles will be playing their 89th matches after making their debut in 1963,they have racked up a massive 42 victories ,22 draws and 19 defeats with 3 titles to show for it.

The match is one the final matches  in Group B of Egypt 2019 as Burundi takes on Guinea in a winner takes all encounter, both matches will kick off by 5pm Nigeria time.

Nigeria invites 44 for Basketball World Cup

D’Tigers Head Coach, Alex Nwora has released a 44 man preliminary roaster ahead of the 2019 FIBA Men’s World Cup in China, after weeks of scouting.

The camping exercise which will commence on July 7, 2019 in Erie Community College, Buffalo, USA will include D’Tigers captain, Ike Diogu, Ben Uzoh, Ike Iroegbu, Agada Caleb, Emegano Obinna, Efevhera Michael, Portland Trailblazer’s Al Farouq Aminu, Stanley Okoye, Jordan Nwora, Aminu Alade, Tosin Mehinti, Zana Talib, Chris Obekpa and Ayodeji Akindele who all featured during the qualifiers.

Others include David Nwaba (Cleveland Cavaliers), Josh Akogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nwamu Ike (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Michael Eric, Charles Bassey, Ike Obiagu, Achiuwa Precious, TK Edogi, Stephen Ugochukwu and Ado Abdul, Chimezie Metu (San Antonio Spurs), Ekpe Udoh (Utah Jazz) and recently drafted trio of Miye Oni (Miami Heat), Chuma Okeke (Orlando Magic) and Kezie Okpalla (Phoenix Suns).

Nwora also extended invitation to five Nigerian based stars, Agu Abuchi Ibe, Okpe Ocheibi Victor, Abdul Yahaya, Vincent Buchi Nwaiwu, Victor Koko Anthony alongside former Golden State Warriors player, Festus Ezeli, Michael Oguine, and Jordan Ogundiran.

Ogugua “OG” Anunoby (Toronto Raptors), Semi Ojeleye (Boston Celtic), Ochai Agbaji, Vincent Nnamdi, Stephen Domingos, Moneke Chima and Joshua Ifeoluwa Ajayi complete the 44- man list.

As part of the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s effort to effectively prepare the team, D’Tigers will face fellow world cup bound Dominican Republic at the Palacio de Los Deportes in San Domingo on July 20th and 22nd before another test game against Ex NBA and Euro All Stars on the July 26, as they round off the first phase of camping.

The Second phase of camping will commence on July 29, while the invited NBA players are expected to report to camp on August 1 before departing for Toronto on August 5, where they will be facing Canada on the August 7 and 9.

Nwora will be assisted by Glynn R. Cyrien (Ex Memphis Grizzlies), Mfon Kokoete Udofia (Atlanta Hawks) and Ogoh Odaudu (Rivers Hoopers)

The final 12-man list will depart for Nigeria on August 12, for the final round of training before leaving for China on August 18.

Nigeria battle Korea, Argentina and Russia in Group B

Faces at the #EunisellBoot19 Gala Night

It was a great dinner in lagos ,Friday Night 28th of June,2019 . The beautiful hall of Radisson blu ikeja hosted who is who in the Nigeria sports industry as well the two winners of the eunisel boot Mfon Udoh of Akwa United and Sunusi Ibrahim of Nasarawa united .

Both players scored 10 goals each to win two million naira each as well as golden boot with the replica of the top scorer gong

The 2019 Nigeria women Football League gets kick off date as 16 teams set to battle for honor in the new abridged League

The  2019 Nigeria Women Football League ,NWFL will begin on the 17th of July,2019. The date was revealed in a communique released after the Annual General meeting of the League's stake holder held in Abuja.

The League, which will be an Abridged format this season, comprises 16 teams with 4 teams in a group. The group will proceed to play in the Championship playoffs to determine the winner of the league while the last teams across the four groups will play in the championship relegation playoffs.

The communique further revealed that the winner of the league will proceed on tour of Spain as part of the bilateral agreement between Laliga and NWFL to international friendlies.

The league went on break since last year after the FIFA world cup in Russia and the abridged format will make for the lost time according to the communique.

The groups at a glance

Group A

Rivers Angels

Osun Babes

Delta Queens

FC Robo

Group B

Dream Stars Ladies

Heartland Queens

Adamawa Queens

Edo Queens

Group C

Bayelsa Queens

Sunshine Queens

Nasarawa Amazons

Jokodolu Babes

Group D

Confluence Queens

Abia Angels

Invincible Angels

Ibom Angels

Eunisell to reward Mfon,Sunusi tonight

Mfon udoh and Ibrahim Sunnusi will be rewarded for their effort as the highest goal scorers at the NPFL 2019 regular season in a gala to be held in Lagos tonight tagged #Eunisellboot19.

Both players scored 10 goals each for Akwa utd and Nassarawa utd respectively. The players  will smile home with the highest goal scorer gong as well as two million Naira for their effort as  each goal is rewarded with #200,000. 

The award is organised by eunisel to promote marksmanship as goals define the game .

According to the company's 

Managing Director, Mr. Chika Ikenga  said, “Our logic is simple; both players deserve to be rewarded for their performances. The eligibility to be awarded the Eunisell Boot, is based on the most goals scored and both players satisfy that basic requirement." 

The 2019  NPFL season was an abridged season in which each teams played twenty two matches and Akwa utd benefited from Mfon Udoh's goal as they top Group B to make it the Championship playoff  that was held in Lagos while sunusi's 10 goals ensured that Nasarawa escaped relegation in the keenly contested relegation battle which saw an unprecedented 8 teams relegated.