Sport

NSF 2024: Golden Eaglets Beat Team Kaduna to Claim Football Bronze

By Web News 145

By Olusegun Folarin 

The Nigeria Under-17 side, the Golden Eaglets, has defeated Team Kaduna 2-nil in the third-place match of the male football event at the ongoing National Sports Festival, NSF.

The Golden Eaglets who are also referred to as the Invited Junior Athletes, IJA, who lost to Team Ogun State in the semi-finals of the competition, went home with the bronze medal.

In the female category, goals from Damilola Adeyanju and Itunuoluwa Odediya in the first half of the match played at Remo Stars Stadium gave Team Ogun the victory over Team Osun to win the bronze medal.

The final matches in the football event of the festival will be played at the newly renovated MKO Abiola Sports Arena, beginning from 4 PM.

Ogun State team will battle Kwara State in the male category, while the Flamingos will take on Delta State in the female category.

In Handball, Edo State defeated Kogi State by 32 goals to 20 to win the bronze in the female category.

In Abula, Oyo State defeated Bayelsa State to win gold in the women’s category, Team Oyo also recorded a gold medal in the male hockey event after defeating Kaduna State in the final.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels, and also join our WhatsApp Update Group.

Sport

Team Ogun Wins Gold in Mixed Relay

By Web News 74

By Olusegun Folarin

The quartet of Gafar Badmus, Tosin Adeloye, Samson Nathaniel and Toheebat Jimoh have won a gold for Ogun State in the 4×400 mixed relay at the ongoing National Sports Festival tagged “Gateway Games 2024”.

They cross the finish line in a time of 3:20.65, Team Edo finished 2nd in the race with a time of 3:23.41, while Team Lagos got on the podium in the event, finishing with the Bronze medal in a time of 3:24.36

Speaking with Journalists after the race at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, the Coach of the team , Saheed Akinpelu, applauded the athletes for the feat achieved.

Coach Akinpelu attributed the victory to dedication and hard work, adding that the camping exercise by the state government also assist the athletes.

He expressed optimism that more gold medals would still be won by the state , saying that the athletes had worked and prayed.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels, and also join our WhatsApp Update Group.

Sport

Gateway Games Update:Team Ogun Wins in Women Handball Match

By Web News 89

By Olusegun Folarin 

Team Ogun has emerged victorious in the women’s handball match against Team Kogi, winning 32 goals 20

The match was played at the Alake Sports Centre,  Ijeja, in Abeokuta.

The highly intense game saw Team Ogun dominating the first half by scoring 16 goals, while Team Kogi managed 11 goals.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria after the match, Team Ogun’s head coach, Mr Shola Sekoni, expressed excitement over the team’s performance, stating that expectations remained high. 

Coach Sekoni further commended the state government for providing a standard facility for the games. 

Also, Team Kogi’s coach, Mr Emeka Joseph, expressed optimism that his team would bounce back stronger in their next match against Plateau State.

In the male category, Team FCT beat Kano by 29 goals to 19.

In some of the games decided today, the Ogun State football team came from their defeat yesterday to beat FCT by 3 goals to 1.

In Basketball, Team Lagos beat Team Ebonyi by 87 points to 37 in the female category.

Beach Volleyball will take place in the afternoon, while Boxing and Kickboxing are ongoing at the Baptist Boys High School. Saje, Abeokuta.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels, and also join our WhatsApp Update Group.

Sport

Shettima Describes Gateway Games Opening as Masterpiece, Lauds Abiodun

By Web News 81

By Abimbola Bamgbose 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has lauded Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for hosting what he described as a “masterpiece” opening ceremony of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games.

Speaking with journalists at the Gateway International Airport in Iperu on his return to Abuja, Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, praised the festival’s grandeur and the warm hospitality extended to over 20,000 participants from across Nigeria.

“The opening ceremony was truly spectacular, unlike anything I’ve witnessed before. Words cannot fully express our gratitude to Governor Abiodun for the immense resources, passion, and energy invested in showcasing Ogun State and Nigeria to the world,” he said.

Describing sports as a powerful tool for unity, Shettima emphasised its capacity to transcend ethnic, religious, and regional divides, fostering national cohesion.

He also applauded Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, for gracing the event with his presence and participation.

“At 91, Prof Soyinka remains mentally sharp and physically agile. His involvement is a celebration of excellence and a testament to Ogun’s legacy as a gateway to knowledge, tolerance, and unity,” Shettima noted.

The Vice President reaffirmed President Tinubu’s pride in Governor Abiodun’s efforts and commended the Ogun State Sports Commission for delivering a world-class event.

In his remarks, Governor Abiodun described the opening ceremony as one of the proudest moments of his administration, noting that the National Sports Festival, established in 1973, was envisioned as a platform to promote unity, discipline, leadership, and national consciousness among Nigerian youths.

“Our goal was to demonstrate our level of preparedness and prove that Nigeria can host an event of international standard. Yesterday’s ceremony reflected our vision, commitment, and pursuit of excellence,” the governor said.

Governor Abiodun added that the successful hosting of the event further cements Ogun State’s reputation, not just as Nigeria’s industrial hub but as a gateway to sports, tourism, and overall excellence.

“I believe this opening ceremony will remain a reference point for many years,” he concluded.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels, and also join our WhatsApp Update Group.

Sport

OGWAMA Launches 24Hrs Operation ahead of National Sports Festival

By Web News 83

Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, has launched special twenty-four-hour operations ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival, “Gateway Games 2024”, holding in the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Waste Management, Mr Abayomi Hunye said all personnel and machinery of the Authority have been deployed to ensure a successful operation, aimed at keeping the state clean, healthier and safer from all environmental hazards before, during and after the festival.

Mr Hunye added that comprehensive arrangements have been made to manage waste effectively, including waste removal, refuse collection, to maintain cleanliness in all the competition venues across the State.

He therefore called on visitors and tourists visiting the state to be careful while driving and look out for OGWAMA Caution Signs, as its workers would be on twenty-four-hour special operations, and called on residents to maintain a clean environment.

The Special Adviser, who reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensure a clean, healthy and safe environment during the National Sports Festival” Gateway Games, also used the opportunity to welcome all athletes, officials, visitors and tourists to the state.

In the meantime, preparations have reached a crescendo at the 9 venues for various sporting events to be used by athletes from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, participating in the 22nd National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games 2024. 

Moshood Abiola Sports Complex, Kuto, Abeokuta is equipped for the opening ceremony and other games like Abula, Cricket, Tennis, Handball, Beach Volleyball, Swimming and Athletics, including Para and Deaf Athletics.

Baptist Boys High School, Saje Abeokuta, will host athletes for Boxing and kickboxing, while Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja Abeokuta, is the location for major indoor and outdoor games.

Other venues are Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, NYSC orientation Camp, Sagamu, Abeokuta Golf Club, Oke Mosan, Babcock University, Ilisan and  Ijebu Ode Stadium.

The biennial multi-sports event, which began in 1973 at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos, was conceived as a “unifying tool” for promoting peace and cross-cultural affiliation among Nigerians, following the Civil War of 1970.

Ogun State hosted the competition in 2006 and is set to make history and create memories with the GATEWAY GAMES 2024 between Friday, 16th and Friday, 30th May, 2025.