National Sports Festival: FCT dominate north central zonal qualifier

Team FCT on Friday dominated other athletes from across the North Central zone to secure qualification for the 22nd National Sports Festival. This was following intense week-long zonal eliminations which began on Monday and ended on Friday in Jos. No fewer than 100 athletes represented the FCT at the National zonal qualifier for slots ahead of the National Sports Festival in Ogun. According to the official results released by the National Sports Commission (North Central Zone), FCT emerged dominant. PLEASE READ: UNRWA chief reaffirms commitment to Palestinian refugees It topped  multiple categories, while Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Benue, and Nasarawa also earned places in various team sports. In basketball, Plateau (male) and FCT (female) clinched first place, with FCT (male) and Plateau (female) taking the second slots. FCT also excelled in beach volleyball, securing both male and female top positions, with Plateau finishing second in the male category. Kwara and Kogi took the top spots in cricket, while FCT and Benue claimed first place in football (male and female, respectively), with Kwara earning second place in the male division. Other notable performances included FCT’s dominance in handball (male), Kogi’s triumph in handball (female), and Plateau sweeping both categories in hockey. Meanwhile, Kwara and Nasarawa emerged first in male and female volleyball, respectively, with Plateau finishing as runners-up in both categories. With the zonal eliminations concluded, these teams will now prepare to represent the North Central Zone at the 22nd National Sports Festival, where they will compete against the best from other regions.

Cape Verde succumbs as D’Tigers extend winning streak

Nigeria’s D’Tigers on Sunday defeated Cape Verde in their last group game in Tripoli to complete the qualifier on three winning streak without a loss. In spite of already having the qualification for the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket, set for August in Angola, Nigeria’s D’Tigers closed out their final game of the third qualifying window in style. This was after they defeated Cape Verde 77-62 at the Grand Hall. After finishing the second window in Libya with three loses, the rejuvenated Nigerian team needed a perfect run in the third qualifying window—and they delivered. D’Tigers triumphed over hosts Libya, Uganda, and Cape Verde to officially book their spot in the competition. With qualification already secured before tip-off, head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed handed home-based players Ifeanyi Koko and Ibe Abuchi their first minutes of the tournament, clocking two minutes apiece. Caleb Agada once again shone as Nigeria’s standout performer. The 2020 Tokyo Olympian dominated the stat sheet, leading all players in multiple categories. He posted a game-high 23 points, a joint game-high eight rebounds, a game-high six assists, and a game-high five steals, spearheading Nigeria’s third consecutive win in the window. Talib Zanna contributed 13 points, while Ike Nwamu added 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists. For Cape Verde, Ivan Almeida led the scoring with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Shane Da Rosa chipped in 10 points. After going undefeated (3-0) in the previous window, Cape Verde struggled in this phase, losing all three of their games.

President Tinubu reshuffles cabinet, nominates Bianca Ojukwu, 6 others, Minister

In a massive revamp of the Federal cabinet, President Bola Tinubu sacks five ministers, nominates 7, merges two ministries and scraps one. The reforms were encapsulated in what the presidency refers to as “eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the Administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency.” The action also entailed the reassignment of 10 ministerial portfolios, merger of two ministries and the scrapping of the Ministry of Sports. In a release titled, “Statement on the Restructuring of Ministries and Ministerial portfolios,” sighted by the Nigerian Anchor, the five ministers to be discharged are: Professor Tahir Mamman (Education), Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), and Barr. Uju-Ken Ohannenye (Women Affairs). The other Ministers to be discharged are Lola Ade-John (Tourism Development) and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development. The Ministerial nominees Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs; Nentawe Yilwatda for appointment as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. Other nominees and their portfolios are: Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Idi Mukhrar Maiha, Ministry of Livestock Development; Rt Hon. Yusuf Abdulahi Ata, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; Suwaiba Said Ahmed (PhD), Minister of State, Education. Ministers re-assigned new portfolios are Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, formerly Minister of State for health, now assigned the Ministry of Education and Dr. Doris Uzoka Anite, formerly Minister of Trade and Investment, now Minister of State, Finance. Others are Sen John Owan Enoh who is now reassigned to Minister of State, Trade and Investment, following the scrapping of the Ministry of Sports where analysts say he underperformed. Also re-assigned are: Hon Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu; Minister of state, Education, now Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Minister of State, Water Resources, now Minister of State, Works; Hon Abubakar Eshiokpekha Momoh, Minister of Niger Delta Development, now Minister of Regional development. Now re-assigned as Minister of Women Affairs is Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, formerly Minister of State, Police Affairs, while Maigari Ahmadu, formerly Minister of State, Steel Development is now re-assigned to Minister of State, Regional Development. Also appointed… In his ever-burgeoning cabinet, President Tinubu also brought on board his long time ally and former Minister of Sports, Sunday Akin Dare as Special Presidential Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation. Chief Dare, it was stated, shall operate from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Also appointed is Mr. Shehu Dikko, who shall function as the Chairman of the resurrected National Sports Commission.