History was made on Saturday as KSU Steelers from Kogi State University Akungba became the first State-owned university to win the prestigious Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL). In a thrilling match played at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, KSU Steelers came from a goal down to defeat the FOUYE Dazzlers from the Federal University Oye Ekiti by 3-1 in the final of the HiFL 2022 season. The match had barely started when a Dazzlers striker was hacked down by one of the Steelers defenders. Kolawole Oladapo converted the resulting penalty kick to put the Dazzlers ahead. However, geared by the presence of their Vice-Chancellor Prof. Marietu Ohunene Tenube, KSU Steelers equalized through Samuel Odutola in the 3rd minute while the fans of the Dazzlers were still celebrating their lead. The first half ended 1-1.

The second half started on a fiery note as both teams cancelled themselves out until midway into the second half when Mohammed Suleiman, the captain of the Steelers and StanbicIBTC Man-of-the-match scored the second goal for the Steelers. Anuba Ojochenemi finally put a stop to the quest of the Dazzlers when he scored the third goal. Earlier in the third-place match, UNN Lions from the University of Nigeria Nsukka secured the slot which they won last year by defeating the UNILORIN Warriors 1-0. The Lions’ goal was scored by Chukwu Echere Lawrence. Speaking after the match, the Chairman, Board of HiFL Dr Kachi Onubogu saluted the courage of the players while exalting the support from the authorities of the participating schools. “We can all see the influence of the support we get from our dear sponsors such as StanbicIBTC, Lagos State Internal Revenue Services, Bold and Indomie. The authorities and players of the participating schools have also shown great desire as we witnessed the presence of the Kogi State University Vice Chancellor at the finals. Last year we also had the Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University watch the finals live”. He added that “now is the time to push for more in terms of the attention paid to collegiate sports, particularly football.

The Higher Institutions Football League has provided a creditable platform for government, school authorities, players and indeed discerning sponsors who are keen on registering their footprint on the sand of time regarding their contributions to youth development in Nigeria”. Vice-Chancellor of Kogi State University Prof Tenube in her reaction thanked Pace Sports and Marketing and the Nigerian University Games Association for providing a platform such as this for the students. Despite the ongoing ASUU strike which affected this year’s league to some extent, Prof Dosu Malomo who represented the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti said the organisers have done well to bring the 2022 league to such a thrilling conclusion. With this victory, KSU Steelers became the first team to score more than one goal in the HiFL finals while UNN Lions became the first team to win two consecutive third-place matches in the HiFL Super Four. The goal by Kolawole Dolapo of the FOUYE Dazzlers in the first minute became the fastest goal in the HiFL final as the finals also went into history as the game with the highest number of goals scored in regulation time with a total of four goals.

Paris 2024 Olympics: IWF signs agreement with ZKC as official sole supplier

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has signed an agreement with CHINA Hebei ZhangKong Barbell Manufacturing CO. LTD. (ZKC) to be the federation’s official Sole Supplier for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. ZKC has extensive experience in supplying the highest-standard equipment in weightlifting and was the IWF’s official Sole Supplier for Beijing 2008, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. ZKC will provide all the required equipment to the Paris 2024 Organising Committee in accordance with the IWF Technical Competition Rules & Regulations. In addition, ZKC is entitled to use the “Official Sole Supplier” title in its advertisements. Antonio Urso, IWF General Secretary said: “We are very happy to continue our long-term partnership with ZKC. ZKC has been the IWF’s official supplier at three Olympic Games and has a proven track record of delivering the highest quality equipment for our athletes. We are looking forward to working with them again at Paris 2024 and ensuring our athletes have what they need to compete at their best.” Mr. Zhang Zhiguo, ZKC General Manager said: “We are very proud to have signed this agreement with the IWF and ensure the continuation of ZKC’s affiliation with elite weightlifting. As the Official Sole Supplier, we recognise we have an important responsibility to provide equipment of the highest standards for the Olympic weightlifters. We have developed a strong relationship with the IWF over three Olympic Games and are excited to work with them again at Paris 2024.” The IWF Executive Board had approved ZKC as the official sole supplier for Paris 2024 during its meeting on 1 September 2022.

Igali’s Election Into World Wrestling Body Excites Gov Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed delight over the recent election of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, into the United World Wrestling Bureau. The governor, who was out of the country, spoke on Thursday morning at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa shortly after the weekly health and fitness exercise tagged Prosperity Walk. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that Igali’s victory as the first black to be elected into the global wrestling body has again put Bayelsa prominently on the world map of sports. Governor Diri described Igali, who is also president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), as a committed professional whose dedication to duty has paid off and urged others to emulate him. He said the state will always support Bayelsans that aspire to greater heights in different professions. He remarked that the state was proud of Igali’s achivements, especially in wrestling, and wished him well in his task as a member of the apex wrestling body.

Peseiro assures on Eagles after loss to Algeria

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro says he is not losing sleep over the 1-2 loss to Algeria Tuesday night. Peseiro said he is building a formidable team insisting the Eagles will get better after more games and camping together. A controversial penalty tucked in by Riyad Mahrez and a 28-yard scorcher by Youcef Atal condemned the Super Eagles to a narrow defeat against Algeria’s Fennecs in an international friendly in Oran on Tuesday night. Nigeria had gone ahead in the 9th minute when France – based Terem Moffi escaped the attentions of Algerian defenders and hooked the ball into the net as a shot by defender Calvin Bassey was deflected in a goalmouth melee. Two –time African champions Algeria came close to getting the equalizer 10 minutes later, when goalkeeper Francis Uzoho upended Riyad Mahrez in the box from a counter-attack, but the hosts had already been caught off-side. Minutes later, the Super Eagles thought they were 2-0 up when Ademola Lookman finished calmly as they counter-attacked, but Algerian referee Mehrez Melki ruled it off-side. Mahrez would level up for the North Africans five minutes from recess, when he coolly slotted past Uzoho after referee Melki adjudged that Frank Onyeka had fouled Youcef Belaili in the Nigerian box. The Super Eagles, who were missing several first-team players including strikers Victor Osimhen and Sadiq Umar, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and defenders William Ekong and Jamilu Collins, created a hatful of chances in a frenetic first half that would have made the game a fait accompli. The hosts wrapped up the game when Youcef Atal, latching on to a free ball from 28 yards after a corner kick was poorly cleared, slammed past a badly-positioned Uzoho. Nigeria will next face Portugal in a friendly match in Lisbon on 17th November.

Anambra FA celebrates Mitchel Obi’s honor

Anambra FA is on cloud nine over the recent honor done veteran sports journalist, Mitchel ‘The Grand Master’ Obi by St Louis African University. Obi was last week conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Sports Media Management, Administration and Marketing by the Republic of Benin based university. Anambra FA in a congratulatory message signed by its acting secretary, Ralph Nweke said the FA is happy with the honor given Obi’s track record in sports journalism. The FA’s message to Obi stated in part…”The conferment of a doctorate degree on you is a testimony of your commitment to the growth of sports and we trust your wealth of experience, your outstanding contributions in academic, social and humanitarian services shall engender a new energy to the society. It is an honor well deserved.”