President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has praised the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for his “outstanding contributions” to the growth of grassroots football in Nigeria. The NFF boss urged other Nigerian leaders to emulate the Bayelsa governor in developing football and other sports in general. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement on Monday, quoted Gusau as stating this when he led a delegation of the federation on a courtesy visit shortly after witnessing the finals of the Bayelsa Governor’s Prosperity Cup competition held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, on Sunday. He said it was first of its kind to have 214 teams and more than 5,000 players participate in one football tournament, adding that the NFF had no choice but to grace the grand finale.

While assuring the state government of the federation’s partnership in subsequent editions, Gusau described sports as a business venture in which huge investments must not go in vain. The NFF president alongside chairman of the Nigerian National League (NNL), Mr. George Aluo, presented an award to Governor Diri for promoting grassroots football in the state. He said: “We believe there was need to come and thank you for what you have been doing for football, especially at the grassroots level. That was why we decided to celebrate with you in this important finals. “It is the first of its kind in the country and we want to use this opportunity to call on other governors to see how they can key into this kind of programme. With 214 football teams in this tournament, you know it is no mean feat. “The only thing we can do to support you is to be part of this. It is to ensure that the young stars discovered, we will use our good offices to showcase them to the world. “Football is no more a leisure. It is about business, and we must see how to support you in that direction.“

Responding, Governor Diri thanked the NFF President and his delegation for coming to give credence to the Prosperity Cup, which, according to him, was indication of a new partnership in football development. The governor commended the local organizing committee for delivering an excellent tournament. He said his administration would build on the achievements of the competition to create 10 Grassroots Talent Identification and Development Centres across the state. He restated his call on the corporate community to key into the initiative, adding that they could have the centres named after them and become indelibly linked to the prosperity and evolution of the talented youths. Crusaders Feeders of Peretorugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area defeated De Grace FC of Yenagoa 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at full time. The winners got the N5m star prize and a trophy while the runners up went home with N2.5 million and a trophy. Agbere Community of Sagbama grabbed the bronze, like it did last year, as well as a cash prize of N1.5m and a trophy.

Memorable World Aquatics Championships ends in Fukuoka with 10 world records

Marking the 20th edition since the inaugural event was held 50 years ago, 2,361 athletes from a record-tying 191 countries and the World Aquatics Refugee Team competed in front of 135,000 spectators over the course of the championships. The event again showed its global appeal as 320 hours of live video coverage and 17 hours of highlights programmes were distributed worldwide “Fukuoka has been an exceptional home for our athletes and our aquatics family. I will remember this city for its beauty. I will remember it for the wonderful friendly welcome that we have all received from every single person that we have met. But above all, I will remember Fukuoka for the incredible performances of our athletes,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. “

Fukuoka is very special. Arigatou Japan, Arigatou Fukuoka.” Swimmers set a stunning 10 World Records in Fukuoka, including France’s Leon Marchand in the men’s 400m Individual Medley as he surpassed the record Michael Phelps owned for 5110 days – the longest-held World Record in swimming history. Mollie O’Callaghan added five world titles and four World Records – one individual in the women’s 200m Freestyle and three in the relays with her dominant Australian Dolphin teammates USA’s Katie Ledecky further cemented herself as the greatest freestyle swimmer in history by winning her 15th and 16th individual world titles, surpassing Phelps for the most career individual golds at the world championships. In the all-time individual world medal table, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom won her 20th and 21st medals to pass the 20 medals Phelps earned in his legendary career.

The depth and performance have never been higher in swimming as 38 Continental Records, 14 Championship Records and 4 World Junior Records were also set in Fukuoka. In artistic swimming, a stunning week of competition saw Japan score the most points throughout the week to receive the overall winner award. Yukiko Inui of Japan repeated her double gold performance from last year in Hungary by winning both the women’s solo free and technical events. “I am very happy that many people have come to support swimming today – even from my hometown of Shiga Prefecture,” Inui said. “I’m glad that I was able to deliver bright news to everyone who has been supporting me. In diving, China continued its dominance as the country’s divers won gold in nearly all diving events. It took until the last round in the last diving event in Fukuoka, but Cassiel Rousseau – an ex-gymnast from Brisbane, Australia – broke China’s six-year streak of winning every global diving championship event they’ve contested in the men’s 10m Platform.

Athletes from 50 nations performed over 3,400 dives during the eight-day competition in a field that included nine Olympic medallists from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Tension was in the lofty air of high diving as Romania’s Constantin Popovici held onto his day one lead to the win from the men’s 27m tower. Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland again showed she’s still the class of women’s high diving, winning her third consecutive world title from the 20m tower Germany asserted their dominance in open water swimming as Florian Wellbrock and Leonie Beck each won the men’s and women’s 5km and 10km events at Fukuoka’s Seaside Momochi Park. While Germany came in winning all four individual open water titles here, it was Olympic and World champion Gregorio Paltrinieri anchoring Italy to gold in the Mixed 4x1500m Relay that concluded the open water events in Fukuoka. Women’s water polo saw the Netherlands return to the top step of the podium for the first time in 32 years as the Dutch scored a 17-16 penalty shootout win over Spain Regulation time wasn’t enough in the men’s water polo tournament, either, as Hungary overcame Greece in a 14-13 sudden-death penalty shootout.

For Hungary, the 2023 title is their fourth overall title and their first since Barcelona hosted the World Aquatics Championships in 2013. As part of World Aquatics’ ongoing commitment to the global development of aquatic sports, athlete programmes were held alongside the competitions in Fukuoka. These included athlete workshops on training, nutrition and mental health. Additional athlete-focused content included cultural exchanges such as sumo wrestlers visiting the athletes, taking them through their flexibility and training routines, and then watching the competitions.

Eighty-seven World Aquatics Scholarship holders competed in Fukuoka and for the third time in history the event also saw the participation of a World Aquatics Refugee Team comprised of Alaa Masoo and Eyad Masoud. The World Aquatics General Congress was held during the second half of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka and saw the election of Husain Al Musallam as President and Dale Neuburger as Treasurer.

FIFA Women’s World Cup: Nigerians in South Africa hail Super Falcons

As Nigerians celebrate the Super Falcons’ qualification to the Round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Nigerian community in South Africa has commended the team, saying…”We are proud of their good outing so far.”Playing in Group B, the Super Falcons drew 0-0 with Olympic Champions, Canada, defeated cohost, Australia 3-2 and drew 0-0 with the Republic of Ireland on Monday in their last group match. The Super Falcons finished second in the group with 5 points to book a place in the round of 16. “On behalf of the Nigerian community in South Africa, we congratulate the Super Falcons for achieving this feat.

We commend the team for their fighting spirit, dedication and desire to achieve good results,” Mrs Doris Ikeri-Solarin, Acting President of Nigerian Union, South Africa said in a statement. Solarin said in Pretoria on Monday that Nigerians in South Africa were proud of the girls for their fine outings in the World Cup.“We are happy that you have done Nigeria and indeed, Africa proud in the World Cup. We urge you to remain focused and committed in your remaining games,” she said.Solarin said Nigerians in South Africa would join those at home to continue praying for the success of the Super Falcons in the World Cup. “I We are proud of you. Please, keep our flag flying high. With hard work and dedication, we are sure of more victories. Congratulations once again,” she said.