President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Sani Ndanusa has revealed the committee’s action plan for 2012. “It has been 15 months since the present Nigeria Olympic Committee was elected. As we move into 2012, a new year and an Olympic one, it is appropriate that we review our progress and look to the challenges ahead.

The unveiling of the Olympic Countdown Clock on Victoria Island, Lagos celebrates our 60 years of participating at the Olympic Games and showcases our cultural heritage to the outside world. 2011 was the year we established the Nigerian Court of Arbitration in Sports (NCAS). The Court of Arbitration in Nigeria will end the washing of Nigeria’s dirty linen outside our shores. The troubles in sports administration over the last few years have been well documented. The NCAS will receive petitions from all sports in Nigeria and represents a novel idea that should bring a level of dignity and reason once again to the Nigerian sporting scene. It is important that we comply with all international rules and setting up the NCAS goes a long way towards ensuring this is the case.”

He said the NOC will make sure athletes going to the Olympics are exposed to the best preparations. “As administrators it is our duty to make sure that our sports men and women have the best possible preparation for all their sporting endeavours, but we must remember that this is no guarantee of success. We are aiming high for London 2012 and I can assure Nigerians that this will be the best ever prepared contingent to an Olympic Games. Part of that preparation has been the establishment of a series of partnerships. For example, the Taekwondo team is in South Korea training ahead of the Olympic qualifiers in January. We have been working assiduously with the Korean Embassy in Nigeria to develop the sport of Taekwondo not only in Nigeria but in the West African sub-region. We secured nine London 2012 Olympics scholarships for deserving Nigerian athletes. The scholarships are courtesy of Athletes for Olympic Solidarity and securing them demonstrates our hard work and commitment to ensuring that our athletes get the best, which is what they deserve.”

Ndanusa said when Team Nigeria gets to London they will be based in Surrey for preparations ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “The facilities at the University of Surrey are truly world class and second to none, a fact emphasised by the nations who also looked to Surrey for their training.”
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Nigeria league champion Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt yesterday recorded it first win in the 26th FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Men. It recorded a 111-42 points win over Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea to finish in the eleventh position.

Royal Hoopers paid for coming late to the championship by finishing at the bottom in group-B and failed to record any win. Against the Equatorial Guineans, they proved the better side from the blast of the referees’ whistle winning in all four quarters by 24-10, 29-03, 28-16 and 30-13 points. The Nigerian side out-played their opponent who won only a match in the championship through a walk-over the Nigerian side last Wednesday. Royal Hoopers had a total of 40 rebounds to Kings 17.

The Hoopers coached by former Nigeria international Ogoh Odaudu had a cumulative of 14 assists to their opponents 5 gave and 15 steals to the Kings 7.

Hoopers’ point guard, Moses Daudu led the floor with 25 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Farouk Oyalade had a double of 16 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, Musa Usman added 17 points with the duo of Mattew Onmonya and Kingsley Aguara contributing 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 12 points, 4 rebounds for their side’s finish.

Meanwhile, Union Bank which lost to Etoile Sportive du Sahel by 69-113 in the quarter-final on Monday will take on losers between CRD Libolo of Angola and ASB Mazembe of DR Congo for position 7and 8 today after losing classification game 64-78 points to Chabab Rif ALHoceima of Morocco yesterday. ??

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has slated the men’s Olympic qualifying tournament for Venezuela.

The decision was taken at their second and final meeting of 2011 in Madrid, Spain. The Nigerian senior team grabbed the playoffs spot earlier this year at the Nations Cup in Madagascar. Joining Nigeria and the hosts in the tournament are Angola, Dominican Republic, F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Greece, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Russia. The 2012 edition will take place 2-8 July. The 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three teams. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals. The two winning semi-finalists will qualify for London alongside the winner of the third-place playoff. Nigeria currently stands 21st in the FIBA rankings and missed the qualification spot available at the African Championships in August. She is, however, aiming to use the playoff to consolidate for a first Olympic Games men’s showing.

Derrick Obasohan Nigeria’s leading point scorer at the African Championships believes the country has a chance. “I definitely will be playing for Nigeria in the Olympic qualifying. Although I was born in the US, my parents, grandparents and brothers were born in Nigeria.

“To me, it means a lot to represent Nigeria. I have been talking to a lot of players who want to play for the national team. “All of them show great passion to represent Nigeria. For many of us, it means a lot to play for Nigeria.”

Nigeria has a strong squad with players like Mike Efevberha, Lokomotiv Kuban guard Ben Uzoh and Spartak Primorye’s Deji Akindele.

Nigeria women club basketball champions, First Deepwater will today face FIBA Africa defending champions, Interclube of Angola in the 17th edition of the Champions Club for women. This is after the Nigerian team got off to a fine start in the final round of the tourney.

The Oil & Gas ladies who handed down a 64-46 points’ defeat to GD Maculosso of Angola in the championship opening game on Sunday at the sports hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, will bank on its strong defensive play to rattle the defending champions.

Head coach of the Lagos based team Lateef Erinfolami said his team will not be complacent against any team as it will treat all opponents with respect. He assured that the Nigerian league champion will not lose focus in setting its eyes on the title.
“We are battle ready for any opposition and the players have promised to give their all in all the games and do Nigeria proud” declared the club tactician.

First Deepwater was spearheaded in scoring by Chinyere Ibekwe who recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Nigeria league reigning Queen of the court, Nkechi Akashili added 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists while point guard Upe Atosu contributed 10 points in the victory over Maculosso.

Nigeria second representative in the championship and two-time champion of the champions club, First Bank which walked-over INJS of Cameroon on Day-1 will file out against GD Maculosso of Angola while Kenya Ports Authority will engage INJS. The six teams in the biggest women club competition will take turn to engage each other in a round-robin basis while the top four teams move to the knockout stage.

After spending one season in the lower division, Nigeria Customs Service basketball club is back into the top flight DStv Premier Basketball League. They bounced back into the league after winning the national division-one championship last weekend in Abuja.
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The border boys who were among the three teams that jostled for a place in the Premier League rounded off stiff challenge from Police Bombers of Lagos and Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan before stopping the foray of Nigeria Civil Defence Corp otherwise known as Defenders basketball club of Abuja in the final on Saturday.
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Customs, who were coached in the Division-One championship by its assistant coach Mohammed ‘Jagu’ Abbah first handed a 68-57 points defeat of Police Bombers and followed up with a 84-57 points victory over Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan and completed its ambition of returning to the Premier League with a 77-59 points win over the Defenders of Abuja who also got a slot in the Premier League.
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Customs who will campaign in the Atlantic conference replaces demoted Delta Force of Asaba while Defenders of Abuja will take the place of relegated Plateau Peaks of Jos in the Savannah conference of the 2011/2012 season.
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Coach Abbah said the entire management of the NCS was happy with the team’s return to the top league. Customs now increase the number of Lagos-based Atlantic conference teams to seven, others in the conference include Union Bank, Comets, Dodan Warriors, Police Baton, Islanders and Chariots while league champion Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt remains the only side in the conference that is based outside Lagos.
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In the Savannah conference, Defenders join Kano Pillars, Immigration, Kada Stars, Bauchi Nets, Yelwa Hawks, Tapgun Rockets and Niger Potters.
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Nigeria relied heavily on defense to wade-off the stiff challenge pose by Cameroon in a group-B game on Sunday at the 22nd Afrobasket for Women.
Nigeria, who picked the second and third quarters by 20-10 and 13-11 points after tying the first quarter with her FIBA Africa Zone-4 strong side at 17 points apiece and lost the last quarter by 18-22 points showed better prowess on the board with 36 rebounds with the Lioness grabbing 34 rebounds, Nigeria was also slightly better on the offense with 12 assists to its opponent 7 for a final score-line of 68-60 points.
Head Coach of the Nigerian team, Ayo Bakare gave kudos to his Cameroonian counterpart for a job well-done.
Coach Bakare praised Coach Fabio Fossati of Cameroon for building a stronger and effective Cameroon team while applauding the performance of his players for fighting from the jump-ball to the buzzer.
“I must commend the Cameroon side for giving us a very good fight it shows the man at the helm of its technical affair (Coach Fossati) has really put in a great effort to build such a solid team because in my close to 20 years of coaching the Nigeria women national team I have never seen a Cameroon side that is so solid with great technical depth.
His Cameroonian counterpart, Coach Fossati congratulated the Nigeria team for the big win.
“I must commend the Nigerian team who threw everything back at us as we strive to make a mark by breaking the jinx of being the first Cameroon side to beat Nigeria in a long while.
“We try everything possible to break the Nigeria defense and stop their offense but their bench rose to the challenge to counter our plans, we have learnt great lessons from this loss and we hope to correct them in our next game against Angola.”
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Valerenga of Norway midfield star, Fengor Ogude tells MTNFootball.com there will be no hiding place for Guinea on October 8 as Nigeria’s Super Eagles aim to qualify for next year’s Nations Cup in fine style.

What fired the Super Eagles to win the match away in Madagascar despite the much reported bad pitch of the host team?

We had no option than to beat Madagascar on their bad pitch since we needed the victory and the three points to be in contention for the ticket to the Africa Nations Cup in our group.
I will also commend the Nigeria Football Federation for flying us to Madagascar in time as this gave us a very good opportunity to train on the poor pitch and we were able to get used to it before match day.
We were very proud and happy to beat the home team 2-0 and were in good mood on our way to Bangladesh for the Argentina friendly.

Did you get enough support in Madagascar?

Yes. The Nigerian Supporters Club was great. They actually motivated. One good thing they did was that when the goals were not coming that was the time their support was more visible.
They danced, beat their drums and blew their trumpets so loud to motivate us. This actually lifted our spirits and we thought we were playing in Nigeria and thank God we rose to the occasion.

Then should Nigerians be rest assured that the Super Eagles will beat Guinea in Abuja to pick the 2012 Africa Nations Cup?

After our 2-0 victory in Madagascar, we discussed the last match against Guinea in Abuja and we all resolved that there would be no hiding place for Guinea in Abuja come October 8.
Everybody appreciates the fact that we need the three points at stake in Abuja to be at the Nations Cup. We are playing at home and we have the advantage of playing before our fans who will support us all the way.
So, I believe with such solid support we will do our best to beat Guinea well and be at the Nations Cup next January.
I promise Nigerians that we will score more than one goal to make everybody happy. But Nigerians have to pray for us to achieve an outstanding result against Guinea.

What is the relationship between coach Samson Siasia and the players in the team?

If given the chance and the needed support and encouragement from the players, the NFF and Nigerians, Samson Siasia will build a super team for Nigeria.
Siasia and the other members of the technical crew actually know what they want and are gradually building such a team. They know how to identify good players and they encourage every player in the team to succeed.
Their watch words are discipline and dedication which I believe is gradually working for them.

We know Fengor Ogude to be a defensive midfield player. But what other positions can you play?

The way I conditioned myself is that whatever position my coach ask me to play I am always ready to play and give my best as I’m a team player. I can also fit in well in the central defence.
In my club in Norway, sometimes my coach plays me in the central defence where, according to him, I have always proved myself. An example was our match against Liverpool, where I played in the central defence in a 3-3 draw.
I can play at the right back too. But I have been playing in the midfield and central defence very often.

How do you see the competition for first-team places in the Eagles?

Competition is stiff in camp. Everybody is aware of the fact that if you play good in training, you are sure of a starting place in the team. So the camp is always lively now and the competition among us is great. Whenever you get the chance the best thing for you is to utilise it well. The slogan in the team is – play well, support each other and achieve victory.

The coaches and even the senior players in the team are not treating we the younger ones like junior players. They encourage us and make us feel we are one and there is no senior player among us. We are a united front and we actually translate this on the field of play.? So, everybody in camp is happy.
The coaches and the skipper of the team Joseph Yobo and other seniors in the team talk to us about how to succeed as a Super Eagles player on and off the field. This always inspires us to put in our all whenever we come in even as substitutes in matches.
We believe playing as substitutes in matches doesn’t matter, and that the end result which is victory, is the most important thing to us in the team.

Then you must have been disappointed that the Eagles lost 3-1 to Argentina in Bangladesh despite beating same team in the first friendly in Abuja in June.
We were not disappointed at all if you put into consideration what we passed through before getting to the venue of the match and the stress of playing an important qualifying match and moving straight same day on a long journey (of 15 hours flight) to play another important and tough friendly against one of the best teams in the world.
Unfortunately, we got to Bangladesh on Monday and we played against Argentina the following day. We were disappointed to lose but we still thank God that we showed we are a quality team. If we get the chance to play them another time and without any burden of playing a qualifying match, then they would surely meet a stiffer opposition.

You came on in the second half to mark out the best player in the world Lionel Messi?
I believe I followed his instructions which showed in the match. After the match, he came up to me again and told me I did a great job. I am happy that I did what he asked me to do because the best thing to do for your coach is to follow his instructions to the letter.??

How did your coach at Valerenga rate you after the Liverpool match?
My club coach is aware I can also play in the central defence. So he deployed me to mark the top striker and after the match he came back and praised me for doing well in the match. He, however, advise me to continue to work very hard so that I could be the player he wants me to be. So I am very happy doing well for both club and country.

Have you got any offers in Europe this season?

For now all I know is that I am a Valerenga player. But I pray that something positive comes my way soon and when that happens everybody will know. I will make sure I continue to do my best.?
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Nigeria’s senior national basketball team, D’Tigers has qualified for the playoffs for the qualification of the 2012 summer Olympics to be held in London. Nigeria will compete against 11 other countries in the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament where three places are up for grabs. To qualify for the playoffs, Nigeria defeated 2009 runner-up, Cote D’Ivoire by 77-67 points to finish third yesterday.

The Nigerian side fell to African basketball superpower, Angola on Saturday in one of the semi final matches and had to put the defeat behind them to challenge for the playoffs slot reserved for the 2nd and 3rd team. Nigeria won 20-17 and 20-10 points in the first and second quarters to take a 13 points lead going into the break.

Nigeria was slowed down in the third quarter by the Ivoriens who bounced back to pick the quarter by 18-23. But it was the Coach Ayo Bakare tutored Nigerian side that carried the day after a 19-17 points win in the fourth quarter to end the 2011 Afrobasket championship for men with a bronze medal. The bronze is a slight improvement for Nigeria whose best finish in 2009 was a 5th placement. The venue for the Pre-Olympic Games ticket is yet to be named.

Nigeria Derrick Obasohan led the D’Tigers’ quest with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Michael Umeh had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists while the duo of Ikechukwu Ofoegbu and Ejike Ugboaja added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 11 points, 10 rebounds respectively.

Nigeria’s senior basketball team, D’Tigers have booked a place in the semi finals of the ongoing Africa basketball championship for men taking place in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Yesterday, in the quarter final clash decided between Nigeria and men from the Central African Republic, the Nigerian men emerged victorious 94-86 points. The team which has never won the championship but reached the finals three times in 1997, 1999 and 2003 will play tomorrow for a place in the last two.

The so far unbeaten team is gunning for double honours in the competition. First, the Nigerian team is eyeing breaking the jinx of winning the coveted trophy for the first time as well as grabbing the sole ticket for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Ayo Bakari tutored boys won the first quarter 28-19 points, second 20-18, third 25-20 before losing the fourth 21-29. Derrick Obasohan, contributed 24 points, Ime Udoka 20 points, Michael Umeh 19, Ejike Ugboaja 10 points, Abubakar Usman 9 points and Olumide Oyedeji 4 points.
James Mays of Central African Republic got 21 points for his team while Max Kouguere, Michael Mokongo, Maxine Zianveni and Regis Koundjia contributed 12, 11, 12 and 12 points respectively.

Nigeria head coach, Ayo Bakare praised his players’ fighting spirit and promised that the Nigerian side will approach the semi-final game with utmost seriousness. He gave kudos to the Central African side for giving the Nigeria side a good fight, adding that the 26th edition of the championship was indeed tough as most African countries have raised their games.
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Nigeria, so far unbeaten in the African Basketball championship for men going on in Antananarivo, Madagascar, will today hope to stretch their clean slate when they confront Chad. After impressing in all their group matches ending up as leaders of Group-A, the Ayo Bakari tutored D’Tigers will play the Chadians today in an Eight Round Final match.

Nigeria, despite its array of basketball talents with a huge potential based abroad in top NBA and European clubs have never won this particular trophy. The ultimate quest for this tournament is the London 2012 Olympics slot reserved for the team that wins the gold at the end of the championship. Should Nigeria grab the ultimate prize-gold, she would have comfortably booked a place at next year’s Olympics. And will only have an opportunity if she ends up as the 2nd or 3rd team where the silver and bronze medalists will play in a play-off to comprise 12 teams.

Angola, which was surprisingly shocked last week by Senegal 85-78 points remain the powerhouse of African basketball with 10 of the 11 titles. They still remain one of the huddles for Nigeria to cross in this tournament.
Others are Cameroon who has also maintained a clean sheet. It is so far so good for Nigeria and Cameroon as unbeaten teams who have clinched first places in their respective groups.

The Nigeria national basketball team, D’Tigers has commenced their quest for a place at next year’s summer Olympics to be held in London. On Wednesday, the team started on a bright note by defeating first opponents Mali, 59-84 points. The experience of NBA star, Ime Udoka came to fore with his 10 points and four rebounds in the game. 16 teams have been split into four groups where the gold winner will automatically qualify for the Olympics next year. The teams that emerge 2nd and 3rd will, however, book places in a 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament where three places will be up for grabs.

In this edition of the FIBA Africa Nations Cup for men in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Nigeria hopes to break the jinx and win the championship for the first time. Nigeria has never won the men version of the basketball event.

Nigeria will, however, have to dominate the competition including beating Africa super power, Angola to grab the gold and an automatic place for the Olympics.

If Nigeria wants to grab the sole slot, they must devise a way on how to overcome the Angolans, reputed to be Africa’s most successful basketball nation in recent times. Angola has won 10 of the past 11 editions of the Championship. Unbeaten in their last 35 Afrobasket games, they have only lost three in their last 72. Lost only one in 1997 to Senegal and failed to win the gold.

Also eyeing to beat Angola to the gold apart from Nigeria are Tunisia and Ivory Coast, both of which participated at last year’s FIBA World Championship. Senegal, regular contenders in the 1990s also have their eyes on the gold. Cameroon is also not going to be a push over.

Ivory Coast which captured a silver medal two years ago at the Afrobasket and booked a place at the 2010 FIBA World Championship will remain one of Nigeria’s formidable foes on the road to the top. Their opening day victory over South Africa like Nigeria over Mali is a statement.

Guy Edi led the Ivoirians with 19 points and four assists when they destroyed the South Africans, 105-53, in Madagascar. Mamade Diane, who had 17 points for Ivory Coast said: “All we want is to be top in our group and keep moving all the way,” Diane said told FIBA.com.

Reaching the Olympics is something that Diane said him and his teammates have been dreaming about all along.
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Nigeria has stepped up its preparation ahead the 26th edition of the FIBA Africa Basketball Championship for Men in Madagascar this year. The Nigerian team Monday night defeated Netherlands 84-66 points in London in a 3-Nation invitational tournament.

The Nigeria senior national team known as D’Tigers and coached by John Lucas won the first three quarters by 21-10, 21-14, 21-19 but lost the fourth quarter 21-23 points. They are set for a last day clash against host England.

Three Nigeria players were impressive during the encounter scoring double digits each. Derrick Obasohan led the floor with 30 points, Ime Udoka contributed 18 points while Olumide Oyedeji added 13 points to give Nigeria a deserved victory.

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijjani Umar who is in AS Cobhan, London venue of the Invitational said the team is ready to do the nation proud at the Basketball version of the African Cup of Nations which also doubles as the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifier.

Umar said the players who resumed their final phase camping exercise last month in Orlando, United States of America are in high spirit and have bonded properly. The team is expected to arrive Lagos, Nigeria tomorrow before departing for Antananarivo, Madagascar on Sunday morning. Nigeria’s first round opponents include host

Madagascar, Mali and Mozambique in group-A.
Nigeria will battle Mali on August 17. And take on Mozambique on August 19 before rounding off its first round game against host Madagascar on August 21 in Antananarivo.
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