Akintunde Oyebode: A prophet’s paradise (YNaija Frontpage)

The unerring efficiency with which we repeat mistakes of the past makes Nigeria the perfect location for a latter day Nostradamus to emerge. One of Wole Soyinka’s most entertaining characters has to be Jerobam, the lead character of his plays, The Trials of Brother Jero and Jero’s Metamorphosis. It is easy to see why the... Read More

Bolaji Abdulahi, Niheria, Nostradamus, olympics, sports

October 17, 2012

TICKER: Mighty fall: Lance Armstrong stepping down as Livestrong chairman; Nike terminates contract

Lance Armstrong said Wednesday he is stepping down as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity so the group can focus on its mission instead of its founder’s problems. The move came a week after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released a massive report detailing allegations of widespread doping by Armstrong and his teams when he won... Read More

cycling, doping, lance armstrong, Livestrong, sports

September 22, 2012

Looking forward: Sports minister releases strategy document on repositioning Nigerian sports (Read full document)

by Stanley Azuakola The memories of Nigeria’s woeful performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics is still fresh in the minds of most Nigerians. Usually, what happens is that after the lamentations are over, everyone returns to the status quo. However, Nigeria’s sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi is trying to ensure that this time, things would be... Read More

Bolaji Abdullahi, sports, strategy document

September 6, 2012

“Okonjo-Iweala is not in charge of repositioning Nigerian sports” – Sports Minister debunks media reports

by Stanley Azuakola Nigeria’s minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi has debunked claims by some newspapers that President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to head a committee charged with repositioning Nigerian sports and to “return its lost glory”. A statement released by the minister’s special adviser (media), Julius Ogunro, stated that the... Read More

Bolaji Abdullahi, Committee, Goodluck Jonathan, Media, ngozi okonjo iweala, reports, reposition, sports, super eagles

September 3, 2012

And we did it again! Esther Oyema wins gold, breaks world powerlifting record at the Paralympics

by Akan Ido The Nigerian athletes at the Paralympics Games in London continue to give a good account of themselves with Esther Oyema lifting a 135kg weight in the power-lifting competition setting a new world record in the women’s 48kg category. Oyema, 30, who was also a gold medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in... Read More

Bolaji Abdullahi, Esther Oyema, Joy Onaolapo, London, Paralympic Games, powerlifting, sports, world record, Yakubu Adesokan

August 24, 2012

“I don’t want to make a promise I cannot keep” – Wenger speaks on the transfer window

by Ifreke Inyang Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger, has assured fans of the club, that although he has completed his major transfer moves this summer, there might still be some activity. The window closes on August 31 and Wenger has already sealed deals for Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, but he is not ruling... Read More

arsene wenger, ifreke inyang, sports, transfer window

August 23, 2012

On your marks, get set, ‘Hell Clasico’!

by Ifreke Inyang The La Liga ia barely a week old, but we will be watching another tasty El-Clasico tie between Real Madrid and Barcelona tonight. Every other season, the two Spanish powerhouses, split all the domestic honours between themselves. And this evening, the first leg of the Supercopa will be played at the Camp Nou. Real Madrid coach, Jose... Read More

el clasico, ifreke inyang, la liga, sports

August 21, 2012

Four things we learnt from the EPL opening weekend

by Ifreke Inyang 1. We have new superstars in England: In Eden Hazard, Chelsea now have a truly gifted and dangerous attacking player. The fragile looking Belgian, was the hub of everything bright as the European champions defeated Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the DW Stadium. The former Lille man ran at the opposition’s defence, split... Read More

English Premiership League, ifreke inyang, sports

August 19, 2012

Reuben Abati: Jonathan and the London Olympics

The president’s clear message was that winning glory for the nation through sports is not always about finance and money alone. It is also about higher values, commitment, patriotism and the determination to excel by all persons and at all levels. It is no longer enough to participate in the Olympics. Nations go to the... Read More

2012 olympics, london olumpics, minister of information, minister of sports, nigeria, olympics, sports, transformation

August 17, 2012

Opinion: The EPL is back – Let’s run through the drama to come

by Onome Onodarho The wait is finally over. After three months the most exciting league in the world is back. August 18th is the beginning of a nine month rollercoaster ride with May offering the winner the coveted title of Primer League champions. The EPL has over the past few seasons shifted from its traditional... Read More

English premier league, football, Onome Onodarho, sports

August 16, 2012

Akintunde Oyebode: The less travelled road (YNaija FrontPage)

To be a champion, an individual must possess ability, belief, dedication and perseverance. This is why champions are rare and celebrated with such gusto. In 1968 Anne Burke approached Eunice Kennedy Shriver with an idea to organize an athletic competition for people with... Read More

Akintunde Oyebode`, Special Olympics, sports, Teju Ogunlela

August 16, 2012

“We’re targeting five gold medals in Rio” – Sports Minister

by Akan Ido Forward ever… The minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has revealed that Nigeria will be aiming for five gold medals in the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also said President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered an early preparation for the games coming in 2016. The Nigerian contingent to the just... Read More

2016, Bolaji Abdullahi, Goodluck Jonathan, London, Minister, olympics, Rio de Janeiro, sports

August 14, 2012

Opinion: With nothing we went, with nothing we returned

by Oluwatobi Odetola “Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire” – Arnold H. Glasgow. For seventeen days, Nigerians waited in vain for the country’s name to be registered on the medals table. For those seventeen days, Nigerians waited to reap apples where they sowed stones. The truth is I... Read More

government, nigeria, Oluwatobi Odetola, olympics, sports

August 12, 2012

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu: Michael Phelps vs. Nigeria – Four years later (YNaija FrontPage)

by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (I wrote the article below and it was first published four years ago in ThisDay Newspapers on August 24th, 2008) The games of the 29th Olympiad ending today in Beijing have been more of a painful confirmation that Nigerian sports, is dead! When the Beijing Olympics were about to commence, a lot... Read More

beijing, Grace Daniels, michael phelps, olympics, samson siasia, sports, Umaru Musa Yaradua

August 12, 2012

Opinion: The Olympics are too full of dubious sports, silly ceremonies, and choke artists

by Buzz Bissinger Call me Ishmael, but I don’t care about the synchronized-diving competition the Chinese won yesterday, except trying to figure out how exactly one decides to go into synchronized diving. I am in confusion about the London Games. Perhaps not as confused as the queen during the opiated opening ceremonies in witnessing a... Read More

Buzz Bissinger, London games, olympics, sports

August 9, 2012

Opinion: Olympic legacy for our children

by Bob Morgan I was not good at sport at school – I was no good at football or cricket and athletics was a nightmare because I could not jump over hurdles and I would do almost anything those damn hurdles. I went to a secondary school in North Yorkshire in the 1970s – they... Read More

Bob Morgan, children, olympics, sports

August 9, 2012

Bolaji Abdullahi: Nigeria at London 2012 – The task ahead is grimly clear

by Bolaji Abdullahi FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH MADE BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF SPORTS AND CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION, MALLAM BOLAJI ABDULLAHI ON THURSDAY 9TH AUGUST 2012 AT THE NIGERIA HOUSE, STRATFORD, LONDON. About two weeks ago, we arrived London for the 2012 Olympics with a contingent of 51 sportsmen and women competing in... Read More

Bolaji Abdullahi, nigeria, olympics, sports

August 9, 2012

We.Are.Shocked: “Our Olympics performance is disappointing,” says Sports minister

by Isi Esene In a rare display of self-criticism, the government of Nigeria today in London expressed its disappointment at the performance of the Nigerian contingent to the ongoing London 2012 Olympics. The position of the government was articulated by the minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Adullahi at a press conference tagged ‘Nigeria Olympic Review’... Read More

2012, FG, London, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Minister, olympics, review, sports

August 5, 2012

Nigerians protest bitterly against Olympics and more…in last week’s news with a pinch of salt

by Stanley Azuakola Nigeria Is Growing THE Nigerian government would be very pleased to hear this piece of news. Attempts by various international agencies to convince Nigerians that contrary to their experience, the Nigerian economy is actually growing, has finally worked. After the latest report by Ernst & Young claimed that Nigeria was among... Read More

Ajimobi, Dangote, economy, Legislators, olympics, Oyo, sports

July 30, 2012

WATCH: The Nigerian Olympic Basketball Team talks the game and their dreams

by Adeniyi Abdul Factory78 TV caught up with the Nigerian Basketball team D’Tigers in London after a win against The Dominican Republic which gave the team the final spot at the Basketball section of The Games. The crew met with the team during a training session which took place just before the competition started and... Read More

basketball, D'Tigers, Factory78, nigeria, olympics, sports

July 28, 2012

WATCH: “A Pioneer of Gold” tells the story of the first black man to win an Olympic Gold medal

by Seyi Lawal “Before you can win, before you can compete, you first have to be included,” says the voice of the narrator in the opening scenes of the following video. The video is a special look at the journey of John Baxter Taylor, the first African American to win a Gold Medal in the... Read More

John Baxter Taylor, olympics, sports, Track and field

July 23, 2012

Chude Jideonwo: Remembering the former youth minister, Bolaji Abdullahi

by Chude Jideonwo Nigeria’s young people lost an ally in the highest levels of government when Abdullahi was transferred. Whether with the title of minister or not, we badly need one. I was dealing with the mundane tasks of my day job as a media entrepreneur when I received the call: “Hi Chude, this is... Read More

Bolaji Abdullahi, Minister, nysc, sports, Youth Development

June 4, 2012

£300,000 or nothing: Kanu demands full pay of contract before leaving Pompey

by Seyi Lawal Nigerian football star, Kanu Nwankwo has refused to leave Pompey until the club pays the full amount owed to him for the remainder of his 12-month contract. Blues administrator, Trevor Birch, insists the striker’s agent is demanding about £300,000 for him to leave Fratton Park early, despite the club still fighting to stay alive.... Read More

blues, full pay, kanu, Pompey, sports

April 26, 2012

Chelsea-Barca: The night the underdog conquered the overlord

; Dickson Kalu After that goal, I told my brother-in-law that Ramires was going to play the game of his life and boy, did he play well! He defended and attacked relentlessly. That goal gave Chelsea a lifeline. Many didn’t give them a chance. Critics and some fans of Chelsea were on the same page.... Read More

Barca, chelsea, review, sports

March 28, 2012

“I’m prepared to prostrate” – Sports Minister gets standing ovation at Senate hearing

by Lekan Olanrewaju The Supervising Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi yesterday, at the Senate Committee on Sports volunteered to personally reach out to aggrieved football administrators and placate them. This moved members of the Senate so much that his speech was interrupted with a standing ovation. Speaking at the second day of the Hearing on Sports held... Read More

senate, sports

November 8, 2011

Ex-world champion, Joe Frazier, loses battle for his life

by Rachel Ogbu Joe Frazier, 67, boxing ex-world champion has died. Frazier who held the world title between 1970-73 died yesterday after a brief battle with liver cancer. Fondly known as Smokin’ Joe and as the first man to beat Muhammad Ali in 1971 in the Thrilla in Manila, had been receiving hospice care in... Read More

boxing, Mohammed Ali, sports

June 23, 2011

Introducing Andre Villas-Boas, the new Mourinho

by Ifreke Inyang Portuguese? Check. Moved from FC Porto to Chelsea? Check. Young, ambitious and charismatic? Double check! And no, it’s not the imperious Jose Mourinho. Just yesterday, Chelsea Football Club unveiled Andre Villas-Boas as their new coach. There are very few managers in the professional game that can claim to have had an upward... Read More

abramovic, Boas, chelsea, Mourinho, sports

June 23, 2011

He’s in play! Samson Siasia is cover of the latest Hi Magazine

By Sola Fasasi Coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia, makes it as ‘Cover Man’ for the latest issue of Hi Magazine – speaking about how he’s making waves leading the national team to win after win, after win. See the interview on www.HiMagazine.TV where he discusses everything about being in his shoes: http://himagazine.tv/articles/205/In-the-shoes-of-the-Nigerian-Super-Eagles-coach Also,... Read More

himag, hitv, siasia, sports

Akintunde Oyebode: A prophet’s paradise (YNaija Frontpage)

TICKER: Mighty fall: Lance Armstrong stepping down as Livestrong chairman; Nike terminates contract

Looking forward: Sports minister releases strategy document on repositioning Nigerian sports (Read full document)

“Okonjo-Iweala is not in charge of repositioning Nigerian sports” – Sports Minister debunks media reports

And we did it again! Esther Oyema wins gold, breaks world powerlifting record at the Paralympics

“I don’t want to make a promise I cannot keep” – Wenger speaks on the transfer window

On your marks, get set, ‘Hell Clasico’!

Four things we learnt from the EPL opening weekend

Reuben Abati: Jonathan and the London Olympics

Opinion: The EPL is back – Let’s run through the drama to come

Akintunde Oyebode: The less travelled road (YNaija FrontPage)

“We’re targeting five gold medals in Rio” – Sports Minister

Opinion: With nothing we went, with nothing we returned

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu: Michael Phelps vs. Nigeria – Four years later (YNaija FrontPage)

Opinion: The Olympics are too full of dubious sports, silly ceremonies, and choke artists

Opinion: Olympic legacy for our children

Bolaji Abdullahi: Nigeria at London 2012 – The task ahead is grimly clear

We.Are.Shocked: “Our Olympics performance is disappointing,” says Sports minister

Nigerians protest bitterly against Olympics and more…in last week’s news with a pinch of salt

WATCH: The Nigerian Olympic Basketball Team talks the game and their dreams

WATCH: “A Pioneer of Gold” tells the story of the first black man to win an Olympic Gold medal

Chude Jideonwo: Remembering the former youth minister, Bolaji Abdullahi

£300,000 or nothing: Kanu demands full pay of contract before leaving Pompey

Chelsea-Barca: The night the underdog conquered the overlord

“I’m prepared to prostrate” – Sports Minister gets standing ovation at Senate hearing

Ex-world champion, Joe Frazier, loses battle for his life

Introducing Andre Villas-Boas, the new Mourinho

He’s in play! Samson Siasia is cover of the latest Hi Magazine

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