The President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Mr. Uyi Akpata, has said that one of the goals of his team when fully implemented will help in reducing the number out of school children and create employment opportunities for them.

Akpata made the statement at the on-going 3rd Pricewaterhouse Coopers National Under 17 Cricket Championship at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

“This event is part of the five-pronged strategic imperatives that the NCF is building its development on, which are; promotion of the game at all levels, upgrading infrastructures, building strategic partnerships, training and retraining of staffs and players and ensuring corporate governance,” Akpata said.

The NCF president said all the parts are interdependent and key to ensuring a healthy growth being targeted at ultimately making Nigeria one of the powerhouses of cricket in the short term.

“Our goal is to pull in over 250, 000 kids into the game this year and we have officers in all the 36 states fully equipped to get that going. This Under- 17 finals is a product of all the works these officers have been doing in the past 12 months.

“Recruitments and training at each zone were done, where over 784 players qualified to take part in the regional events across the six geo-political zones to have these ones battling the for the final spots,” he also said.

Akpata said aside cricket being actively played in Nigeria, the country now has six turf wickets, two of which the ongoing championship is being played on, and more are planned for other regions to help harmonize the standard of play in the country.

According to Akpata, the on-going championship will help handlers of the nationak U-19 team to have options of players to be invited when the camp eventually opens later in the year.

The 3rd PwC National Under-17 National Championship for boys and girls will be rounded off on Sunday in Abuja.

Hosts Nigeria will feature 21 fencers, at the 11th Cadet and Junior African Fencing Championship scheduled for between February 23 and February 27 at Festival Hotel, Festac Town, Lagos

Nigeria Fencing Federation President, Adeyinka Samuel disclosed in Lagos that the team which would be competing in individual and team events will be the largest ever for Nigeria at the championship.

The nation’s flag bearers, he added, were mostly drawn from the country while a few others who are based abroad will also vie for titles in épée, sabre and foil events.

“Our fencers have intensified their training in the last two months and we are optimistic they will compete favourably with other countries
“We are looking forward to better our performance at the championship which which serves as a point earning event to the World Cadet and Junior Championship slated for the United Arab Emirates in April,” Samuel stated.

Rachael Olulayo of FEED Sports Nigeria, which is the grassroots platform of Nigerian fencing with the ambition to train a minimum of 10, 000 in each state in Nigeria disclosed that two of the Fund, Educate, Empower and Develop discoveries will be among those that will represent Nigeria and stand the chance to get their first experience in international event for world points.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel who was represented by Phemmy Adetula at the media briefing reaffirmed the Olympic movement’s renewed support for fencing in the country.

Gumel declared that its relationship with the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’, who is an Olympic gold medallist in fencing, would be explored further to help in the development of the sport in Nigeria.

Nine –time champions Nigeria put one leg into the 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals when beating their Ivorian counterparts 2-0 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday.

A brace by US –based forward Ifeoma Onumonu took the Falcons above the visitors in the two-match fixture, the winner of which will proceed to the finals in Morocco, at which Africa’s flagbearers at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup will emerge.

Petite and impressive winger Koko Ange N’Guessan came close to opening the scores after only three minutes when she came face to face with Chiamaka Nnadozie from a flowing move, but the France –based Nigeria number one thwarted with her right leg.

The lanky Onumonu, winning her first cap for Nigeria, thought she had got the first goal 12 minutes into the game when she scooped past goalkeeper Cynthia Djohore after being set up by Rasheedat Ajibade, but Burkinabe referee Jacqueline Nikiema insisted she had blown for an infringement in favour of the Nigerian playmaker.

Nine minutes later, Onumonu, who plays for Gotham FC in New York, was again in the right place to finish in splendid manner after the ball rolled to her from a goalmouth melee.

N’Guessan, Estelle Nahi, Christine Yeble and Amenah Kacou struck some good tunes in the midfield and attack for the Elephants, but Captain Onome Ebi and the impressive Ashleigh Plumptre, also winning her first cap, foiled their onsluaghts.

In the second half, the Ivorians piled even more pressure on the Nigeria rear, making Plumptre to work extra hard at the left side of the rear, while Ebi and Osinachi Ohale kept things in check at the right side.

In the 56^th minute, Onumonu, with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, caught on to a floating ball from Nicole Payne, and cleverly chipped onrushing Djohore for Nigeria’s second goal.

The Super Falcons contingent will fly out of Nigeria on Sunday morning for the reverse leg, scheduled for the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan on Wednesday, 23^rd February. 

Novak Djokovic faces Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti in Dubai next week in a tough first round comeback following the drama surrounding his Australian Open deportation.

Djokvoic is able to play in the tournament as a coronavirus vaccine is not a requirement to enter the United Arab Emirates.

The world number one makes his return to the court on Monday after the coronavirus vaccine row that kept him from defending his Australian Open title.

Djokovic and wild card Musetti have history, with the 19-year-old taking the first two sets off the Serb when they met in last year’s French Open.

Musetti eventually retired due to injury with Djokovic leading the last 16 clash 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0.

Djokovic went on to seal the title at Roland Garros for his 19th Grand Slam, with his 20th secured at Wimbledon the following month.

The 34-year-old has kept a low profile since his deportation from Australia last month over his refusal to get jabbed.

“I am excited to go back and play on Monday,” he told media in Dubai on Thursday.

“I miss tennis after all that has happened.”

Spanish rival Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open to become the first man to win 21 major titles, one ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Djokovic, who last hit a ball in anger in the Davis Cup in Madrid in December, is a five-time winner in Dubai.

The event also features Britain’s Andy Murray, who has three major titles to his name and who will start against a qualifier.

Second seed Andrey Rublev has a first round date with Britain’s Dan Evans, while Saturday’s draw pitted last year’s Dubai winner Aslan Karatsev against American Mackenzie McDonald.