…laments NBBF neglect, owed allowances

D’Tigress players have threatened to boycott the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers if the Nigeria Basketball Federation continues to treat them poorly.

In a video posted on the team’s social media page on Tuesday, the players accused Caretaker Chairman of  the NBBF, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, of neglecting the team during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2021 Afrobasket – which they won.

The team also accused the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the NBBF of withholding their bonuses and allowances, totalling $197,118, which included the $100,000 donated to them just before the Olympics.

Galatasaray center, Victoria Macaulay, who spoke first, said the NBBF had refused to host the team after winning the Afrobasket in 2019 and 2021.

“We want to say thank you to the Nigerian embassy in Cameroon for celebrating us, we appreciate you more than you know. Other than that, we do not feel appreciated or celebrated after achieving this historical feat.

“In 2017, we won the Afrobasket championship and three days later, we were presented to the father of the nation, his Excellency, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and his entire cabinet by the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, as customary with a handshake. We have defended our championship and brought back the trophy in 2019 and in 2021 which is historical, but still, no invitation has been extended to the team to visit Aso Rock or a presidential handshake,” Macaulay said.

D’Tigress point guard Promise Amukamara added, “The president of the NBBF said the federation does not owe any player, official or volunteers, this is far from the truth. The last time we checked, our allowances, stipends, bonuses, training grants and donations made by banks for players, officials and volunteers have not been paid.”

Small forward Ify Ibekwe gave a breakdown of the money owed the team.

“We are owed $73,118 from the NBBF, $24,000 from the ministry of sports for the Tokyo grants and $100,000 from donations from three banks in Nigeria,” Ibekwe said in the video.

One of the team’s point guard Ezinne Kalu alleged that Ahamdu-Kida did not visit the team in camp or during competitions.

“Ever since our general manager and team manager resigned, we feel like we have been marginalised. The federation leadership like the former president never shows up for camps or competitions to boost our morale. When we have significant concerns and issues that need to be addressed, when he does show up, he gives vague answers as if our concerns aren’t important to him, but when we win, they magically show up for photo-ups and celebrations for political gains.

“Musa Ahmadu-Kida was not in Cameroon, but somehow, he showed up in Abuja to take pictures and lift the trophy again, for political gain,” she said.

Speaking on their experiences at the Olympics, center Oderah Chidom and power forward Atonye Nyingifa said the squad crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics in the group stage due distractions and lack of attention from officials.

Chidom said, “The Tokyo 2020 Olympics was full of a bunch of distractions for all of us, we did not know the final roster until a day before the flight, so our first team practice was in Tokyo days before the first game.”

Nyingifa also added, “There are a lot of things that could have been handled differently to increase our chances of success, starting with our travels most especially our flight, our team gear uniform, making sure they are of standard, two practices a day, not being able to access medical staff at some points during the Olympics as well as gift exchange between teams.”

Sarah Ogoke wondered why they never visited Nigeria before and after competitions.

“Why hasn’t the team gone to Nigeria since 2019? We are wondering the same thing. As players, we want to go back to Nigeria, we don’t understand why we have not been to the country for the past two years for camp or for any celebration.

“It is customary that the team goes home before major competitions so that we can have morale. It is also important so that we can inspire the next generation to follow their dreams.

“Every player that has been a D’Tigress since 2017 has their own thoughts and feelings over the dissolved NBBF board and coaching staff.

“Over the course of the time, it is evident that our voices have not been heard, our requests for little things have been ignored on top of not being celebrated or recognised as much as a three-time back-to-back-to-back Afrobasket champion deserves,” Ogoke said.

Team captain Adaora Elonu, who read the team’s demands, said if they were not met, none of the players would present themselves for international duties.

“Our demands: All money owed to players and officials, adequate travels to competitions, and a team manager for all teams. If these demands are not met with all due respect to the presidency of the NBBF and the ministry, all D’Tigress players will not be reporting to the FIFA  World Cup tournament in 2022 in February. We are one united voice,” Elonu said.

Other players, Aimy Okonkwo, Nicole Enaboli, Palias Kunaiyi-Akpannah, Evelyn Akhator , Elizabeth Williams , Ugo Nwaige, Cecelia Okoye, Uju Ugoka, Helen Ogunjimi, Dominique Wilson also gave their support to the team’s stand by echoing, “I stand.”

Senegal was the first team to advance to the final World Cup playoffs in Africa after Famara Diedhiou’s hat trick secured a 3-1 win over Namibia on Tuesday.

 Morocco followed about six hours later by beating Guinea 4-1 in what was a third game in seven days for both. Ayoub el-Kaabi netted the opener for Morocco for his fourth goal in three games.

 Sadio Mane provided the crosses for Diedhiou’s first and third goals at Orlando Stadium in South Africa and Senegal’s fourth win from four games ensured top spot in Group H with two games still to play.

 It earned Senegal a place in the decisive playoffs in March, which will decide Africa’s five teams at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of next year.

A short distance away in Johannesburg, South Africa beat Ethiopia 1-0 to give returning fans some cheer and keep Bafana Bafana ahead of Ghana in the race to progress from Group G.

Only the 10 group winners will make the playoffs. South Africa allowed 2,000 supporters to attend the game at FNB Stadium — though that looked like barely a handful in the 94,000-seater.

It was the first time spectators have been allowed at any major sports event in the country since the start of the pandemic. South Africa won thanks to Getane Kebedeh’s early own goal, as he sliced an attempted clearance into his own net.

Ghana is just a point behind South Africa after a second win over Zimbabwe in the space of four days. Thomas Partey’s 31st-minute free kick flew through the hands of goalkeeper Talbert Shumba, who then did use his hands to cover his face. Ghana won 1-0. That gave new coach Milovan Rajevac a second straight win to start his second spell in charge of Ghana. Rajevac was coach when Ghana made the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup, the last African team to go that far.

 The group is now between South Africa and Ghana — with Ethiopia and Zimbabwe out of contention — and they’ll meet in the final round of games next month. Morocco matched Senegal by going through with two games to spare in Group I.

The Moroccans and Guineans had to play one extra game this international window to make up for their fixture that was postponed last month because of the coup in Guinea. El-Kaabi showed no signs of fatigue to keep his hot streak in front of goal going.

Also on track for the playoffs, although not quite there, is African champion Algeria, which beat Niger 4-0 on Tuesday having defeated the same team 6-1 last week.

Algeria got an early wake-up call when Niger hit the post in the 10th minute. Riyad Mahrez put Algeria ahead by sweeping in a cross from Baghdad Bounedjah 10 minutes later and Mahrez returned the favor to set up Bounedjah for the fourth. In between, Aissa Mandi and Ismael Bennacer were also on target and Algeria put the game to bed with four goals in the space of 34 minutes — two before halftime and two straight after.

 Algeria has scored 19 goals in its four games but is level at the top of Group A with Burkina Faso. The teams each have three wins and drew 1-1 when they met last month, and will play what’s likely to be the group decider in Algeria next month.

If Algeria fails to go through it will be a major surprise. Tunisia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali and Egypt all top their groups and are on course to progress. Tanzania, which has never been to the World Cup, narrowly leads Group J on goals scored ahead of Benin, which also has never been to soccer’s showpiece.

Four second-half goals ensured Germany got revenge and became the first country after Qatar to book their slot for the 2022 World Cup.

Germany became the first country to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Monday with Timo Werner scoring twice in a 4-0 win away to North Macedonia.

The fifth victory in five matches under new coach Hansi Flick, matching the record of predecessor Joachim Loew, has given Germany an unassailable lead at the top of Group J.

But that was also due to Armenia losing 1-0 to Romania elsewhere.

Germany dominated throughout against the side who inflicted only a third-ever World Cup qualifying defeat against them at home in March.

But they needed until the second half to make the breakthrough.

Kai Havertz tapped into an empty net to cap a fine counter-attack in the 50th minute to break the North Macedonian resistance.

The lively Werner then smashed a quick-fire brace before teenager Jamal Musiala completed the rout with his first senior international goal.

Germany have 21 points from eight games before concluding the campaign in November at home to Liechtenstein and away to Armenia, who are now fourth on 12 points.

Romania, on 13, are best-placed to secure second and the play-off spot but North Macedonia, above Armenia on goal difference, are also in contention.

“We have now qualified, that is very, very important first of all for us and it gives us confidence for the next games,” Havertz said in an interview.

Team captain Manuel Neuer, back in goals after injury, agreed the team should now have high ambitions.

“If we play for Germany the goal is always to win titles, to reach the highest goals possible. That’s how we will approach it there.”

Flick made five changes to the team which beat Romania last time out, with Mueller and Havertz also coming into the attack and proving decisive.

Home goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied first Joshua Kimmich then Werner, who was actually offside, and had help from the post when the Chelsea forward beat him on the stroke of half-time.

It was Werner’s Stamford Bridge colleague Havertz who did find the net when a brilliant pass from Serge Gnabry released Mueller.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s brilliant strike against Millwall in the Carabao Cup is up for Leicester City’s Goal of the Month award for September 2021.

Two minutes to the end of the game, the Foxes doubled their lead as the Nigeria international belted the ball into the roof of the net.

Iheanacho’s effort is on a six-goal shortlist for the monthly accolade, alongside goals from Foxes first teamers Jamie Vardy who has been double nominated, Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes.

Also selected is Leicester City’s development squad midfielder, Tawanda Maswanhise for his effort against Everton U23s.

Last month, Iheanacho figured in five matches for Leicester City in all competitions and had two other goal involvements, bagging assists against Napoli (Europa League) and Burnley (Premier League).

heanacho had a September to remember; featuring in five matches for Leicester City in all competitions and had two other goal involvements.

He bagged assists against Napoli (Europa League) and Burnley (Premier League).

While he was on international duty for the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifying series last month, Iheanacho scored twice at the Teslim Balogun Stadium against Liberia’s Lone Stars.

His performance saw him picking up the man-of-the-match award which also came with a One Million Naira reward courtesy of 33 Export lager, the Official Beer of the Super Eagles.

For now, Iheanacho is yet to roll in the good times for October having fired blanks in the double-header against the Central African Republic in qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Voting for the Goal of the Month closes on Sunday, October 17.

• Deontay Wilder has no plans to retire from boxing, says his trainer Malik Scott
• Bronze Bomber was knocked out for a second time by Tyson Fury on Saturday
• There have been calls for Wilder to hang up his gloves after successive defeats
• The American will now assess his next move in the heavyweight picture 

Deontay Wilder has no plans to retire from boxing despite suffering back-to-back defeats by Tyson Fury his trainer Malik Scott has insisted.

Wilder was stopped in the 11th round of a brutal fight in Las Vegas on Saturday as Fury retained the WBC heavyweight title he had stripped the Bronze Bomber of in February 2020.

Fury floored the Alabama fighter in the third and 10th round, before referee Russell Mora intervened to stop the fight in the penultimate round, leaving many to question Wilder’s future in the sport.

But while it’s now two defeats on the bounce for Wilder, retirement doesn’t seem to be on the agenda just yet.

Deontay has set his family financially secure so he doesn’t have to fight to make a living’

‘But retiring is not in his plans at all and not something we’ve discussed.’

Wilder has won 42 of his 45 fights, with both defeats and the draw on his record all coming against Fury.

While it is another damning defeat at the hands of the Gypsy King, Wilder was able to floor the Brit twice in the fourth round before Fury rallied to turn the tables on his rival later in the fight.

Wilder was stopped by Tyson Fury (left) in the 11th round of a brutal fight in Las Vegas

Wilder’s trainer Scott (pictured) insists there have been no thoughts about retiring just yet

Evidence of his heart and spirit in the Las Vegas blockbuster proves that Wilder deserves to have more high-level fights and be involved in main events, according to Scott. 

‘He will be back in any form he wants to be,’ said Scott. ‘He’s a big-time fighter and he doesn’t belong down there with the other guys, he needs to be in high-level fights and main events. 

‘Deontay was great on Saturday, but Fury was even greater — it was a great night of boxing for the heavyweight division,’ he added.

‘You have to give Fury credit for having a good chin and getting up. Fury is a legend, one of the best in the heavyweight division in any era, and it’s the same about Deontay.’ 

During Wilder and Fury’s second encounter, one member of the American’s corner threw in the towel in the seventh round, bringing an end to his undefeated streak – a decision that lost the trainer his job. 

Wilder, 35, was sent crashing to the canvas on three separate occasions during his title fight

But while Wilder went out on his shield on Saturday, Scott, 40, insists there was no moment that he considered ending the contest.

‘Over the years of me knowing Deontay, he has always said throwing the towel in with a knockout artist like him wouldn’t be tolerated,’ added Scott.

‘It’s something I respected. The last knockdown was the worst knockdown and the ref called it off.

‘Deontay and Mark never had a relationship outside the gym, they never talked for more than five minutes on a phone call. Me and Deontay would never fall out and not speak again – our bond is too tight.’

While Wilder’s camp are adamant that there are no plans to retire, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed that the American should really consider hanging up his gloves.

Hearn said it was not ‘not normal’ for Wilder to be exhausted in the early rounds of his fight with Fury, and has warned it will be difficult for him to continue fighting at the top level because his ‘legs were gone’ by the third round. 

He told iFL TV: ‘His legs were gone after three rounds. It was only his heart and his power that kept him in the fight.

Eddie Hearn has warned it will be difficult for Wilder to continue fighting at the top level

‘Obviously, Fury caught him with a great shot and went down twice. The second one was nothing knockdown, but Fury was still all over the place.’

Hearn added: ‘But Wilder could not stand up, he was exhausted after three rounds, and that’s NOT normal. Some heavyweights have good tanks.

‘Fury’s tank is exceptional, but you can’t just say, “That’s how he is.” You can’t have a championship fight at any kind of pace if you can’t stand up after three rounds.’

Up next for Fury will most likely be fellow Brit Dillian Whyte, who was confirmed as the mandatory challenger to the WBC-belt holder last week, while the win pushed him closer to an undisputed showdown against either Anthony Joshua or his recent conqueror Oleksandr Usyk.

However, for Wilder, he will likely have to wait for the loser of Joshua and Usyk’s rematch, while a heavyweight clash with fellow American Andy Ruiz Jr is also on the cards.

British fans will be desperate to see Joshua regain the WBA, WBO and IBF straps from Usyk in their rematch to set up undisputed title fight with Fury in the future, but should he fail, a match-up with Wilder will be another highly-anticipated heavyweight bout every boxing fan will be pining to see.

Nine-time African champions, Super Falcons will intensify preparations for their 2022 Women AFCON qualifying fixture against the Black Queens of Ghana when they arrive camp in Lagos on Sunday.

Nigeria and Ghana clashed in the Final match of the inaugural edition of Women Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, which the Falcons won 2-0. However, both strong stallions in the African women football race-course have been drawn to play each other for one slot at the next edition to be held in the summer of 2022 in the Kingdom of Morocco.

As part of their preparations for this potentially –explosive qualifying fixture, the Super Falcons featured in the USWNT Summer Series in the United States of America in June, testing their might against Portugal, Jamaica and USA senior women teams, and then featured at the six-nation Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament hosted by the City of Lagos in September. They had earlier taken part in and won all three matches at the Turkish Women’s Cup in Antalya in February.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA)

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Glory Ogbonna (Umea FC, Sweden); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Rafiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Sunday (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)

Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Joy Bokiri (AIK FC, Sweden)

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels)