by Kelly Eric Ehor | Feb 3, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
LONDON – Callum Simpson showcased his skill and composure to successfully defend his Commonwealth super-middleweight title, stopping a determined but limited Elvis Ahorgah in the fifth round at Wembley Arena.
What initially seemed like a challenging bout ended emphatically at 1:53 of round five when Simpson landed a decisive right-left combination, flooring the 24-year-old Ghanaian for the first time. Ahorgah struggled to recover, prompting referee Howard Foster to step in and halt the contest.
Simpson, who had made a quick work of Steed Woodall in his previous defense on January 11, was called upon as a late addition to the card after the cancellation of the Viddal Riley-Isaac Chamberlain bout. He embraced the opportunity, setting a high tempo from the outset.
Though Ahorgah landed some wild but effective shots early on—leaving swelling near Simpson’s right eye—the champion’s superior speed and technique proved decisive. In the fifth, Simpson delivered a punishing right hand that visibly hurt Ahorgah before sealing the victory with a follow-up combination.
Elsewhere on the card, Moldova’s Aurel Ignat stunned Scott Forrest, handing him his first career defeat with a first-round stoppage in just 1:53. Despite high expectations for Forrest, Ignat’s precise power punches forced an early intervention from the referee.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Feb 3, 2025 | Ghana, Other Sports
Ms. Wendy Naa Deide Sampah, CEO of Wendy Foundation, has extended a congratulatory message to the newly appointed Minister of Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams MP.
In her message, she emphasized Wendy Foundation’s commitment to advocating for and supporting physically challenged athletes. She urged the Minister to prioritize and create more opportunities for disabled sports federations and disciplines.
Ms. Sampah also praised the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) for hosting an outstanding 49th Awards ceremony, despite the absence of the headline artiste she had hoped to dance to. She commended all award winners, nominees, and the organizing committee for their hard work.
Additionally, she applauded the Women In Sports Association (WISA) for honoring high jumper Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah, who was later named Best Sports Personality of 2024 by SWAG.
Highlighting Ghana’s abundant sporting talent—both able-bodied and disabled—she called on the government to ensure fairness in resource distribution. She also advocated for the Black Challenge team, winners of the African Cup, to receive their well-deserved bonuses.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 30, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Lillian Ude delivered a match-winning performance as Nigeria concluded their 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a thrilling six-run victory over Ireland in their final Super 6 match on Wednesday.
Ude was named Player of the Match for her exceptional bowling, taking three wickets for just 11 runs, playing a pivotal role in stifling Ireland’s chase of 95. She also contributed 12 runs off 11 balls with the bat, complementing the crucial 17-run contributions from Peculiar Agboya and Omosigho Eguakun.
After winning the toss, Ireland opted to field first, allowing Nigeria to set a competitive total through a steady team effort led by Christabel Chukwuonye.
Ireland’s chase got off to a rocky start as Peace Usen dismissed opener Alice Walsh for a duck in the first over. Despite a brief recovery, Ude struck twice, dismissing Freya Sargent (14) and Annabel Squires (1). Additional breakthroughs by Adeshola Adekunle, Anointed Akhigbe, and Amusa kept Ireland under pressure, eventually restricting them to 88 all out, securing victory for Nigeria.
Reflecting on her performance, Ude expressed her excitement, saying:
“I was a little nervous at first, but with the support of my teammates, we pulled through. I learned a lot and look forward to more tournaments like this.”
This victory marked Nigeria’s second win of the tournament, having previously stunned New Zealand by two runs. The team’s impressive campaign earned them third place in Super Six Group 2 and a top-six finish overall, guaranteeing automatic qualification for the 2027 edition in Nepal and Bangladesh.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 30, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes he has reached a new level as he prepares for his comeback fight against Nassourdine Imavov in February.
“There are always new levels to reach, and I’ve hit one now,” Adesanya said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
The Nigerian-born fighter, who lost his title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 last August, revealed he has made key adjustments in his training and personal life ahead of the historic UFC event in Saudi Arabia.
“For this camp, I’ve focused on aligning my life with my ultimate goal. I stayed away from distractions—people and places that don’t serve my purpose,” he explained.
Reflecting on his consecutive losses to Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, the 35-year-old admitted he had approached those fights poorly but has now learned from his mistakes.
“I was confident in those fights, but I took things too personally. I didn’t handle them well, but I don’t regret it. I’ve addressed my mistakes and improved significantly,” he said.
Adesanya’s clash with Imavov will be his first non-title bout since his win over Anderson Silva in 2019. With a record of 24 wins and 16 knockouts, he is determined to make an impact on the division once again.
“Without me, the middleweight division is boring. It’s time to bring the excitement back,” Adesanya told MMA Junkie.
A victory over the fifth-ranked Imavov could position Adesanya for a title shot or a number-one contender fight as he works his way back to the top.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 30, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Nigeria’s U-23 men’s handball team has been placed in Group B of the 5th IHF Emerging Nations Championship, where they will compete against the United States, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. The tournament is set to take place from March 11 to 16 in Varna, Bulgaria.
The draw was conducted at the IHF Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, with Nigeria making their third appearance at the competition. The team, expected to be led by coach Solomon Yola, is familiar with some of its opponents, having previously lost to the USA in the 2019 edition and defeated Azerbaijan in the 2023 tournament, both times in the group stage.
Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) President Samuel Ocheho described the group as challenging but sees it as an opportunity for the team to surpass their previous best finish of seventh place. He emphasized the Federation’s commitment to supporting the squad’s success and called on the National Sports Commission for further backing to elevate Nigeria’s handball on the global stage.
