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.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 30, 2025 | Boxing, Nigeria
British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has been accused of avoiding a professional rematch with Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, whom he defeated at the London 2012 Olympics.
Zhang’s manager, Terry Lane, told Sky Sports that Joshua has repeatedly declined opportunities to face Zhang in the professional ring.
“I think it’s the worst-kept secret in boxing that AJ wants no part of Zhilei. There have been chances for them to fight, but it’s clear Joshua isn’t interested. He just wants to avoid the fight, which is unfortunate,” Lane stated.
While Joshua may be holding out for a potential showdown with Tyson Fury—who announced his retirement in early January—Zhang is set to face Agit Kabayel on February 22 for the interim WBC world title.
Once regarded as having one of the strongest résumés in heavyweight boxing, Joshua is now facing criticism for allegedly dodging a fellow top contender.
After securing Olympic gold in 2012, Joshua quickly climbed the professional ranks, securing major victories over Dillian Whyte, Charles Martin, and Wladimir Klitschko to unify heavyweight titles. However, his career took a hit after losses to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk. Despite recent wins, a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September has left Joshua without a title and limited options for the future.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 27, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has declared his intention to bring excitement back to the division ahead of his highly anticipated return against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Riyadh next month.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, the Nigerian-born fighter expressed confidence in his ability to reignite the buzz in the middleweight category.
“Without me, middleweight is getting boring. So, it’s time to make it interesting,” Adesanya stated. “For the fans, the preparation might seem dull, but the fight itself will be thrilling. For me, it’s about proving I’m still the best.”
Ahead of the February 1 clash, the 35-year-old has been training alongside former rival Robert Whittaker, a partnership that surprised many fans and UFC stars. Whittaker, whom Adesanya defeated twice during his championship reign, sees his former opponent as the favorite.
“I’d have to lean into Izzy being the favorite. Like, he’s so good at what he does,” Whittaker remarked on his YouTube channel. “But Imavov’s a bit of a dog. He can go the distance and push the pace. He might aim to force Izzy into making errors, much like Dricus Du Plessis did.”
Adesanya’s upcoming bout marks his return following back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 and Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. A win against the fifth-ranked Imavov could set the stage for another title shot or a number-one contender fight.
