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11 Countries Arrive Abuja For 13th ECOWAS Wrestling Tourney

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No fewer than 11 countries have arrived in Abuja for the 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament, set for March 6-8, at the Velodrome, Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The tournament is part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS.

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The Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, Francis Njoaguani, stated this on Tuesday at a news conference.

He said that 55 athletes, comprising both male and female wrestlers, would compete in the highly anticipated tournament meant to foster unity and regional integration.

READ ALSO:ECOWAS Court Dismisses Suits On Kudirat Abiola’s Assassination

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According to Njoaguani, the event will feature 11 out of the 12 ECOWAS member states, with 33 male and 22 female wrestlers taking part in individual and team competitions.

“Female wrestlers will compete in the 65kg and 75kg categories, while the male wrestlers will compete in the 85kg, 100kg, and 120kg categories.

“A total cash prize of 24,000 dollars is up for grabs, with 10,000 dollars for the winning team, 6,000 dollars for second place, and 3,000 dollars for third place.

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“Individual wrestlers can win between 1,000 dollars and 2,500 dollars based on their performance,” he stated.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali Have Left, But Citizens’ Privileges Remain – ECOWAS

A Deputy Director at the National Sports Commission, Ikana Mbora, emphasised the significance of Nigeria hosting the flagship wrestling tournament for the first time.

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She assured that the NSC, as a key partner in the event, would ensure seamless competition in accordance with international best practices.

Olufemi Ajao of the NSC and former Secretary of the Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria said that security and logistics arrangements had been finalised to ensure a successful tournament.

He urged Abuja residents to turn out in large numbers to witness traditional wrestling at its best.

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READ ALSO: ECOWAS Court Dismisses Suit Against FG Over Shrine Destruction

This will be the best-organised tournament in the competition’s history, so I encourage everyone to come and experience the best of regional African wrestling,” he said.

The tournament marks a historic milestone as Nigeria hosts the event for the first time, which was previously held in Senegal and Niger.

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The countries participating in the tournament include Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and hosts Nigeria.

NAN also reports that regional leaders had in September 2000 officially adopted African wrestling as an ECOWAS sport and aimed to popularise it for regional integration and Olympic Games status.

African wrestling, a traditional style of West African folk wrestling, is known as Laamb in Senegal, Boreh in The Gambia, and Kokowa in Nigeria and Niger.

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Sports Commission Boss Hails Edo Swimmers For Performance At CNS Swimming Tournament

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The Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has commended Team Edo athletes for their performance at the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Junior and Senior Swimming Competition, which came to end Thursday in Asaba, Delta.

In the tournament, Team Edo recorded a total of 5 gold, 14 silver, and 5 bronze medals in the Junior category, while the Senior swimmers secured 2 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals — bringing the team’s total to 31 medals.

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In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele commended the swimmers for their remarkable achievements at the national event.

I am particularly thrilled by Precious Tissa’s exceptional performance, winning three gold medals for Edo State at the CNS Swimming Competition,” he said.

READ ALSO: Enabulele Hails Edo-born Athletes’ International Feats

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He also celebrated the accomplishments of other Edo swimmers, noting, “Athletes such as Forcados Funfumimi, Christian Obomanu, Solid Government, and Victor Uruonah delivered brilliant performances, clinching gold in the Mixed Medley Relay.

“This feat is a clear testament to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development in Edo State.”

Enabulele further highlighted individual successes among the senior athletes: “On Day 3, Peremoboere Kimikiagha took gold in the 200m Freestyle, while Lucky Ayemi won silver in the same event and added another gold in the Under-18 category.”

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He expressed confidence in the team’s future prospects.

He stated, “Our athletes have distinguished themselves at this national championship, and I am optimistic that these victories will inspire even greater performances in upcoming competitions.”

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Ex-Super Eagles Coach, Monday Sinclair, Is Dead

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Former Super Eagles interim head coach, Monday Sinclair, is dead.

Sinclair died at the age of 88.

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His death was confirmed on Wednesday by former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peterside Idah, who played under him at Sharks FC and considered him a mentor.

Peterside wrote in a tribute shared via Facebook on Wednesday, “Our daddy is gone. What a man.

“He signed me to play for Sharks. Gave me my first match against Niger Tornadoes of Minna.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Awujale Of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Is Dead

The first day he saw me come to train with Sharks, he said, ‘My friend, are you a boxer?’

“He said I was built like Tyson. From that day, I found me a football father. I became very close to him and his family, with Puppa K as a very close brother.”

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Sinclair, who featured for the Green Eagles in the 1960s, was widely respected for his sharp eye for talent and enduring contribution to football development in Nigeria.

He began his coaching career with the now-defunct Sharks FC of Rivers State, before going on to handle Niger Tornadoes, Enugu Rangers, and Bayelsa United.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Is Dead

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In 1997, he was appointed interim coach of the Super Eagles and later served as head coach of the Equatorial Guinea national team.

Sinclair was credited with mentoring some of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers, including Peter Rufai, Taribo West, Finidi George, and Peterside himself.

His grassroots influence left an enduring legacy on Nigerian football.

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His passing comes just days after the death of another football legend, Peter Rufai, who battled a long-term illness.

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Messi’s Multi-goal Streak Ends As Cincinnati Beats Miami 3-0

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Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer-record streak of multi-goal games ended at five on Wednesday as his Inter Miami squad was blanked 3-0 at FC Cincinnati.

The 38-year-old Argentine star forward had scored a brace, two goals, in five consecutive matches for Miami, giving him 16 goals on the season as Inter managed four wins and a draw in the run.

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Not since 2012 when he played for Barcelona had Messi netted a brace or more in five consecutive matches.

But Cincinnati kept Miami to only two shots on goal in the contest.

Clearly today we were outplayed from the beginning of the match,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said through a translator.

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It was very difficult for us to win the individual duels. Maybe one of the reasons is that physically we come with a very big hustle and bustle and in the long run we end up paying.

READ ALSO:No Messi Or Ronaldo: Trump Names His Greatest Footballer Of All Time

“Leo suffered a knock at the end but it ended well.”

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US 20-year-old midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela opened the scoring for Cincinnati in the 16th minute.

Brazilian striker Evander followed with a goal in the 50th minute and struck again in the 70th to provide all the scoring the hosts needed.

We didn’t play the game we wanted. They put us under pressure all the time, we weren’t fresh or lucid and they beat us very well,” Mascherano said.

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Miami fell to 11-4 with five drawn for 38 points, fifth in the Eastern Conference and eight points adrift of first-place Philadelphia, the overall MLS leader which beat Montreal to stay one point ahead of Cincinnati in the overall MLS standings.

Inter Miami has three games in hand on both clubs but would need to win them all to overtake their rivals for the overall league lead.

READ ALSO:Messi, Inter Miami Fight Back For 3-3 Draw At Philadelphia

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“The opponent outplayed us from start to finish,” Mascherano said. “The result and the way they beat us obviously worries us. Now we have to rest and think about the next game.”

That will come on Saturday when Miami will visit the New York Red Bulls, who got two goals each from Cameroon’s Eric Choupo-Moting and Sweden’s Emil Forsberg in a 5-3 home win over New England on Wednesday.

– De Paul to join Miami –

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A source close to negotiations told AFP on Wednesday that Inter Miami has agreed on terms with Argentine international Rodrigo De Paul, a midfielder for Atletico Madrid.

The deal is for the next four seasons with De Paul to play the remainder of 2025 in Miami on loan from Atletico Madrid with a subsequent purchase option for Inter worth more than $12 million.

De Paul could play for Miami for the first time on July 30 against Mexican side Atlas in Inter’s debut match in the Leagues Cup, a tournament between MLS and Mexican League clubs.

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READ ALSO:Biden To Honour Messi, Denzel Washington, 17 Others With Top US Award

He will leave Europe after four seasons in Madrid to join countryman Messi 11 months before the World Cup to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Messi has not said if he will play in the World Cup.

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De Paul and Messi were teammates on Argentina’s 2022 World Cup champions and reuniting them could help entice Messi to sign a new contract with Inter, whose deal with the superstar expires at the end of this year.

The club wants Messi to stay for the 2026 season, in which Inter will open a new stadium in Miami.

DePaul, 31, joins a Miami core that includes Messi, Uruguayan Luis Suarez and Spaniards Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

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Charlotte was named host city for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday. This year’s all-star matchup will be in Austin, Texas, next Wednesday with the MLS All-Stars facing the Mexican League All-Stars.

 

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