Sports

Ethiopian’s Yasin Haji Returns To Defend Okpekpe 10km Road Race

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2023

Ethiopia’s Yasin Haji will be seeking to make history as the first man to successfully defend an Okpekpe international 10km road race title after the 27-year-old arrived Lagos for Saturday’s race in Okekpe, Edo State.

Jaji became the third, bonafide Ethiopian man to win the Okpekpe race 10km title after he ran 29:05, the third fastest winning time in race history, to win the title in 2022.

Teshome Mekonen who ran 28.35 in 2014 to set the race record was the first Ethiopian to win the men’s race and Leule Gebrselassie (29:28) became the second to win three years later.

Haji, who raced to a 27:00 lifetime best in the event last year in Lille has returned to form at the right time.

The Ethiopian clocked 27:20 at the end of last month at the Adizero Road to Records, Adi-Dassler-Straße 1 in Herzogenaurach, Germany to send a message to his countryman, Mekonen that he is returning to Okpekpe to break the course record and make history.

The stage will not be for Haji alone as a certain Kenyan, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo will not only be seeking to return Kenya to the podium as Okpekpe race champion but also challenge Mekonen’s 28.35-course record.

Ebenyo is one of just 14 athletes in the event’s all-time list to have broken 27 minutes when he ran 26:58 in Valencia, Spain in January 2022, and like Haji, the 27-year-old has also returned to form just in time for the Okpekpe race.

He ran 59:52 to win the Istanbul Half Marathon in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of last month and will be looking to become the fifth Kenyan winner of the Okpekpe 10km title.

In the women’s race, a new course record also looks to be in the offing following the quality of the elite cast for the event.

Kenya’s Edith Jepchumba will lead the cast of athletes aiming to rewrite the 32:41 course record set by Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew in 2014.

The Kenyan ran a 30:53 lifetime best over the distance last February, nearly two minutes inside the course record and she is the fastest athlete among the elite cast confirmed for the race.

Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde has also ran inside Ayalew’s course record when she clocked 32:00 to come in behind Jepchumba in Castellon, Spain last February.

Abigael Jelimo will be seeking to get the gold this time after running 33.53 to place third at the eighth edition of the Okpekpe race last year.

Meanwhile, Solomon Arase, former Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police and now Chairman of the Police Service Commission has commended Mike Itemuagbor, owner of the Okpekpe 10km race for sustaining the world-class road running event in Nigeria.

‘Kudos to Mike (Itemuagbor), the great sports lover and administrator for putting the rural Okpekpe community on the map of the world. Okpekpe race has come to stay because of our brother who has been able to sustain it over the years,’ said Arase.

The ninth edition of the Okpekpe International 10km road race will hold on Saturday in Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo state.

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Sports

FIFA rankings: Super Eagles Drop To 45th, Remain Sixth In Africa

Published

7 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have slipped one place in the latest FIFA World Rankings, falling from 44th to 45th globally while maintaining sixth position on the African continent.

The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August and also slipped out of the top five nations in Africa on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.

Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.

Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.

Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.

The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.

Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.

Sports

Edo Sports Commission Liaises With Education Ministry To Support President Unity Cup, Other

Published

24 hours ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

Edo State Sports Commission has expressed readiness to liaise with the state Ministry Education in giving the necessary backing to this year’s President Unity Cup and Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.

Executive Chairman of the commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, expressed the commission’s readiness on Wednesday when he played host to national leadership of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), led by its National Secretary, Mr. Patrick Okpavuerhe.

He expressed the commission’s readiness after the YSFON National Secretary requested Edo State to host this year’s President Unity Cup, scheduled for September 25 to October 1, 2025, or alternatively, the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.

Represented by Executive Director representing Edo Central at the commission, Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe, Enabulele assured the YSFON members of the commission’s readiness to collaborate.

“The Commission will review past correspondences and liaise with the Ministry of Education to support these tournaments.

“Edo remains committed to youth and grassroots sports development,” Ikuenobe said.

Earlier, Okpavuerhe commended Hon. Enabulele for his remarkable strides in youth sports development, particularly Edo’s impressive record in grassroots football.

According to him, the decision of Edo to host any of the tournaments “was taken during our last Central Working Committee meeting in recognition of Edo’s outstanding contributions to grassroots sports.”

He explained that the President Unity Cup, first held in 1982 after former President Shehu Shagari donated the trophy, has become a platform to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s independence through sports, fostering national unity.

Founded in 1965, YSFON also highlighted its successful organisation of the Under-14 Boys and Under-17 Girls Chief of Naval Staff Tournament, which has been held since 1999 but never hosted in Edo State.

“We are requesting Edo’s support in providing logistics upon approval. Our plan is to host the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament in Benin City, using the President Unity Cup as a test run,” Okpavuerhe added.

Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullah, YSFON’s National Welfare Officer and Acting National Organising Secretary, also praised Edo’s strong showing at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, describing the state as “one of Nigeria’s foremost promoters of grassroots sports development.”

Others present at the meeting included Mr. Kali Gwegwe (Vice President, YSFON South-South Zone), Mr. Osagiede Osamudiamen (Chairman, Edo State YSFON), Mr. Harrison Iyonmana (Secretary, Edo State YSFON), and Mr. Benmore Omoregieva (Welfare Officer, Edo State YSFON).

Sports

Edo Cricket Association Presents Indoor Facility Designs To Sports Commission Boss

Published

1 day ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Cricket Association on Wednesday formally presented the proposed structural and mechanical designs for an Indoor Cricket Facility in Edo State to the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele.

The presentation marks a significant step in advancing cricket infrastructure in the state, aligning with Edo’s broader vision of strengthening grassroots sports development.

Those present at the presentation include: Theophilus A. Ibodeme (High Performance Coach and Manager), Osasu Agbonwanegbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President/Chairman, Nigerian Cricket Federation), Esosa Aghohowa (Technical Assistant/Coach) and Afari Abdulhamid (Coach/Field Officer).