Sports

Nigerian Women Are Built Different, Says Ogoke After D’Tigress Win As Practising Surgeon

Published

3 months ago

August 7, 2025

arah Ogoke, a practising surgeon and veteran member of Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has hailed the mental strength and resilience of Nigerian women after the team clinched a historic fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ogoke credited discipline and resilience as the major factors in how she’s been able to combine her medical career and playing basketball.

“I’m built different. Nigerian women are built different. We do amazing things and the impossible. My secret is nothing short of discipline, resilience, determination, hard work, and focus,” she said.

The 35-year-old veteran, who specialises in podiatric medicine, the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions, was named in the squad months after giving birth and suffering the loss of her father last year. She revealed that she had taken time off her medical duties to join the team for the tournament.

“Absolutely, I’m using my vacation days to be here. My job is waiting for me when I go back,” she said.

Ogoke, who holds a degree in biology, drew parallels between the discipline of medical training and elite sport.

“The four years that I spent in medical school, I learnt how to work diligently and steadily on a specific skill set over the course of a long period of time. That can be translated to the skills necessary to be successful in basketball.”

A key figure in Nigeria’s basketball resurgence over the past decade, Ogoke has been part of every AfroBasket-winning squad since 2017. She attributed the team’s sustained dominance to the grit and mentality of Nigerian women.

“The blood we have in our veins as Nigerian women is different. We have the tenacity, pride, grit that we just refuse to lose. We’ve held our crown since 2017, and we don’t plan on giving it up soon.”

Reflecting on the final match where Nigeria was tied 41-41 at halftime against Mali, she revealed a wake-up call from the coach, Rena Wakama, pushed the team to step up.

“Coach Rena wasn’t nice about it at all. She told us, ‘We were the better team, but this team here came to beat us. They didn’t come for vacation or just to be here. Their objective was to beat us, and if we let that happen, then let them do it.’ That woke us up, and we played like the team that we are.”

Now, with Nigeria qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, Ogoke says her focus and that of the team is on reaching new heights on the global stage.

“I see playing for Nigeria as a privilege and not a right. Every year that they reach out to me and ask me to be a part of the programme, I’m thankful because they don’t have to call me. Now that we’ve qualified for the World Cup, we’re hoping to build on our success at the Olympics and, by God’s good grace, bring home a medal.”

Following the team’s victory, President Bola Tinubu on Monday, gifted the D’Tigress $100,000 to each of the players, $50,000 each for the 11-man coaching and technical team, and bedroom flats at Renewed Hope Estate for every member of the team and coaching staff.

Sports

Okpebholo Bags SWAN Governor of the Year Award

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

National Leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has named the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the Distinguished Governor of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria.

The award will be formally presented to the governor on Friday, October 31, during SWAN’s 60th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary.

Edo State Chairman of SWAN, Comrade Kehinde Osagiede, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin when he led members of his executive on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua.

Osagiede said the visit was aimed at officially introducing the Edo SWAN Executive — which assumed office about a year ago — to the commissioner and to strengthen collaboration between the association and the state government.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo was carefully selected for this honour because of his remarkable contributions to sports development in Nigeria within his first year in office.

“We also came to congratulate you, Mr. Commissioner, on your well-deserved appointment, and to inform you, as the spokesperson of the state government, about the forthcoming award to the governor,” he said.

He further assured that the Edo SWAN chapter would continue to collaborate with the state government to promote sports development across the state.

In his response, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, thanked SWAN for the recognition accorded Governor Okpebholo and for its support towards sports promotion in Edo State.

Afegbua, who disclosed that the governor was currently on official duty in Ekiti State, promised to brief him about the honour.

He urged sports journalists in the state to give balanced and positive coverage to the activities of Bendel Insurance Football Club, Edo Queens, and other sporting programmes initiated by the state government.

“The Edo State Government will continue to partner with SWAN to advance sports development in the state,” the commissioner assured.

Sports

Deputy Gov Pledges Support For Edo Queens

Published

3 days ago

October 28, 2025

Editor

Edo state deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa has pledged continued government support to the victorious Edo Queens FC.

The deputy governor made this pledge when he received the team in government house following their impressive third-place finish at the 2025 1st Governor Douye Diri Women’s Preseason Football Tournament in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, Idahosa was presented with the team’s third-place trophy during the visit to the state government house.

He praised the players for their determination and exceptional performance throughout the week long football fiesta, which ran from October 18 to 25, 2025.

He said the government led by Sen. Monday Okpebholo will continue to do all that is necessary to encourage the team for greater success.

“We are here as a government to always encourage you, and we appreciate this cup you have presented to me on behalf of my principal,” Idahosa stated.

The Deputy Governor also lauded the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Amadin Enabulele, along with the board members, civil servants, technical crew, and Head Coach Mr. Moses Aduku, for their tireless efforts behind the scenes.

“The Edo Queens FC have made us proud again. On behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo, I congratulate you all. You are great ambassadors of our state,” he added.

Idahosa further applauded Enabulele’s leadership for guiding both Edo Queens and Bendel Insurance FC to prominence, noting Bendel Insurance’s fifth-place finish last season and expressing optimism for even greater achievements in the currentseason.

In his remarks, Enabulele explained that the Bayelsa preseason tournament served as a valuable testing ground to assess and strengthen the squad ahead of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) season.

“Team Edo did very well. We were the only side that did not concede a goal throughout the tournament,” he noted.

Edo Queens Head Coach, Moses Aduku, while unveiling the team’s new slogan, said, “Second is not an option.”

He expressed confidence that Edo Queens FC would build on their preseason form to challenge for top honors when the new league season begins.

Sports

[FULL LIST] U-17 W’ World Cup: Nigeria Face Italy As Knockout Stage Begins

Published

5 days ago

October 26, 2025

Editor

The knockout phase of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is set to kick off in Morocco, with Nigeria’s Flamingos drawn against Italy in one of the standout Round of 16 fixtures.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, at the Stade Olympique de Rabat, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. Nigeria.

Their qualification follows an emphatic 4–0 victory over Samoa in Rabat on Saturday.

The Flamingos will now aim to build on their impressive group-stage campaign as they continue their push for a historic first world title.

Host nation Morocco will also be in action the same evening, taking on South Korea at the Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 2 in Sale, where home fans are expected to create a charged atmosphere in support of the Atlas Lionesses.

Earlier on Tuesday, Brazil will battle China PR, while the United States square off against the Netherlands, both matches slated for 4:30 p.m. in Sale.

The game continues on Wednesday, October 29, with Mexico facing Paraguay at 4:30 p.m., while defending champions Spain meet France in a mouthwatering all-European clash at the same time and venue.

Later that night, Canada will take on Zambia, and Japan, one of the tournament’s top contenders, will lock horns with Colombia to round off the Round of 16 fixtures.

All matches will be staged across venues in Rabat and Sale, with global coverage available via major sports networks and FIFA’s digital platforms.

As the competition enters its decisive stage, only four wins now separate the remaining 16 teams from lifting the prestigious U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy.

Eight winning teams in the round of 16 will move to the quarter-final stage starting Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Full Round of 16 Fixtures
Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Brazil U17 vs China PR U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 3, Sale)

United States U17 vs Netherlands U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sale)

Italy U17 vs Nigeria U17 – 8:00 PM (Stade Olympique de Rabat, Rabat)

South Korea U17 vs Morocco U17 – 8:00 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 2, Sale)

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Mexico U17 vs Paraguay U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 3, Sale)

Spain U17 vs France U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sale)

Canada U17 vs Zambia U17 – 8:00 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sale)

Japan U17 vs Colombia U17 – 8:00 PM (Venue TBC)