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Tag: Paris 2024

  • Paris 2024: 2024: Nigeria’s Weightlifter, Rafiatu Lawal begins quest for medal in weightlifting

    Paris 2024: 2024: Nigeria’s Weightlifter, Rafiatu Lawal begins quest for medal in weightlifting

    Nigeria’s Weightlifters at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games will begin chase for medals on Thursday, August 8th, 2024 when Rafiatu Lawal files out in the Women’s 59 kg weight class at the South Paris Arena inside Paris Expo Complex.

     

    Rafiatu got the nod to represent Nigeria in Paris after she qualified having garnered the needed points in various Championships she attended and has she marked her Olympic debut she carries the aspirations and hope of other Nigerians who expect her to give a good account of herself in Paris.

     

    Lawal a 27-year-old lifter is twice African Champion at the African Games in 2019 and 2023 in Morocco and Ghana and she’s also a Commonwealth Games champion in Birmingham 2022.

     

    All eyes will be on her as from 2pm on Thursday as she confronts other 10 weightlifters from around the globe to compete for the Olympic Games medals at stake in the Women’s 59kg.

     

    The Weightlifter will be up against reigning Olympic champion in the weight class, 30-year-old Chinese Taipel’s Chun Hsing Kuo. Kuo also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

     

    Shifang Luo of China who at just 23 years is the current World Record Holder in the weight class with a lift of 248kg is another strong competitor against the Nigerian. She’s making her Olympics debut and has come with so much promise while another 2021 Olympic Games Gold medallist in the Women’s 64kg, Charron Maude of Canada is another lifter to be on the lookout for.

     

    Others to compete against Lawal are Ann Elreen Ando (Philippines), Anyelin Venegas (Venezuela), Lucrezia Magistris (Italy), Yenny Alvarez (Colombia), Mathlynn Sasser (Marshall Islands), Kamila Konotop (Ukraine), Dora Tchakoute (France), and Mexican’s Valdivia Gomez.

     

    Lawal told NWF Media that she hopes to make the most of her Olympics debut and that she’s ready to give her all in her determined zeal to make a lasting impression in Paris in all her lifts.

     

    She said she’s in high spirit and turbo charged to ensure Nigeria ranks among the best in the Women’s 59kg at the end of Thursday when results are out.

     

    “I have prepared very well for this and eager to give my best in Paris, France. The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation under the able leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Abdul started a good job camping us before the Ministry of Sports took over and it is my personal wish to do my best in the competition,” Lawal told NWF Media.

     

    “It is my Olympic Games debut but I am not greenhorn because I have taken part in many competitions that have equipped me for moments like this. I am going to the competition with the high hopes of giving my all to defend my fatherland.”

     

    The President Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul charged Lawal to imbibe Nigeria’s I can do spirit while also charging her to recall the techniques that have worked for her in her preparations for the Olympic Games.

     

    The NWF President nonetheless urged her to go all out and aspire to finish in the medal zone.

     

    He said the NWF is solidly behind her and beckoned on her to mark her Olympics debut with the performance that would be the talking point for years to come.

     

    “We in the NWF know what Rafiatu can do and we are solidly behind her as she compete in the Women’s 59kg on Thursday. We have prepared her and her second for the Olympic Games in the best way possible and we expect her to give a good account of herself in Paris, France,” the NWF President said.

     

    Dr. Abdul urged Nigerians to support both weightlifters especially Rafiatu Lawal who compete first on Thursday afternoon.

     

  • Reaction as D’Tigress bow out of Olympics

    Reaction as D’Tigress bow out of Olympics

    D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, on Wednesday in Paris ended their impressive run at the 2024 Olympic Games on a losing note.

    The Nigerian side, who have already made history as Africa’s first side either make or female to go beyond the group phase of the Olympic competition lost 74-88 to the U.S.

    They stood toe-to-toe with the Americans in the opening minutes, only to soon start to fall behind as their opponents came out more forcefully.

    The quarter-final game at the Berry Arena saw the Nigerian side losing 17-26, 16-26, 15-24 in the first three quarters.

    By the time they resurged to win 26-12 in the fourth and final quarter, it was a little bit late in the day.

    D’Tigress deserve commendation – Basketball fan

    Nigeria’s National female basketball team, D’Tigress, deserved commendation for their feat in spite of their quarter-final exit at the Paris Olympics, a basketball fan, Adeyemi Owoseni, said in Lagos

    Owoseni said this in an interview with NAN on Wednesday after D’Tigress’s 74-88 loss to the U S. women in Paris.

    He also told NAN that the Nigerians played well to deserve some accolades in spite of their defeat in the quarter-finals.

    ”We played well but met a better side that brought their experience to bear. The girls should be proud of themselves for at least making it to the quarter-finals.

    ”We played better in the fourth quarter of the match to close the gap. We should be proud of the girls despite the loss,” Owoseni said.

    Similarly, another basketball enthusiast, Mike Ajanaku, told NAN that though the Nigerians played well, they were not good enough to upstage the opposition.

    ”We failed to raise our game in the offensive and defensive rebounds and this caused us a lot of turnovers that we could have used well.

    ”I must commend the entire team despite the loss because they put up a good fight. They did well to close the gap and made the scorelines more respectable,” Ajanaku said.

    U.S. advanced to the semi-finals with the win against D’Tigress who are out of the tournament in spite of their gallant efforts.

    The scorelines was 17-26 in the first quarter as the U.S. team took complete control of the game making proper use of their superior size advantage over the Nigerians.

    The U.S. team who are eight times gold medalists took the game beyond D’Tigress in the second and the third quarters by dominating all aspect of the game.

    They recorded 16-26 and 15-24 to maintain their good grip but lost the final quarters to D’Tigress 26-12 when there was nothing to play for.

  • Paris 2024: Gallant D’Tigress lose to USA, bow out of Olympics in style

    Paris 2024: Gallant D’Tigress lose to USA, bow out of Olympics in style

    Nigeria’s D’Tigress exited the women’s basketball event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a commendable performance despite losing to Team USA 74-88.

    The Afrobasket champions, though underdogs, achieved historic success and won the admiration of basketball fans worldwide.

    Coach Rene Wakama and her team put up a valiant effort in the quarterfinal match against the Americans, who are vying for their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

    The USA will face Australia, who defeated Serbia 85-67, in the semifinal on Friday, with a place in the gold-medal match at stake.

    Nigeria made history by becoming the first African team—male or female—to reach the Olympic quarterfinals after defeating Canada in their final group match.

    This was only Nigeria’s second Olympic victory since their debut in Athens in 2004. Despite their strong start, including a win over Australia, overcoming the experienced USA team proved too challenging.

    In the other semifinal, hosts France will play against Belgium following their victories over Germany and Spain, respectively. Marine Johannes led France to an 84-71 win with a game-high 24 points.

    After winning silver in London 2012 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, France aims to secure Olympic gold on home soil.

    Belgium, who made their Olympic debut in 2020 and finished seventh, will be competing for a medal in Paris after their 79-66 victory over Spain.

  • Paris 2024: How Brazil women’s national team escaped group stage elimination to reach final

    Paris 2024: How Brazil women’s national team escaped group stage elimination to reach final

    The Brazil women’s national football team has had an incredible journey to the final of the Paris 2024 Olympics. With a mix of hard-fought victories, a narrow escape from elimination, and a dramatic penalty shootout, the team’s resilience and determination have brought them to the brink of Olympic glory.

     

    Group Stage

    Brazil vs. Nigeria (1-0)

    The tournament began on a high note for Brazil as they faced Nigeria. In a tightly contested match, Brazil managed to secure a 1-0 victory. The lone goal came from a well-placed header by Rafaelle in the 75th minute, demonstrating Brazil’s defensive solidity and ability to capitalize on set-piece opportunities.

     

    Brazil vs. Japan (1-2)

    In their second match, Brazil encountered a strong Japanese side. Despite a valiant effort, Brazil fell short, losing 2-1. Marta, the legendary forward, scored Brazil’s only goal, showcasing her experience and skill. However, Japan’s disciplined play and tactical acumen saw them take the three points.

     

    Brazil vs. Spain (0-2)

    The final group stage match saw Brazil facing Spain. Spain’s cohesive team play and sharp attacking strategies resulted in a 2-0 defeat for Brazil. This loss put Brazil in a precarious position, relying on results from other groups to advance.

     

    Quarter-finals

    Despite the two losses, Brazil qualified for the knockout stages as one of the third best-placed teams, setting up a clash with the host nation, France.

     

    Brazil vs. France (1-0)

    In the quarter-finals, Brazil faced a formidable French team buoyed by home support. In a match filled with intensity and drama, Brazil emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win. The decisive moment came in the 82nd minute when Debinha latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted it past the French goalkeeper, silencing the home crowd and propelling Brazil into the semi-finals.

    Smemi-finals

    Brazil vs. World Champions 4-2

    The semi-final match against the reigning world champions was an epic battle.

    Brazil who lost 2-0 in the last group stage to Spain had their revenge when it mattered most.

    The Final Showdown

    Brazil’s final hurdle is the powerhouse United States team. The US has been a dominant force in women’s football, and the final promises to be an exhilarating contest between two footballing giants. Brazil’s path to the final has been a testament to their resilience, skill, and determination.

     

    Key Players

    1. MartaThe iconic forward has been a source of inspiration, scoring crucial goals and providing leadership.

    2. Debinha: A consistent performer, her decisive goal against France highlighted her importance to the team.

    3. Barbara Her heroics in the semi-final penalty shootout have etched her name in Olympic history.

    4. Rafaelle A strong presence in defense and a threat in the air, her contributions have been vital.

    Brazil’s journey to the Paris 2024 Olympic final has been marked by moments of brilliance, tenacity, and sheer willpower. From the narrow victory over Nigeria to the dramatic penalty shootout against the world champions, Brazil has shown they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. As they prepare to face the United States in the final, the team and their fans are dreaming of Olympic gold, ready to etch their names in the annals of football history.

  • Paris: 41-year-old wrestler wins 5th Olympic gold medal

    Paris: 41-year-old wrestler wins 5th Olympic gold medal

    Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler, Nunez Lopez, on Tuesday won his fifth Olympic gold medal in the 130kg, beating Fernandez Acosta of Chile in the process at the ongoing Paris 2024 Games.

    Widely considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, López is also, five-time World Champion, and five-time Pan American Games champion.

    The Cuban after the fight celebrated his coaching crew by lifting one up and throwing the other over in the celebrations mood.

    The Cuban put off his fighting shoes and left them in the middle of the mat, in what looks like the 41-year-old is retiring from the sport.

    His first gold medal was in Beijing 2008, the other in London 2012 and the 3rd in Rio De Janeiro in 2016. He won the 4th in Tokyo 2020 before his victory at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

    He is the younger brother of Michel López Núñez, a Cuban amateur boxer.

    On July 3, he and the Cuban judoka Idalys Ortíz were designated as the flag bearers for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

    Ofili, Oborududu dash raised hopes after faltering in athletics, wrestling

    Favour Ofili on Tuesday failed to fulfill all raised hopes of a medal for Team Nigeria in the women’s 200 metres event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

    Nigeria were yet to win a medal as at Tuesday evening and all hopes had been on Ofili who was with a personal best 21.96 seconds.

    Blessing Oborududu, who at the same monent was also seeking a bronze medal in the women’s freestyle wrestling 68kg, was also another medal hope.

    The 21-year-old Ofili could however not shoulder the burden and finished a disappointing sixth from lane 9.

    In the event’s final race at the Stade de France, the athlete who is ranked 31 in the world ran in at 22.24 secs which was slower than her season best 22.05.

    The result meant Nigeria’s search for a medal at the ongoing Games continued till another day as Oborududu also failed in her bid.

    She lost to Nonoka Ozaki of Japan 3-0 in her bronze medal match at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, losing without scoring any point in the bout.

    Nonoka scored two points in the first period, and added the other one in the second period to end all hopes of Team Nigeria’s first medal at the Games.

  • Olympics: U.S. faces Germany, Spain takes on Brazil in Women’s football semis

    Olympics: U.S. faces Germany, Spain takes on Brazil in Women’s football semis

    At the Paris 2024 Olympics, four-time women’s Olympic football gold medalists, the United States, will face 2016 champions Germany today for a place in the final. Meanwhile, world champions Spain will compete against Brazil, who recently triumphed over hosts France.

     

    The U.S., who reached the semi-finals by defeating Japan 1-0 after extra time, will again face the Germans, having previously beaten them 4-1 in the group stage. Emma Hayes’ team anticipates a tougher challenge this time, as Germany, playing in their fifth consecutive Olympic semi-final, seeks revenge.

     

    “You saw in the group stage they scored four goals against us. We want to give it back to them,” Germany defender Giulia Gwinn said at the Lyon stadium. “We are collectively strong. If we take our chances, we’re dangerous for every opponent.”

     

    Spain, who narrowly escaped elimination by defeating Colombia on penalties after trailing by two goals, will also have a rematch against Brazil, whom they beat 2-0 in the first round. Twice silver medallists Brazil, now in their sixth Olympic semi-finals, aim for another upset at Marseille Stadium despite the absence of their suspended captain and all-time leading scorer Marta.

     

    The 38-year-old six-time Olympian Marta will miss the semi-finals after receiving a two-match ban following a red card for a dangerous challenge on Spain’s Olga Carmona in their group-stage defeat.

     

    “Everything we have gone through has taught us valuable lessons and helped us improve,” Brazil defender Tamires said. “The team is getting stronger and stronger mentally.”

     

    Spain, competing in their first Olympics, aim to add to their trophy haul after winning last year’s World Cup and the UEFA Nations League. They aspire to become the first world champions to triumph at the subsequent Olympics.

     

    “We know what we’re capable of, we don’t feel any pressure,” said Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll after their win on penalties. “What defines us is that we are ambitious. That’s what drives us on to go as far as possible.”

  • Paris 2024: Spain pip Morocco to reach men’s football final

    Paris 2024: Spain pip Morocco to reach men’s football final

    The legend of Fermín López continues to grow as the Barcelona midfielder played a crucial role in Spain’s remarkable 2-1 comeback victory over Morocco in Monday’s Olympics semi-final in Marseille.

     

    La Roja faced a hostile environment with a stadium filled with Moroccan fans and fell behind just before halftime when Soufiane Rahimi scored a penalty for Morocco.

     

    Spain seemed in serious jeopardy at times, but Fermín López stepped up again, scoring a brilliant equalizer with 25 minutes remaining to keep La Roja’s hopes alive.

     

    Fermín wasn’t finished making his impact, as he assisted Juanlu Sánchez’s winning goal with five minutes left, sending Spain to the Gold Medal Game.

     

    This victory guarantees Spain at least a silver medal as they await the winner of the second semi-final between France and Egypt. There’s a real chance Fermín’s incredible season could culminate with both a Euro 2024 title and an Olympic gold medal.

  • Paris 2024: Ofili tipped to medal, rated third fastest in 200m

    Paris 2024: Ofili tipped to medal, rated third fastest in 200m

    Favour Ofili has qualified for the final of the women’s 200m at the 2024 Olympic Games.

    Her 22.05 secs recorded in the semi -final has been rated third fastest time in women’s 200m at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

    Executing a strong race plan, Ofili secured the second automatic spot in the second semi-final.

    The 21-year-old finished second with a season’s best time of 22.05 seconds.

     

    Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred won the race with a time of 21.98 seconds, while McKenzie Long of the United States finished third with a time of 22.30 seconds.

     

    Ofili is the first Nigerian woman to qualify for the 200m final at the Olympics in 28 years. The last Nigerian to do so was Mary Onyali, who reached the final and won a bronze medal in the event at the Atlanta 1996 Games.

  • Paris 2024: Oborodudu loses semi – final bout to Kyrgyzstan wrestler

    Paris 2024: Oborodudu loses semi – final bout to Kyrgyzstan wrestler

    Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu did not qualify for the final of the women’s 68kg wrestling event on Monday after losing her semi-final match.

    She was defeated 3-1 by Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova, falling short of her silver medal performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

    Oborududu will now compete in a repechage mini-tournament for a chance to win one of the two bronze medals available.

     

  • Paris2024: Sports Minister Hails Brilliant Blessing Oborodudu for Making Wrestling Semifinals

    Paris2024: Sports Minister Hails Brilliant Blessing Oborodudu for Making Wrestling Semifinals

     

    Nigeria’s Blessing Oborodudu has secured her spot in the semifinals of the Women’s freestyle 68kg Wrestling event at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games.

     

    Oborodudu delivered a commanding performance, defeating France’s Koumba Larroque 6-2 in a fiercely contested quarterfinal bout.

     

    The match saw Oborodudu overcome a challenging start, as she initially trailed earlier on. However, she demonstrated her resilience and skill, taking a 3-2 lead before ultimately sealing the victory with a 6-2 scoreline.

     

    Despite the enthusiastic support for the home favorite from the French crowd at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, Oborodudu maintained her composure and clinched the win.

     

    The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, praised Oborodudu’s impressive performance and urged her to aim for the highest honor.

     

    “Blessing Oborodudu has shown incredible resilience and skill throughout her journey. After winning silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she has the experience and determination to go for gold this time. We believe in her abilities and are cheering her on to make Nigeria proud once again,” said Senator Enoh.

     

    He further encouraged her thus, “Blessing, you’ve already made history and inspired countless Nigerians with your strength and perseverance. Now, it’s time to aim for the gold medal. The entire nation is behind you, and we are confident that you have what it takes to reach the top of the podium. Go out there and give it your all—we are with you every step of the way.”

     

    At 8pm on Monday evening, Oborodudu will face Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the semifinal. This matchup is a rematch of their encounter at the Yasar Dogu championship in 2022, where Oborodudu triumphed with a 3-2 victory to win the gold medal. With this history, she will enter the semifinal with a boost of confidence, aiming to secure a place in the final and continue her quest for Olympic glory.