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LASG says sports can be used to rekindle hope in youths

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The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafar, has said that sports can be used to rekindle the hope of, youths especially with the political situation in the country.

Gafar said this at the one-day 2021 Table Tennis Renewed Hope Top-16 Invitational Challenge competition which ended on Saturday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 16 players performed in the men and women categories respectively.

NAN reports that for the men’s category; Taiwo Mati came first, Samuel Boboye, second, and Ahmed Bello came third. They were awarded cash prizes of N200,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.

In the women’s category, Bose Odusanya placed first, followed by Bisola Asaju and Fatimo Bello. They won cash prizes of N200,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.

The director said that it was important to tell the youths that their hope could still be renewed which was what gave birth to the competition.

“Thirty-two top players in Nigeria and by extension, four of them ranked in Africa, participated in the competition.

“We need to continue encouraging them and giving them hope by rekindling their interest in sports instead of being on the streets constituting a nuisance to the society.

“The rigour of the game meets International standards which they are supposed to be exposed to,” he said.

Gafar said that the one-day competition was the first of its kind in Nigeria in accordance with International standards and that more of such competitions will be organised in future.

Wahid Oshodi, a former president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), said that he was impressed with the performance of the athletes and would like them playing for the national team.

“I think not more than five people outside Nigeria can match these boys,” Oshodi said.

He said that he was confident that most of the players that excelled at this competition would perform well at the African Championship in September.

“I can bet you that we are going to see one or two of these young kids wearing the jersey along Haruna Quadri and this will give us great pride,” Oshodi said.

Martin, the winner of the boys category and also African Junior Champion, said that he saw the prospectus of the tournament and knew that it was going to be a difficult and rigorous one.

“So, I have been training in cardiovascular exercises to improve my stamina which helped me in completing the matches and focusing more on my rythm,” Martin said.

Fifteen-year-old Boboye and NTTF Championship cadet, said that he was proud of himself for getting to the finals for which he thanked God.

“I was so proud of myself because the tournament was tough. I played my best and got to the finals which is a big achievement for me,” he said.

Odusanya, winner of the women’s category, said that she did not believe she could win the competition because she was recently discharged from hospital.

“I give glory to God for winning this tournament because I was recently discharged from the hospital.

“I didn’t believe that I could get to the finals but glory be to God for this great win,” she said.

Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade, Chairman, Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, applauded the performance of the athletes which he described as exhilarating.

“However, for me, Boboye is the star of this tournament because he is the most improved player and I am sure that he will go places,” the chairman said. (NAN)

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IOC Introduces New Eligibility Rule for Women’s Olympic Events Ahead of 2028 Games

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March 26, 2026

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a major policy shift regarding eligibility for women’s events at the Olympic Games, stating that only biological females will be permitted to compete in the category moving forward.

In a statement released Thursday, the IOC confirmed that all athletes seeking to participate in women’s competitions will be required to undergo a one-time Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test. The test is designed to identify the presence of the Y chromosome, typically associated with male biological development.

According to the IOC, the new regulation will not be applied retroactively but will come into full effect at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the decision was guided by scientific research and medical expertise.

“The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” Coventry stated. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can determine victory or defeat. It is therefore essential to maintain fairness and safety in competition.”

The IOC added that all international sports federations must adopt the policy for participation in IOC-sanctioned elite events, including both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The move aligns with a similar stance taken by Donald Trump, whose 2025 executive order in the United States restricted transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The decision is expected to spark continued global debate around inclusion, fairness, and the role of science in competitive athletics as preparations intensify for the next Olympic cycle.

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Messi Hits Historic 900th Goal but Inter Miami Crash Out of Champions Cup

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March 19, 2026

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Lionel Messi reached yet another extraordinary milestone on Thursday night, netting the 900th goal of his illustrious career during Inter Miami CF’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The 38-year-old icon becomes just the second player in football history to reach the landmark, joining his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the exclusive 900-goal club.

Messi’s milestone goal came in the seventh minute, as he fired a low, powerful strike past the Nashville defence, igniting early celebrations among the home supporters. The goal also marked a remarkable 21-year journey since his first senior strike for FC Barcelona in 2005.

Since moving to Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has scored 81 goals for the club, adding to his staggering career tally, which includes 672 goals for Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 for the Argentina national team.

However, the historic achievement was overshadowed by disappointment for Inter Miami. Nashville SC found an equaliser in the 74th minute, and the match ended 1-1. With the first leg having finished goalless, the tie was decided on away goals, leading to Miami’s elimination from the competition.

Despite the team’s exit, the night will be remembered for another defining chapter in Messi’s legendary career—one that further cements his place among football’s greatest ever players.

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CAF Awards Morocco 2025 AFCON Title After Overturning Final Result

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March 17, 2026

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, stripping Senegal of their 1-0 victory and awarding a 3-0 win to Morocco.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the CAF Appeal Committee ruled that Senegal forfeited the final in accordance with Article 84 of the competition’s regulations. As a result, Morocco’s national team, the Atlas Lions, have been declared champions of the tournament.

“The CAF Appeal Board decided that… the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match… with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF),” the statement read.

The decision also addressed disciplinary issues arising from the match, including sanctions involving Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari and other incidents. However, CAF upheld the forfeiture ruling, confirming Morocco as the new holders of the continental title.

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