AfroBasket: Junior D’Tigress fall to record champions in final

The U-18 national women’s basketball team, the Junior D’Tigress, failed to win the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2024 final on Saturday.

The team lost 56-76 to Mali that clinched a record ninth title.

A report by Premium Times notes that despite a strong start with a 5-0 run, the Nigerians struggled to keep up with the dominant Malian side.

Mali won all four quarters, taking the first 11-8, the second 18-15, the third 24-19, and the fourth quarter with a commanding 23-14.

The Malians excelled in the paint, outscoring Nigeria 30-16, and capitalised on fast breaks, adding 15 points. Nigeria’s bench was more productive, contributing 24 points compared to Mali’s 12.

Mali’s 17-year-old Oummou Koumare was named FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket’s Most Valuable Player.

Nigerian guard Idubamo Beggi earned a spot in the All-Star team of the tournament.

She scored 23 points in the opening loss to Egypt and the semifinal victory over Uganda, although the Malians held her to 14 points in the final.

Beggi also contributed 32 assists and 17 rebounds throughout the tournament in South Africa.

Haaland denied hat-trick history in Man City 2-1 victory

Erling Haaland’s double sent Manchester City three points clear at the top of the Premier League in a 2-1 win over Brentford.

City took full advantage of Liverpool’s defeat to move clear at the top by stretching their 100 per cent record to four games despite a disastrous start.

However, Haaland’s form at the start of the season remains unstoppable, even if the Norwegian just missed out on a record third consecutive hat-trick in the Premier League.

READ ALSO:

• Recruitment of next phase of federal fire service personnel begins
• Court stops Emir Bayero from renovating Nasarawa palace
• Edo election: Atiku storms campaign, warns APC, INEC

The 24-year-old’s powerful deflected effort brought City level before he showed a combination of strength and skill to shrug off Ethan Pinnock and dink the ball over the onrushing Mark Flekken.

Only the post denied Haaland another hat-trick after half-time but he now has a Premier League record nine goals in the first four games of the season.

“He’s just an absolute machine in front of goal and I can’t speak highly enough of him,” said City’s Jack Grealish of Haaland, who had been doubtful due to the death this week of a close family friend.

“It does speak volumes about him as a person and his mental strength.”

Falconets crash out of FIFA U20 Women W’Cup, lose 1-2 to Japan

The hope of having Nigeria’s Falconets play in the semifinal stage of the ongoing 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup ended early this morning as the team lost to Japan 1-2.

The Japanese U20 women’s national team defeated Nigeria in the quarterfinal game played in Bogota, Colombia.

Newstrends.ng reports that the game which kicked off 2am (Nigerian time) at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo saw the Japanese being a better side with their quick exchange of passes that enabled them to penetrate the Nigeria’s defence.

According to a report by BSNSports.com.ng can report, both sides started strongly in the first 30 minutes after which Miyu Matsunaga score the first goal for Japan in the 33rd minute to end the first half with 1-0 advantage to the Asians.

The Falconets could not break the Japanese defense before they conceded the second goal in the 65th minute when Maya Hijikata slotted in the ball in Nigeria net.

But Olushola Shobowale left it so late before restoring hopes in Nigeria with her effort leading to a goal in the 91st minute just three minutes after she coming into the game.

Nigeria, the 2010 and 2014 finalists, has thus crashed out of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in the quarterfinal.