₦airaland Forum

Fans have been left disappointed about the Rio Olympics when at the end of Day 8 of Athletics, it dawned on everybody that for the second successive Games, Nigeria does not have a medal to show for participating in Track and field events.

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/20/nigeria-finish-2nd-olympics-row-without-medal-athletics/#sthash.VgQCVfVG.dpuf

Usain Bolt further cemented his legendary status after racing to a Season’s Best of 9.81s to win an unprecedented Triple-Gold in the men’s 100m at Rio 2016 Olympics.

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/15/lightning-bolt-strikes-third-100m-olympic-title/#sthash.v0TkHUbX.dpuf

Nigeria’s D’Tigers have given themselves a shot at qualification to the quarterfinals of men’s Basketball, after pulling out a huge upset against Croatia to win their first match of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/14/dtigers-stuns-croatia-win-1st-match-rio-2016-olympics/#sthash.aR9vuwLq.dpuf

While many were expecting a fight that would go through the three rounds, Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba needed just one round to knock out his Trinidad & Tobago opponent Nigel Paul in the Super Heavyweight 91kg category of Rio 2016 Olympics.

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/13/nigerian-boxer-efe-ajagba-knocks-opponent-round-1-rio-olympics/#sthash.Lj4MqxvZ.dpuf

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare has qualified for the women’s 100m semifinals at the Rio 2016 Olympics, clocking 11.16s to finish 2nd in heat 3 and take one of the two automatic qualification spots.

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/13/okagbare-qualifies-100m-semis-rio-olympics/#sthash.b8RgUN8j.dpuf

In game laden with so many comebacks, Nigeria’s D’Tigers lost their third match of Rio 2016 Olympics to Spain who won by 96-87 points.

At some point it looked like an upset was on the cards after Nigeria who trailed by as much as 14 points from the first quarter, somehow went in front to lead 66-65 in the third.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/12/hard-fighting-dtigers-lose-spain-rio-olympics/#sthash.DvLpShLB.dpuf

World Table Tennis number one Long Ma displayed why he occupies that position after beating Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri in their quarter-final Singles match at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/10/aruna-quadri-beaten-world-number-1-ttennis-singles-quarterfinal/#sthash.3SbbU2Ly.dpuf

It was not the best of starts that Nigeria’s D’Tigers would have wished for at the Rio Olympic Games as they lost their opening Basketball match to Argentina by 94-66 points.

The Argentinian team was imperious in their shootings, executing good outside shots that saw them take out any sting in the comeback the Nigerians mustered.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/08/dtigers-beaten-opening-match-argentina-rio-olympics/#sthash.tM0CZB66.dpuf

Even Aruna Quadri might not have seen this coming as the Nigerian Table Tennis player caused a huge upset, completely outclassing 5th seeded player Chih-Yuan Chuang with a shocking 4-0 win in the men’s Singles event at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

It seemed like Round 3 was the best Quadri could get to after beating Slovakia’s Wang Yang 4-2 in Round 2, but the Nigerian ensured that he continued his country’s stay in the competition, by securing the biggest win of his career.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/08/aruna-quadri-shocks-5th-seed-chuang-qualify-round-4-ttennis-singles-rio/#sthash.PdzMzsXQ.dpuf

After beating Japan in an enthralling first game, Nigeria’s U-23 Dream team will now take on Sweden in their second match at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Having won their first game, Nigeria will be hoping to progress to the quarterfinals if they can secure all three points against Sweden later on Sunday.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/07/nigerias-dream-team-set-battle-sweden-2nd-match-rio-olympics/#sthash.Vsh3jDGy.dpuf

Nigeria used to be so good in Boxing that of all the 23 medals the country has won at the Olympics, six came from the pugilist sport.

In fact, the very first medal Nigeria got at the Olympics came from Boxing through Nojim Maiyegun who won Bronze during the 1964 Tokyo Games, competing in the men’s Light Middleweight.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/06/efe-ajagba-carrying-nigerias-boxing-hope-rio-2016-olympics/#sthash.Kbx9blE2.dpuf

Nigeria’s D’Tigers will be making its second Basketball appearance at the Olympics, with fans expecting that they would do better in Rio than their debut at the London 2012 Games.

Going to the Olympics as African champions, the team will hope to come through the group stages, which, if achieved, will see Nigeria become the first country on the continent to make the quarter-finals. Surprisingly, even Angola with its powerhouse status in Africa, has not been able to achieve this feat.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/05/nigerias-dtigers-hoping-make-history-rio/#sthash.SRTdh727.dpuf

After off pitch problems which saw Nigeria’s under 23 Dream Team arrive Brazil just six hours to their first game in Manaus, they showed what they were capable of doing on the field as they beat Japan 5-4 to win their first match of Rio 2016 Olympics
.
Both Sadiq Umar and Oghenekaro Etebo were outstanding as they superbly combined in attack to lift Nigeria to victory, with the latter scoring four goals which played a huge role in them winning the game.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/05/jet-lagged-u23-dream-team-beat-japan-5-4-win-first-match/#sthash.LNmrCSwq.dpuf

Having passed through so many ordeals to get to Brazil, Nigeria’s Dream Team VI have finally touched down in Manaus just hours before their opening game against Japan.

With the team missing their initial flight on Wednesday and rejecting another chartered aircraft gotten for them later in the evening, they eventually departed on Thursday morning and have now gotten to Brazil in time for their first game.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/04/dream-team-vi-arrives-manaus-game-japan/#sthash.BzOZRfgV.dpuf

African U-23 Champions, the Dream Team VI, will begin their quest for Olympic football glory at the Amazônia Arena, Manaus in Brazil where they play Asian U-23 Champions Japan on Friday at 2am Nigerian time.

However, with less than 24 hours to kick off, the team is still stuck in Atlanta after the sports ministry and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) failed to secure a chartered flight in time to transport them to Manaus, Brazil where their first two group games will be taking place.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/04/nigeria-olympic-football-glory-japan/#sthash.oPWBUSei.dpuf

After missing out in London four years ago, Nigeria’s under 23 men’s football team will once again compete at the 2016 Olympics which commences on Friday in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Known as the Dream Team VI, Nigeria is in Group B alongside Colombia, Japan and Sweden, as they aim to go one better than the silver medal they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games and recreate history like in 1996 when they became the first African country to win a football GOLD.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/08/03/how-far-can-dream-team-vi-go-rio-2016-olympics/#sthash.XJcInkdW.dpuf

Yet again Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba proved what a track queen she has become, successfully defending her 3000m World indoor title at the 2016 Championships in Portland, USA. It was the final day of the competition, and what better way to have a climax to an event than seeing the 2015 female World athlete of the year thrill with a good performance.

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/21/genzebe-dibaba-retains-3000m-title-final-day-world-indoor-championships/#sthash.QJG9JLu7.dpuf

On the final day of the 2016 World indoor Championships, Nigeria competed in three events but it wasn’t the sort of finale they would have wished for as they left the competition without winning a single medal.

Nigeria last won a medal at a World Indoor Championships eight years ago...

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/20/team-nigeria-leaves-world-indoor-championships-without-single-medal/#sthash.IvwuvylZ.dpuf

With the World Indoor Championships coming up later this month, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has revealed to Making of Champions that they will be announcing their team before the end of the week.

Speculation has been rife as to whether Nigeria would compete in the World Indoors, especially as other Athletics federations have commenced the release of their team lists for the execution of the championships in Portland.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/03/nigeria-announce-world-indoor-team-weekend/#sthash.G7lVBI5c.dpuf

Nigeria’s 400m champion Chidi Okezie is gearing up for 2016 with good performances having won two races last weekend at the Last Chance Indoor Meet in Boston in the USA.

Okezie ran the fastest time in all heats of the 200m, taking Heat 1 in 21.02s to emerge tops, as Canada’s Mobolade Ajomale who was 2nd in the same heat with a time of 21.04s, finished overall 2nd. Brazil’s Rodrigo Rocha came through with the third fastest time of 21.05s.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/02/chidi-okezie-bounces-back-wins-boston/#sthash.o3be17mp.dpuf

Double African Games GOLD medallist Marie Josée Ta Lou is already flying in 2016, as she last weekend powered her way to victory in the 60m at the French Indoor National Championships held in Aubière.

In fact it was a one-two finish for Ivory Coast in the women’s 60m, with Ta Lou winning in a time of 7.12s as her compatriot, Carole Zahi finished 2nd with a time of 7.18s. French international Jennifer Galais was 3rd in 7.27s.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/02/jose/#sthash.8InJ5IoS.dpuf

Oluwatobiloba Amusan might have sounded notice of her potential last year, but she is gradually taking it a notch higher after helping University of Texas El-Paso’s Athletics team, the Miners to the women’s title at the 2016 Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Stunning the field to win GOLD at the 2015 African Games, Amusan relocated abroad early this year and has since gotten better, competing in her first indoor outing this season. Amusan ran a Personal Best (PB) of 8.23m in the 60m hurdles to win GOLD, lowering her first PB of 8.30s in the heats as she made the final. Brittney Trought was 2nd in 8.37s, and Jessica Gelibert 3rd in 8.44s.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/01/8598/#sthash.jGx8NPEQ.dpuf

African Games champion, Tosin Oke got his new season underway with victory at last weekend’s British National Indoor Championships. Having been invited by the British Athletics Federation as a guest athlete, Oke led the way to win the title in 16.48m.

Interestingly, it was a distance Oke achieved with only one attempt. Another Nigerian athlete, Kola Adedoyin was also in action and finished 10th with a mark of 15.04m. Two Britons, Nathan Fox and Nathan Douglas finished 2nd and 3rd with 16.21m and 15.93m respectively.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/03/01/tosin-oke-wins-triple-jump-title-at-british-indoor-championships/#sthash.cbt51E2m.dpuf

Over 100 athletes participated in the 2016 Athletics competition of the Track and field coaches Association of Nigeria (TFCAN) in conjunction with Fred Agbaje’s foundation (FAF), held at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

There were contests in over distance events, including some field events, with the athletes gearing up for the new season by putting up encouraging displays in their races despite the deplorable state of the track at the National Stadium.

In this episode, we will be looking at match-ups that could liven up Nigerian Athletics events this year. Let’s gander and see Nigeria’s mouthwatering Top 6 sprinting rivalries we have lined up.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/02/04/8410/#sthash.eFSVigFP.dpuf

There have been great duels down the years which endeared fans to the sport. In Africa, we have seen Haile Gebrselassie vs Paul Tergat, then Tirunesh Dibaba vs Meseret Defar clashes, so who are those that can reignite passionate rivalries on the continent -

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2016/02/01/8321/#sthash.dTKwls99.dpuf

Last week, we started a series on Nigeria’s top 12 athletes in 2015. We will conclude with Part 2 as we analyse the Key Performance Index (KPI) that placed these talented athletes at the top of our ratings. We hereby present Nos. 6 to 1 of our Top 12 Nigerian Athletes in 2015!

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2015/12/14/nigerias-top-12-athletes-in-2015-part-ii/#sthash.y7jsgGgb.dpuf

Having started from home last week with Nigeria’s Top 12 athletes, in this series, attention will now shift to the continent as we look at our Top 10 athletes in Africa.

By all means it was a richly rewarding year for African athletes who excelled on the global scene with heroics in their events. For Kenya to emerge tops at the 2015 World Championships, beating powerhouses like the United States, Jamaica and Russia, underlines the success churned out from this side of the divide.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2015/12/18/8028/#sthash.UtgU4dxj.dpuf

Last week, we started a series on Nigeria’s top 12 athletes in 2015. We will conclude with Part 2 as we analyse the Key Performance Index (KPI) that placed these talented athletes at the top of our ratings. We hereby present Nos. 6 to 1 of our Top 12 Nigerian Athletes in 2015!

See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2015/12/14/nigerias-top-12-athletes-in-2015-part-ii/#sthash.K9N27LAx.dpuf

With the biennial World Championships held in August and the African Games in September, how well did Nigerian athletes fare in their respective events in 2015? We will examine Nigeria’s Top 12 athletes, their performances this year and why each of them merits a place in our ratings.

Many Nigerian athletes competed across the globe in various meets and some set Personal Bests (PBs), having something to account for this year. However, it wasn’t all rosy as the country didn’t have a medal to boast of, having fielded 17 athletes at the Worlds in Beijing.

So let’s cut to the chase and get into who ranked where, and how they performed, starting from 12 to 1:

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2015/12/11/nigerias-top-12-athletes-in-2015-part-i/#sthash.kM3evHrB.dpuf

The Top Sprinter train started from Lagos, made a stop in Ibadan, then Enugu before finally arriving in Benin last weekend for the final auditions of the pilot season. Right from the first episode, it has gone on to become bigger than what was witnessed in previous editions.

Having heard tales of the past auditions, over 250 athletes this time registered to be part of a final opportunity at the University of Benin in order to make the trip to Lagos for the Boot camp and also the finals.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2015/09/29/2015-top-sprinter-auditions-reach-climax-in-benin/#sthash.D8N6DGnw.dpuf

What a way to end the final day of Athletics at the 2015 All African Games, with Team Nigeria winning an additional three GOLDs on Thursday to cement what has been an impressive outing in Congo Brazzaville.

On Monday, it was just one GOLD for Nigeria, but from Tuesday it became a sequence of having three of that colour till it was curtains fall in the sport.

- See more at: http://www.makingofchamps.com/2015/09/18/athletics-ends-with-nigeria-winning-10-gold-medals-at-all-african-games/#sthash.EyJzvxnz.dpuf