₦airaland Forum

selemempe:
So we qualified because U.S won their match? Typical.

I hope they don't get trashed in the Olympics

08/02/2020 GAME REPORT
USA breeze past Mozambique, hand Nigeria spot at the Olympics

BELGRADE (Serbia) - USA made it two wins from two with their 124-49 success against Mozambique also ensuring Nigeria qualify from Group A at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Despite their earlier defeat to Serbia, Nigeria are now guaranteed a top-three finish in the group with the hosts set for a crucial showdown with Mozambique tomorrow.

Turning Point: It was a rout from tip-to-buzzer as USA quickly asserted their authority and never looked back. A run of 16 straight points made it 45-10 early in the second period and the lead continued to grow.

Game Hero: Nneka Ogwumike showed out with 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with 9 rebounds with 10 players scoring at least 8+ points. Chelsea Gray was a key orchestrator of the offense with 12 assists.

Stats Don't Lie: USA's bench scored 68 points. Mozambique scored 49 as a team. And the two teams were some distance apart in the shooting percentages with USA up above 63 percent compared to their opponents' 24 percent.

Bottom Line: USA were able to spread the minutes throughout the roster in another fine tune-up and close out the tournament against Nigeria tomorrow. The decisive showdown will follow in the evening as Mozambique still have an outside shot if they can stun the hosts, Serbia.

08/02/2020 GAME REPORT

Serbia bounce back on home soil for first win in Belgrade

BELGRADE (Serbia) - Serbia secured the first of two needed wins against African opposition this weekend as they overcame Nigeria for a tight 70-64 victory.

One of three FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament hosts, Serbia are still not yet assured of a spot at the Tokyo Olympics and will have to finish their job on the final day of action.

Turning Point: Nigeria had the edge during the early stages, but Serbia made their move with a pivotal 16-4 spell across the first and second quarters to get a 33-26 lead. There was a third successive fourth quarter comeback on Day 2 in Belgrade as Nigeria closed to within six at 59-53 before another Serbian surge sealed the deal.

Game Hero: Jelena Brooks led from the front for the hosts with 17 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, while Sonja Vasic hit big shots in the fourth to finish with a game-high 21 points to guide her side home.

Stats Don't Lie: Serbia kept finding a way back to the line and were a perfect 14-of-14 with their free throws in the first half. And their perfect record continued in the second half with six more as they made the most of their opportunities, while Nigeria were at 68 percent.

Bottom Line: Half the job done for Serbia in their quest of a weekend double over African opposition. Another win tomorrow will book their place in Tokyo, though they could advance even in defeat. Meanwhile Nigeria might not have to wait until then with a USA win over Mozambique punching their ticket.

Angelfrost:
Perhaps I should have put it in highlights or asterisks...

I know exactly what a mega city means...

The real question is... Do the present and past governors know what it means??! Not just Lagos, but across the nation.

Most of them believe a mega city should be a city "devoid of the poor or struggling"!!!.. This is why a governor will up and pull down structures or institutions that keep the average citizens employed, without first providing an alternative.

Angelfrost:
True!!!...

There has always been a subtle and sublime move to push the poor out of Lagos into other neighboring states... From Ikoyi, Lekki, to the mainlands towards the outskirts.

Soon Ajegunle, Mushin, etc, will be given the full treatment and overhaul...

The drive to attain a mega city or state status is on... Sadly, it will come at a huge cost!!!

Eco2580:
Dont believe this crap.
Am currently on assignment in Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto so i knew what am talking about.

THE Nigerian Army has announced a ban in the operation of motorcycles within the forest of seven states in the North. They are Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi and Niger states.

“Anyone caught using motorcycles within the named areas will be taken for an armed bandit, criminal and kidnapper with dire consequences,” the army said in a statement, Sunday evening through its acting spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa.

#OccupyLagos will be happening tomorrow at Eko Atlantic.

We are converging at Silverbird Galleria by 9am and will be having a SILENT WALK to Eko Atlantic by 10am.

We maintain that this is a PEACEFUL PROTEST and we will NOT be disrupting the marathon and other activities.

INFORMATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING #OCCUPYLAGOS

We will like to thank everyone for the immense support we’ve gotten for the #OccupyLagos protest holding on Saturday (08/02/2020). We are ready to march tomorrow and look forward to protesting with you.

In view of this, please note the following information:

1. Security: we are determined to maintain a peaceful, law-abiding and civil protest. Please, note that we are working with security agents and we will not hesitate to hand over any defaulter to the authorities.

Alcohol, pepperspray, tasers, knives, blades and other weapons or objects with the semblance of weapons are also not allowed at the protest. We also implore protesters to avoid responding or getting aggravated if provoked. Thank you for your anticipated compliance.

2. Meeting point: protesters are to converge at 9am at the Silverbird Galleria, Ahmadu Bello way.

3. Blocked Roads/Coordination of movement: By 8/9am, Surulere should be free and Protesters who live on the mainland can start coming to the island.

Protesters are advised to pass through Surulere and Eko bridge from 8/9am. They can also pass 3MB if it’s open by the time they are moving. We will use the open group to coordinate movement tomorrow.

From 7:30/8am, please give any updates you have on open and closed roads, free and traffic-laden routes and the progress of the marathon and opening of roads on the open group.

4. Protest Plan: By 10am, all of us at Silverbird Galleria will be having a silent walk from there...

to Eko Atlantic, displaying only our placards. We will stop opposite the Eko Atlantic gate, form a long straight line and silently display our placards till the marathon is over. We will not be disrupting the marathon or other activities.

5. Publicity: Please, help use your social media presence to ensure information released is spread as far as possible.

6. Safety tips: please, come along with your means of identification. We reiterate that this is strictly a peaceful protest.

Again, We will not hesitate to hand over any defaulter to security agents at the event.

7. Health issues: we would advise anyone with health issues that may affect them during the protest to please avoid coming if it will be too tasking.

We won’t have a medical team and we don’t want anyone to put their health at risk.

8. Dress code: Wear something comfortable or sporty. Ensure your shoes are comfortable, sneakers are advisable.

9. Protest kits: please, come with your placards, markers and banners if possible.

If you can come with extra banners, placards, cardboards, markers for fellow protesters, please do so. We advise that you carry sling bags or light backpacks if you have to come with bags. Please keep your properties safe as we can not be responsible for them.

Items we advise you come with include face caps or hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, ID cards, bottles of water, towels/handkerchiefs, power backs and phone cords.

We look forward to seeing and marching peacefully with you tomorrow. Thank you again.

Litmus:
One of the Nigerian players did not look quite like a Nigerian for she had a protruding teeth-mouth - people don’t realise Nigerians very rarely have this feature, Nigerian faces, profile-wise are often flat. In any case, when I checked her name, she is called Amukamara. I thought Kamara is a Guinean or and sierra Leonean name.

06/02/2020 GAME REPORT1 MIN TO READ

Nigeria win battle of Africa to close in on Olympics return


BELGRADE (Serbia) - Nigeria celebrated a key victory as they overcame African counterparts Mozambique 85-51.

In a group also involving the formidable forces of USA and Serbia, the back-to-back FIBA Women's AfroBasket stated their intentions and now have a first Olympic appearance since 2004 within sight.


Turning Point: There was little to separate the two teams in a back and forth first quarter before Nigeria put the clamps on their opponents, conceding just 2 points in a six-minute stretch as they established a double-digit cushion by half-time. And, the gap only went in one direction from there.

Game Hero: Promise Amukamara had an impact off the bench, hitting her side's only triple of the first half, just before the buzzer, as part of a 14-point contribution, whilst rounding out her display with 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists.

Stats Don't Lie: An eye-watering 21 turnovers from Mozambique in the first 20 minutes hindered their cause and their eventual total hit 38 as they were forced to chase the game in the second half.

Bottom Line: Belgrade may only be around 5700 miles away from Tokyo, but Mozambique will feel a whole lot further away now as they need to conger up victory against either USA or Serbia - no mean feat. Nigeria certainly can't rest on their laurels even if they feel a huge step has been taken.