Bold Sports Weekly | Edition 008

Hello,

Last Friday, we asked whether D’Tigress could break new ground at the Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Berlin delivered a painful answer.

Nigeria lost to Korea and Hungary before France completed the campaign with a 111-56 defeat. Three games, three losses and an early journey home for a team that arrived as African champions and Olympic quarter-finalists.

The world stage can be unforgiving.

The Falconets are learning that too. They have one point from their first two World Cup matches and must now beat New Caledonia to give themselves a chance of progressing.

Yet the week has also brought reasons to look forward.

Edo Queens have earned their place at the CAF Women’s Champions League. Seun Ogunsakin has ended a 36-year Nigerian wait at a Grand Slam. Nine Nigerian athletes are in Budapest for a new global athletics championship.

Getting there matters. Being ready when the competition begins matters even more.

Welcome to Edition 008.

Let’s get into it.

D’Tigress arrived in Berlin with expectations built by years of African dominance and their historic run to the Paris Olympic quarter-finals.

They left without a victory.

Korea exposed Nigeria’s perimeter defence and punished 23 turnovers in a 99-81 win. Hungary controlled most of the second game before surviving Nigeria’s late fightback. France then made a Women’s World Cup-record 22 three-pointers in a 111-56 rout.

Nigeria conceded 281 points across three matches. The team that built its reputation on pressure, aggression and disrupting opponents could not impose that identity consistently.

The preparation question is more complicated than saying there were not enough games. D’Tigress played across the United States, China and Europe. The greater problem was continuity. Head coach Rena Wakama was absent for much of the programme and rejoined the team only shortly before the tournament.

The World Cup does not erase what Nigeria achieved in Paris. It does show that African dominance and one historic Olympic campaign cannot protect a team from falling behind.

The next step is finding out why.

Edo Queens twice came from behind against Ampem Darkoa Ladies before winning the WAFU B final 4-1 on penalties.

Doosuur Anastasia Atume finished as the tournament’s leading scorer, while 16-year-old Oluwakemi Adegbuyi was named its best player. The victory sends Edo Queens back to the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Nigeria earned their first point at the U-20 Women’s World Cup after holding China to a goalless draw in Sosnowiec.

The Falconets, who lost 2-0 to Spain in their opening game, must now beat New Caledonia on Sunday and hope the wider group calculations favour them.

Nigeria’s four representatives avoided defeat in the opening legs of their continental ties.

Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors recorded home victories, while Rivers United and Rangers drew their Champions League matches. The job must now be completed in this weekend’s return legs.

FIFA and CAF have requested that the NFF electoral process remain suspended while they assess the legal and governance implications of the recent leadership changes.

The two bodies are also planning a joint mission to Abuja. Until that process is completed, the resignations and proposed reform structure should not be treated as formally approved by FIFA.

Seun Ogunsakin defeated 15th seed Kuan-Shou Chen 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in the opening round of the US Open junior boys’ singles.

The victory made the 17-year-old the first Nigerian since Nduka Odizor in 1990 to win a Grand Slam main-draw singles match. His campaign ended against South Africa’s Connor Doig in the second round, but the milestone remains.

Kanyinsola Ajayi ran 9.97 seconds to finish third in the men’s 100m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

It was another sub-10-second performance in a season that has established the 21-year-old among the world’s leading sprinters.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored for a sixth consecutive league game as Bursaspor defeated Manisa FK 2-1.

The run is the longest of his senior club career and has placed him firmly at the centre of Bursaspor’s attack.

The World Athletics Ultimate Championship begins in Budapest on Friday with an ambitious promise: the best athletes, significant prize money and three nights designed for television.

Its $10 million prize fund is the largest attached to a single athletics competition. Individual champions will receive $150,000.

The changes extend beyond money. The programme has been compressed into short evening sessions. The infield is black, augmented-reality graphics will help explain events and illuminated throwing implements are intended to make field events easier to follow.

For World Athletics, Budapest is an experiment.

If the format works, some of its ideas could eventually influence the presentation of the World Championships and Olympic Games. If it fails, the Ultimate Championship may become another well-funded event that struggled to create meaning for viewers.

Applications are open for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 Volunteer Programme.

More than 6,000 volunteers will be recruited across the tournament’s eight host cities. Available areas include media, technology, competition management, transport and spectator services.

Applicants must be at least 18, available during the tournament and legally permitted to enter Brazil. Portuguese or English proficiency is required.

The inaugural Ultimate Championship brings together 381 athletes from 65 countries for three nights of competition in Budapest.

Tobi Amusan, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Udodi Onwuzurike will compete in individual events. Nigeria will also contest the mixed 4x100m relay.

Nigeria need victory over New Caledonia to retain a chance of reaching the U-20 Women’s World Cup knockout rounds.

Augustine Eguavoen has been appointed interim head coach of the Super Falcons ahead of Nigeria’s Olympic qualifying campaign.

The former Super Eagles coach takes over after the NFF removed Justin Madugu and his technical crew following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Deborah Abiodun will undergo surgery after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Washington Spirit.

The midfielder will miss the remainder of the club season, with her absence also creating another problem for the Super Falcons ahead of their Olympic qualifiers.

Nigeria will face Russia in an international friendly in October.

The match will give the Super Eagles another opportunity to assess players.

Femi Azeez is nearing his Brighton debut after recovering from the injury that interrupted the beginning of his Premier League career.

Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler has praised the midfielder’s versatility and the qualities he could add to the team.

David Akintola has left Hull City for Cypriot club Omonia after finding his opportunities limited following the club’s promotion.

The move offers the winger a fresh start and the prospect of more regular football.

Edo Queens have earned another place at the CAF Women’s Champions League.

They should celebrate it. Then the work must begin.

Players must be retained. Weak positions must be strengthened. Travel, bonuses, accommodation and preparation games should be addressed before the tournament arrives.

Nigeria has seen clubs spend so much energy qualifying for continental competition that the qualification itself begins to feel like the final achievement.

D’Tigress have just provided a difficult reminder that previous success offers no protection when the next competition begins.

Edo Queens have secured their opportunity.

What they do before arriving at the tournament may determine what they can achieve when they get there.

We will be back next Friday.

Oluwatosin Oluwalowo
Editor-in-Chief
Bold Sports

boldsportsng.com

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