The Abesan community and its axis of Lagos State came alive on Sunday, when the finals of the 2nd edition of Musa Kida Basketball Competition held at the Abesan Mini-Stadium.

The first game of the day was between JF Warriors who defeated Heat Kings 14-12 to win the third place in the boys category. While SDM Academy emerged winners in the girls category with a 13-2 win over Heat Kings in the final.

The final game in the boys category could be described as a David against Goliat clash, as smallish Warlords Academy gave their bigger opponents Estate Kings, a run for their lives in the game that had the appreciable crowd baying for more end to end actions from the first jump ball.At the end of the pulsating game, Estate Kings edged hard-fighting Warlords Academy 46-32 to emerge the champions.

In his goodwill message, the sponsor, Engr. Musa Kida, who was ably represented by his media aide, Asiwaju Akeem Busari, thanked the organisers Wonderland Sports, led by Tayo Adeyemo, as well as, the teams and officials on the organisation, standards of play and high level of discipline during the competition.

He promised to continue to do more in his personal capacity towards the development of basketball in Nigeria, even as he promised to ensure the competition gets better and bigger in subsequent editions.

Friday 25 October 2024 was a day to be remembered in the lives of Nigerian athletes who represented the country at the 2024 Paralympic Games held in Paris, France as the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) organised a gala night to appreciate them as worthy ambassadors.

The gala night held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Ikeja, Lagos, also witnessed the award of Patronage to sports-loving Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, and other notable Nigerians who have identified with the course of the Paralympic Movement in the country.

In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, described the athletes as gifted Nigerians who used their talents to make the entire nation proud in Paris.

“These athletes have shown us that there is an ability in disability. This night is a historical event to celebrate the outstanding of our paralympic athletes and the PCN Board for doing a great job.

“I appreciate the performance of our athletes at the Paris Paralympics to bring glory to our nation.

They have demonstrated that no challenges are surmountable.

“For more than two decades our para-athletes have demonstrated excellence with their gift to do the nation proud,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Speaking on the PCN’s award of patronage to him, the governor noted that “I am happy to be decorated as a Patron. There is no doubt that para-sports have elevated Nigeria’s global profile.

“I pledge as a Patron to always advocate for greater investment in sports. I want to commend the Board of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria for its unwavering dedication to taking the game to the next level,” the governor said.

To the President of PCN, Mr Sunday Odebode, “This gala night is organized to celebrate all Nigeria’s 2024 Paris Paralympics medalists. They have done us proud.”

The PCN boss the board is leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the athletes perform better in the future, adding that “to tackle current challenges, our executive board is excited to unveil the next phase of our vision; the N2.7 billion Paralympic Village Multipurpose Hall, a state of the art facility to support our athletes training and development,” Odebode said.

Super Falcons interim coach, Justin Madugu has listed six foreign-based professionals and Nigeria womens pre-season league highest goal scorer Janet Semenya who currently plays for Nasarawa Amazon for Nigeria’s upcoming friendlies against Algeria.

Janet who netted eight goals in four games for Nasarawa Amazon to become the leading and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Betty obaseki Pre-season Women’s League and win the tourney will feature for Nigeria in the international friendly games slated for Lagos.

Semenya In 2020 had represented Hallelujah Queens of Ikeja, Lagos, a youth football club, she later moved to Asisat Oshoala Academy girls on loan where she scored 28 goals in 12 games. She was also the leading goal scorer for the Nike sponsored academy during the Federation Cup until she moved to Nasarawa Amazon.

The overseas stars called up by Madugu are goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC), captain Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid), Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburg), Monday Gift (UD Tenerife) and Esther Onyenazide (Hapoel Katamon).

The players will prosecute the friendlies alongside their home-based counterparts.

The friendlies are slated for October 26 and October 29.

The two matches will be played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Nigeria and Algeria will use the friendlies to prepare for the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.