Invited Junior Athletes, IJA, have set an early marker at their first ever National Sports Festival in Ogun state after denying the Elite Athletes four medals already, by winning two Gold, one silver and one bronze medal within the first three days of the Games.

Amarachi Chijioke and Scholastical Tekumbur made history winning the two gold, one silver and one bronze in the 45kg women category.

Chijioke claimed two gold medals in clean and jerk with the best lift of 82kg while Tekumbur, also claimed the bronze in clean and jerk.

The National Sports Commission, NSC, has continued to receive plenty of accolades for the IJA initiative introduced to the Festival as the 38th State and the early performance of the junior athletes within the first two days of the Games is already justifying the essence of the concept.

The NSC introduced the Invited junior Athletes concept so that Nigeria can start having a unique and scientific transition system between the upcoming junior athletes and the elite athletes.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, maintained that the IJA concept was designed to tie grassroots to elite Sports by bridging the transition gap that has existed in the past.

“ Ninety percent of the kids representing IJA are champions from the youth games and the ones that have upset the staquo by winning these medals have automatically been elevated to elite status and qualify for elite grants that will prepare them for the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Championships next year”.

” Being the first time we are having this concept we never expected them to win medals but just to get exposure by competing with the elite athletes but we can see with the four medals already won that the junior athletes we brought for this Games are really fancying their chances with the big boys”.

Thirty eight junior athletes across different sports are representing the Invited junior Athletes , IJA, at the Gateway Games.

Former national U20 forward Albert Hillary has lauded Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for their determined showing at the recently concluded U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where they clinched the bronze medal and, more importantly, secured qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.

Hillary, who himself once wore the green and white jersey at youth level, stated that while lifting the AFCON trophy would have been ideal, the primary mission of qualifying for the World Cup was successfully accomplished.

“Qualifying for the World Cup is usually the main objective in tournaments like this,” Hillary said. “The boys have done well to secure that, and they deserve credit for staying focused despite the semifinal setback.”

Nigeria edged hosts Egypt in the third-place match via a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, thanks to standout performances from Bidemi Amole and goalkeeper Ajia Yakub. The result was a strong finish for a side that had endured a mixed campaign but showed resilience in key moments.

Looking ahead, Hillary called on the coaching staff and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to intensify preparations ahead of the World Cup, noting that the team’s overall play must improve if they are to compete on the global stage.

“The technical crew needs to work on the team’s conversion rate and attacking cohesion,” he noted. “There is room for improvement, and I believe with proper support and adjustments, they can go far in Chile.”

As Nigeria celebrates a return to the global scene at the U-20 level, Hillary’s comments echo a growing sentiment: the bronze medal is a positive step, but the real test lies ahead.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, are scheduled to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 2:00 PM (local time) on Tuesday, where fans and officials are expected to welcome the bronze medalists back home.

Sports247.ng

Alex Iwobi has revealed how former Everton manager Frank Lampard played a key role in rescuing his career — while subtly taking a swipe at former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, according to Soccernet.ng.

The Nigeria international, now flourishing at Fulham, opened up about a turbulent period during his time at Everton and singled out Lampard as the manager who gave him the platform to rediscover himself.

Having worked under iconic figures such as Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery at Arsenal, and later Benitez at Everton, Iwobi surprised many by naming Lampard as the coach who had the biggest impact on his development.

Alex Iwobi credits Chelsea hero Lampard for career revival
Speaking on The Inside Scoop podcast, the 29-year-old said:

“Lampard, hands down. Lampard revived my career. One of the AFCONs I got sent off, I came back, and Rafa Benitez told me I would go out on loan.”

“I was having a mare, but then Benitez was gone. Lampard told me I would be going on loan to another country.

“I said, ‘I’m not doing that, I’d rather stay here and fight for my place.’ Lampard gives everyone a chance. In training, I’m a very good training player.

“He said, ‘You can do this in training, why can’t you do it in matches?’ I told him, ‘I’ve been told by previous managers to set the ball and run.’

“He then said, ‘No, do your own thing.’ He then put me in midfield, where I liked being on the ball. He said, ‘Express yourself, be you,’ and that’s where I revitalised my career. I’d say under Lampard was my best time.”

Iwobi’s shift into a central midfield role under Lampard at Everton proved to be a turning point. Known primarily as a winger earlier in his career, the former Arsenal man began to operate deeper, showcasing his vision, work rate, and ball control.

The positional change surprised many, particularly when Lampard deployed him in a sitting midfield role against Chelsea in August 2022 — a game in which Iwobi stood out for his discipline and intelligence on the ball.

Lampard had praised Iwobi’s humility and technical quality at the time, as the Nigerian went on to play a pivotal role in Everton’s fight against relegation.

Since moving to Fulham in 2023 under Marco Silva — another former Everton boss — Iwobi has taken his game up a notch. This season, he’s featured in all 37 of Fulham’s Premier League matches, starting 35 and coming off the bench twice, clocking up 2,970 minutes.

He has scored nine league goals and added six assists, picking up just one yellow card along the way. His last goal came against Chelsea in a 2-1 defeat on April 20, while his first of the campaign was against Leicester in a 2-1 win back in August.

Iwobi’s most recent appearance came in Fulham’s 3-2 win over Brentford on May 18, where he played 66 minutes. Next up is a daunting home fixture against title-chasing Manchester City on May 25