Nigerian champions, Rivers Hoopers, continued their unbeaten run at the Sahara Conference of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), securing their third consecutive victory with an impressive 21-point blowout against former BAL champions, US Monastir. The KingsMen clinched an authoritative 84-63 win in a commanding display on Tuesday.

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Following a day of rest on Monday, Rivers Hoopers, buoyed by back-to-back victories over AS Douanes from Senegal and APR from Rwanda, showcased their prowess from the onset against US Monastir. The team displayed a relentless offensive onslaught, highlighted by consecutive threes from Will Perry, establishing a commanding 12-point lead at 14-2 within the first five minutes of play.

Maintaining their offensive momentum, the Hoopers continued to dominate in shooting, concluding the first quarter with a notable 9-point advantage at 25-16. The team’s quick start persisted into the second quarter, with early scoring extending their lead further. Notably, a spectacular alley-oop executed by BAL Elevate player David Ike, connecting with a precise pass from Kelvin Amayo, showcased the Hoopers’ offensive prowess and teamwork.

The comprehensive victory underscores Rivers Hoopers’ formidable form and determination in the ongoing BAL campaign, positioning them as strong contenders in the Sahara Conference. With each victory, the Nigerian champions solidify their presence as a force to be reckoned with on the African basketball stage, further enhancing their reputation within the continent’s basketball community.

As the tournament progresses, Rivers Hoopers aim to maintain their winning streak and secure additional victories, bolstering their prospects of advancing to the latter stages of the competition. Their consistent performances reflect a blend of skill, strategy, and resilience, affirming their status as one of the standout teams in the Basketball Africa League.

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has revealed that Bayelsa State will serve as the host for the highly-anticipated 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership Super Six tournament. Scheduled to take place from Thursday, May 16th to Sunday, May 26th, 2023, the championship will unfold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

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The decision to award Bayelsa the hosting rights came after a thorough review of bid interests from several states vying to host the playoff competition. Nkechi Obi, the NWFL chairman, expressed congratulations to Bayelsa State, highlighting the potential for the event to elevate women’s football within the region and across Nigeria.

This marks the first occasion that Bayelsa State will host the NWFL Premiership playoff tournament. Yenagoa, the capital, is also the home ground of Bayelsa Queens, who achieved notable success in the 2022 NWFL Premiership, clinching the domestic title, WAFU-B playoff, and securing a third-place finish at the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League held in Morocco.

The NWFL Premiership Super Six playoff will adopt a round-robin format, with each participating team contesting five matches in pursuit of the coveted title. The tournament’s schedule, outlined by Modupe Shabi, the NWFL’s Chief Operating Officer, includes a pre-match meeting and draw on Friday, May 17th, with the playoff commencing on Saturday, May 18th, and concluding on Sunday, May 26th.

Six prominent teams will compete for the Nigerian league crown, having qualified as the top three finishers from two groups during the regular season. The participating teams include host Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Confluence Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and Heartland Queens.

Notable group leaders such as Nasarawa Amazons and Rivers Angels, along with other competitive sides, are poised to deliver thrilling matchups throughout the tournament. The eventual winner of the Super Six tournament will earn the opportunity to represent Nigeria in the WAFU-B qualifiers for the 4th CAF Women’s Champions League, enhancing the stakes and significance of the competition.

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has lauded the appointment of Finidi George as the head coach of the Nigeria national team, expressing his admiration for the former Nigerian football legend.

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Troost-Ekong spoke highly of Finidi’s illustrious career, particularly highlighting his achievements with Ajax in the Netherlands and Real Betis in Spain. He also acknowledged Finidi’s recent success with Enyimba in winning the league, emphasizing the coach’s significant contributions to Nigerian football.

“George Finidi is someone who is a legend. In African football, and Nigerian football, even here in Greece, whenever ex-Nigerian players are mentioned, Finidi’s name always comes up. Especially growing up in Holland, just outside Amsterdam, for someone who played so much for Ajax and achieved so much there, he’s someone I look up to and feel very connected to,” Troost-Ekong remarked.

Troost-Ekong also praised Finidi’s humility, noting, “He is always very humble, too humble for what he has achieved. Everyone recognizes the work he did for Enyimba last year when he won the league. So, for him to now get the chance to be the interim head coach [now the full-time head coach], I am very happy to see that. He’s a great guy.”

The Super Eagles are currently preparing for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic. Troost-Ekong, who is recovering from surgery following an injury sustained at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, expressed his eagerness to return to action for Nigeria under Finidi’s leadership.