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Falconets aim for another big win against Togo

Still thrilled by their 7-0 spanking of the U-20 girls of Niger Republic in the opening match of Group B of the on-going WAFU B U-20 Women Championship in Kumasi, Nigeria’s Falconets cannot wait for today to fire from all cylinders once more, against their Togolese counterparts, to reach the tournament’s semifinals before their match against Burkina Faso on Sunday. Forward Opeyemi Ajakaye, who won a FIFA U-17 World Cup bronze medal with the Flamingos in India last year, turned up with a hat-trick, and defender Jumoke Alani and midfielder Chinyere Kalu were also among the goalscorers as the World Cup quarterfinalists steamrolled the girls from Niamey on Sunday. Victory over the Togolese today, will assure the Falconets of a place in the semifinals, which is why they will pull no punches right from kickoff by 6.00 p.m. at the Baba Yara Stadium. On Sunday, the Falconets will be up against Burkina Faso in the last match of Group B, scheduled for the Paa Joe Stadium also in Kumasi. Hosts, Ghana heads Group A, which also has the Republic of Benin and Cote d’Ivoire.

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Yasin Haji returns to defend Okpekpe 10km Road Race

He ran 59:52 to win the Istanbul Half Marathon in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of last month and will be looking to become the fifth Kenyan winner of the Okpekpe 10km title. In the women’s race, a new course record also looks to be in the offing following the quality of the elite cast for the event. Kenya’s Edith Jepchumba will lead the cast of athletes aiming to rewrite the 32:41 course record set by Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew in 2014. The Kenyan ran a 30:53 lifetime best over the distance last February, nearly two minutes inside the course record and she is the fastest athlete among the elite cast confirmed for the race. Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde has also ran inside Ayalew’s course record when she clocked 32:00 to come in behind Jepchumba in Castellon, Spain last February. Abigail Jelimo will be seeking to get the gold this time after running 33.53 to place third at the eighth edition of the Okpekpe race last year. Meanwhile, former Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police and now Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, yesterday, commended owner of the Okpekpe 10km race, Mike Itemuagbor, for sustaining the world-class road running event in Nigeria. He said: “Kudos to Mike (Itemuagbor), the great sports lover and administrator for putting the rural Okpekpe community on the map of the world. Okpekpe race has come to stay because of our brother, who has been able to sustain it over the years.” The ninth Okpekpe International 10km Road Race will hold on Saturday in Okpekpe, Etsako East Council of Edo State. Edo State government, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dan Oil, Petralon Energy Limited and Development Bank, back the race.

Orban nominated for Gent’s Player of the Season award in Belgium

Gent’s Gift Emmanuel Orban celebrates after scoring during a soccer match between SV Zulte Waregem and KAA Gent, Sunday 12 March 2023 in Waregem. Photo: AFP