-Ikenna Okafor
Africa is undoubtedly endowed with great talents in sports. The VIP Sports Stars is a weekly showcase of the performances of some of Africa’s best in individual and team sporting activities.
VIP Magazine’s IKENNA OKAFOR presents a review of Africa’s VIP Stars and their performance in the sporting world over the weekend.
NIGERIA men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, on Saturday in Abidjan defeated Guinea in their second match of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers. D’Tigers lost their first match against Cote D’Ivoire in the opening fixture. AMANZE EGEKEZE, METU and UCHE IROEGBU were among the top performers. However, they lost their second game 67-70 to Angola on Sunday. The qualifiers will continue in February 2023. They are vying for a slot in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines in August 2023
EGYPT and Liverpool of England’s attacker, MOHAMMED SALAH was on the winning side on Saturday in the English premier league. Salah’s Liverpool demolished Bournemouth 9-0. Uncharacteristically, Salah was not among the goalscorers as he failed to record any assist despite playing the entire duration of the game which saw the Reds record their first win this season.
NIGERIA and Almeria of Spain gangling striker UMAR SADIQ’s 55th-minute goal was enough to secure a 2-1 home victory against Sevilla in the La-Liga. It was Almeria’s first maximum point of the current calendar. Sadiq was on the pitch from the beginning until the final whistle.
SENEGAL and Bayern Munich forward SADIO MANE was named in the starting lineup when the Bavarians played out a one-all draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga on Saturday evening. However, Mane was yanked off in the 68th minute as coach Julian Nagelsmann introduced Serge Gnabry
BURKINA FASO and AC Ajaccio winger, CYRILLE BAYALA’s goal was not enough as they were thrashed three goals to one by Lille in the French Ligue 1.
ANGOLA and Spezia of Italy’s star M’BALA NZOLA got his name on the scoresheet as his team were forced to a 2-2 draw by Sassuolo in the Italian Serie A on Saturday. His well-taken penalty in first-half added time ensured Spezia’s half-time lead. NZOLA was on the pitch for 90 minutes.
NIGERIA and Nantes of France forward, MOSES SIMON was among the goalscorers as his team toppled Toulouse 3-1 in the French Ligue 1. Moses, who had a fantastic outing, scored in the 61st minute and was replaced by Lohann Doucett in the 80th minute
NIGERIA’s World record holder in the Women’s 100m hurdles, TOBI AMUSAN failed to replicate her performance at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday. Tobi was beaten by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Costa Rica
AFRICANS dominated the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase event at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.
MORROCCO’s SOUFIANE EL-BAKKALI won the gold medal while ETHIOPIA’s HAILEMARIYAM AMARE and KENYA’s LEONARD KIPKEMOI BETT won the silver and bronze medals respectively.
COTE D’IVOIRE’s JOSEE- MARIE TA LOU claimed the bronze medal in the Women’s 100m at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting. She returned in a time of 10.98 behind Aleia Hobbs of the United States and Shericka Jackson of Jamaica
KENYA’s ABEL KIPSANG also won the Silver medal in the Men’s 1500m.
BURUNDI’s FRANCINE NIYONSABA was the fastest in the Women’s 3000m while KENYA’s BEATRICE CHEBET claimed the bronze medal in the same race.
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