September 12, 1983

Sports - Nigerian Sportsmen Shine

In other areas of international sports, the outstanding performance of Nigerian sportsmen won a tribute from President Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Addressing a contingent of young footballers who arrived from Spain and Mexico where they won in three competitions the President was compelled to promise that his administration would continue to assist sports development in the country.

Nigeria won both the Satellite World Cup in Mexico and the World Cup Winners Cup competition for Youth Clubs in Madrid, Spain.

In addition, the team won a special competition in Mexico and Columbia.

This is the third time that Nigeria has won the World Youths Clubs Championships: in 1980 in Sweden; in 1983 in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and now in Madrid, Spain.

Nigeria's fortunes in recent International sports competitions which were. highlighted by "lone Ambassador '' Odizor's impressive performance during this year's Wimbledon tennis Championships continue to brighten.

For while a government probe awaited Africa's reputed athletes from Kenya into their sloppy performance in the just ended first world athletics meet in Helsinki, Nigerian Athletes were effectively registering Africa's presence on the international scene.

This they did through Ajayi Agbebaku whose best of 17.18 metres in the men's triple jump won Africa her lone medal, a bronze, Agbebaku was unfortunate not to have done ever better. The big 26 year old graduate of the University. of Texas, EL Paso jumped the same distance as second placed American Willie Banks but lost out to him when the other jumps were considered.

The team fared as follows:

World Youths Clubs Championships:

Nigeria 2 Austria 1
Nigeria 5 Holland 0
Nigeria 0 Spain 0

Nigeria 6 Portugal 0 in the Semi final.
Nigeria 1 Spain 0 in the final

Satellite World Cup Mexico:

Nigeria 3 Agbalez Island 1
Nigeria 2 Guatemala 1
Nigeria 1 Mexico (B) 0
Nigeria 2 Mexico (Junior National Team) 1 in the semi-final
Nigeria 1 Mexico (selected) 0 in the final Four-Nation Special Tournament - Mexico

Nigeria 3 France 1 in the semi-final
Nigeria 6 Mexico 2 in extra time after 2-2 tie at full time, in the final.

And to top these impressive performances, the team also won the "Best conduct on and off the field”. It is also recalled that the Nigeria athletics contingent performed brilliantly at the recent World University Games in Canada.

"The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognise that we ought to control our thoughts" — Chales Darwin.