Sports
Sarah Ogoke: The Fearless Queen of Nigerian Women’s Basketball
Sarah Ogoke is a name that echoes power, pride, and performance in the world of African women’s basketball. Born on June 25, 1990, in The Bronx, New York, to Nigerian parents, she is a shining example of diasporan excellence channeled into national pride. Though raised in the United States, Sarah chose to represent Nigeria at the international level—and in doing so, became one of the most passionate and recognizable faces of the Nigerian women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress.
A shooting guard by position, Sarah Ogoke is known for her fierce competitiveness, vocal leadership, and no-nonsense approach to the game. She first made her mark playing collegiate basketball in the U.S. before taking her talents overseas to Europe and other international leagues, where she played professionally. But it is with the Nigerian national team that Sarah truly carved out her legacy.
She has represented Nigeria in multiple AfroBasket Women’s Championships, helping the team dominate the continent with back-to-back gold medals in 2017, 2019, and 2021. With a fiery spirit and relentless energy on the court, she quickly became a crowd favorite—not just for her skills, but for the heart she brought to every game. She often served as a vocal leader, rallying her teammates with chants of “Naija no dey carry last!”
Sarah also featured prominently in global tournaments like the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, where she faced off against some of the world’s best, holding her own with tenacity and pride. She is widely admired not just for her athletic talent, but for how deeply she embraces her Nigerian identity, proudly wearing the green and white jersey and speaking up for the growth of African women’s basketball.
Off the court, Sarah is equally committed to empowering young girls through sports, advocating for better funding, exposure, and opportunities for female athletes in Nigeria and across Africa. She has become a role model for aspiring players who look up to her as proof that women can lead, dominate, and inspire in sports at the highest levels.
Sarah Ogoke isn’t just a basketball player—she is a symbol of strength, identity, and the global Nigerian spirit. Through her game, she continues to break boundaries and uplift a new generation of African female athletes who now know that their place is not just on the court—but on the world stage.
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Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has joined La Liga club Villarreal following his release from Arsenal.
The 32-year-old, who signed for Arsenal in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid in 2020, left the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June.
Four days later, Partey was charged with five counts of rape against two women and a charge of s£xual assult against a third woman.
Partey, who denies the charges, was granted conditional bail on Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Under the conditions of the bail, Partey must not contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.
In a statement, Villarreal said: “The club is aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England.
“The player firmly maintains his innocence and denies all charges against him.
“The club respects the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case.
“Due to the law in England in relation to the ongoing proceedings the club is unable to comment further.”
The charges against Partey followed an investigation by detectives which started in February 2022.
Nearly 1,000 supporters have signed a petition set up by online content hub the Villarreal Report to protest Partey’s signing.
Villarreal’s statement added that it “wishes to clearly reiterate its strong commitment to respect and diversity and firmly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or any behaviour that undermines the dignity of individuals”.
Partey, who will join up with his new club on Friday, is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 2 September.
His move follows Villarreal’s 3-2 friendly win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
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Sports
Seven Super Falcons Players of Imo Origin Get Plots Of Land, ₦30 Million Each After Visiting Gov Uzodinma
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has rewarded seven Super Falcons players of Imo origin with ₦30 million each and plots of land in choice areas of Owerri, following Nigeria’s recent victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The announcement was made during a special dinner reception held in honour of the players at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Owerri, as part of the state’s recognition of their heroic contribution to the national team’s historic triumph.
Speaking at the event, Governor Uzodinma described the honour as the state’s way of celebrating excellence and encouraging more women to venture into sports.
“We are proud of your sterling performance. You have made Nigeria and Imo State proud,” he said.
“As a token of our appreciation, each of you will receive a plot of land in a choice area in Owerri and a cash gift of ₦30 million. This is our way of celebrating your heroism and encouraging young girls to dream big.”
The Super Falcons players from Imo State who were honoured include:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Goalkeeper and captain)
Jennifer Echegini
Tochukwu Oluchi
Chinwendu Ihezuo
Osinachi Ohale
Michelle Alozie
Ifeoma Onumonu
Members of the technical crew from the state were also included in the reward package.
Governor Uzodinma commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being the first to celebrate the Falcons’ WAFCON success.
“President Tinubu set the pace in recognising and celebrating excellence, and as a state, we are proud to follow in that direction,” he said.
He assured that Imo would continue to invest in sports to build a pipeline of talent that will represent Nigeria with pride on the international stage.
Uzodinma Urges Women to Strive for Excellence
The governor also used the opportunity to inspire young women and girls across the state to pursue their dreams fearlessly.
“To our daughters and young girls watching, let this be your motivation. Compete for the best, push your limits, and don’t let anything hold you back,” he charged.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Obinna Onyeocha, praised the governor for his passion and financial commitment to sports in the state.
“Your Excellency, your actions continue to show that sports development is a priority in this administration. This event is a clear manifestation of your dedication,” Onyeocha said.
The colourful event was attended by top government functionaries, traditional rulers, sports enthusiasts, and the family members of the honoured players.
The Super Falcons’ victory in Morocco marked Nigeria’s 12th WAFCON title, with the Imo-born stars playing pivotal roles in securing the historic win.
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Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have claimed their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final match of the 2025 tournament held in Kigali, Rwanda.
It was reports that the D’Tigress defeated Senegal 75-68 in the semifinals to book their place in the final.
Nigeria’s win over Mali in the final earlier today, August 3, marks D’Tigress’ seventh AfroBasket title overall and extends their remarkable unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games, a streak that began in 2015.
They are now the first African team, male or female, to win the continental title five times in a row.
The tightly contested game saw D’Tigress hold a narrow 61-56 lead at the end of the third quarter, but the defending champions dominated the final quarter, outscoring Mali 17-8 to seal the win.
Head coach Rena Wakama, who was appointed in 2023, continues to make history with the team. She became the first woman to lead a team to an AfroBasket title in 2023 and has now secured back-to-back championships.
Note that Wakama, 33, also previously led Nigeria to their first-ever Olympic quarterfinals.
D’Tigress coach Rena Wakama
The 2025 championship adds to Nigeria’s earlier AfroBasket wins in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
D’Tigress have not lost a single game at the Women’s AfroBasket tournament in ten years, maintaining a perfect record across five consecutive editions.
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