NAIJAFEED

Thursday, August 8, 2024

USA end Nigeria's fairytale in Women's Basketball at Paris Olympics

USA raced past Nigeria 78-55 in the Quarter-Finals of the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 as they brought the stunning and record-breaking run of their opponents to an end.

While it was business as usual for USA as they continue to bear down on yet another successful title defense, Nigeria bowed out of the competition as basketball heroes.

They made history in so many ways and stepped off the court having been the first African team (men or women) to have even competed at this stage.
Turning point

There wasn't one in truth, USA just gradually used their talent and superior depth to slowly and steadily pull further and further clear. Only a late Nigeria flurry of points cut the margin to a more respectable level.

Game heroes

A'ja Wilson had another game to remember, with the forward posting a performance efficiency valuation of 32 after producing 20 points from a 9 of 11 shooting effort - as well as grabbing 11 rebounds.

Stats don't lie

USA finishing with 70% shooting from two-point range is an epic number even for the defending Olympic champions.

Bottom Line

USA are looking like they are ready for their 'medal' games and completely locked in and on course for their usual success The forwards in particular are in good form and it will take something special to stop A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner - either in the Semi-Finals or the Final if they make it as expected.

Nigeria have been sensational. The underdogs attained historical and unprecedented success, winning the hearts of basketball fans not only in Africa, but beyond. Beating Australia and Canada showed their potential, while they didn't let USA have it all their own way in this last outing. Rene Wakama and her players have done an amazing job.

They said

"We're feeling really good as we got a lot of great contributions from everyone. We had to make sure that we came out with the right mindset and mentality. We knew how Nigeria played and we had to be ready for the physicality. It's amazing to play in front of different fans whether it is here in Paris or in Lille at these Olympics. [The USA program] It's the gold standard as we expect to go and win gold. We know that everything leading up to this was hugely important. We know that we carry a lot because of those who have played before us." USA forward, Breanna Stewart "This team is one of a kind. I am blessed to be a part of this team and this group. These girls never give up and they always keep fighting through any adversity. We are going out, but I think we are not going out on any kind of negative note. I think we accomplished something big this year and we need to build on this for the future." Nigeria forward, Pallas Kunaiyi Akpana

Quick notes

- The USA remains undefeated in the quarter-finals at the Olympics, winning their eight game in this phase: however, this was their closest win at the quarter-finals of the Olympics, with their seven previous games being all won by 15 or more points.

- Nigeria scored more than 73 points in consecutive games for the first time at the Olympics: their 26 points in the fourth quarter of today’s game are the most the USA has ever allowed in the last quarter of a game in the competition. - The USA have made 30+ assists for the 10th time at the Olympics, while no other team have had more than three such games in the history of the competition. They are the only team to have had multiple games with more than 30 assists in a single tournament: this year and in 2016. - With her four assists in tonight’s game, Diana Taurasi is the fifth player to have dished out 100+ assists at the Olympics; she is the only player to have made 300+ points and 100+ assists in the competition. - A’Ja Wilson completed her fifth double-double at the Olympics (20pts & 11reb), more than any other player in the competition since Wilson debuted in Tokyo 2020; this was her second double-double against Nigeria after having 19 points and 13 rebounds in the last Olympics.

FIBA

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Protesters in Nigeria ignore President Tinubu’s plea to stop demonstrating

Protestors turned out on Monday despite the president's request. However, Monday's demonstrations were considerably smaller than the initial ones.

CGTN

Oil output in Nigeria rises on improved security, Navy chief says

Nigeria's oil output has risen to between 1.6 million and 1.7 million barrels per day after the government beefed up security to curb crude theft, Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla said on Tuesday.

Crude production in Nigeria, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), stood at 1.2 million barrels per day in February, Ogalla said. Oil major Shell has exited the country.

"We have stepped up surveillance and enforcement in the oil producing areas," the naval chief said.

"Right now, as we speak, the Nigerian Navy has 12 vessels on the sea to protect oil production and stem oil theft. We have arrested over 16 vessels, so far."

Ogalla said the force has blocked channels for the sale of illegally refined petroleum products.

The country's oil minister Heineken Lokpobiri said in May that Nigeria could produce 6 million barrels of oil per day with adequate investment in its energy sector.

He added that Nigeria and other African oil-producing countries lack the capital to explore and produce their oil and gas.

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters

Nigeria detains tailors who made Russian flags for anti-government protests

Nigeria has detained some tailors for making Russian flags that were waved during anti-government protests this week in northern states, the state secret police said, in a move that underscores concerns about increased Russian activity in western Africa.

The Department of State Services (DSS) also said in a post on X that it had detained some of the tailors' "sponsors", without elaborating. It said an investigation was ongoing. It did not say how many tailors or "sponsors" had been detained.

Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described the brandishing of a foreign flag during anti-government protests as a "treasonable offence" after he held security talks with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.

"We have identified those (sponsoring them) and we are going to take serious action against that," Musa told reporters, also without elaborating.

Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting since Aug. 1 against Tinubu's painful economic reforms that have seen a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation and inflation touching three-decade highs.

The protests have now ebbed after a deadly police crackdown.

In the northern states of Borno, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina, protesters were seen waving hundreds of Russian flags with some calling for a military takeover.

"We are waving the Russian flag because Tinubu's government is not listening to us. Russian presidents always support African nations' development, unlike other nations," Lawal Kodo, a 28-year old protester in Kano, told Reuters on Monday.

RUSSIA 'NOT INVOLVED'

The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement.

"The Government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way," the embassy said in a statement issued late on Monday.

The protests in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, come amid increased Western concerns over Russian security ties with the region, including countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger where military leaders have seized power in coups.

Security experts said many Nigerian protesters believe that the cost of living crisis is the result of reforms dictated to Tinubu by Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"The Russian flags that appeared during the protests in northern states, and the calls for a military coup, reflect discontent over the government's policies rather than showcasing support for a Russia-backed military government," said Mucahid Durmaz, Senior Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence firm.

By Ope Adetayo and Hamza Ibrahim, Reuters

Protesters in Nigeria arrested for waving Russian flag

About 40 people have been arrested in northern Nigeria for waving Russia's national flag during protests against the high cost of living and what they feel is "bad governance".

Amid this crackdown, army chief Christopher Musa warned that it is a "treasonable offence" to fly the flags of foreign countries.

Nigeria has seen six days of nationwide protests, in which at least seven people have died and more than 700 have been arrested.

Demonstrators have been chanting slogans such as "we are hungry", while a minority have been pictured waving Russia's flag and voicing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to local media, some of these protesters have called on Moscow to "rescue" them.

The subsequent arrests are seen as an attempt to stifle any fledgling support for Russia in Nigeria, a leading oil producer and a key ally of Western powers.

Several countries in the wider region of West Africa - including Nigeria's neighbour, Niger - have pivoted away from the West and towards Russia after recent military coups.

Civilian governments backed by the likes of France and the US had rapidly lost popularity - critics accused them of failing to tackle insecurity, corruption and economic problems.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu came to power in May 2023 after winning fiercely contested elections.

Satisfaction with his leadership has plummeted, with many blaming his policies for the sharp increase in the cost of living.

He scrapped a long-standing state subsidy on fuel in his inauguration speech, causing pump prices to rise. The move also had a knock-on effect on the cost of food and other basic commodities.

Mr Tinubu has urged frustrated Nigerians to be patient, insisting his policies would bear fruit.

He has appealed for an end to the protests and held a meeting with security chiefs on Monday to assess their scale.

Afterwards, army chief Christopher Musa said: "We are warning in clear terms that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria. That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such."

The Russian embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from the demonstrations, saying that the flags were the "personal choices" of protesters.

"As always, we emphasise that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria," it added.

On Monday, the north-western states of Kaduna and Zamfara saw a massive turnout of demonstrators.

Kaduna police spokesman Mansir Hassan said 39 people were arrested there, including a tailor who was "sewing the foreign flags for the group".

Close to 40 Russian flags were confiscated, as well as a Chinese one, he added.

A curfew has now been imposed in Kaduna - the sixth state to take such action since last week, forcing millions of people to stay at home.

In a statement, Nigeria's secret service said tailors have also been arrested in Kano state for "making Russian flags".

"Some of their sponsors have also been picked. Investigation is ongoing," it said.

Rights group Amnesty International says 13 people have been killed since protests began last week and accused security forces of using excessive force against demonstrators.

Mr Tinubu addressed the nation on Sunday and said his government was committed to addressing the concerns of protesters.

He added that the protests had been hijacked by looters in some areas, and ending the unrest would create room for dialogue.

By Chris Ewokor & Wycliffe Muia, BBC