By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
NIGERIAN ON Thursday night at the 4th African Youth Games in Luanda Angola used the Rope A Dope and the One inch punch tactics of legendary world boxing icon, Muhammed Ali to book a twin victory in the semifinals of the Games waiting at the door of the dressing room for a double Gold to Nigeria in the finals tomorrow Friday.
Nigeria’s only female entry who home girl, Zola Lando ran from refusing to come out of the dressing room only on Wednesday in the quarterfinal, got a chance to fight for the Gold when she got a neat split decision victory over Ouslati Tasnim of Tunisia in the 48kg class.
Both Mayowa and Ouslati were tensed up by shouts from supporters as the hall waited for the Ring Side Announcer to call out the results and as it was announced that Mayowa won, she jumped up, ran to her coach, Anthony Konyegwachi to give him a scintillating hug that made those around wink and thumbs up the Nigerian performance.
Star boy, Abijuwon Olalekan Farouq got a wonderful unanimous decision win over William Laryee of Ghana in the 50kg class thereby validating Nigeria’s superiority in the famous Nigeria-Ghana Jollof war. Someone humorously shouted “Ghana no dey put Ponmo for dem Jollof”.
Cover photo shows Star Boy, Abijuwon Farouq with Nigerian Team officials after his win over Williams of Ghana.
However, home boy Wisdom Pedro backed by a high vociferous Angolan support that rocked the hall, stopped Nigeria’s Joshua Solomon by a painful split decision in the 70kg class making Nigeria to record a Boxing Bronze medal at the Luanda Games and a miss in that category for a shot at the Olympic Youth Games in Senegal next year.
It was learnt that the Vice President of the NBBF, Hon. Imadu ordered that a hold be put on attempts to pop up wine until after the finals tomorrow Friday as the Nigerian cam fervently believe two Gold medals will be in the kitty when the Boxing events closes.
Efforts to get Nigeria talk about preparations for the Twin Gold dreams on Friday proved abortive as the secretary of the NBBF, Mrs. Vivian Azimene was busy rendering welfare activities to both the Boxers and the officials.
The Boxing events started on Monday 15th December, but the Games proper will officially end on Saturday 20th of December.
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