By Victor Kanayo
After five days of searching, Nigeria on Monday, June 26, 2023, won its first Gold medal at the ongoing African Beach Games in Tunisia.
Gold Feat
The duo of Samson Funsho-Funto and Rashidat Salau beat their Madagascar opponents in the final of the Teqball mixed doubles event to achieve the feat.
They had triumphed over Zambia and Cape Verde in the quarter-final and semi-final to reach the finals.
The latest top victory means the country’s anthem was sang for the first time during medal presentation.
The victory also earned Funsho-Funto and Salau the bragging rights, as the first ever Teqball Players to win Gold for Nigeria at any International Tournament.
Oyemade’s Double Final Bend
Nigeria’s number one Teqball player Victor Oyemade and Funsho-Funto failed to beat host Tunisia in the doubles event, leaving the Ilorin-based players to go home with Silver medals.
Oyemade also failed to make it a second Gold for Team Nigeria as he capitulated to his Cameroonian opponent in the final of the singles event, but earned a Silver medal for his troubles.
Enroute to final, he overcame his Cape Verde and Ghana opponents in the quarter-final and semi-final stages.
First Medal Click For Nigeria
Earlier on Monday, Esther Toko put Nigeria on the podium for the first time since the competition began on June 22, 2023.
Toko won Bronze for Nigeria in Rowing.
Nigeria’s Partipating Events
Beach Volleyball, Beach Handball, Air Badminton, Kata Karate, Open Water Swimming, Tennis, Ocean, Rowing Beach Sprint and Beach Wrestling are other sports Nigeria is taking part in.
The continental showdown will serve as a crucial qualification phase for the upcoming ANOC World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled for August 4 to August 12, 2023.
