The biggest sporting event in corporate Nigeria returned for the second week, with fantastic emotions and excitement, especially since Female Volleyball made its debut.
The second day of the Nigeria Bankers Games was filled with excitement, emotion, victory, and sporting prowess. The country’s leading banks competed in a number of sports, including football, volleyball, tennis, and table tennis, as the battle for domination and medals began in earnest.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the key events that took place at the NBG 2023 day 2.
Football:
Sterling Bank vs Wema Bank
The match started at 1:48 p.m.
It was a cracker indeed! Sterling Bank, the NBG 2022 football champion, and Wema Bank, the NBG overall champion, played to a thrilling 2-2 draw on match day 2 of The Nigeria Bankers Games. Both teams played attacking football and the match was end-to-end. It was clear from the get-go that Wema Bank was not going to allow thunder to strike twice, having lost to the Jets last season.
Wema Bank’s Tayo Akinwunmi opened the scoring with a freekick in the 25th minute, but Sterling Bank’s Eze Odinaka Philemon equalized just a minute later. Akinwunmi then assisted Taiwo Adebola to give Wema Bank the lead again in the 46th minute, but Lateef Babalola equalized for Sterling Bank in the 55th minute, less than 10 minutes later.
The game concluded in a 2-2 tie, a fair result for both teams. Wema Bank will be sad that they did not win the game, while Sterling Bank will be pleased that they came from behind twice.
It was a fantastic game to witness and will go down as one of the finest NBG encounters.
Sterling Bank Lateef Babalola was the MVP of the match.
First Bank vs FCMB
First Bank of Nigeria edged out FCMB in a closely contested match.
The first half was tense, with neither team managing to find the back of the net. FCMB made a strong start, but they were unable to penetrate First Bank’s well-organized defense. Neither team created many chances to score, and the first half finished with no goals.
Even though the second half had started much in the same fashion as the first, things quickly changed when First Bank took the lead six minutes into the second half when first-half substitute Semilore Oyebanjo fired a speculative shot that somehow eluded the FCMB goalkeeper.
As much as FCMB tried to rally to find a way back into the game, First Bank held on for a narrow victory. It was a very narrow victory that now leaves FCMB’s medal chances hanging in the balance.
First Bank captain and defender Dimeji Ojo was the MVP of the match.
Table Tennis:
Men’s Singles: Sterling Bank, Access Bank, and First Bank through to the Semi-Finals.
In a thrilling display of table tennis skills, dominant Fredrick Rekuoya of Sterling Bank defeated James Iheanacho of Wema Bank in three straight sets to advance to the next round of the Nigeria Bankers Games 2023 Table Tennis men’s singles event.
Rekuoya will now face Ilufoye Hafeez of Access Bank in the next round. Hafeez started brightly by beating Solomon Idowu of First Bank and went on to defeat Kehinde Odegbile of FCMB in three straight sets of the quarterfinals. Hafeez is also a strong player, and the next round should be close.
In another thrilling encounter, FCMB’s Owolabi Oluwaremi lost to Sterling Bank’s Raqeeb Raheem. Raheem won the match in straight sets, 3-0. Earlier on, Raqeeb defeated Ufondu Chijioke of Sterling Bank.
Oluwashina Akinti of Access Bank was also defeated in straight sets, 3-0, by Bakare Abiodun of First Bank. Abiodun played a good game, controlling the tempo and denying Akinti numerous scoring chances.
Raqeeb Faces Bakare Abiodun in the Next Round.
Raqeeb Raheem and Bakare Abiodun will now meet in the next round of the tournament. Both players are in good form and are expected to put on a close match in the semi-finals.
Women’s Singles: Sterling Bank and, Wema Bank progress to the Semi-Finals.
In the Table Tennis Women’s singles event, Bukola Olorunmaje defeated Stella Maris Onuoha of First Bank by 3-1
Nwaegbu Chinedum of Sterling Bank had a strong start to the tournament by beating Oviereya Umedi of Access Bank and went on to beat Giwa Kehinde of FCMB by three straight sets 3-0 in the Quarter-finals encounter to progress to the semifinals.
Sterling Bank’s Nwakaegbe Ijeoma lost by three straights to Olayemi Okam of First Bank who also defeated Morenikeji Aiyebusiwa of Access Bank.
Semi-Finals:
Bukola Olorunmaje {Wema Bank} vs Nwaegbu Chinedum {Sterling Bank}
Olayemi Okam {First Bank} vs Taiwo Awolesi {Wema Bank}
Tennis Event
In the female tennis singles event, First Bank won their first gold medal of NBG 2023. The NBG 2023 tennis event was held on the lawn tennis court at the national stadium complex Surulere Lagos. Olayemi Okam of First Bank defeated Morenikeji Aiyebusiwa of Access Bank by a score of 9 sets to 1.
The men’s singles semi-finals was a sterling and first Bank affair with both banks having a representative in the finals. The first semi-final match saw number one seeded player Adedoyin Adegoju from Sterling Bank losing to Gafar Olayemi from First Bank. The second semi-final match saw the second-seeded player Segun Adesanya from Sterling Bank defeat Ikemefuna Nwachukwu from First Bank.
VOLLEYBALL
The volleyball event had its maiden competition at Nigeria Bankers Games 2023 with the female folks battling it out on the court.
The event will be concluded on 11th November to determine who will emerge winner of the maiden event.
Fan Engagement
The supporters were not left out of the action, as they took part in the halftime show.
KNIT TECHNOLOGIES
Knit App, Nigeria’s event listing App with social features partner of NBG 2023 engaging fans at the event.
Fela is the Co-founder of MediaVision Limited .
