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Articles by Olaitan Rafiu
AMAPRO 2024: 10 Men NPFL All Stars Beat HMK, Abraysports Held To a Draw on Opening Day
The opening day of 2024 AMAPRO Soccer Championship get underway off in style at the Kwara State Stadium Complex on Monday with Defending Champions, Abraysports held to a goaless draw and 10-men NPFL All Stars beating HMK FC 2-1 in a keenly contested match. Read Also: Lagos State Prepares for Youth Games with Confidence – Yusuf Adeshina Setting the tone for an eventful day was the game between Abraysports and debutant Wonderxchange.
You Showed a Remarkable Development Over Previous Editions - Governor Otti Lauds Abia Warriors Despite Loss
While the Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia lost the recently concluded FA Cup 0–2 to El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Abia State Governor Alex Otti commended the team, supporters, technical staff, and management for their outstanding performance. Read Also: Lagos State Prepares for Youth Games with Confidence – Yusuf Adeshina The President Federation Cup final was held on Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
Nigerian Elizabeth Oshoba Extends Unbeatens Streak with a Knock Out Victory Over Agustina Marisa
Elizabeth Oshoba, Nigerian female boxer has defeated Agustina Marisa Belen Rojas, an Argentine opponent, at the Women’s Super-Featherweight Clash at Brentwood Center in the United Kingdom over the weekend. Read Also: Sarah Iloduba Celebrates As Rivers Angels Win Ninth President Federation Cup Title Elizabeth Oshoba, who had not lost in seven fights prior, stopped Agustina in the third round of their six-round fight, advancing her record to 8-0-0 with five knockouts.
President Fedeartion Cup: NNL Boss Congratulates El-Kanemi Warriors On Victory
The Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL) George Aluo has congratulated El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club of Maiduguri for their victory over Abia Warriors of Umuahia in the President Federation Cup final, which was held on Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
NPFL Manager and Player of the Month LBAs: Sunshine Stars Head Coach, Akwa United Player Win Title
Sunshine Stars head coach Kennedy Boboye and Akwa United forward Sani Suleiman have won the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Manager and Player of the Month LBAs for May/June 2024. Read Also: Abraysports Begin AMAPRO Soccer Championship Title Defense Against WonderXchange Boboye’s outstanding efforts helped Sunshine Stars go on a five-game unbeaten streak from May to June, which was enough to keep the team from relegation.
President Federation Cup: Abia Warriors Coach, Bethel Orji Attributes Loss To Exhaustion, Lack of Possession
Abia Warriors coach, Bethel Orji, attributed their team’s 0-2 defeat to El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the President Federation Cup finals on Saturday to exhaustion, lack of possession. Read Also: Nasiru Salihu of El-Kanemi Warriors Named Most Valuable Player in President Federation Cup 2024 The President Federation Cup final took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
Amuneke Set to Take Over at Heartland
After a year off the field, former Barcelona and Nigerian winger Emmanuel Amuneke is ready to resume coaching. Read Also: Ogun State Scrabble Reveals Trial Dates For 2024 National Sports Festival Amuneke’s last role was with Zambia’s Zanaco FC, where he served as both coach and consultant before leaving in 2023. He recently submitted an application to be the head coach of the Super Eagles, but Finidi George was chosen by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) instead.
Ogun State Scrabble Reveals Trial Dates For 2024 National Sports Festival
Dates for the passage of players who will represent Ogun State in the forthcoming National Sports Festival which is scheduled for early next year has been revealed. The trials which spans from July to November this year will see a total number of 35 players including West African Scrabble Championship winner Timilehin Doko, engage one another in four categories namely: Master, Intermediate, Open and Female categories. Four players each will qualify for each categories.
Abraysports Begin AMAPRO Soccer Championship Title Defense Against WonderXchange
Defending champions, Abraysports FC will kick start their AMAPRO Football Championship title defense against debutant WonderXchange Football Club from Ondo State on Monday. The championship that will feature 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four teams each.
NPFL: Late Preparations Affected the Team’s Performance Throughout the Campaign - Kwara United Chairman
The chairman of Kwara United, Kunbi Clement Titiloye, has disclosed the cause of the team’s underwhelming performance in the 2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Read Also: Paul Offor Set To Join Enyimba FC As New Head Coach, Future Of Interim Coach Uncertain Late planning, according to Titiloye, had an impact on the team’s performance all season long. He also pointed out that the players failed to adjust to playing on the natural grass of the Kwara State Sports Complex In Ilorin.
NPFL Set To Raise Standard of Officiating Ahead August Kick-off Date For 2024/2025 Season
As part of the league board’s efforts to enhance the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, the chairman of the league, has announced that next season’s referees will start using technology to help in their officiating. Read Also: BREAKING: CAS CLEARS Tobi Amusan Of Whereabout Rule Violation Weeks Before Olympic The league will commence on Saturday, August 31, 2024, as confirmed by NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye on the league’s social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook.
South East, South South Volleyball Championship: Maiden Edition kicks off in Umuahia
The maiden edition of the South East/South South volleyball tournament has kicked off in Umuahia with Team Abia leading so far. Read Also: Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Signs Multi -Year Partnership With Flovale Consulting Declaring the competition open at the indoor hall of the Umuahia Township stadium, Governor Alex Otti tasked the athletes on professionalism, expressing the government’s keen interest in sports development.
President Federation Cup: Grand Finale Tickets Go For N200, N2,000
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has announced ticket sales for the grand finale of the President Federation Cup. Read Also: Nigeria Clinches Gold at 2024 African U19 Girls Beach Volleyball Nations Championship While popular side tickets go for N200, the VIP tickets are being sold for N2,000 each. In the women’s final, eight-time champion Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will confront Naija Ratels FC of Abuja at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos on Saturday.
2024 Rugby Africa Cup Sevens Tournament: Team Nigeria Arrived Mauritius
The Men’s National Team of Nigeria has landed in Mauritius for the two Rugby Africa Cup Sevens Tournament, which will take place on June 29–30 and July 6-7.
IBA Announces Support For National Boxing During visit to Nigeria To Foster International Collaboration
The President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Mr. Umar Kremlev, has made a major move to encourage the growth of boxing in Nigeria by expressing a strong desire to help restore boxing gyms all throughout the nation. Read Also: Team Delta’s Ayaba Emmanuella Eyes Final Victory At Milo School Basketball Championship The focus will be on the city of Lagos, widely recognized as the center of boxing in Nigeria and strongly supported by the national federation.
2024 WTT Contender Lagos: Unforgettable Experience For All
The 2024 WTT Contender Lagos has come and gone but the memory lingers in the minds of the players and others who took part in the five-day event from across the world. Read Also: Amos Gbonwer, Delta State Coach Optimistic Ahead of Milo School Basketball Championship Final The seamless organisation wowed all present, even as it further cemented Lagos’ reputation as a top destination for sports events hosted in Africa.
President Federation Cup Finals: Match Officials Announced
The match officials for the 2024 President Federation Cup grand finale have been revealed by the Nigeria Football Federation Referee Development Committee. Read Also: Enugu Rangers Are Not Worthy Champions Of NPFL – Biffo On Saturday, June 29 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will confront Abuja-based Naija Ratels in the women’s category while Abia Warriors will take on El-Kanemi Warriors in the men’s category.
Former Konga CEO, Nick Imudia Commits Suicide
Nick Imudia, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Konga, one of Nigeria’s foremost e-commerce platforms, has tragically ended his life on the night of June 25. Read Also: Anthony Joshua To Fight Dubois For World Title As Usyk Gives Up IBF Belt It is said that he killed himself in his house. On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Nick is said to have jumped from the balcony of his Lekki flat in Lagos to end his life.
Rotary District 9112 to Host Public Image Seminar in Lagos
Rotary International District 9112 is gearing up to host a significant public image seminar on July 2, 2024, in Lagos.
African Athletics Championships: Team Nigeria Finish With 13 Medals
Team Nigeria have ended the 2024 African Senior Athletics championships in Doula, Cameroon with more medals that was won at the last edition in Mauritius. Read Also: School Sports will Divert their Energy Away From Social Vices – NSSF Tasks Parents to Encourage Children Nigeria won five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals by the end of the competition yesterday.
President Federation Cup: Aliyu Zubairu Banks on Hard Work To Give El-Kanemi Warriors the Day
Technical Adviser Aliyu Zubairu has credited hard work for his team’s progress into the men’s final of this year’s President Federation Cup, and believes the same virtue will see the Maiduguri landlords pick up their third Nigeria Cup title in Lagos on Saturday. Read Also: NNL: We Have Re-branded the League After a Year of Leadership – George Aluo “Hard work has been our mainstay. Everyone works for the other, including the players on the pitch.
"A Dream Come True": Ismaila Sodiq Reflects on First Goal and Stellar Season with Remo Stars
Remo Stars’ defender Ismaila Sodiq shone brightly in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) as his team secured a 2-1 victory over Katsina United, finishing the season in a commendable second place, just five points behind champions Enugu Rangers. Read Also: Ogunbote Reveals How Away Matches Spoilt 3SC’s Continental Ambitions Sodiq’s performance earned him the 54football Man of the Match award, and he couldn’t hide his joy, especially after scoring his first-ever goal for Remo Stars.
President Federation Cup: Abia Warriors Storm Lagos, Confident of Victory
Ambitious Abia Warriors became the first of the four finalists in the 2024 President Federation Cup grand finale to arrive in Lagos and Coach Bethel Orji has no doubt that his Umuahia giants will come good on Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Read Also: Kwara United Applaud Awoniyi, Hairsense Over Support After Win Against Heartland “We are here and we’re highly motivated. We are all elated.
President Federation Cup: Ogbonda Insists Experienced Angels Have the Edge
Whyte Ogbonda is not your ordinary sweat merchant. Even among his colleagues, it is widely acknowledged that the former tactician of Ibom Angels FC of Uyo knows his onions, and more. Read Also: NRFF Set To Develop Rugby in Kogi To Boost Sport Development On Saturday, Ogbonda will be gunning for his first National Cup title as head coach, having guided unfancied Ibom Angels to runners-up position in 2017 and 2018. On both occasions, they lost to Rivers Angels.
Anthony Joshua To Fight Dubois For World Title As Usyk Gives Up IBF Belt
Oleksandr Usyk, the world heavyweight champion, has announced that he will be giving up his IBF title, making room for Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois to compete for it. Read Also: Kwara United Applaud Awoniyi, Hairsense Over Support After Win Against Heartland Usyk defeated Tyson Fury on points to become the undisputed champion, holding the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles.
Mutiu Adepoju Expresses Interest To Coach Super Eagles
Ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju, has expressed interest in coaching the Super Eagles following the resignation of Finidi George few weeks ago. Read Also: 2026 World Cup: Mutiu Adepoju Confident of Super Eagles’ Qualification Mutiu Adepoju, who was part of the Nigerian team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and played with the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, has stated he is open to coaching the Super Eagles if the opportunity arises.
School Sports will Divert their Energy Away From Social Vices - NSSF Tasks Parents to Encourage Children
The Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) has urged parents and guardians to help their children embrace sports. Read Also: “Enyimba Made Me Who I Am Today”: Ojo Olorunleke Expresses Eternal Gratitude as He Joins Al Merrikh Speaking at the 24th Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championships in Lagos, NSSF President Olabisi Joseph underlined that sports assist children develop their psychomotor abilities and contribute to a holistic education.
FCAAN Congratulates Rangers Over NPFL Title, Urge To Beef Up Team Ahead CAF Champions League
The Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) has congratulated two of its members, Fidelis Ilechukwu and Ekene Ikedilichukwu, Enugu Rangers’ Head Coach and Team Scout, for the Flying Antelopes’ win in the 2023/2024 NPFL season. Read Also: Bendel Insurance’s Amas Obasogie Secures Golden Glove with Record 18 Clean Sheets in NPFL Season Dr Terry Eguaoje, President of FCAAN, congratulated the duo and stated that the 2023/2024 NPFL season was highly competitive and demanding.
NNL: We Have Re-branded the League After a Year of Leadership - George Aluo
Mr. George Aluo, Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), has stated that the current board of the second-tier league under his leadership has succeeded in changing the narratives of the most important league in the country in less than a year, while also praising sportswriters for being partners in progress with the league body.
WTT Contender Lagos Champions Leap in Latest ITTF Ranking
Singles winners at the just concluded WTT Contender Lagos Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov and India’s Sreeja Akula have risen in Week 26 of the 2024 ITTF Ranking released by the world table tennis ruling body.
Men’s Doubles Silver Excites Nigeria’s Duo at WTT Contender Lagos
For the first time in the history of the WTT Series, Nigeria’s duo of Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Solanke became the first Africans and Nigerians to play in the final of WTT Contender Lagos after losing to India’s Hameet Desai and Manav Thakkar in the final of the Men’s Doubles event.
Superbikes Association of Nigeria Annual Convention: Promoting Nigeria’s Rich Cultural Potential
The executives of the Superbikes Clubs Association of Nigeria (SCAN), led by President Hussaini Misari, paid a courtesy call on Mrs Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, at her office in Abuja ahead its annual convention.
NPFL: Oyo State Governor Commends Shooting Stars For Successful Season
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde expressed satisfaction with the Shooting Stars’ achievements in the 2023-24 Nigeria Premier Football League. Read Also: Rivers Angels, Naija Ratels Set for President Federation Cup Final Showdown The State Governor made the announcement at the Lekan Salami Stadium during the Oluyole Warriors’ season-ending match. Makinde stated that all steps would be taken to ensure the team’s continental place next season.
NPFL: Kano Pillars Embark on Break
After the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season ended, Kano Pillars have embarked on a two-week break. Read Also: Former Nigerian Minister of Youth, Sports AVM Adebayo Lawal Passes Away at 83 Kano Pillars defeated the Lobi Stars 3-2 in Sunday’s NPFL season finale. In a press statement on Monday, Kano Pillars revealed the news. Alhaji Babangida Umar Little, the club’s chairman, expressed gratitude for the team’s success.
NRFF Set To Develop Rugby in Kogi To Boost Sport Development
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has expressed its readiness to develop Rugby game in Kogi State. Read Also: Rivers Angels, Naija Ratels Set for President Federation Cup Final Showdown The Federation’s Development Officer, Wuraola Hussain disclosed this in an interview. In order to help the game expand in the State, the Federation, according to her, is collaborating with Traditional Rulers and the State Chapter, which is led by Mrs. Olufunke Kanjuni.
2026 World Cup: Mutiu Adepoju Confident of Super Eagles Qualification
Following a poor start of the campaign, former international, Mutiu Adepoju believs that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read Also: 2026 World Cup Qualifier: Gusau Seeks Spiritual Help For Super Eagles The former Super Eagles midfielder emphasized in an interview with NAN that the team needs to be resilient and concentrate on winning all six of their remaining games in order to get to the largest football tournament.
2024 Africa Senior Athletes Championships: Tobi Amusan Leads Nigeria to Gold in 4x100m Relay, Eyes Olympic Glory
Few Days after misisng her 100m hurdles event due to illness at the ongoing 2024 Africa Senior athletes Championships at Douala, Cameroon, World record holderin women’s 100 hurdles, Tobi Amusan on monday Leads Nigeria to Gold in 4x100m Relay. Read Also: “The Nightmare” Oyeleye Stuns Di Stefano with KO Victory, Extends Unbeaten Record to 16-0 Amusan’s contribution was pivotal, reinforcing her status as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s relay team.
NPFL: Bendel Insurance Expresses Sadness Over Home Defeat To Bayelsa United
Bendel Insurance has expressed dissatisfaction with the result of their season-ending matchup with Bayelsa United in the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League season. Read Also: Sporting Lagos Relegated To Second Division 11 Months After Promotion On Sunday, the visitors stunned the Benin Arsenals by winning 2-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. In the match, Bayelsa United scored goals through Okorie Ekeson and Tekena Garando.
Gbenga Ogunbote Contract Ends with 3SC
Gbenga Ogunbote, the technical adviser for Shooting Stars, has declared that he would leave the team after his contract expires. Read Also: “They Have The Capability”- Olusegun Ajose Confident in Team Nigeria’s Boxing Prospects For Paris 2024 Olympics Following Shooting Stars‘ final game on Sunday at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan versus Sporting Lagos, Ogunbote made the news. Shooting Stars defeated the modest club 1-0 in the game.
2026 World Cup Qualifier: Gusau Seeks Spiritual Help For Super Eagles
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President., Ibrahim Gusau, has made a strong plea to religious authorities to pray for divine intervention to ensure Super Eagles qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a poor start of the campaign.
AIU Queries AFN Over Discrepancies in Age of Four Nigerian Athletes
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has issued a formal queried to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) following discrepancies in the ages of four Nigerian athletes who are eligible to compete in August’s World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. Read Also: Sporting Lagos Relegated To Second Division 11 Months After Promotion “Discrepancies concerning the date of birth (DOB) for at least four Nigerian athletes have been identified,” the AIU stated.
NFF Moves President Federation Cup Finals To Lagos
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has declared that on Saturday, June 29, 2024, the President Federation Cup, the nation’s oldest cup competition, will have its grand finals at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
2024 U-17 World Cup: Nigeria’s Flamingos Get Group Stage Opponents
The opponents for Nigeria’s under-17 female squad, the Flamingos, in the 2024 FIFA Under-17 female World Cup in the Dominican Republic have been announced. Read Also: Grassroots Sports Development: Sports Minister Meets Madam Hadiza Bala Usman On Advancement In the qualifications, the Flamingos looked fantastic as they effortlessly slid past their rivals.
Gusau To Present NPFL Trophy to Champions Rangers
On Sunday at the New Zaria Road Stadium in Jos, champions-elect Rangers International FC of Enugu will receive the NPFL winner’s trophy from NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
Tobi Amusan Withdraws From African Athletics Championship
World record holder, Tobi Amusan has pulled out from 2024 African Athletics Championship due to ill health in Cameroon. Read Also: Nigeria Ex-International Cup: Alhaji Jimoh Alao Emphasises the Need For Accurate Refereeing According to reports, it was as a result of an infection diagnosed to be ‘Sore throat’ that prevented the World 100m hurdles Champion’s bid of becoming the third Nigerian high hurdler to win the 100m hurdles three times at the African Athletics Championships.
Grassroots Development: Sports Minister Meets Madam Hadiza Bala Usman On Advancement
Senator John Owan Enoh, the minister of sports, and Hadiza Bala Usman, the head of the CDCU and Special Advisor to the President on Policy and Coordination, met yesterday to discuss the advancement of grassroots sports development.
AFCON 2025: December 2025 To January 2026 in Morocco
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a new date for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during a virtual executive meeting that took place on Friday. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Bauchi SWAN Elects New Officials
The Bauchi State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN} on Thursday elected a new set of officials who will run its affairs for the next three years in line with the statute of the association.
Egyptian Sensation Dumps out Top Seed at WTT Contender Lagos
Farida Badawy, an unheralded 20-year-old Egyptian table tennis player, made waves at the 2024 WTT Contender Lagos. Despite her low world ranking (331), she achieved the unthinkable by defeating India’s Manika Batra (world No. 28) in a thrilling Women’s Singles match. Read Also: NFF Will Treat Supersand Eagles Like Other National Teams – Gusau Playing without a coach, Badawy took an early 2-0 lead against the seasoned Indian superstar.
Nigeria Ex-International Cup: Former Nigeria Captain Henry Nwosu Praises Team's Resilience, Character, Discipline
An esteemed Nigerian football manager and former national player, Henry Ojemanzi Nwosu (MON) expressed his admiration for the competition and the players’ performance. Read Also: Beyond Limits Champions Gala: Celebrating Triumph and Promotion to NPFL FC Nwosu edged out FC Amoo in an 11-10 penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regular time. The match, part of the tournament’s inaugural edition, highlighted the enduring talent and passion for football in Nigeria. “I’m impressed with what I’ve seen.
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