Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by Ayodele Bakare     A fresh storm is brewing in Nigerian basketball after a purported letter allegedly from FIBA claiming the former board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation is authorized to remain in office and was dismissed as a blatant fraud. The document, which has circulated widely among basketball stakeholders, suggested that the board led by Musa Kida had been granted what some described as a “stay of execution” to continue running the federation. However, the claim has now been strongly challenged, with insiders insisting the letter is fabricated and designed to mislead stakeholders amid the ongoing leadership dispute. According to investigations, there is no record that the Nigeria Olympic Committee recently wrote to FIBA seeking clarification on the recognized representative of the NBBF, as suggested in the circulating document.  Consequently, it is also believed that FIBA never issued any response in 2026...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     Three African teams, Senegal, Mali and South Sudan women's national basketball teams will battle for the continent’s final ticket to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 as the global qualifying tournaments enter a decisive stage. The race toward the tournament, which will be hosted in Germany, intensifies from March 11 to 17, 2025, when national teams from across the world compete in qualification tournaments staged in four cities, namely: • San Juan • Wuhan • Istanbul • Lyon Africa’s hopes of securing another spot at the global showpiece rest on the performances of the three teams, who will face strong opposition in their respective groups as they chase the continent’s last available berth. The qualifying tournaments bring together top teams from different continents, with only a limited number of slots available for the 2026 championship.  For Senegal, Mali and South Sudan, the matches represent a crucial oppor...

...Reinforces push for grassroots sports development    By Maxwell Kumoye      The National Sports Commission (NSC) has taken another bold step in encouraging young talents after rewarding outstanding Ogun State athlete, Afusat Majekodunmi, with a cash prize of three million naira for her impressive achievements in athletics in 2025. The reward was announced by the Director General of the NSC, Honourable Bukola Olopade, during a public presentation ceremony held at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Chief Olopade said the gesture reflects the Commission’s renewed commitment to identifying, nurturing and rewarding young Nigerian athletes who continue to make the country proud on the international stage. Majekodunmi, an SS3 student of Abeokuta Grammar School, enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, shining at the National Sports Festival before dominating continental competitions.  The young sprinter clinched two gold medals at the Afr...

By Trust Ittai          Top sports administrators and football legends are set to converge on Auchi, Edo State, for the official launch of the Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy scheduled for March 28. Among the dignitaries expected at the event are Edo State Governor His Excellency Monday Okpebholo, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, the commission’s Director General Bukola Olopade, and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau. The academy is the brainchild of former Super Eagles star and coach Kadiri Ikhana, who confirmed in a statement that the project, which began skeletal operations late last year, will become fully operational after the official unveiling. Ikhana, a former Enyimba International F.C. coach and an Africa Coach of the Year winner, said the academy is designed to contribute to grassroots football development in Nigeria, particularly the nurturing of young talents for age-grade national teams. Th...

...Petition submitted by NBBF Congress to FIBA is receiving serious attention - FIBA  By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by Niyi Busari      The leadership crisis brewing in Nigerian basketball deepened on Thursday after the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and outgoing Nigeria Basketball Federation vice-president Babs Ogunade firmly rejected viral claims that the world governing body had endorsed the continued leadership of Musa Kida beyond his constitutional tenure. Reports circulating widely on social media had suggested that FIBA reaffirmed its recognition of Kida as president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) despite the expiration of his second four-year term. However, the global basketball body swiftly distanced itself from the claims, stating that it has not issued any communication regarding the tenure of the outgoing NBBF leadership. Kida’s second term began on January 31, 2022, foll...

...To compete for honours in seven sports  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      Team Ekiti will be heading to the nation's capital Abuja with 68 athletes to compete in the the third edition of the National Para Games. The Technical Adviser on Sports Development to the Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, Dr. Olusola Osetoba, made this known to your authoritative and award winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG on Thursday, that the contingent will be taking part in seven sports at the Games. The sports are: • Para Athletics  • Para Powerlifting  • Para Soccer • Wheelchair Basketball • Para Table Tennis  • Para Karate  • Para Swimming  The team will be accompanied to the Games by 15 officials that include 7 coaches and the Technical Adviser on Sports Development to the Governor, Dr. Olusola Osetoba will Shepard the delegation to Centre of Unity. Already the 68 athletes are preparing for the week long competition with an open camp...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye who was in Benin City      The Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations, Edo State Sports Commission, (ESSC), Mrs. Sabina Chikere, has described the growth of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), as remarkable and outstanding and unprecedented. Mrs. Chikere, stated that the amount of young scrabble players at the just concluded Niger Delta Games is a shining testament of the development of the word and mind game in the country. She made this statement in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye.  The renowned sports administrator, was stunned by the large numbers of young players at the Scrabble event with ten year olds clinching podium finishes. Heading the long list of young scrabble who made their presence felt at the regional event is 10 year old, Pleasant Azuh Achalugo, from Akwa Ibom State. The young scrabble amazon, didn't just take the center stag...

...Urges youth to keep dreaming   By Maxwell Kumoye      Cameroon football icon and Fécafoot president Samuel Eto'o has opened up on a lesser-known chapter of his career, one that had nothing to do with goals, trophies or roaring stadiums. Long before stepping into football administration, the former Indomitable Lions striker was already making bold moves in business.  In 2012, at the height of his playing career, Eto’o launched a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, Set Mobile, shaking up Cameroon’s telecom space with a reported personal investment of 4 billion CFA francs. It was a daring play from a man known for taking risks on the pitch. And at first, it paid off. Set Mobile’s SIM cards flew off the shelves in cities across Cameroon.  Subscribers proudly flaunted the brand, many drawn by the weight of the Eto’o name, a symbol of excellence and national pride.  For a moment, it looked like another masterstroke from the four-time African Play...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) deepened on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as Engineer Musa Kida convened a board meeting weeks after the board’s tenure officially expired. Kida, president of the outgone board, met with five other former members in Lagos. However, eight former board members declined to attend, insisting that the board’s tenure ended on January 31, 2026, in line with the NBBF constitution. The development follows a stakeholders’ meeting earlier convened by the National Sports Commission (NSC), where a joint decision was reached giving Kida a window to call a board meeting to organise Congress before the expiration of the board’s tenure.  This impromptu Sunday meeting, stakeholders said, was not called before the January 31st, 2026 deadline. On February 1, the NBBF Congress wrote to FIBA, requesting that the international body permit the NSC to intervene in order to avert what they described as...