Sports Groove

...Likonza the hero in shootout thriller  By Maxwell Kumoye        USM Alger were crowned champions of Africa once again after surviving a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat Zamalek SC 8-7 and lift the Confederation Cup title at the roaring Cairo International Stadium on Saturday night. The Algerian giants arrived in Cairo carrying a slender advantage from the first leg after a controversial stoppage-time penalty had handed them a 1-0 victory at home.  But the atmosphere quickly shifted when Zamalek struck inside five minutes.  The hosts wasted little time in making their intent clear, piling early pressure on USM Alger's defence. Palestinian midfielder Adam Kaied was brought down inside the area by Cameroonian defender Che Malone, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh calmly converted from the spot to level the tie on aggregate and ignite the home crowd. Driven by the deafening support...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Athletics Kenya has announced that it will conduct invitation-only trials from May 21 to 23 to select the national team for the 2026 World Under-20 Championships in Oregon, USA. The trials, scheduled to take place at Nyayo National Stadium, mark a significant shift from the traditional open selection process that has long been associated with Kenya’s athletics culture. According to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya 1st Deputy President and Athletics Kenya Youth Development Department Director Barnaba Korir, the decision follows strict directives from World Athletics amid growing concerns over doping and age manipulation in junior competitions. Korir explained that the federation can no longer afford to hold open trials, as authorities intensify efforts to protect the integrity of youth athletics and ensure that only verified and eligible athletes compete at the global championships. The move is expected to tighten the selection pro...

...As South Africa's Leotlela wins thriller at Shanghai Diamond League By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s 2026 African champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan produced another strong outing on the international circuit, finishing third in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday. American Olympic champion Masai Russell stormed to victory in a world-leading 12.25 seconds, while Bahamian star Devynne Charlton placed second in 12.38 seconds. Amusan crossed the line in 12.41 seconds to secure a podium finish in a highly competitive field. In the men’s 100m, South Africa’s Gift Leotlela edged Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala and American Kenny Bednarek in a dramatic photo finish to claim his first Diamond League victory. Leotlela clocked 9.97 seconds after producing a strong late burst to outpace his rivals. “It means a lot... I had a decent start, not great. I just tried to keep my composure, stay in my rhythm and stay strong,” said the Sou...

By Trust Ittai        Chelsea F.C. has reached an agreement with former Real Madrid CF and Bayer 04 Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso to become the club’s new head coach on a four-year contract. The Premier League side moved swiftly to secure the Spaniard as they continued their search for stability following another disappointing campaign. The development comes just hours after Chelsea suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City F.C. in the FA Cup final, compounding frustrations in a season that has seen the Blues struggle for consistency both domestically and in cup competitions. Chelsea have been without a permanent manager since the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in April after only three months in charge.  The club’s hierarchy is now hoping Alonso can spark a revival at Stamford Bridge and restore the team’s competitiveness at the highest level. Alonso, 44, emerged as one of Europe’s most highly rated young coaches after guiding Leverkusen to a his...

By Mishael Emmanuel      Matchday three of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations delivered drama, narrow victories, and crucial statements from some of the continent’s rising football powers such as Egypt, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco all secured important wins. In one of the day’s biggest encounters, Tunisia fell 2-1 to fierce North African rivals Egypt in a tense and entertaining clash.  The young Pharaohs showed resilience and attacking quality to edge past Tunisia and keep their campaign firmly on track. Cameroon also had plenty to celebrate after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uganda.  The decisive moment came just 15 minutes into the contest when Abdoulrahman Soudeisse calmly found the back of the net to send the Young Lions into the lead.  Cameroon then produced a disciplined defensive display to protect their advantage until the final whistle. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast claimed a valuable 1-0 win against DR Congo in a tightly co...

By Mishael Emmanuel      Matchday three of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations delivered drama, narrow victories, and crucial statements from some of the continent’s rising football powers such as Egypt, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco all secured important wins. In one of the day’s biggest encounters, Tunisia fell 2-1 to fierce North African rivals Egypt in a tense and entertaining clash.  The young Pharaohs showed resilience and attacking quality to edge past Tunisia and keep their campaign firmly on track. Cameroon also had plenty to celebrate after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uganda.  The decisive moment came just 15 minutes into the contest when Abdoulrahman Soudeisse calmly found the back of the net to send the Young Lions into the lead.  Cameroon then produced a disciplined defensive display to protect their advantage until the final whistle. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast claimed a valuable 1-0 win against DR Congo in a tightly co...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s athletics community has recorded another major continental breakthrough after Tonobok Okowa was elected Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics. The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria emerged victorious during the Executive Council election, defeating two other candidates in a keenly contested vote. Results from the ballot showed that Okowa secured six votes to finish ahead of South Africa’s Dlamini Dakhele, who polled four votes, while Bruno Konga managed one vote from the 11 votes cast. The victory further strengthens Nigeria’s growing influence in African athletics administration and comes at a time the country has continued to make strong impressions both on and off the track. Okowa’s emergence as Senior Vice President is expected to boost Nigeria’s voice in major decisions concerning the development of athletics across the continent, especially in areas involving competitions, athletes’ welfa...

By Maxwell Kumoye        The political landscape in Owan West Local Government Area received a major boost for unity and reconciliation ahead of the 2027 elections as the All Progressives Congress adopted Rt. Honourable Chief Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku as its consensus candidate for the House of Assembly race. The development has been widely applauded by party stakeholders, supporters and prominent sons and daughters of the constituency, who described the move as a significant step toward strengthening peace, cohesion and political stability in the agric-rich local government. In a message of appreciation to party leaders and supporters, Agbebaku expressed gratitude to God and the APC leadership for the confidence reposed in him, noting that the consensus arrangement reflected a collective commitment to the growth and progress of Owan West. “This moment is not merely a personal victory; it is a triumph of peace, reconciliation, maturity, unity of purpose, ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Accra           James Emmanuel has described Team Nigeria’s second place finish in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Senior Africa Athletics Championship as the result of friendship and the bond within the squad. Emmanuel who made his debut on the continental scene was impressed by the results. He expressed his happiness in having something to show for the team's effort. Team Nigeria finished second in the fiercely contested Final with a time of 38.70 behind Côte d’Ivoire's 38.52. In an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye shortly after the race, Emmanuel described the result as encouraging. He admitted there was still room for improvement ahead of future competitions. “It was a good race, and we are happy that we left here with something,” he said. The Nigerian sprinter credited the bond within the relay quartet for the strong showing, noting that despite ...