Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye     The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has disclosed that Nigeria is set to embark on a comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following consultations with world football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Dikko said the reform became necessary after the resignation of the entire NFF board and the General Secretariat, which created a legal vacuum because the federation’s existing statutes did not provide for a situation where no recognised body was left to run its affairs. According to him, the Nigerian government immediately approached FIFA to explain the situation and seek a lawful way forward. “After the resignation of the entire board of the NFF and the General Secretariat, naturally, we had a lacuna because there was no provision in the rule book for a situation where nobody was left to legally run the NFF within the framework of the existing rule...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria’s D’Tigresses have promised to return stronger when they face Hungary on Saturday after suffering a 99-81 defeat to South Korea in their opening game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany. The result was a difficult start for the African champions, who struggled to contain a disciplined South Korean side that moved the ball efficiently and punished Nigeria’s defensive lapses throughout the game. Captain Amy Okonkwo admitted that South Korea’s movement and shooting proved difficult for D’Tigress to handle. “Today was a tough game. South Korea is a really good team. They move the ball a lot, they shoot a lot, and today we just weren't able to stop them in that regard,” Okonkwo said after the game. Head coach of D’Tigresses Rena Wakama also acknowledged that his team knew the challenge that awaited them, having faced South Korea two months earlier. According to her, South Korea’s cohesion and discipline made the...

Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari fans an early reason to celebrate at Monza on Friday, setting the fastest time as the Scuderia secured a one-two finish in the opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix. Leclerc posted a best lap of 1:23.008, edging teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.173 seconds as Ferrari immediately showed strong pace at its home circuit. The result was greeted enthusiastically by the thousands of Ferrari supporters who had filled the historic Monza circuit, with the famous tifosi creating the traditional sea of red around the track. Mercedes' George Russell completed the top three, finishing 0.304 seconds behind Leclerc. Russell is level on points with Hamilton in the championship standings, adding further significance to the opening session. Red Bull's Liam Lawson was fourth fastest, continuing his stint as a replacement for the injured Isack Hadjar, while Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli finished fifth. Championship leader Antonelli faces a difficul...

Around 15,000 spectators are expected in Katowice on Saturday as the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup gets underway in Poland, but the attendance of FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains uncertain. The tournament, which runs from September 5 to 27 across four Polish cities, marks the first major FIFA competition since a bitter governance dispute erupted over Infantino’s controversial proposal to bring private investors into the commercial rights of FIFA competitions. The fallout has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF among those calling for his resignation. Despite the mounting pressure, the 56-year-old has said he intends to seek a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. No challenger has formally entered the race, although UEFA has indicated it will work with other confederations to identify an alternative candidate.  FIFA was unable to confirm on Friday whether Infantino would attend Satur...

Liam Lawson faced an unusual preparation challenge ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, having to familiarise himself with two distinctly different Formula One cars while waiting to discover which team he would represent. The uncertainty was finally resolved on Wednesday when Red Bull confirmed that Lawson would remain with the senior team for a second consecutive race. The New Zealander has been drafted in to replace injured French rookie Isack Hadjar, who will miss the Monza round as he continues his recovery. Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, will take Lawson’s place at Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls, continuing his role as the substitute driver for the second successive weekend. Lawson admitted that the uncertainty had forced him to maintain close contact with both sets of engineers since stepping in at last month’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Asked which engineering group he had primarily been working with, Lawson said he had deliberately kept both options open ...

...Automatic slots not guaranteed as 43 players make selection list   By Maxwell Kumoye     The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has reduced the minimum eligibility requirement for players seeking to participate in the qualification process for the 2026 African Scrabble Championship (ASC) from 50 to 30 NSF-rated games. The decision followed a review of the number of NSF-rated games played by players between January and August 2026.  The revised 30-game benchmark will now form the basis for the selection and invitation of players to the ASC 2026 qualifiers. A total of 43 players have been listed in the selection pool, comprising eight automatic qualifiers, three approved home-based wildcard recipients and 30 players under provisional Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) consideration. All players on the selection list are required to participate in the qualifiers, including those who secured automatic slots through NSF rankings, female rankings or championship sta...

Leeds United have suffered a significant defensive setback, with Wales international Joe Rodon expected to spend up to 10 weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury. The centre-back picked up the injury during Leeds’ Premier League draw with Brentford last week and is now facing an extended spell out of action. Leeds manager Daniel Farke confirmed Rodon’s absence ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, with the defender set to miss a substantial portion of the club’s early-season campaign. Rodon had started both of Leeds’ league matches this season and quickly established himself as an important figure in Farke’s defensive plans. The injury is also a blow to Wales manager Craig Bellamy, with Rodon potentially unavailable for the national team’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. Wales are scheduled to travel to Portugal on September 24 before facing Denmark three days later in Group A4. Rodon’s rehabilitation and recovery will now be closely m...

...24 states, scouts set for Akwa Ibom as organisers target Nigeria’s next football stars By Maxwell Kumoye    The battle against age cheating will take centre stage at the 3rd Senate President Under-18 Annual Unity Cup, with the Main Organising Committee (MOC) putting participating teams on notice ahead of the competition in Akwa Ibom. MOC Chairman, Dr. Mike Uyi, has challenged the 24 participating states to resist the temptation of fielding overage players, insisting that the credibility of the tournament depends largely on ensuring that the competition is genuinely contested by Under-18 footballers. Uyi said the tournament is being positioned as a major talent identification platform capable of producing players for the future Golden Eaglets and, ultimately, Nigeria’s senior national team. “With this constellation of Yobo, Amun, Etokobe, Uwe, Ahmed Musa and Chief Scout, Agent Omamome, this year’s edition will not be child’s play,” Uyi said. “We are here to produ...

...Inexperience, poor late-game decisions behind our drop in form — Oputa By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt     Hoops N’ Read’s difficult run in the Nigeria Premier Basketball League continued as the Lagos-based side suffered a fifth consecutive defeat, losing 67–64 to Gboko City Chiefs in a closely fought encounter. The defeat further deepened the club’s current struggles, with head coach Emeka Oputa admitting that inexperience and poor decision-making in the closing stages contributed significantly to the latest setback. “We will keep making adjustments, keep fighting, and we’ll see how it goes,” Oputa said after the game. Hoops N’ Read endured a difficult opening half, trailing Gboko City Chiefs 43–33 at the end of the second quarter. However, the Lagos side staged a spirited comeback and eventually moved into a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter. But just when victory appeared within reach, Hoops N’ Read failed to manage the closi...

  By Maxwell Kumoye   With the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tipping off in Berlin, Germany, Nigeria’s D’Tigress have received words of encouragement from basketball stakeholders and former national team stars ahead of their global campaign. FIBA Africa Zone 3 President and FIBA Africa Executive Committee member, Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd.), has urged the Nigerian team to continue flying the country’s flag with pride and determination at the tournament. Ahmedu, who is also a board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and a former FIBA Technical Delegate, challenged the players to draw inspiration from the fighting spirit that has helped D’Tigress dominate African basketball. Nigeria has won seven African titles, including back-to-back triumphs in 2003, 2005 and from 2017 through 2025. The latest continental crown came in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 2025. Ahmedu also reminded the players of Nigeria’s impressive performances on the global stage, part...

Manchester United Women begin their latest Women’s Super League campaign on Friday with a demanding away trip to London City Lionesses, with Sweden international Julia Zigiotti Olme confident the club can finally mount a serious challenge for the championship. The opening fixture at London City’s home ground is already sold out, adding to the anticipation surrounding a new season in which United will be hoping to close the gap on the WSL’s established elite. Since the league was launched in 2011, the title has been dominated by just four clubs — Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City. United, despite consistently competing near the top of the table, are still waiting for their first league crown. Zigiotti Olme believes that wait can end under new head coach Eva Olid, who has been tasked with taking the club to another level. The 28-year-old midfielder expects United to face intense competition but insists the squad has the quality and ambition re...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt     Captain of Hoops N’ Reads Basketball Club, Francis Anekwe, has assured fans and the Nigerian basketball community that the Lagos-based side will produce a much-improved performance in their Match Day 5 clash of the Final 8 Playoffs. Anekwe, fondly known as “Mr. Reliable,” admitted that the team’s performances so far have fallen short of expectations, with Hoops N’ Reads still searching for their first victory of the playoffs. The Lagos giants suffered their fourth consecutive defeat after a closely fought 66–60 loss to 313 Warriors, leaving them with a crucial battle ahead as they seek to keep their Final 8 campaign alive. Despite the setbacks, Anekwe expressed confidence in his teammates, insisting that the squad has the quality and determination to turn things around in their next encounter against Koko. “Hello, my people, it’s your boy, Francis Anekwe, captain of the team. We thank you for the support and...

  By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria’s growing profile in international athletics officiating has received another major boost with the appointment of Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama as an International Starter for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The prestigious appointment by World Athletics is a recognition of Nesiama’s wealth of experience, technical expertise and contributions to athletics officiating at continental and global levels. Nesiama is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Technical and Development Commission and a member of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Technical and Competitions Commission. He previously served as Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and is a World Athletics-certified technical officials’ lecturer. His impressive officiating résumé includes serving as a World Athletics-licensed athletes’ manager, referee at the 2024 African Games in Accra, Ghana, St...

...Calls for fresh sustainable direction in Nigerian football   By Maxwell Kumoye     The President of TSM Football Academy, Epe, Lagos, Bode Alabi, has called for the former Nigeria international, Segun “Mathematical” Odegbami, to be given the opportunity to lead the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the ongoing reorganisation of Nigerian football administration. Alabi believes Odegbami’s illustrious playing career, administrative experience and long-standing advocacy for reforms make him a strong candidate to provide a new direction for the country’s football. In a statement titled “From the Green Eagles to the Glasshouse: Why Segun Odegbami’s Vision Can Redefine Nigerian Football,” Alabi described the former Green Eagles captain as a figure whose experience cuts across both the playing and administrative sides of the game. Odegbami was a key member of Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team and played a leading role in the count...

By Maxwell Kumoye  The maiden edition of the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) National Taekwondo Championship is scheduled to commence on September 17 in Lagos, with athletes from across the country expected to converge on the commercial capital for the tournament. The championship, sponsored by former Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and ex-Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, is expected to provide an exciting platform for athletes to showcase their skills while further promoting the development of taekwondo in Nigeria. Bamidele, who is now the Senate Leader, has remained an active stakeholder in sports and has supported various sporting initiatives over the years. He believes sports can serve as a powerful tool for promoting unity and bringing people together. President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria (TFN), Tayo Popoola, expressed delight over the championship, describing it as a welcome development and an example of stakeholders comp...

Isack Hadjar will miss a second consecutive Formula 1 race at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury. Red Bull confirmed on Wednesday that Liam Lawson will once again replace the Frenchman at the senior team for the race at Monza, while Yuki Tsunoda will continue to fill Lawson’s usual seat at Racing Bulls.  Hadjar sustained the injury during the summer break and was forced to sit out last month’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Although the 21-year-old had been hopeful of returning in Italy, Red Bull decided against taking any risks with his recovery. The team said Hadjar is making encouraging progress but will remain sidelined while his rehabilitation continues. Lawson, meanwhile, gets another opportunity alongside Max Verstappen after making an impressive return to Red Bull action in the Netherlands. The New Zealander qualified eighth and went on to finish seventh at Zandvoort, securing valuable points for the team.  Th...

Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o has urged African football leaders to support FIFA president Gianni Infantino, arguing that his leadership has significantly accelerated the development of football across the continent. Eto’o made the comments in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Équipe, amid growing scrutiny of Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.  The former Cameroon captain credited Infantino with helping African football associations strengthen their structures and providing greater opportunities for nations that have historically struggled to qualify for the World Cup. “President Gianni Infantino has changed football,” Eto’o said. According to the FECAFOOT president, African federations have benefited from Infantino’s approach to development and should acknowledge the progress made during his tenure. “Mr. Infantino has helped our continent. He has helped our federations develop much more quickly, a...

Everton’s Fans’ Forum has criticised the club’s transfer planning and recruitment strategy following the closure of the transfer window, demanding greater clarity over a period they believe was once again dominated by late moves and missed opportunities. The supporters’ group, which regularly engages with Everton’s board on issues affecting fans, said the club had pledged to introduce a more professional and structured approach to recruitment. However, they argued that the latest window followed a familiar pattern, with Everton attempting to resolve key squad weaknesses in the final days. The frustration intensified after Everton failed to complete a deadline-day move for United States striker Folarin Balogun. The proposed transfer collapsed, with Balogun publicly denying that he had agreed to join the Merseyside club. The failure to land the striker has left manager David Moyes with limited attacking options following Beto’s departure for Fiorentina. Everton also sanctione...

Kimi Antonelli heads into a landmark home Italian Grand Prix at Monza carrying the weight of history, despite facing the daunting prospect of starting from the back of the grid. The Mercedes youngster, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week, arrives at the iconic “Temple of Speed” as the first Italian in 73 years to lead the Formula One world championship. Antonelli is also chasing the possibility of becoming Italy’s first F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari claimed his second title in 1953. After 12 rounds of the season, Antonelli has established a commanding 59-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, putting him firmly in contention for a historic championship triumph on home soil. However, his Monza challenge has been complicated by his back-of-the-grid starting position, leaving him with a major recovery drive if he is to extend his championship lead. Behind him, McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris has closed...

Inter Miami have completed the signing of 19-year-old Brazilian winger Riquelme Fillipi from Palmeiras, securing his services through the 2029-30 season, with an option to extend the deal into 2030-31. The highly-rated youngster will occupy a U-22 Initiative slot as Miami continue to invest in emerging talent. Fillipi arrives with an impressive record at youth level, having scored 30 goals and provided four assists in 80 appearances for Palmeiras U-20. And Miami aren't done there. The Herons also acquired an international roster slot from the New England Revolution in exchange for $200,000 in General Allocation Money, split between $100,000 in 2026 and another $100,000 in 2027.