Sports Groove

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...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Benin City witnessed a flurry of personal bests and impressive performances as the first day of the AFN Golden League Series lit up the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with thrilling action across track and field. In the men’s senior Discus Throw (2kg) final, Nyherhovwo Benaiah Ofuoku stamped his authority on the circle with a commanding throw of 45.95m to claim top spot.  The 19-year-old’s effort marked a new personal best, underlining his growing reputation as one of the country’s brightest prospects in the event. Chineme Akachiukwu Nweke followed in second with a solid 38.10m, also a personal best, while Emmanuel Shakamomodu Audu secured third place with 36.27m, a season’s best that capped an impressive outing for the Edo State Sports Commission athlete. On the track, Chidera Ezeakor powered to victory in the men’s 100m, clocking 10.32 seconds with a legal wind reading of +0.4.  Tejiri Godwin finished strongly in second place in 10.37 sec...

    Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, will continue their participation in the Pink Ladies Cup in the United Arab Emirates despite rising regional tensions that have disrupted their training schedule. The team’s Media Officer, Matilda Dimedo, confirmed that the squad remains focused on the tournament while maintaining close contact with organisers and Ghana’s diplomatic representatives in the UAE. The regional situation in parts of the Middle East has led to adjustments in the team’s training programme, but officials say the players are safe and committed to honouring their fixtures. On Tuesday morning, officials from Ghana’s Consulate in the UAE paid a visit to the team’s camp to assess the situation and reassure the delegation of the government’s support.  The diplomatic mission assured the players and technical staff of their safety and pledged continued monitoring of developments. The Black Queens are competing in the Pink Ladies Cup ...

      FIFA president Gianni Infantino has raised the prospect of red cards being shown to players who cover their mouths when confronting opponents. The issue has been highlighted in recent weeks after Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior said he was racially insulted by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match. Prestianni, who denies the allegations, had approached Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey during Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the playoff match. He was provisionally suspended for the second leg while an investigation was being carried out. The issue of players covering their mouths was discussed on Saturday at a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Measures could come into force at this summer’s World Cup. “If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” Infantino told Sky News. “There must be a presumption t...

    Liverpool have posted record revenue of £703 million for the year ending May 31, 2025, a year boosted by their Premier League win under first-year manager, Arne Slot. Revenue rose by £89 million year-on- year, with media income providing a major boost as it rose £60 million to £264 million. Matchday revenue increased by £14 million to £116 million, as the first full season of the expanded Anfield Road Stand came into play. Commercial revenue climbed to £323 million, up £15 million, as new partnerships, retail growth and a non-matchday events calendar, including concerts from Taylor Swift and P!NK made the tills ring. New partners included Japan Airlines, Engelbert Strauss, Lucozade, and Husqvarna, alongside a landmark 10-year renewal with Carlsberg that will extend one of the Premier League’s longest-running commercial relationships to 42 years. Jenny Beacham, LFC’s chief financial officer, said: “We make no secret of our desire to run and operate a financially...

  The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed four Champions League fixtures until further notice following the US and Israeli military attack on Iran, and the reciprocal Iranian strikes across the region. Matches in Champions League Two and the AFC Challenge League, including the tie involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, have also been postponed. The first of the matches were due to start tonight. The Qatar Football Association also said on Sunday that all matches in the country had been postponed “until further notice”. On March 27, Qatar is scheduled to host the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina. “In light of the developing situation in the Middle East, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 first-leg matches in the West Region, originally scheduled for March 2–3, 2026, will now be rescheduled,” said an AFC statement on Sunday. Matches scheduled for Monday were between Shabab Al A...

     The head of Iranian football has left Iran’s participation in the World Cup in the United States open after the 2026 co-host and Israel attacked the Persian country. “What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3. On Saturday, the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran that took out Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders of the Islamic Republic, throwing the future of the country into further turmoil. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. It has now hit at least six US military facilities and well as UK bases in the region. Three US troops were killed at a base in Kuwait. Nine people were killed in Israel, five people in the United Arab Emirates and four people in Syria, according to official reports. At least 115 people, most of them likely children, were killed at a girl’s e...

    The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed four Champions League fixtures until further notice following the US and Israeli military attack on Iran, and the reciprocal Iranian strikes across the region. Matches in Champions League Two and the AFC Challenge League, including the tie involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, have also been postponed. The first of the matches were due to start tonight. The Qatar Football Association also said on Sunday that all matches in the country had been postponed “until further notice”. On March 27, Qatar is scheduled to host the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina. “In light of the developing situation in the Middle East, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 first-leg matches in the West Region, originally scheduled for March 2–3, 2026, will now be rescheduled,” said an AFC statement on Sunday. Matches scheduled for Monday were between Shab...

     Major League Soccer will allow clubs to sell a new sponsorship position on the lower back of jerseys starting this season, adding a fourth commercial placement on each kit and creating another source of revenue for teams across the league. The move, which takes effect after the 2026 All-Star Break, is part of what commissioner Don Garber has described as ‘MLS 3.0’. That next phase includes increased investment in player development, new stadium openings, schedule changes, and the anticipated lift from the US co-hosting the men’s World Cup. “We feel like this is the right moment in time to unlock a new asset for our clubs to capture the attention coming out of the World Cup,” MLS chief revenue officer Carter Ladd said. “The next era for our league is on the horizon.” The new placement sits below the player’s number and measures roughly 80% of the size of the front-of-jersey sponsor. Logos can be up to nine inches wide and four inches tall. While values wil...