Sports Groove

By Trust Ittai     Nigeria is set to witness a major milestone in the development of inclusive sports as the American Football Elite Development (AFEDEV) prepares to stage the maiden Wheelchair American Football Exhibition Game at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) basketball court, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on September 10. The one-day event is designed not only to introduce wheelchair American football to a wider Nigerian audience but also to lay the foundation for a structured adaptive league that will provide athletes with disabilities an opportunity to compete, develop their talents and pursue sporting careers. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, AFEDEV founder, Lawrence Ojaideh, described the initiative as a historic step for American football in Nigeria, stressing that the organisation's vision goes beyond staging a single exhibition. “As we gather for this press conference, we are not just announcing an upcoming Exhibition Game; we are unv...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will press ahead with his bid for another term in office despite mounting opposition triggered by a controversial proposal to sell a stake in the governing body's competitions to private investors. FIFA confirmed on Sunday that Infantino's plans to contest the 2027 presidential election remain unchanged, amid increasing pressure over the abandoned investment scheme and growing criticism from within the football community. The Swiss-Italian administrator announced in April that he would seek re-election, and FIFA said there had been no change to that decision. "The FIFA president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election," a FIFA spokesperson said. Infantino's position has come under renewed scrutiny following the collapse of a proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. ...

Brahim Hemdani has been appointed Algeria’s new head coach, with the former international taking charge just weeks before the Desert Foxes begin their qualification campaign for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. The French-born Hemdani, 48, has been handed the senior national team job after only two months in charge of Algeria’s under-20 side. His appointment represents a rapid rise through the national-team coaching structure, despite his relatively limited experience in senior management. Hemdani enjoyed a distinguished playing career, featuring for French club Olympique de Marseille before moving to Scotland, where he represented Rangers. He also earned two caps for Algeria in 2008. His transition into coaching has been more modest, with Hemdani previously working with amateur clubs in France before taking over the Algeria U-20 team earlier this year.

Lionel Messi made an immediate impact on his return to club football, providing an assist as Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by Atlanta United in Florida on Saturday. The appearance was Messi’s first since the Argentine announced his retirement from international football earlier in the week, bringing a new chapter to his illustrious career with the national team. The 39-year-old started and captained Inter Miami in a match that was delayed by more than 90 minutes because of heavy rain and lightning before eventually getting underway. Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup triumph in 2022 and captained the team to a runners-up finish at the 2026 tournament, remained a central figure for Miami despite the difficult weather conditions. His assist helped Inter Miami find the net twice, but Atlanta United twice responded to ensure the points were shared in a dramatic contest. The draw leaves Miami with more work to do as they continue their MLS campaign, while Messi's re...

By Trust Ittai and Maxwell Kumoye The American Football Development (AFEDEV) initiative has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform competitive tackle football in Nigeria through the launch of a structured league backed by technology-driven athlete identification and development. The initiative is designed to create a sustainable pathway for Nigerian athletes by combining high-level competition, player safety, professional administration and data-based talent development. According to AFEDEV Board Member and former Chief Technology Officer, Josiah Onu Orie, the Tackle League is being positioned as a major platform for athletes to sharpen their skills, gain competitive experience and potentially earn opportunities beyond Nigeria. Orie described tackle football as the ultimate test of “strategy, strength and collective discipline”, citing the National Football League (NFL) as the global benchmark and a dream destination for many athletes. He said the AFEDEV Tackle League woul...

Pierre Gasly produced a sensational qualifying performance at Monza on Saturday, upsetting the established favourites to secure the first pole position of his Formula One career with Alpine at the Italian Grand Prix. The Frenchman, who famously won the 2020 Italian Grand Prix with AlphaTauri, now known as Racing Bulls, delivered when it mattered most, edging Mercedes driver George Russell with his final flying lap. Gasly stopped the clock at 1:21.786, finishing just 0.060 seconds ahead of Russell to secure a remarkable pole on home soil of sorts. The Alpine driver lives in nearby Milan, making the achievement even more significant. The result marks a major breakthrough for both Gasly and Alpine, who have endured a difficult season but found the pace when it counted at one of Formula One's most historic circuits. It is also Alpine's first Formula One pole since the Renault works team was rebranded as Alpine in 2021, underlining the significance of Gasly's stunnin...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria’s D’Tigresses suffered their second consecutive defeat at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Saturday, going down 71-67 to Hungary in a closely fought Group B encounter. The result leaves the reigning African champions searching for answers after another frustrating outing in Berlin, with head coach Rena Wakama admitting that her side again struggled to find their rhythm early enough. Nigeria created several opportunities but failed to capitalise consistently, particularly from the free-throw line, where they converted just 12 of 23 attempts. Wakama said the team’s inability to put together a complete performance remained a major concern ahead of their final group game against France. “It was another rough game. It’s tough when your shots aren’t falling,” Wakama said. “I thought we got great looks in the first half, really, really good looks and we got to the free-throw line. But we finished the game shooting 12 of 23 from the fr...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt Hoops N’ Read finally found their winning touch at the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final 8 Playoffs on Friday September 4, 2026, battling past Lagos Raptors 64-60 to end a frustrating five-game losing streak in Port Harcourt. The Lagos-based side, who had struggled to make an impact in their opening games of the playoffs, produced their most determined performance of the competition to secure their first victory and give themselves a much-needed confidence boost heading into their final game. It was a game of momentum swings, with neither side able to establish lasting control. Hoops N’ Read made the brighter start, taking the first quarter 20-14, but Lagos Raptors responded emphatically in the second period, outscoring their opponents 19-8 to overturn the deficit and take a 33-28 lead into the halftime break. The game changed complexion after the restart as Francis Anekwe and his teammates stepped up their ...

...Cameroon take bronze By Maxwell Kumoye     Egypt ended a 23-year wait for the African women’s volleyball title after producing a dominant performance to defeat hosts Kenya 3-0 in the final of the 2026 Women’s African Volleyball Championship. The Egyptians overwhelmed Kenya 25-21, 25-15, 25-15 at the Kasarani Arena on Friday to claim their fourth continental crown and, in the process, secure Africa’s qualification ticket for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Egypt’s victory brought back memories of their previous triumphs in 1976, 1989 and 2003, with the latest success restoring the North Africans to the summit of African women’s volleyball. The hosts struggled to cope with Egypt’s intensity and organisation as the visitors established control early in the final. Kenya pushed hard in the opening set but Egypt held firm to take it 25-21 before stepping up their performance in the second and third sets. The 25-15, 25-15 victories in the final two sets completed a...

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...