Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel      Edo Queens’ successful capture of the 2025/26 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership title has been described as a collective achievement and a powerful lesson in determination, teamwork and resilience by the Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations of the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Mrs. Sabrina Chikere. The Benin-based side secured their second NWFL crown after battling to a hard-fought goalless draw against Bayelsa Queens on the final day of the Super Six playoffs at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday. Needing only a draw to clinch the title, Edo Queens executed their strategy with discipline and composure to finish top of the standings with 10 points, two ahead of Bayelsa Queens. Reacting to the achievement, Chikere stressed that the triumph belonged to everyone connected with the team and the sports commission. "It's all of us," she said, describing the title as a victory b...

By Maxwell Kumoye        Sports administrators, coaches, club owners and journalists have been urged to embrace project management and leadership principles as critical tools for driving growth and professionalism within the sports industry. This formed the focus of a masterclass webinar organised by the AMAPRO Africa Development Program in partnership with the Project Management Institute Nigeria, which brought together more than 100 participants physically and virtually for a capacity-building session in Ilorin, Kwara State. The programme, themed "Project Management and Leadership Skills in Modern Sports Ecosystem," was held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub on Saturday and aimed at equipping stakeholders with globally recognised project management practices that can strengthen sports administration and improve organisational efficiency. Facilitators from PMI Nigeria highlighted the essential ingredients for successful sports event organisation and administr...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria has secured a significant presence in global archery administration after Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, President of the Nigeria Archery Federation, was appointed to the Commonwealth Games Committee of the international governing body, World Archery. The appointment was confirmed by World Archery as part of five new additions to the committee, a move aimed at strengthening global representation and expertise ahead of future Commonwealth Games competitions. Abdullahi, who also serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, is among a select group of administrators chosen by the World Archery Executive Board (WAEB) to help shape the sport's future within the Commonwealth Games movement. World Archery Secretary General Raul Calin informed committee chairman Robert Fiddyment that the federation had finalized the committee's new composition. Joining Abdullahi on the committee are Karl Balisch of Canada, Trina Roberts,...

By Mishael Emmanuel    The race for this year's President Federation Cup title intensified on Wednesday as El-Kanemi Warriors, Wikki Tourists, Nasarawa United and Ikorodu City secured places in the semi-finals following thrilling quarter-final encounters across the country. Former champions El-Kanemi Warriors booked the first semi-final ticket after edging Sokoto United 1-0 in a tightly contested match. The Maiduguri-based side showed resilience and composure to secure the narrow victory and keep their hopes of lifting the prestigious trophy alive. Wikki Tourists were made to work hard for their place in the last four after being held to a 1-1 draw by spirited underdogs Flight FC in regulation time. The Nigeria National League side eventually held their nerve in the penalty shootout, triumphing 4-3 to advance. In another exciting quarter-final clash, Nasarawa United overcame fellow Nigeria Premier Football League side Plateau United 2-1 to continue their impressive...

The curtains may have fallen on the sixth edition of the Jordan Nwora Basketball Camp in Ilupeju, Lagos, but the event once again highlighted a troubling reality, Nigeria continues to underutilise its vast basketball talent and potential. That was the verdict of former D'Tigers head coach, Alex Nwora, one of the driving forces behind the prestigious camp, during an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye. The camp, which concluded on Sunday at the Warriors Basketball Court in Ilupeju, attracted more than 200 young basketball players from different parts of the country, providing them with an opportunity to learn, develop and showcase their skills. However, despite the impressive turnout and abundance of talent on display, Nwora believes the event exposed the failure of Nigeria's basketball authorities to properly develop the game at the grassroots level. "For these kids, it should never be about politics. It...

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has hailed the exceptional performances of Nigerian athletes at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, describing their achievements as further evidence of the country's growing strength in global athletics. Leading the Nigerian charge were Kanyinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi, who captured the men's 100m and 400m titles respectively in commanding fashion. Ajayi produced a breathtaking display to win the men's 100m in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds after earlier lowering the Nigerian record to 9.84 seconds. The Auburn University sprinter became only the third Nigerian to claim the NCAA 100m crown, joining the elite company of Olapade Adenekan and Divine Oduduru. Ogazi was equally impressive, delivering one of the standout performances of the championships by storming to victory in the men's 400m in a world-leading 43.38 seconds. The Alabama star's performance erased the longs...

  By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria's rising athletics star, Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi, etched his name into the record books on Thursday after becoming the first Nigerian male athlete to win the NCAA men's javelin title at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The talented thrower delivered a stunning performance, securing the prestigious collegiate crown with a massive opening throw of 82.26 metres that proved untouchable throughout the competition. Nnamdi stamped his authority on the event from the outset, launching the winning mark in the first round and maintaining his dominance against a strong field.  Impressively, both of his throws beyond the 80-metre mark were enough to secure victory, underlining the quality of his performance on one of college athletics' biggest stages. The Nigerian finished ahead of Bahamas' Keyshawn Strachan, who settled for second place with a best effort of 80.65m, while Jack Larriviere claimed third position after recordi...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in Nigerian volleyball as the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) prepares to serve off the first phase of the 2026 National Premier Volleyball League in Abuja. The country's elite volleyball clubs will converge on the Indoor Sports Hall of Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, from June 13 to 28, battling for supremacy in Nigeria's top-flight volleyball competition. The championship, sponsored by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, will feature both men's and women's teams in what promises to be a highly competitive and entertaining tournament. As the flagship domestic volleyball competition in the country, the National Premier Volleyball League has continued to play a crucial role in talent discovery, athlete development and the promotion of volleyball excellence across Nigeria.  The competition is expected to attract some of t...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Substitute Cyle Larin came off the bench to earn Canada a historic 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina as the co-hosts opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought point in Toronto. Larin, who had been on the pitch for just over two minutes, made an immediate impact when he brilliantly spun away from defender Tarik Muharemovic before firing past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.  A slight deflection helped the effort find the back of the net in the 78th minute, sparking celebrations among the home supporters. The equaliser ensured Canada avoided defeat and secured their first-ever draw at a FIFA World Cup.  The North Americans had previously lost all three matches during their debut appearance in 1986 and suffered three more defeats in Qatar 2022. Bosnia-Herzegovina, who booked their place at the tournament through dramatic penalty shootout victories over Wales and Italy in the qualifying play-offs, had taken the lead m...