Sports Groove

...Yahaya sets the pace in Para Badminton By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abuja      Abibat Ibrahim delivered a commanding performance to clinch gold in the women’s Class 8 table tennis event at the ongoing 2026 Para Games in Abuja, capping a dominant run with a straight-sets 2-0 victory over her Abia State opponent. The in-form star barely dropped a set throughout the competition, having earlier dispatched her Bayelsa rival by the same 2-0 margin.  In the final, she showcased precision, control, and confidence to seal the top spot and underline her status as one of the standout athletes of the Games. Kwara’s presence was also felt across other table tennis events.  Ganiyu Yunusa battled his way to a bronze medal in the men’s Class 1-3 category, adding to the state’s growing medal tally. Meanwhile, Taofiq Azeez’s campaign ended in the quarterfinals after a tough loss to Abia. Aminat Adisa kept the momentum going in the women’s Class 6-7 divis...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Host Bayelsa State lit up the mats on Sunday with a dominant showing in the men’s freestyle event at the 4th Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa, storming to three gold medals and underlining their status as the team to beat. Backed by a charged home crowd inside the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Bayelsa’s wrestlers delivered ruthless, clinical performance across key weight classes. Erofagha Dideikenei set the tone in the 70kg category, powering past Rivers State’s Richard Ebigha in the final to clinch the hosts’ first gold of the day. Andrew Ebikeme (Dynamite Club) and Delta’s Ebikedunene T settled for bronze. The momentum continued in the 82kg division, where Solomon Ulabo produced another commanding display to defeat Edo State’s Agbonifo Ehichiel and secure Bayelsa’s second gold.  James Perekeme (Nigeria Customs Service) and Progress Peter (Dynamite Club) claimed bronze medals. Heavyweight Zikeanh...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Defending champions Pakistan Alfred and Augustine Okuro stamped their authority once again, but it was Harrison Onovwiomogbohwo’s breakthrough moment that lit up Day 4 of the Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa. Alfred, representing NSCDC, was untouchable in the 67kg Greco-Roman division, powering through a round-robin field with clinical dominance to retain his crown.  Not to be outdone, Delta State’s powerhouse Okuro bulldozed his way to back-to-back gold in the 130kg class, dispatching all opponents by technical superiority in a commanding display. But the loudest cheers belonged to Bayelsa’s own Onovwiomogbohwo. The freestyle specialist made a bold switch to Greco-Roman and it paid off instantly.  In a statement performance, he dethroned Nigeria Army’s Tobechukwu Udeh to clinch his maiden gold in the 97kg category, announcing himself as a new force in the division. Bayelsa State’s dominance was undeniable, fin...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Trust Ittai      Senegal have drawn a battle line and they are not backing down. In a furious escalation that could shake the very foundations of the game, the Senegalese Football Federation has launched a blistering attack on the Confederation of African Football after being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title in a decision now branded “absurd” and “irrational.” At the heart of the storm is FSF president Abdoulaye Fall, who did not mince words, vowing a full-scale “moral and legal crusade” against what he described as an “administrative robbery.” "This is no longer just about a trophy. It is about power, precedent, and the soul of football.” The chaos stems from the dramatic AFCON final in Rabat on January 18, where Senegal walked off in protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco.  They returned, regrouped, and snatched victory with a 1-0 extra-time winner, seemingly sealing their place in history. But in...

...NSC Earns Plaudits   By Maxwell Kumoye       Nigeria’s women’s 3x3 wheelchair basketball team delivered a moment of pure sporting history on Thursday, powering their way to qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a commanding 8-3 victory over South Africa in the final. In a performance defined by grit, discipline, and tactical brilliance, the Nigerian side proved unstoppable, becoming the first team from the country to secure a Commonwealth Games ticket in the event.  Earlier, they had brushed aside Kenya 6-2 in the semifinals, sending a clear warning of their intent. While the athletes rightly take center stage, this triumph also shines a bright light on the proactive leadership of the National Sports Commission, whose timely support and strategic backing have been pivotal to the team’s success.  At a time when para-sports often battle for recognition, the Commission’s intervention has not only empowered these athletes but po...

By Maxwell Kumoye        Accra has officially set the stage for one of Africa’s biggest athletics spectacles, as the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships were launched in grand style on Wednesday, signaling the countdown to a historic continental showdown. The Ghanaian capital will play host to elite track and field stars from across the continent between May 12 and May 17, 2026, at the University of Ghana Stadium, marking the first time the West African nation will stage the prestigious event. Top names expected to light up the championships include Botswana sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo, Kenya’s middle-distance queen Faith Kipyegon, and long-distance standout Beatrice Chebet, a trio that underlines the world-class quality fans can expect in Accra. At the official launch, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, emphasized the transformative power of athletics, calling for deliberate investment in infrastructure to unlock the coun...

...As 3rd National Para Games Begin in Abuja   By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, will come alive on Saturday as top government officials and sports administrators converge for the official opening of the 3rd National Para Games at the iconic Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Leading the high-profile ceremony is Presidential Spokesperson and former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director General, Bukola Olopade. The Games, which began on March 26, will run through April 3, bringing together over 3,000 athletes representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in what is regarded as Nigeria’s premier para-sport event. Competitors will battle for honours across 15 sports, including para athletics, wheelchair basketball, para swimming, amputee football, sitting volleyball, para powerlifting, and wheelchair tennis.  The scale of partic...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel      The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League season heads into a defining weekend as Matchday 32 fixtures promise drama at both ends of the table, with the title race, continental spots, and relegation battle all hanging in the balance. At the summit, Rangers International FC leads the standings with 54 points, but their grip on the top spot is anything but secure.  Just two points behind, Rivers United FC remain firmly in contention, while Nasarawa United FC (50 points) and surprise package Ikorodu City FC (49 points) continues to apply pressure in a fiercely contested top four. This weekend, all eyes will be on key fixtures that could reshape the title race. Leaders Rangers face a tricky away test against Shooting Stars SC, a side still pushing for continental qualification.  Rivers United, meanwhile, will look to keep pace when they host struggling Kun Khalifat FC. Third-placed Nasarawa United are away to...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria has taken a decisive step in its bid to host the 2031 African Games, with the National Sports Commission (NSC), confirming that an inspection team from the African Union Sports Council will arrive in Abuja on March 30–31, 2026. But beyond the formalities of inspection, this is shaping into a bold statement of intent and Abuja is at the heart of it. Nigeria is not just bidding to host; it is presenting Abuja as Africa’s most compelling sporting capital-in-waiting. Abuja brings a rare combination of political authority, economic strength, and modern infrastructure, a trio that few rival cities on the continent can match. As the nation’s capital, Abuja guarantees direct federal backing, ensuring swift decision-making, funding stability, and seamless coordination which is a critical edge in delivering a complex, multi-sport event of this magnitude.  That political willpower could prove decisive. Economically, the city sits at the cente...