Sports Groove

By Mishael Emmanuel          Cameroon’s young Lions now have their roadmap for the biggest stage in youth football. The draw for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar has officially placed Cameroon U-17 team in Group K alongside Venezuela Mexico U-17 football team, and Romania U-17 team. Scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13, 2026, the tournament promises to be a fierce battle of the world’s brightest young talents. For Cameroon, the challenge is clear, survive a tricky group packed with contrasting styles and football traditions. Mexico arrives with a rich history at youth level and will likely be seen as one of the favorites in the group. Venezuela’s rapid rise in South American youth football adds another layer of danger, while Romania could prove to be the surprise package capable of upsetting expectations. But Cameroon’s young Lions will head into the competition with confidence and ambition. Known for their physical strength, pace, ...

By Maxwell Kumoye      The Teranga Lions of Senegal have officially unveiled their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the return of talismanic forward Sadio Mané providing a major boost ahead of the global showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Head coach Pape Thiaw named a balanced squad packed with experience, youthful energy and attacking firepower as Senegal prepares for another shot at football glory on the world stage. The biggest headline from the squad announcement is undoubtedly the return of Mané, who had previously announced his retirement from international football several months ago.  The former African Player of the Year has now reversed that decision and is set to lead Senegal once again after playing a pivotal role in the country’s impressive campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. His comeback is expected to lift the morale of the squad and millions of Senegalese supporters dreaming of another historic World Cup run....

...As Camp returns to Lagos with growing global influenc By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in El Wak Stadium, Accra    The steady rise of the Jordan Nwora Basketball Camp across Africa and its growing connection with the United States will continue in June as the developmental initiative heads to Ilupeju, Lagos, following successful outings in Monrovia, Liberia and Accra, Ghana. The 2026 edition of the camp is expected to host 120 young players, 60 boys and 60 girls, in a three-day training and mentorship programme scheduled for June 14 to 16. Retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu, who heads the Organising Committee, said the programme has continued to gain momentum because of the impact it is making on young athletes across the continent. The camp’s growing international outlook will also be evident in Lagos, with two coaches from America expected to join the technical crew, further strengthening the bridge between African grassroots basketball and elit...

By Maxwell Kumoye who was in Accra for the CAA Senior Athletics Championships     The curtains may have fallen on the 24th edition of the CAA Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana, but the echoes from Accra continue to reverberate across the continent. Beneath the medals, records and national pride lies a pressing conversation about the future of African athletics, one that demands urgent action from governments, corporate institutions and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA). For all its flashes of brilliance, the championship also exposed a painful contradiction, Africa continues to produce some of the greatest athletes on earth, yet struggles to assemble those same stars on its own biggest stage. The President of the Ghana Athletics Association, Bawah Fuseini, did not shy away from confronting that reality. In a candid reflection on the tournament, he revealed how Ghana fought to secure sponsorship for the continental event while grappling with the abs...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      The Edo State Sports Commission has launched a major grassroots sports development initiative tagged “Discovering Tomorrow’s Stars” as part of efforts to identify and nurture young talents across the state. The programme, scheduled to hold on Thursday at the main bowl of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium from 9:00 a.m., is being driven by the commission under the leadership of Executive Chairman, Amadin Desmond Enabulele. The initiative is designed to take sports development directly to the grassroots, with students from JSS1 to JSS3 drawn from schools across Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts expected to participate. A total of 20 secondary schools have been selected for the programme, with each school presenting 10 athletes of mixed gender for the competition. Participants will compete in athletics and several combat sports including Judo, Karate, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Boxing, Kickboxing and Kung Fu...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming Unity Cup, the friendly against Poland and Portugal have gathered momentum following the release of an impressive Super Eagles squad that blends experience, emerging talents and home-based stars. Head coach Eric Chelle unveiled a 27-man list packed with notable names across Europe and the Nigeria Premier Football League, signaling the country’s determination to make a strong statement at the tournament. Leading the goalkeeping department is experienced shot-stopper Francis Uzoho alongside Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and home-based talent Michael Atata of Ikorodu United. The defensive line features a mix of solidity and versatility with Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez, Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu, Trabzonspor’s Chibuike Nwaiwu and Rivers United defender Elias Ochobi all earning invitations.  Rangers FC duo Chibueze Oputa and Obinna Igboke also made the squad, while Bruno Onyemaechi adds...

...Ghana to Send 40 Athletes to the Games  By Maxwell Kumoye        With just over two months to the Commonwealth Games, the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Richard Akpokavie, has made a passionate appeal to the government to release approved funds needed for Ghana’s preparations ahead of the multi-sport event. Speaking during the GOC’s Annual General Meeting over the weekend, Akpokavie revealed that despite Parliament approving a budget of GH₵12 million last year for the country’s Commonwealth Games campaign, the committee is yet to receive any portion of the funds. According to him, the delay is already affecting the nation’s preparations for two major international competitions — the Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics. “This year, we are expected to prepare athletes for both the Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics, yet we are still awaiting funding,” Akpokavie said. While acknowledging the economic difficulties confronting t...

...Black Stars dare Côte d'Ivoire as Chipolopolo faces Algeria, Togo, Burundi By Maxwell Kumoye    Three-time African champions, the Super Eagles, have been drawn against co-hosts Tanzania national football team, Guinea-Bissau national football team and Madagascar national football team in Group L of the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The draw ceremony for the qualification series was held on Tuesday, with 48 countries placed into 12 groups of four teams each as nations battle for places at the continental showpiece to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in June 2027. The top two teams from each group are expected to qualify for the tournament. However, because Tanzania are one of the co-hosts, only one other team may progress should the East Africans finish among the top two in Group L. The draw is widely seen as favourable for Nigeria, who are expected to secure qualification to the 24-team competition they have won three times...

By Maxwell Kumoye      The final batch of Team Kenya athletes returned home on Tuesday morning to a warm reception from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) First Vice Chairman, Barnaba Korir, following the team’s impressive outing at the championships in Ghana. Korir praised the athletes for their fighting spirit and determination, revealing that he closely monitored every event throughout the competition. “We are very proud of your performance in Ghana. I personally followed each and every event, and at one point I was concerned when the team was ranked eighth. However, your resilience was remarkable, and you fought back strongly to make the entire country proud,” he said. Team Kenya wrapped up the championships with an outstanding haul of five gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals, a performance that underlined the country’s growing strength across multiple athletics disciplines. Korir also stressed the need for improved preparation and suppo...