Sports Groove

...Kwara United’s coach, who doesn’t even have a license, I taught him sense by beating him - Karim Zito ...Kotoko, now shift focus to a daunting second-round clash against Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club By Maxwell Kumoye with additional agency report        Head coach of Asante Kotoko Football Club of Ghana, Karim Zito has taken aim at Kwara United boss Sanni Tunde after steering his side into the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Porcupine Warriors sealed a historic qualification with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium on Sunday, completing a 5-3 aggregate win after their thrilling 4-3 first-leg success in Accra. Forward Hubert Gyau delivered the knock out strike in the second half, silencing Kwara United, whose coach had vowed to overturn the deficit following their defeat in Ghana. Speaking to the media after the match, Zito did not hold back in his assessment of his counterpart. “Kwara United’s coach,...

The technical director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Gabriel Okon, has enthused that athletics can strongly and favourably impact on the Nigerian sports economy. Okon, who just returned from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, noted that Nigeria is endowed with numerous talented athletes that are making positive strides in promoting the country's image internationally. The former Nigeria International athlete, has therefore, called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to take concrete steps in providing sufficient financial support for the development of these athletes. "As of today, Tobi Amusan, Nigeria's 100mH World Champion, holds a record time of (12:12s.) by propagating Amusan's achievement, Nigeria can encourage others to take up sports but this endeavor requires substantial funding,” said the former sprinter.“ "Examples from South Africa, Jamaica, and other nations demonstrate how world-class athletes can drive s...

... Jibril emerges unopposed from Zonal poll  By Maxwell Kumoye and Eche Amos in Jos, Plateau State   in Jos, Plateau State      The identity of the North Central Zonal representative on the board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), for the next four years is now known. He is the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Handball Association, Mr. Jibril Saidu. Mr. Jibril Saidu was elected as the North Central Zonal Representative of the Nigeria Handball Federation over the weekend. The Kogi State-born Jibril secured the Zonal position with seven votes, one vote from each of the Six States and FCT, Abuja, that make up the Zone, after his opponent from Niger State, Mohammed Saliu, stepped down for him prior to the Zone's election in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday. The move by Mohammed Saliu, paved the way for Mr. Jibril Saidu's bid to contest for the office of the Presidency of the Nigeria Handball Federation in the upcoming elections schedu...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Akeem Busari    The stakes are clearer, as the boys have been separated from the men, as the semi-finals of the biggest grassroots football championship in Nigeria, 1X Cup takes centre stage at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, South-West, Nigeria.   The pace can only get faster and the pitch, higher with three debutants amoung the remaining few who continue their quest for the N20 million grand prize on offer at the event.    The new faces in the ring, Ikorodu City, ISGAT Athletics and Nath Boys FC, would attempt to overrun old horses in the championship, Dosu Joseph FA.  The enticing semi-final clashes would have Ikorodu City take on Nath Boys in the first encounter, while ISGAT Athletics are set to do battle with Dosu Joseph FA for a place in the final, a match that has got pundits and enthusiasts on the top of their toes. Meanwhile, in a press statement signed and released by the Chief ...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Akeem Busari  The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) in collaboration with the Adamawa State Sports Council, the Adamawa State Ministry of Education and the Adamawa State chapter of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), recently held a badminton training in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. The event which was held at the hall of General Murtala Mohammed College, Yola during the week, was attended by 20 Physical Education teachers and 80 secondary school students in the Yola area of the State.   This badminton training which was facilitated by George Shitta and four other badminton coaches, is aimed at introducing the game of badminton to the grassroots level. It would be noted that the BFN and their grassroots partner, Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative have in the past three years held “Shuttle Time” and “Outreach Badminton Training” events all over Nigeria, with a view of using th...

 ...Championship will be exciting, thrilling - LOC Chairman, Retired General Aliyu Abdullahi Maxwell Kumoye in Lagos      The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, (LOC), of the 4th Chief of Defence Staff Unity Basketball Championship, Retired General Abdulahi has assured teams, fans and lovers of the slamming and dunking game, participating at the much-anticipated event of an unforgettable basketball experience. He stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, General, Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, through the Local Organising Committee has put everything in place to stage a remarkable event with the very best of basketball teams competing at the event. He gave this assurance during a press briefing on Friday at the NAFRC Officers Mess. He said the Championship will start on the 30th of September and ends on the 5th of October. “About 250 top basketball players and officials from across SW are expected to participate in this competition and we can assure ...

  The Nathaniel Idowu Foundation is once again, making headlines for all the right reasons and the next on the long list of admirers to applaud the bold steps of the foundation, is leading Nigeria Sports Group, the Friends of Nigeria Sports (FNS). In a statement signed by Secretary General, Friends of Nigeria Sports, Mrs. Adetoun Ogune, on behalf of the National Coordinator, Chief Diprieye Thompson, the group praised the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation, emphasizing how it has continued to contribute to the empowerment and development of youth and football in the city of excellence, Lagos.  "We recognise the immeasurable impacts, the activities of this foundation on the lives of over 4,000 youths and budding footballers in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State, where Chief Yemi Idowu constructed 19 pitches that includes 10, 5-aside fields and 8, 7-side pitches and one full size field at popular Maracana stadium, in the Tolu area of Ajegunle.  "We must also say a big than...

  The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has bid farewell to five female rugby players from Team Edo who have been invited to Nigeria’s national camp ahead of the World Rugby League Series in Canada, scheduled for October 17–27, 2025. ‎ ‎In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele praised the athletes for their consistent performances, describing their selection as proof of Edo State’s rising influence in Nigerian rugby. He urged them to excel on the global stage while reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to supporting the growth of the sport. ‎ ‎“I wholeheartedly applaud Abba Chinaza, Precious Ukwuoma, Success Iyoha, Becky Okitikpe, and Vera Akhihero of Team Edo for their dedication and determination to the game of rugby,” he said. ‎ ‎The players were presented to the Commission’s Chairman by the Head Coach of the Edo State Rugby Team, Mr. Obong Ntiense Williams. Enabulele described the...

  At the UN General Assembly in New York City, US President Donald Trump has expressed his hope that “countless people from all over the globe will take part” in the 2026 World Cup, contrasting with his administration’s hostile immigration policies.  In a wide-ranging and rambling speech that was four times longer than his allotted 15 minutes, Trump invited fans from around the world to attend the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “We will also be proudly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and shortly thereafter, the 2028 Olympics,” said Trump. “It’s going to be very exciting. I hope you all come. I hope that countless people from all over the globe will take part.” Travel to the United States has fallen and major doubts remain over international fans getting visas. Overseas travel to the US dropped 2.9% in August, down to about 3.5 million visitors, per preliminary government data. That’s the sixth monthly decline this year, running against t...

  Former FIFA vice president and Concacaf president Jack Warner, after 10 years of challenging Trinidad and Tobago extradition rules on a technicality, has finally avoided extradition to the US to face justice. In May 2015 Warner was charged by the US Justice Department with 29 counts of wire fraud, racketeering, money laundering and bribery as part of the FIFAgate scandal that eventually saw 47 indictments issued against FIFA and international federation officials, and sports marketers. Warner turned himself in to Trinidad and Tobago police soon after the indictments were issued and was released on bail. Since then he has been battling to remain in Trinidad arguing that any extradition was illegal under local law. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, at the Trinidad and Tobago High Court Justice Karen Reid said that Warner’s constitutional rights had been breached and that the proceedings were flawed. At the heart of the dispute was an agreement allegedly made by former T...

  The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has added a ninth team for its eighth season kicking off in April 2026. FC Supra du Quebec will be the first CPL club in Quebec and will base in the Greater Montreal area in Laval. At an emotional and Quebec-pride-powered launch ceremony at the Complex Multi-Sports de Laval last night, the team was launched with the promise of establishing a powerful local presence and a new professional pathway in the province for players. Rocco Placentino, co-founder and president, said the team “will show who Quebec really are”. “Quebec is producing world-class talent, and with the arrival of a Canadian Premier League team in the province, we now have a platform that will allow local players to shine, inspire the next generations, and compete at the highest level in the country,” said Placentino. “The club will be made up of homegrown players from Quebec, with a mission to showcase their talent.” FC Supra will play at the 6,000 capacity Stade Boréa...

  Atlético Madrid’s men’s team usually takes the spotlight but with the women’s game taking an ever-increasing role worldwide, it comes as no surprise that major sponsors are lining up to take advantage of the increasing media visibility, with B&B HOTELS as the latest sponsor of its women’s program.   The two-season partnership stretches beyond the first team, embracing both reserve sides, and represents a major coup for the club at a time when whispers of a potential sale of Atlético continue to rumble in the background.  For B&B HOTELS, a chain with 80 properties across Spain and Portugal, David García Blancas, CEO of B&B HOTELS Iberia, said, “This agreement with Atlético de Madrid Femenino is not just sponsorship; it is an alliance between two organisations that share ambition, values, and a way of understanding the future. Both of us bet on talent, equal opportunities, and collective effort as engines of growth.”  Óscar Mayo, the club...

The United Soccer League (USL) is no longer content with playing second fiddle. With a monied investor now in its corner, the USL is signalling that it is ready to go toe-to-toe with Major League Soccer (MLS) and reshape the American soccer landscape when it launches a new competition in 2028.  BellTower Partners, led by former Carlyle Group CEO Kewsong Lee, has made what the league is calling a strategic investment. While the exact numbers are under wraps, it is clear to see that the USL is building serious muscle as it prepares to launch its own first-division men’s league with a long sought-after promotion and relegation model. For decades, fans have clamoured for a true meritocracy in U.S. soccer, and the USL is positioning itself as the league that will deliver the edge-of-your-seat fight for glory or survival.  The USL currently operates the second-tier Championship, League One, and League Two, and the newly launched Super League for women shows the organisat...

  The scandal surrounding the sanction of players and coaches for betting on matches in Bulgaria’s top two divisions in the 2024/2025 season has taken a new twist. Initially the Bulgarian Football Union said that none of 46 players and coaches sanctioned from efbet Liga and Mr Bit Vtora Liga had place bets on their own teams. The individuals were each fined 10,000 Leva ($6,000) and suspended from competition until their fines were paid. However, the investigation has now taken a different direction, after new information indicated some of the players had bet on their own teams, raising concerns about match-fixing in the Bulgarian professional game. A joint press conference by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the General Directorate of National Police (GDNP) had been scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed due to the on-going investigation. “About a year ago, talks began with the aim of improving the image of Bulgarian football...

  Youth soccer in the United States is booming ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and nowhere is that more evident than in the latest shake-up from US Youth Soccer (USYS). With the sport generating billions annually through club fees, travel tournaments, sponsorships, and media rights, the organisation has announced a landmark change to its National Championships beginning with the 2025–26 season.  From now on, State Cup champions from all 54 USYS State Associations will advance directly to the National Championships. The traditional Regional Championships have been allowing State Cup to take centre stage.  By putting the spotlight on State Cups, USYS strengthens its grassroots product while creating a more marketable, high-profile finals event. Each State champion from multiple age-groups, alongside winners from National League winter events, will have a guaranteed place at Nationals, giving a bigger stage for players to showcase their talents.  “This bold new...

  HH Clement Goldstone KC has been confirmed as the new independent Judicial Panel Chair of the English Football Association (FA), stepping into a role that will see him serve an initial three-year term.  As chair, Goldstone will be appointing members to the Judicial Panel, who in turn sit on the independent Regulatory Commissions and Appeal Boards. These bodies handle disciplinary cases and disputes that shape the game on and off the pitch, from misconduct charges to appeals, and their decisions can have major consequences for clubs and players alike.  Goldstone, a former Senior Circuit Judge and Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, has decades of courtroom experience and has also worked on a range of sporting regulatory matters.   He takes over from Christopher Quinlan KC, who had held the position since 2019. Quinlan guided the FA’s judicial process through some of its most testing recent years, including the disruption of the pandemic. Goldstone now p...

  FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received a Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council in New York City, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Argentina President Javier Milei. At the awards ceremony – held by the Atlantic Council which describes itself as a “nonpartisan organisation that galvanises U.S. global leadership and engagement in partnership with allies and partners,” – Infantino was introduced by seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady. The FIFA chief then addressed the audience, which included US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and took the opportunity to not just promote the 48-team World Cup next year in the US, Mexico and Canada but also to call for world peace. Infantino said: “I’m a simple football person. In this room tonight, we have many more leaders in politics and the economy. Many world leaders are here, many leaders in business. That’s why my plea and the plea coming from everyone who loves football all over...

  The European Leagues Association will again lend its support to the European Week of Sport for its tenth birthday, which kicked off on September 23 and runs until the end of the month. Originally launched in 2015 by the European Commission, the campaign has grown into a fixture on the continent’s sporting calendar. Under the familiar #BeActive slogan, the initiative urges people to weave exercise into daily life – not just for fitness, but to boost mental health, community ties and resilience. An important message for a society increasingly glued to their phones, with statistics provided by the European Parliament in 2025 stating that over 17% of the EU population aged 16 and over is in the obese category, with 51% classified as overweight. For European Leagues, which represents professional competitions in 20 EU countries, the link-up is about showing football’s reach off the pitch. Leagues will use their platforms and networks to back projects ranging from school se...

  The Saudi Pro League has struck a series of new international broadcast agreements for the 2025/26 season, aiming to make its matches available in more than 180 territories through a record 37 broadcasters.   League officials say the interest is there – last season drew over 230 million viewers worldwide, positioning the competition among the most-watched domestic leagues globally.  The expanded deals have also driven a reported 20% increase in international rights revenue over the past two seasons. Fox Sports has secured a six-season contract for the Americas, while Brazil’s Globo, Band TV and Canal GOAT, Spain’s Movistar+, Portugal’s Sport TV, SPOTV across Asia and India’s Fancode have signed four-year agreements. Despite the reach, it can’t shake the questions about whether the league can sustain long-term international interest beyond high-profile signings and occasional marquee fixtures.   Free-to-air broadcasts are part of the plan to ap...

  The Afghanistan national women’s team of refugee players will partake in their first official matches at a four-team tournament in the United Arab Emirates in October, world governing body FIFA confirmed on Wednesday.   The Afghan team will play against United Arab Emirates, Chad and Libya in Dubai during the last week of October. FIFA supports the team that does not officially represent Afghanistan and was excluded from World Cup qualifying.   In a statement, Zurich-based FIFA called the women’s series “a historic four-team women’s football event” that “reinforces FIFA’s efforts to promote and protect the right of all women and girls to play the sport, pursue their footballing dreams and thrive through the game.”   The team has not featured in a competitive game since 2018 and under the Taliban regime, women’s sport in Afghanistan has been stopped. The Afghan Football Federation, however, has not been suspended by the world’s governing b...

  Japanese gaming firm Konami have put Neymar Jr front and centre of their latest eFootball campaign, underlining the 33-year-old Brazilian’s status as the company’s marquee ambassador despite his diminishing global appeal.  The campaign, which runs from September 25 to October 23, features Neymar in a trailer and as part of limited in-game rewards available to players across eFootball and eFootball Champion Squads as it fuses with other Konami property Yu-Gi-Oh!. Anyone logging in during the promotional window will be able to unlock exclusive Neymar content, with the forward once again acting as the brand’s key point of engagement. Neymar first signed on with Konami in 2021 and has since become synonymous with eFootball’s efforts to position itself as a credible alternative to EA Sports, which dominates the market with its FC franchise. Konami’s decision to make him the focal point of this new campaign is an interesting move when compared to the more high-profile ...

  Football Manager has renewed its licensing agreement with the EFL, extending a decade-long partnership which ensures that all 72 EFL clubs and five competitions will once again feature in the game ahead of the release of Football Manager 2026 on November 4.  The EFL has been part of the Football Manager ecosystem since 2014, building on the League’s long-standing relationship with SEGA, Sports Interactive’s parent company, which dates back to 2004.  The continuation of the agreement underlines the close ties between English football’s professional tiers and the world’s most famous management simulation – with the EFL proving to be an attractive option for players picking up the game as they strive to take their teams up the pyramid to the Premier League. FM26 is the first edition of the game to be developed on the Unity engine, with Sports Interactive promising a “game-changing” matchday experience and a more intuitive interface.  For fans managing in t...

  Pressure is growing on FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israeli FA (IFA) from international football, including the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Pro-Palestinian communities on X have increased their lobbying while a group of UN experts said a ban was “a necessary response to address the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory.” The recent death of the 41-year-old Palestinian international Suleiman Al-Obeid who was shot dead in Gaza at the hands of Israeli military forces, has triggered renewed calls for Israel’s suspension from international football. Multi-national activists on X including FLCapatalist from the US, Liberatus of Bosnia, Arya Warrior, originally from Pakistan, and the Palestinian thought leader Ziad Abu Ziad, along with dozens of pro-Palestine communities, have contacted insideworldfootball.com saying that more pressure needs to be brought on FIFA and UEFA to sanction the IFA. The pro-Palestinian groups are particularly focused on UEFA...

Nigeria’s male U17 national football team, the Golden Eaglets will kick off their journey at the 2025 WAFU B U-17 Championship with a crucial opening match against West African rivals Benin Republic on Wednesday in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. The clash, scheduled to take place at the Stade du Lycee Scientifique, marks the beginning of Nigeria’s push to reclaim regional dominance at the youth level. With five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles to their name, the Golden Eaglets remain one of the most successful age-grade teams in world football, and the expectations on the young side are once again high. Benin enter this encounter under pressure, having already lost their opening game 1-0 to Burkina Faso on Sunday. Anything short of a victory for the Squirrels could see them crash out of the tournament at the group stage. This desperation makes them dangerous opponents for Nigeria, who must be wary of a side fighting to stay alive in the competition. For the Golden Eaglets, this tourn...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Akeem Busari    Lagos based non-league side Tonic Football Club has created history, as it unveiled five of its players that were recently signed up by it's parent club FC Esmoriz of Portugal. The General Overseer of the club that was founded some 6 months ago, that narrowly missed out on promotion in the recently concluded National League One (NLO), championship, Prince Dapo Ajibade, emphasized that the club is aimed at discovering and developing promising young talents from the grassroots level.  "Tonic FC is a veritable football factory based in the lovely Ikorodu community of Lagos State. This is just a tip of the iceberg, because we've many other young and talented footballers, who would soon join the professional ranks in a not too distant future," the highly respected football administrator stated.  The five players that includes youthful, giant size shotstopper, Ayuba Oyetola, who stands at 6'9 hei...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional agency reports    In a bid to improve the quality of officiating in the country and increase the number of FIFA accredited referees, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), through its Referees Development Committee, has officially invited selected referees for the annual listing and screening exercise.   In a statement signed for the Head of the Referees Development Unit, by Nasiru Ibrahim, all existing FIFA-badged referees and assistant referees — male and female — as well as international Beach Soccer and Futsal referees are expected to participate, in preparation for the 2026 FIFA International Referees List. Notably, five male referees and five male assistant referees currently officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have also been called up for the crucial exercise, which is scheduled to take place at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, North-Central, Nigeria. Additionally, five female referees and...

Nigeria’s representatives to this year’s WAFU-B Schools Football Championship, a qualifying tournament for next year’s CAF African Schools Football Championship, will emerge on Friday, at the conclusion of the ongoing round-robin competition in Abuja. Matches are being played at the FIFA Goal Project inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium and the Area 3 Football Pitch, with representative teams of the FCT, Adamawa, Gombe and Lagos States involved in the female category. The FCT, Kaduna, Delta, Enugu, Ekiti and Taraba States are represented in the male category. The winner-school in each category will fly Nigeria’s flag at the WAFU-B Schools Football Championship that will hold in Burkina Faso, 27th – 30th November. While the names of the winner-schools will be adopted, players deemed to be exceptional from other schools will be co-opted to form a ‘Schools National Team.’ Successful schools at the WAFU-B tournament will join other qualifiers from: ★ CECAFA (East ...

A total of 40 coaches are taking part in a six-day NFF D-License Coaching Course that began in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Tuesday. NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, explained that the D-License is a prerequisite for qualifying to take part in the C-License course, and it is in modules and for beginners, and must last a minimum of 60 hours. “Just as it is in life, everything in football is in stages. We have a lot of talented young ones out there, and it is not the way you coach adults that you coach the young ones. Coaching the young ones requires special training. “This course is not going to be a one-off. After this national programme, we will have to take it to the Zones, and subsequently to the States. We have a total of 40 coaches undergoing this programme, and I can assure you they have a lot to learn.” After the record-setting CAF C-License programme exclusively for women coaches that took place over the months of July, August and September last ye...

...Commission to facilitate cohesion in the planning and execution of major programmes, events  By Maxwell Kumoye Quintessential sports administrator, Retired Navy Commodore Omatseye Oscar Nesiama, has been named as the chairman of the reconstituted Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Technical and Development Commission. The President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee Engineer Habu Gumel, said the appointment of Nesiama, a retired army general is in recognition of his wealth of experience and his outstanding contribution to Nigerian Sports as well as the Olympic Movement.  The NOC Boss went on to state that, “It is therefore hoped that you would bring to bear your expertise and experience in achieving the goals of your Commission and the NOC in  general. Members of the NOC Technical  and Development Commission (TDC), were carefully selected among a host of seasoned and accomplished sports administrators from different backgrounds and bias to form a strateg...

A high-power Nigerian delegation has arrived in London, United Kingdom for the final phase of the country’s presentation to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030. The delegation is led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, as the team gets set to make a strong case for Nigeria’s historic bid, which would see the Games come to Africa for the first time. Mallam Shehu Dikko delivered Nigeria’s initial presentation last month, setting the stage for the decisive round of engagements scheduled for Wednesday.  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s full backing of the bid, pledging Nigeria’s readiness to deliver a world-class Games if awarded the hosting rights.  Last week, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was among senior government officials who welcomed the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation team during their v...