Sports Groove

...Beyond athletics, cites India's medal growth and global exposure ...Three terms on World Athletics Council another for me By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye       World Athletics Vice President and presidential aspirant Adille Sumariwalla has placed his extensive experience in athletics administration, corporate management and international sport at the centre of his campaign to become president of the global governing body. With the World Athletics presidential election gathering momentum, Sumariwalla said his candidacy is built on decades of experience spanning grassroots, provincial, national and international athletics administration. He made this known in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG’s Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye, stressing that his academic and professional background had also prepared him for the complexities of leading a global sporting organisation. “I have the experience. “I have worked in sports, from the lowest l...

  By Maxwell Kumoye    Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Chief Tonobok Okowa, has congratulated Athletics Kenya on the award of the hosting rights for the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi, describing the decision as a landmark moment for Kenya and a major victory for African athletics. AFN President and Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Chief Tonobok Okowa, expressed delight over Nairobi’s successful bid, saying the hosting rights represent a “win-win” outcome for the continent. “Congratulations, Athletics Kenya. This is a great moment for Kenya and, indeed, for the whole of Africa,” Okowa said. “Bringing the World Athletics Championships to Nairobi in 2029 is not just about Kenya hosting a global competition. It is a victory for African athletics and an opportunity to showcase the enormous talent, passion and organisational capac...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     Team Edo is targeting a historic outing at the National Sports Festival in Enugu, with the Edo State Sports Commission expressing confidence in the team’s preparations ahead of the multi-sport extravaganza. Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations at the Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye on Tuesday. Chikere said preparations are in full swing across the Heartbeat State, with the athletes and officials working towards delivering an impressive performance when competition begins in Enugu. According to her, Team Edo will approach the festival with determination and a strong desire to make the state proud. “We are fully prepared and very optimistic about what Team Edo can achieve in Enugu. Our athletes have been working hard, and we believe they have what it takes to produce performances that ...

  By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria’s growing profile in international athletics officiating has received another major boost with the appointment of Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama as an International Starter for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The prestigious appointment by World Athletics is a recognition of Nesiama’s wealth of experience, technical expertise and contributions to athletics officiating at continental and global levels. Nesiama is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Technical and Development Commission and a member of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Technical and Competitions Commission. He previously served as Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and is a World Athletics-certified technical officials’ lecturer. His impressive officiating résumé includes serving as a World Athletics-licensed athletes’ manager, referee at the 2024 African Games in Accra, Ghana, St...

...30 schools, 500 athletes set for athletics battle in Ughelli By Maxwell Kumoye     The eighth edition of the Government College Ughelli (GCU) Relays has been scheduled to hold November 14, 2026, as organisers maintain the competition’s traditional second-Saturday-of-November calendar. The date was formally confirmed by the President General Worldwide of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), His Royal Majesty Albert Akpomudje, (SAN), during the association’s latest National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The NEC also approved other major GCUOBA activities, including its annual dinner in Benin City in October and the Lagos Luncheon scheduled for December. The 2026 GCU Relays will come shortly after the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, where the newly appointed head of the GCU Relays, Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, will serve as one of the Technical Directors of the inaugural African edit...

Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen is set to renew his intense 1,500m rivalry with Britain's Josh Kerr at World Athletics' inaugural Ultimate Championship next month after both runners were handed exceptional invitations to compete. The highly anticipated clash will reunite two of middle-distance running's biggest names, who have developed one of athletics' most compelling rivalries in recent years. Ingebrigtsen has enjoyed the upper hand in their 1,500m meetings, although the Norwegian and Kerr have not gone head-to-head over the distance since the 2024 Zurich Diamond League. Their rivalry has produced several memorable encounters on the biggest stages. Kerr claimed bronze behind Ingebrigtsen at the Tokyo Olympics before stunning the Norwegian to win 1,500m gold at the 2023 World Championships. At the Paris Olympics, Kerr took silver behind American Cole Hocker, while Ingebrigtsen was forced to settle for fourth place. The relationship between the two athl...

Italian high-jump star Gianmarco Tamberi continued his impressive run of form on Saturday, clearing 2.31 metres to win the Silesia Diamond League competition in Katowice’s market square. The 34-year-old Olympic champion produced another outstanding performance just weeks after securing his fourth European gold medal, underlining his continued dominance at the highest level of the sport. Tamberi faced a determined challenge from Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford, with both athletes successfully clearing 2.29 metres on their third attempts. The contest was eventually decided by consistency. After the bar was raised to 2.31 metres, Beckford failed to clear his final attempt, leaving Tamberi with the advantage thanks to his lower number of previous failures. With the victory already secured, Tamberi went on to clear 2.31 metres, adding another impressive result to his season and delighting the home crowd gathered in Katowice’s historic market square. The performance further underlined...

...Draws comparison to Vivian Chukwuemeka’s era By Maxwell Kumoye    Former Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Technical Director, Retired Commodore Omasteye Nesiama, has hailed Nigeria's Jessica Oji following her historic triumph at the World U-20 Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, where she claimed the women's shot put gold medal with a championship-winning throw of 18.08 metres. Oji's latest achievement comes on the heels of her silver medal-winning performance at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, underlining her rapid rise as one of Nigeria's brightest prospects in the throwing events. Reacting to the youngster's success, Nesiama, a respected athletics administrator and former military intelligence officer, described Oji's emergence as a major milestone for Nigerian athletics. According to him, Oji's accomplishments represent the level of success he had always hoped to see from Nigeria in the women's shot put at th...

...Lauds President Tinubu for his unwavering support By Maxwell Kumoye     The 2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Akuchukwu Aghazu, has praised Team Nigeria for its impressive outing at the just concluded 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, describing the athletes' performances as a reflection of their dedication, discipline and quality preparation. Aghazu commended the commitment displayed by Team Nigeria from the build-up to the Games through to the end of the competition, noting that the athletes remained focused on achieving success for the country. "From the preparations to the end of the Games, our athletes demonstrated total commitment and dedication. Their work ethic was exceptional, and the relationship between the athletes and officials was excellent throughout the competition. That unity contributed greatly to our success." She reserved special praise for the Director General of the National Sports Commission,...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    Team Gambia produced an impressive performance at the 2026 CAA Region II Under-18 and Under-20 Athletics Championships in Dakar, Senegal, finishing the competition with a haul of 19 medals. The Gambian contingent secured seven gold, six silver and six bronze medals, underlining the country's growing strength in youth athletics across the West African region. Throughout the championships, Gambia athletes delivered a series of outstanding performances on both the track and in the field, demonstrating talent, resilience and determination against some of the region's best young competitors. The medal haul reflects the hard work of the athletes, the dedication of the coaching crew and the continued investment in athletics development in The Gambia. In a statement after the championships, the Gambia Athletics Association praised the team's achievements and expressed appreciation to the athletes, coaches, officials and s...

...It's a valuable platform for identifying athletes – NSC DG Olopade  By Maxwell Kumoye     The inaugural RIYE Under-15 Athletics Championship lived up to its promise of discovering the next generation of sporting talents, with a host of young athletes delivering outstanding performances at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto, Abeokuta, South West, Nigeria. Among the standout performers were 14-year-old Olufunmilayo Kuku of Muslim Girls High School, Ijebu-Ode, and 13-year-old Sodiq Olaniyi of Luba Comprehensive High School, Ijebu-Ode, who dominated the track events to emerge as the stars of the one-day championship. Kuku was the undisputed princess of the girls' competition, producing a remarkable triple-gold performance by winning the 100 metres, 200 metres and the 100 metres relay.  She also recorded a new personal best in the sprint finals, further establishing herself as one of Nigeria and Ogun State's most promising young athletes. Her exceptional e...

...Showing sharp improvement with every race, peaking at the right time – AFN 2nd Vice President, Aghazu  ...Hails Ogazi’s meteoric rise as 20-year-old Nigerian quarter-miler blazes through 2026 season By Maxwell Kumoye       World record holder Tobi Amusan is beginning to hit top gear at exactly the right time, showing steady improvement with every outing this season as she builds momentum towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in July. The Nigerian sprint hurdles queen has gradually sharpened her form across three major competitions, underlining her growing confidence and race fitness after an inconsistent start to the year. Amusan opened her recent run with a modest 12.83 seconds performance at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships, a time that hinted she was still finding rhythm and adjusting into full competitive mode. However, the signs of progress quickly became evident on the elite Diamond League circuit.  She dropped her t...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Accra           One of the most experienced athletes in Team Nigeria to the Senior Africa Athletics Championship, Chidi Okezie, has assured Nigerians that he is in the men’s 200m for a purpose, insisting that his aim is not just to compete but to put on a performance worth watching. Okezie, whose specialty is the 400m, powered into the final of the event, adding that the 200m demands a very different mindset from the 400m, the distance he described as his “pride and joy.” He explained that while the 400m requires patience, tactics and precision, the 200m is all about raw speed, a sharp start and a strong finish. “200m is half the distance, but 400m is my pride and joy, so I take care because it’s technical,” he said. “In 200m it’s all out, more speed, a strong start and finishing strong. It’s a different type of race.” Okezie stated that his motivation comes from the standard he sets for himself, as ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Accra          Vice President of World Athletics, Adille Sumariwalla, has showered praises on Ghana for its warmth and organisation of the 2026 Senior Africa Athletics Championship despite the initial technical hiccups that was resolved after the second day of completion. He described the level of competition during the championship stating that the continent continues to prove its worth as a major force in global athletics. Sumariwalla made this statement in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye. He described his stay in Ghana as being “wonderful,” while describing Africans as kind, hospitable and welcoming people. He noted that his recent visits to Nigeria, Botswana and Ghana had further reinforced his belief in the strength of athletics on the continent, saying the performances he had witnessed were outstanding. “Africa is always welcoming, lovely peopl...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Athletics Kenya has announced that it will conduct invitation-only trials from May 21 to 23 to select the national team for the 2026 World Under-20 Championships in Oregon, USA. The trials, scheduled to take place at Nyayo National Stadium, mark a significant shift from the traditional open selection process that has long been associated with Kenya’s athletics culture. According to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya 1st Deputy President and Athletics Kenya Youth Development Department Director Barnaba Korir, the decision follows strict directives from World Athletics amid growing concerns over doping and age manipulation in junior competitions. Korir explained that the federation can no longer afford to hold open trials, as authorities intensify efforts to protect the integrity of youth athletics and ensure that only verified and eligible athletes compete at the global championships. The move is expected to tighten the selection pro...

...As South Africa's Leotlela wins thriller at Shanghai Diamond League By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s 2026 African champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan produced another strong outing on the international circuit, finishing third in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday. American Olympic champion Masai Russell stormed to victory in a world-leading 12.25 seconds, while Bahamian star Devynne Charlton placed second in 12.38 seconds. Amusan crossed the line in 12.41 seconds to secure a podium finish in a highly competitive field. In the men’s 100m, South Africa’s Gift Leotlela edged Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala and American Kenny Bednarek in a dramatic photo finish to claim his first Diamond League victory. Leotlela clocked 9.97 seconds after producing a strong late burst to outpace his rivals. “It means a lot... I had a decent start, not great. I just tried to keep my composure, stay in my rhythm and stay strong,” said the Sou...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s athletics community has recorded another major continental breakthrough after Tonobok Okowa was elected Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics. The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria emerged victorious during the Executive Council election, defeating two other candidates in a keenly contested vote. Results from the ballot showed that Okowa secured six votes to finish ahead of South Africa’s Dlamini Dakhele, who polled four votes, while Bruno Konga managed one vote from the 11 votes cast. The victory further strengthens Nigeria’s growing influence in African athletics administration and comes at a time the country has continued to make strong impressions both on and off the track. Okowa’s emergence as Senior Vice President is expected to boost Nigeria’s voice in major decisions concerning the development of athletics across the continent, especially in areas involving competitions, athletes’ welfa...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Accra           James Emmanuel has described Team Nigeria’s second place finish in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Senior Africa Athletics Championship as the result of friendship and the bond within the squad. Emmanuel who made his debut on the continental scene was impressed by the results. He expressed his happiness in having something to show for the team's effort. Team Nigeria finished second in the fiercely contested Final with a time of 38.70 behind Côte d’Ivoire's 38.52. In an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye shortly after the race, Emmanuel described the result as encouraging. He admitted there was still room for improvement ahead of future competitions. “It was a good race, and we are happy that we left here with something,” he said. The Nigerian sprinter credited the bond within the relay quartet for the strong showing, noting that despite ...

…As the Nigerian nightmare returns to winning ways By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Accra           An influential member of Team Nigeria’s silver-winning 4x100m relay squad at the Senior Africa Athletics Championship, Favour Ashe says the performance marks the beginning of a stronger phase in his career. Popularly known as the “Nigerian nightmare,” Ashe said the relay result is only a glimpse of what lies ahead for him and Team Nigeria Athletics. Although the quartet had to settle for silver, Ashe was upbeat about the podium finish, even as he admitted that gold had been the ultimate target. He pointed to a shaky final baton exchange as one of the key moments that denied the team top honours. “Firstly, I want to give thanks to God Almighty for the win. We wanted gold, but I’m happy we made it to the podium,” Ashe said. “There are a few rooms for improvement. We could have gotten the gold. The last baton exchange was a bit shaky.” Fo...

By Maxwell Kumoye        Nigeria’s women once again carried the nation’s golden hopes on their shoulders, delivering all three gold medals for Team Nigeria at the ongoing African Athletics Championships in Accra. From the last Solidarity Games to the World Championships in Tokyo and the previous Commonwealth Games where Nigerian women swept all 12 gold medals, the pattern has remained unmistakable, when medals are needed most, the women rise. The latest statement came in emphatic fashion as the quartet of Rosemary Nwankwo, Jennifer Obi Chukwuka, Rosemary Chukwuma and Miracle Ezechukwu stormed to victory in the women’s 4x100m relay, clocking a blistering 42.94 seconds to set a new Championship Record. Nigeria held off a determined challenge from Liberia, who settled for silver, while host nation Ghana claimed bronze in front of an energetic home crowd at the University of Ghana Stadium. The triumph further cemented Nigeria’s long-standing dominance in the ...