Sports Groove

European football revenues topped €40 billion for the first time in the 2024/25 season, growing by 6% to €40.2 billion, up from €38 billion in 2023/24. More than half of the revenue was accounted for by the big five European leagues who collectively generated €21.6 billion during 2024/25, a 6% increase on the €20.4 billion in 2023/24. The revenue numbers are the headline findings in the 35th edition of Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance, but come with a health warning from Deloitte who project that the growth of aggregate club revenue across Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues will slow in the coming seasons, “with some leagues experiencing a plateau or even reduction in 2025/26 and 2026/27.” Tim Bridge, lead partner in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said: “The expansion of UEFA and FIFA competitions has delivered financial benefits across Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, but football cannot rely on simply adding more content to deliver sustainable growth. “An increasingly saturated...

By Maxwell Kumoye     The Federal Government has intensified efforts to revive school sports with plans to upgrade sporting facilities in selected higher institutions across Nigeria, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen grassroots sports development and produce future international champions. The initiative was unveiled by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko during a meeting with a delegation from Ahmadu Bello University led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed. According to Dikko, the facility upgrade forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's approval for the large-scale enhancement of sports infrastructure nationwide, with a special focus on restoring school sports as the foundation of Nigeria's sporting future. "The future is in the schools," Dikko said, noting that many of Nigeria's past sporting greats emerged through inter-school competitions such as the Nigerian University Games. To drive the initiative, the NSC, in collaboration with the Federal Minis...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      When the story of Edo State’s modern sports revival is told, one name will stand tall and that is Mrs. Sabina Ekhaisomi Chikere. A former Permanent Secretary in the Edo State Sports Commission and now a key member of the Local Organising Committee for the African School Games 2027, Chikere continues to shape the future of sports with quiet authority and relentless drive. That impact has now earned her national recognition. Chikere, the current Executive Director of the Edo State Sports Commission was recently honoured with the prestigious Wakawaka Sports Award, a powerful statement that the work being done behind the scenes in Edo is being seen, felt, and celebrated.  It is a fitting way to open the year with flowers for a woman who has consistently delivered results. Under her watch, Edo sports has grown in structure, visibility, and ambition. From grassroots development to elite performance, Chikere’s leadership...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye  The Head Coach of Nigeria female national team, D'Tigress, Rena Wakama, has been named as the Best Basketball Coach by the Continental Olympic Body, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). This piece of cheering news was provided to your authoritative and award-winning news channel, FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, Tony Obiora Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Olympic Committee. The 32 year old gaffer received the noble and prestigious award following her impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. At the Olympic Games, under Wakama' leadership, D’Tigress became the first African team, male or female, to reach the last 8 of basketball event at the Olympics after beating Canada 79-70. She was also named the Best Coach of the basketball event by FIBA.  It will also interest you to know that, In 2023, she became the first female Head Coach of D’Tigress, and became the first Nigerian N...