Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye, Haruna Mubarak and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abeokuta    The maiden West African Para Games may have drawn its curtain, but its thunder will echo across the sub-region for years to come.  The ancient and iconic Rock City of Abeokuta didn’t just host a competition, it staged a celebration of courage, talent, unity, and the unstoppable rise of Para Sports in Africa. For the ancient city vintage hospitality, it was a triumph on every front: ✓ Booming business ✓ Renewed government support ✓ Heightened media visibility ✓ Facilities humming with new life.  Ten nations came together in a spirited mix of competition and friendship, strengthening bilateral ties while giving athletes the perfect platform to sharpen their blades for future continental and global showdowns, including the Paralympic Games. And at the heart of it all stood Team Nigeria, rewriting history in blazing colours. NIGERIA SWEPT THE PODIUM After six gruelling, ene...

Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle has erupted in anger after FIFA slashed the AFCON player-release window to just seven days, accusing the world body of disrespecting African football. “FIFA only needs Africa during elections,” Beaumelle blasted. “It doesn’t value AFCON or give it the recognition it deserves.” The new directive—revealed Wednesday—scraps the long-standing rule that forced clubs to release players 14 days before major tournaments. Now, European giants can keep African stars until December 15, barely a week before AFCON 2025 kicks off on December 21. The decision massively strengthens clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland, who can refuse early release without fear of sanctions. It also throws African coaches into disarray, stripping them of precious preparation time. Morocco, the tournament hosts, could struggle to assemble their squad, with 19 Europe-based players potentially arriving late. Ivory Coast, the defending champions, ...

...And expose a dark truth about youth football back home ...Benin Republic, Côte d'Ivoire advanced into the semi finals By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s journey at the WAFU-B Qualifier for the African Schools U-15 Football Championship came to a heartbreaking halt in Ouagadougou the capital of Burkina Faso, but the real defeat didn’t happen on the pitch, it happened long before the whistle blew. The young Nigerian boys clawed back with a spirited Day 2 victory, yet it wasn’t enough. They finished third on goal difference, watching Côte d'Ivoire and Benin, yes, Benin, a nation Nigeria traditionally dwarfs in football pedigree, march into the semi-finals. FINAL TABLE Côte d'Ivoire — 3 pts (+2) Benin Rep — 3 pts (0) Nigeria — 3 pts (–2) The numbers may look close, but the reality is brutal. Nigeria’s campaign was doomed from the moment they were torn apart 4–1 by Côte d'Ivoire in the opening match. A defeat th...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The 2025 Comptroller General of Customs Volleyball Premier League roared into its final phase on Tuesday night and the big guns wasted no time stamping their authority at the Moshood Abiola Stadium. Reigning champions CNS Spikers opened their title defence like a team on a mission, sweeping aside the Nigeria Correctional Service in straight sets, 3–0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-18).  From the opening serve, the champions controlled the rhythm, never allowing Correctional to breathe as they powered to a flawless start. Two-time champions, Offa Volleyball Club were equally ruthless, dismantling 2024 bronze medallists Kada Kings 3–0 (25-19, 25-16, 26-24). The Kings fought fiercely in the third set but Offa’s composure sealed the sweep. Sunshine Spikers lived up to their name, shining brightly with another clean victory, dispatching UCEM 3–0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22), while Nigeria Customs Service delivered one of the night’s most dominant performances, cru...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abeokuta    The curtain fell on the first-ever West African Para Games in Abeokuta on Wednesday and Team Nigeria stood tallest, sweeping the medals table after six fierce days of competition. In the football final that brought the Games to a dramatic close, Nigeria edged past Liberia with a hard-earned 1–0 victory at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto. The decisive strike came in the first half, igniting the home crowd and sealing gold for the host nation. But the dominance didn’t end on the pitch. Over at the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja, Nigeria turned wheelchair basketball into a clean sweep. The men’s team? Champions. The women’s team? Champions. The mixed team? Also champions. Every category. Every court. Every title. From the opening whistle to the final siren, Team Nigeria refused to blink. The inaugural Games belonged unmistakably to the host nation, a statement of power, preparation, and pride. The messa...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Morocco has fired a loud signal across Africa, AFCON 2025 will be nothing short of a continental masterpiece. On Tuesday, December 2, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and head of the local organizing committee, Fouzi Lekjaa, rolled out the red carpet for African ambassadors at the majestic Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora—the heartbeat of Morocco’s football revolution. In a meeting that felt more like a continental briefing than a courtesy visit, Lekjaa delivered a detailed progress report that dripped with conviction. Backed by what he called the “clear vision and directives” of King Mohammed VI, Lekjaa declared that Morocco is not merely preparing to host AFCON 2025, it is preparing to unite Africa through football. “This tournament will be a victory for the whole continent,” Lekjaa emphasized, positioning AFCON 2025 as both a sporting festival and a diplomatic milestone. The ambassadors nodded with visible...

  By Maxwell Kumoye   In a bold, headline-grabbing move, the First Zealmediacast Blog crew of Maxwell Kumoye, Trust Ittai, Mishael Emmanuel, and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye has released what may be the most fearless, electrifying, and debate-sparking Super Eagles list ahead of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. A list not built on sentiment, not shaped by celebrity, but forged in form, hunger, grit, and cold football logic. And what a squad it is. THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE – WALLS OF STEEL At the heart of the crew’s selection stands the ever-reliable Stanley Nwabali, the Chippa United star who has grown into Nigeria’s safest pair of hands.  Backing him are Italy-based Maduka Okoye, enjoying a resurgence at Udinese, and Greece’s agile shot-stopper Adebayo Adeleye, giving the Eagles a goalkeeping trio with reflexes sharp enough to trouble any African attack. DEFENCE – A MIX OF STEEL, SPEED & SERIOUS INTENT The backline screams experience and versatility. Capta...

By Haruna Mubarak, Abeokuta      Team Ghana put up another strong performance on Day five of the maiden West Africa Zone A & B Para Games in Abeokuta, Nigeria, securing multiple podium finishes across several disciplines. Ghana’s Sitting Volleyball team made history by capturing bronze in their debut international appearance. Led by head coach Seidu Ajanako, the squad - Rashad Mohammed Rahmat, Faisal Sey, Nfodzo Patrick, Eric Agyekum, Fadiga Mohammed, Christian Asamoah, Fatawu Chambers, Alfred Asiedu Bosu, and Christian Fiashide - bounced back from a defeat to Nigeria to earn the country’s first medal in the sport. In Para Table Tennis, duo Abdul Aziz Abbey and Isaac Ampofo added another bronze to the tally in the doubles event. Para Shooting also delivered success, with Emmanuel Amobire winning gold in the rifle category. Ghana continued to shine in Wheelchair Basketball, claiming silver medals in both the Women’s division and the mixed category. Wheelcha...

...We will keep fighting till the end to achieve our target – Mbwas By Maxwell Kumoye       Nasarawa United suffered a day they wanted to erase quickly after a narrow 1–0 defeat to Warri Wolves in Ozoro, a result that has temporarily knocked the Solid Miners off their perch at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League table. Warri Wolves struck early and decisively—Othuke Egbo pounced in the 7th minute, burying the only goal of the game before the visitors could settle.  From there, the hosts shut down shop, defending with grit and refusing Nasarawa United any route back. The loss sees Nasarawa drop to second place on goal difference, though still tied on 27 points with new leaders Ikorodu City. Wolves, meanwhile, jumped to sixth, climbing to 22 points and injecting themselves firmly into the top-half conversation. Despite the setback, Solid Miners’ technical adviser Mangut Mbwas remained calm and defiant. “I am not disappointed with today’s res...

...Liberia announced their arrival with a blistering win over Benin By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    The inaugural West Africa Para Games is barely underway, but stakeholders say its impact is already rippling through Ogun State. And on the pitch, Nigeria’s Special Eagles are making sure the headlines stay loud. National Sports Commission Director General, Honourable Bukola Olopade, set the tone at the opening ceremony in Abeokuta, declaring that para sports now stand “at the heart” of Nigeria’s future sports development.  He also revealed that a revamped Para National Sports Festival will debut in Abuja in March 2026, designed to give para athletes a bigger, stronger platform to shine. But if anyone needed proof that Nigeria’s para programme is surging, the Special Eagles delivered it in ruthless style. After humiliating Benin Republic 11–0 in their opening amputee football match, the Eagles returned on Sunday with a gritty 1–0 win o...

...Nigeria touch down in the land of honest man By Mishael Emmanuel    Nigeria’s schoolboy hopefuls have landed in Ouagadougou with one mission, dominate West Africa and secure a ticket to the continental final. The draws for the WAFU B zonal qualifiers of the 2024 CAF Schools Football Championship have handed Nigeria a tricky Group B test against Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic—two teams known for their physicality and fearless youth sides.  The qualifiers kick off this week in the Burkinabe capital. While the tournament features both male and female categories, Nigeria will fight solely in the boys’ event.  Hosts Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger occupy Group A, leaving Nigeria’s boys to slug it out in a tight three-team race. Coach Oluwaseun Oyeniyi’s 19-man squad—assembled from standout talents across Kaduna, Jalingo, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Enugu and Ekiti—will open their campaign on Monday at the Stade du 4 Août against Cote d’Ivoire at 11am. Less than 24 hours ...

By Maxwell Kumoye    In Rades, Tunisia, the message was simple, nobody leaves Group A untouched. And it was Cameroon who delivered the loudest thunderclap as the first Window of the 2027 FIBA Africa World Cup Qualifiers came to a close. Just 48 hours after South Sudan dropped a scorching 109 points on Cape Verde, the Bright Stars were reduced to a flicker—held to a season-low 56 points by a snarling, relentless Cameroonian defence that refused to blink. Cameroon’s dramatic 60–56 victory wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. A warning shot. A reminder that the Indomitable Lions of basketball are tired of watching others grab Africa’s spotlight. South Sudan, usually deadly from deep, went ice-cold—3 of 30 from three. Their offensive engine stalled, jammed and finally collapsed under Cameroon's pressure.  The Bright Stars turned the ball over 14 times, and their sharpshooter Jackson Makoi endured a shocking 0-for-11 on the day. Makur Maker was held to a mere two ...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Bafana Bafana have fired the first shot ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, diving straight into bonus negotiations with the South African Football Association (SAFA) less than three weeks before the squad lands in Morocco. The message is clear and audible, no late-night money wars, no chaos, no distractions. South Africa wants their full focus on football—because Group B will not forgive hesitation.  They share the zone with Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe, a pool loaded with history, rivalry, and danger. For a nation still chasing the high of their lone continental title won on home soil in 1996, the mission is simple: return to the big stage and rewrite the story. Their last AFCON outing in Côte d’Ivoire ended in heartbreak, a semifinal stoppage delivered by fierce rivals Nigeria.  Now, with a stable camp and early planning, Bafana Bafana are determined to show that their revival wasn’t a fluke—it was the beginning of something b...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           The Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations, Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Mrs. Sabina Chikere, has issued a clarion call to Team Nigeria at the 2025 West Africa Para Games, urging the nation’s athletes to rise to the moment and make Nigeria proud in Abeokuta. In an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye, Mrs. Chikere expressed unwavering confidence in the team’s ability to make a bold statement at the regional event. “This is another opportunity for Nigeria to show its strength, discipline and resilience as we are known for. I believe strongly in our athletes—they have the skill, the heart, and the determination to dominate every event they compete in,” she said. Mrs. Chikere, who was recently appointed as a member of the Organizing Committee of the Africa School Games, described the hosting of the para event by the Ogun Stat...

By Maxwell Kumoye  Invictus Cricket Club sealed their place in Edo cricket history on Sunday, November 30, 2025, storming to the men’s T20 title after a ruthless, season-long campaign that left their rivals chasing shadows. The champions were unstoppable for most of the tournament, finishing with 12 glittering points and dropping only a single match in seven outings.  Their dominance was unmistakable, their intent undeniable, and their coronation inevitable. But the final day brought twists, tension, and late drama. UNIBEN CC, spoilers rather than contenders, delivered a shock to the champions, snatching a 2-wicket victory that sent a jolt through Iyoba College’s Centre of Excellence for Women’s Cricket.  The upset was loud, but it wasn’t loud enough. Invictus had built too strong a fortress, and the title remained firmly in their grasp. No-Limit CC, hoping for a final-day miracle, watched their dreams crumble after an 8-wicket defeat to UNIBEN, leaving them s...

By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by Reuters     On a night built for legends, Sweden’s pole vault phenomenon Mondo Duplantis and America’s 400m queen Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were crowned World Athletes of the Year, sealing a season where both athletes treated the track like their personal kingdom. Duplantis, the 26-year-old whose name has become shorthand for gravity-defying brilliance, didn’t just retain his world title in Tokyo—he rewrote the script of pole vault history.  Four more world records fell to his relentless ambition, and 16 competitions came and went without a single defeat.  Not content with dominance alone, he also pocketed a fifth straight Diamond League trophy, stretching his reign into something that feels less like a career and more like mythology. With a grin that betrayed both confidence and mischief, Duplantis quipped, "I hope to keep pushing it. I hope to keep irritating everyone who has to vote for me for years to come."...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     Nigeria’s sports landscape is bracing for a major shake-up—one powered not by stadium contracts or athlete quotas, but by people.  This is the submission of the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade. Olopade stated that the country’s sports community is rich with the talent, brains and backbone needed to drive Nigeria into a new age of global competitiveness. Fresh from the National Council on Sports meeting in Cross River State, Olopade revealed that the Council itself has now been expanded—opening the doors to wider, sharper, and more diverse voices in shaping future sports policy.  The move, he said, will ensure that decisions reflect the realities of athletes, administrators, and stakeholders across Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem. But the biggest headline came with a bold reform, age cheating has now been criminalised. Olopade made it clear that the era of shortc...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Invictus Cricket Club stamped their authority on the 2025 Edo Cricket League, storming to the championship after a dominant, steel-nerved campaign that lit up Benin City for three thrilling weeks. The new champions finished atop the table with 12 points, losing just once in seven matches—proof that their consistency, depth, and big-game maturity were unmatched throughout the men’s T20 showdown. But the final day wasn’t without drama. Uniben CC, playing with the desperation of a team chasing a miracle, stunned Invictus CC with a gritty two-wicket victory. The upset electrified the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Cricket at Iyoba College—but even that statement win couldn’t snatch the crown from Invictus’ firm grip. No-Limit CC, who entered the final stretch as one of the title contenders, suffered a crushing 8-wicket loss to UNIBEN that froze them at 10 points and sealed their fate as runners-up. Integrity Force CC and UNIBEN CC eventually lock...

...Unity Cup, designed to create real opportunities for Edo youth – Senator Imasuen By Maxwell Kumoye      Day Two of the Benin Unity Cup served up everything from heart-stopping drama to anticlimax, as fans at the Crescent Sports Club watched one match explode into late excitement while the other ended without a ball being kicked. Ikpoba-Okha Local Government were the headline act on Friday, snatching a 90th-minute equaliser to deny high-scoring Egor LG a consecutive victory in what was easily the most gripping contest of the tournament so far. After a cagey first half where both sides cancelled each other out, Egor—who smashed Uhunmwode 5–1 on match day one—hit stride early in the second period. In the 48th minute, Towo Eventus finished off a slick move to put Egor ahead, with the favourites looking firmly in control. But Ikpoba-Okha refused to go quietly. With spectators already preparing for full time and Egor seemingly cruising, Emeka Nwaneda produced the...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Rivers United fell to a gut-wrenching defeat on Sunday night, conceding twice in stoppage time as Moroccan giants RS Berkane snatched a dramatic 2–1 comeback win at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, a result that once again underlines Nigeria’s alarming struggles on the continental stage. For 90 minutes, the Pride of Rivers looked set to deliver the kind of statement victory Nigerian clubs so desperately need. Instead, what unfolded in added time was a collapse symbolic of a recurring Nigerian nightmare in African football: promise, pressure… then heartbreak. Berkane, champions of Morocco and serial winners on the continent, started brightly. Camara and Khairi probed from deep, firing warning shots from a distance.  Rivers United responded with grit, and moments of daring, Bello Martins’ 30-yard free-kick barely drifting wide, and Nnaji’s wicked corner forcing goalkeeper Munir into a frantic punch. The breakthrough ...

By Maxwell Kumoye        In a thunderous statement that reshapes Nigeria’s sporting future, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has unveiled Bayelsa and Kaduna as the next powerhouses to host the 2028 and 2030 National Sports Festivals and the excitement is already electric. For the first time in history, the festival will storm the creeks of Bayelsa in 2028, taking the nation’s biggest multi-sport event to the heart of the Niger Delta. Then in 2030, the festival returns to familiar territory, Kaduna, the Crocodile State, marking its third time after memorable editions in 1977 and 2009. The announcement didn’t just land; it sent a message. Director General of the NSC, Honourable Bukola Olopade, declared that both states have shown “unmistakable readiness” to host, signalling a new era where states are now jostling, not hesitating, to stage the games. Olopade didn’t mince words as he contrasted this new energy with the past. “This is a departure from the ...