Sports Groove

...As Garba recalls historic 2013 Eaglets triumph By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    Renowned sports psychologist Professor Olufemi Adegbesan will today review a new book authored by sports administrator Dr. Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme during its public presentation at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. The event, scheduled to begin at noon, is expected to attract sports administrators, academics and stakeholders from across the country. Adegbesan, a respected figure in sports psychology and education, brings a wealth of experience to the role. The immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan is also an adjunct professor at the Pan African University and currently serves as the national president of the Sport Psychology Association of Nigeria.  His contributions to sports development include involvement in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 sports framework and the design of a postgraduate sports management ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has thrown the Commission's weight behind Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi and his grassroots football development programme, the Kwara Kiddies League. Dikko made the pledge when he received the Nottingham Forest forward on a courtesy visit to the Commission's headquarters in Abuja.  Awoniyi was accompanied by former Super Eagles striker Anthony Ujah. During the meeting, Awoniyi presented Dikko with an official Nottingham Forest jersey and outlined his vision for expanding opportunities for young football talents through the Kwara Kiddies League and other youth-centred sports development initiatives. The NSC Chairman praised the Super Eagles star for investing in grassroots sports and contributing to the development of future generations of Nigerian athletes. Dikko assured Awoniyi of the Commission's commitment to providing the necessary support and enabling...

By Maxwell Kumoye  The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Bright Idahosa, has praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) for what he described as a deliberate effort to create opportunities for sports that have consistently delivered international success for Nigeria. Speaking on the inclusion of scrabble in the maiden National Intermediate Games in Lagos, Idahosa said the decision represents a major boost for the sport and a significant investment in the next generation of Nigerian scrabble players. He noted that the competition provides a valuable avenue for discovering young talents and exposing them to organized competition at an early stage. "The National Intermediate Games have opened a new chapter for scrabble development in Nigeria. For a sport that continues to produce champions and represent the country with distinction, this kind of support is both encouraging and necessary," Idahosa said. "Every successful sporting nation builds...

By Trust Ittai      England have made a late change to their World Cup squad, with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah drafted in to replace injured Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento ahead of the Three Lions' opening match of the tournament. Livramento, 23, was forced to withdraw after sustaining a calf injury during training on Sunday. Medical assessments and scans conducted on Monday confirmed that the Newcastle defender would be unable to participate in the World Cup. Under FIFA regulations, teams are permitted to replace injured players in their final 26-man squads up to 24 hours before their first group-stage fixture, provided the injury is deemed significant. England begins their Group L campaign against Croatia on Wednesday. The Football Association confirmed that Chalobah will join England's base camp in Kansas City, while the remainder of the squad travel to Dallas for their tournament opener. Livramento's place in the squad had already been und...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The second day of the 3rd CGC Volleyball Premier League produced a blend of dominant performances and nail-biting five-set encounters as teams battled for supremacy in both the men's and women's categories. In the women's division, defending contenders Nigeria Customs Service maintained their impressive form with a commanding straight-sets victory over VIP & Partner. Customs controlled the contest from start to finish, winning 25-20, 25-11, 25-20 to secure another important victory. One of the most exciting matches of the day saw Anambra Queens edge Excelsior VC 3-2 in a fiercely contested encounter.  After sharing the opening four sets, Anambra Queens held their nerve in the deciding set to claim a dramatic 16-14 victory and seal the match. CNS Spikers were ruthless against Fire Service, cruising to a comprehensive 3-0 win. They dominated every set, winning 25-8, 25-15 and 25-14 to underline their title credentials. NSCDC recovered fr...

By Maxwell Kumoye    France began their FIFA World Cup campaign in winning fashion as Kylian Mbappe etched his name into the history books with a record-breaking brace in a 3-1 victory over Senegal in New Jersey. The Real Madrid star became France's all-time leading scorer, taking his tally to 58 international goals and moving one ahead of former record holder Olivier Giroud. After a frustrating first half in which Senegal looked the more dangerous side, Mbappe finally broke the deadlock in the second period with a clinical low finish.  France then doubled their advantage through Bradley Barcola before Senegal gave themselves hope when Ibrahim Mbaye reduced the deficit. However, Mbappe had the final say, unleashing a stunning long-range strike deep into stoppage time to seal the victory and secure all three points for Les Bleus. Senegal's Lions of Teranga had threatened to upset the former world champions early on. Nicolas Jackson came closest when his powerfu...

...The atmosphere was very good – Renard By Trust Ittai      Tunisia have turned to experienced French coach Hervé Renard in a bid to revive their campaign after the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi, the first managerial casualty of the tournament. Lamouchi was relieved of his duties following Tunisia's disappointing opening defeat to Sweden, a result he described as "painful." Speaking before his departure, the 54-year-old admitted that "way too many mistakes" contributed to the loss, as Sweden's attackers repeatedly exposed weaknesses in Tunisia's defence. The Tunisian Football Federation wasted little time in appointing Renard, a highly respected coach with an impressive international résumé.  The 57-year-old is a two-time Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach and famously guided Saudi Arabia to a stunning victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Renard later took charge of France's women's national t...

...The atmosphere was very good – Renard By Trust Ittai      Tunisia have turned to experienced French coach Hervé Renard in a bid to revive their campaign after the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi, the first managerial casualty of the tournament. Lamouchi was relieved of his duties following Tunisia's disappointing opening defeat to Sweden, a result he described as "painful." Speaking before his departure, the 54-year-old admitted that "way too many mistakes" contributed to the loss, as Sweden's attackers repeatedly exposed weaknesses in Tunisia's defence. The Tunisian Football Federation wasted little time in appointing Renard, a highly respected coach with an impressive international résumé.  The 57-year-old is a two-time Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach and famously guided Saudi Arabia to a stunning victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Renard later took charge of France's women's national t...

...Messi escapes punishment for a horrible challenge on Algeria defender Aissa Mandi By Maxwell Kumoye    Lionel Messi marked his historic 200th appearance for Argentina in unforgettable fashion, scoring a hat-trick as the reigning world champions launched their FIFA World Cup title defence with a commanding victory over Algeria at Kansas City Stadium. The 38-year-old superstar produced a masterclass to inspire Argentina to a hard-fought win in their opening Group J fixture, while also writing another chapter in football history. Messi's treble took his World Cup finals tally to 16 goals, drawing him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the competition's all-time leading scorer.  The achievement came on a landmark night when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also became the first player ever to feature in six World Cup tournaments. Argentina, seeking to become only the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup crown, were forced to work hard aga...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Erling Haaland marked his FIFA World Cup debut with a brilliant two-goal performance as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in their opening Group I match at Boston Stadium, securing a winning return to football's biggest stage after a 28-year absence. The prolific striker continued his remarkable international scoring form, taking his tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances for Norway, although he was denied a hat-trick by a superb late save from Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan. Norway faced a determined Iraqi side making its first World Cup appearance in 40 years, and the Asians matched their European opponents for much of an entertaining first half. After a competitive opening period, Norway broke the deadlock just 58 seconds after the first-half hydration break. Defender David Moller Wolfe surged down the left flank and delivered a low cross that Haaland slid home at the far post to give Norway the lead. Iraq responded impressively and deservedly dre...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi delivered another strong performance on the international circuit ahead of the Commonwealth Games Trials, finishing second in the men’s shot put at the prestigious Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Tuesday.  South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme produced impressive times in the men’s 100 metres at the same competition. Enekwechi, one of Africa’s leading throwers, recorded a best effort of 21.43m to secure the runner-up position behind Italy’s two-time world medallist Leonardo Fabbri, who retained his Golden Spike title with a winning throw of 21.91m. The Nigerian star once again demonstrated his consistency at the highest level, holding off a quality field and continuing his preparations for the major championships later in the season.  Enekwechi has remained one of Nigeria’s most reliable performers in the throwing events and his latest podium finish furth...

   Nigeria's athletics ecosystem is experiencing a remarkable revival, with home-based athletes emerging as the driving force behind the country's resurgence on the continental and global stage. Over the past 12 months, locally based athletes have played a central role in restoring Nigeria's status as one of Africa's leading athletics nations.  Their outstanding performances at major regional and international competitions have highlighted the depth of talent being developed within the country and demonstrated the effectiveness of ongoing investment in grassroots and elite athlete development. One of the defining moments of this resurgence came during Nigeria's qualification campaign for the World Athletics Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana. Determined to return Nigeria to the forefront of global relay competition, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), with the unwavering support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), implemented an ambit...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel      Edo Queens’ successful capture of the 2025/26 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership title has been described as a collective achievement and a powerful lesson in determination, teamwork and resilience by the Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations of the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Mrs. Sabrina Chikere. The Benin-based side secured their second NWFL crown after battling to a hard-fought goalless draw against Bayelsa Queens on the final day of the Super Six playoffs at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday. Needing only a draw to clinch the title, Edo Queens executed their strategy with discipline and composure to finish top of the standings with 10 points, two ahead of Bayelsa Queens. Reacting to the achievement, Chikere stressed that the triumph belonged to everyone connected with the team and the sports commission. "It's all of us," she said, describing the title as a victory b...

By Maxwell Kumoye        Sports administrators, coaches, club owners and journalists have been urged to embrace project management and leadership principles as critical tools for driving growth and professionalism within the sports industry. This formed the focus of a masterclass webinar organised by the AMAPRO Africa Development Program in partnership with the Project Management Institute Nigeria, which brought together more than 100 participants physically and virtually for a capacity-building session in Ilorin, Kwara State. The programme, themed "Project Management and Leadership Skills in Modern Sports Ecosystem," was held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub on Saturday and aimed at equipping stakeholders with globally recognised project management practices that can strengthen sports administration and improve organisational efficiency. Facilitators from PMI Nigeria highlighted the essential ingredients for successful sports event organisation and administr...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria has secured a significant presence in global archery administration after Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, President of the Nigeria Archery Federation, was appointed to the Commonwealth Games Committee of the international governing body, World Archery. The appointment was confirmed by World Archery as part of five new additions to the committee, a move aimed at strengthening global representation and expertise ahead of future Commonwealth Games competitions. Abdullahi, who also serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, is among a select group of administrators chosen by the World Archery Executive Board (WAEB) to help shape the sport's future within the Commonwealth Games movement. World Archery Secretary General Raul Calin informed committee chairman Robert Fiddyment that the federation had finalized the committee's new composition. Joining Abdullahi on the committee are Karl Balisch of Canada, Trina Roberts,...

By Mishael Emmanuel    The race for this year's President Federation Cup title intensified on Wednesday as El-Kanemi Warriors, Wikki Tourists, Nasarawa United and Ikorodu City secured places in the semi-finals following thrilling quarter-final encounters across the country. Former champions El-Kanemi Warriors booked the first semi-final ticket after edging Sokoto United 1-0 in a tightly contested match. The Maiduguri-based side showed resilience and composure to secure the narrow victory and keep their hopes of lifting the prestigious trophy alive. Wikki Tourists were made to work hard for their place in the last four after being held to a 1-1 draw by spirited underdogs Flight FC in regulation time. The Nigeria National League side eventually held their nerve in the penalty shootout, triumphing 4-3 to advance. In another exciting quarter-final clash, Nasarawa United overcame fellow Nigeria Premier Football League side Plateau United 2-1 to continue their impressive...

The curtains may have fallen on the sixth edition of the Jordan Nwora Basketball Camp in Ilupeju, Lagos, but the event once again highlighted a troubling reality, Nigeria continues to underutilise its vast basketball talent and potential. That was the verdict of former D'Tigers head coach, Alex Nwora, one of the driving forces behind the prestigious camp, during an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye. The camp, which concluded on Sunday at the Warriors Basketball Court in Ilupeju, attracted more than 200 young basketball players from different parts of the country, providing them with an opportunity to learn, develop and showcase their skills. However, despite the impressive turnout and abundance of talent on display, Nwora believes the event exposed the failure of Nigeria's basketball authorities to properly develop the game at the grassroots level. "For these kids, it should never be about politics. It...

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has hailed the exceptional performances of Nigerian athletes at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, describing their achievements as further evidence of the country's growing strength in global athletics. Leading the Nigerian charge were Kanyinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi, who captured the men's 100m and 400m titles respectively in commanding fashion. Ajayi produced a breathtaking display to win the men's 100m in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds after earlier lowering the Nigerian record to 9.84 seconds. The Auburn University sprinter became only the third Nigerian to claim the NCAA 100m crown, joining the elite company of Olapade Adenekan and Divine Oduduru. Ogazi was equally impressive, delivering one of the standout performances of the championships by storming to victory in the men's 400m in a world-leading 43.38 seconds. The Alabama star's performance erased the longs...

  By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria's rising athletics star, Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi, etched his name into the record books on Thursday after becoming the first Nigerian male athlete to win the NCAA men's javelin title at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The talented thrower delivered a stunning performance, securing the prestigious collegiate crown with a massive opening throw of 82.26 metres that proved untouchable throughout the competition. Nnamdi stamped his authority on the event from the outset, launching the winning mark in the first round and maintaining his dominance against a strong field.  Impressively, both of his throws beyond the 80-metre mark were enough to secure victory, underlining the quality of his performance on one of college athletics' biggest stages. The Nigerian finished ahead of Bahamas' Keyshawn Strachan, who settled for second place with a best effort of 80.65m, while Jack Larriviere claimed third position after recordi...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in Nigerian volleyball as the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) prepares to serve off the first phase of the 2026 National Premier Volleyball League in Abuja. The country's elite volleyball clubs will converge on the Indoor Sports Hall of Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, from June 13 to 28, battling for supremacy in Nigeria's top-flight volleyball competition. The championship, sponsored by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, will feature both men's and women's teams in what promises to be a highly competitive and entertaining tournament. As the flagship domestic volleyball competition in the country, the National Premier Volleyball League has continued to play a crucial role in talent discovery, athlete development and the promotion of volleyball excellence across Nigeria.  The competition is expected to attract some of t...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Substitute Cyle Larin came off the bench to earn Canada a historic 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina as the co-hosts opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought point in Toronto. Larin, who had been on the pitch for just over two minutes, made an immediate impact when he brilliantly spun away from defender Tarik Muharemovic before firing past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.  A slight deflection helped the effort find the back of the net in the 78th minute, sparking celebrations among the home supporters. The equaliser ensured Canada avoided defeat and secured their first-ever draw at a FIFA World Cup.  The North Americans had previously lost all three matches during their debut appearance in 1986 and suffered three more defeats in Qatar 2022. Bosnia-Herzegovina, who booked their place at the tournament through dramatic penalty shootout victories over Wales and Italy in the qualifying play-offs, had taken the lead m...