Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye Nigeria's teenage chess prodigy, Ekunke Odey Goodness, has etched his name into the history books after becoming the first-ever champion of the FIDE World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship, winning the inaugural title in Abuja. The 14-year-old produced a stunning display throughout the 11-round competition, amassing nine points from a possible 11 to finish ahead of a strong field at the championship jointly organised by FIDE and the Nigeria Chess Federation. Ekunke sealed the historic triumph after holding fellow Nigerian FM Eugene Ekpoikong Unwana to a draw in the decisive final-round clash. The result ensured the teenager finished on nine points, while Unwana claimed the silver medal with 8½ points. FM Bomo Lovet Kigigha also finished on 8½ points but settled for bronze on tie-break. The tournament, played with a rapid time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment, witnessed an intense battle among Nigeria's leading players, with the inaug...

...As scrabble amazon, Afolayan pays emotional tribute to outgoing chairman Adegbesan By Maxwell Kumoye      As the Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA) prepares for a change in leadership, head coach Bukumi Afolayan has raised the question on the minds of many stakeholders, who will be able to sustain the remarkable standards set by outgoing chairman, Mr. Adekoyejo Adegbesan? In an emotional tribute to the departing chairman, Afolayan reflected on the transformation of the association since its inauguration on August 24, 2022, describing Adegbesan's tenure as one that revolutionised Scrabble in Ogun State. "The question ringing in my mind is, 'How do we sustain the standard this outgoing Association has brought here?'" Afolayan asked. She recalled how the process began in 2022 when she approached MGI boss, Mr. Lukeman Owolabi, to serve as chairman of the association.  However, Owolabi, who is now the President of World English Players Association (W...

...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 Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye        Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, has attributed the remarkable progress recorded in the state's sports sector to the visionary leadership and unwavering commitment of Governor Senator Douye Diri, insisting that the transformation witnessed in recent years is the result of collective leadership rather than the efforts of one individual. Speaking during an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye on Monday, the former World and Olympic wrestling champion said every milestone achieved under his watch as Commissioner was made possible because Governor Diri deliberately placed sports at the centre of his administration's development agenda. "Whatever progress we have recorded in Bayelsa sports belongs first to His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri. I say that not out of courtesy, but because it is the truth," Igali declared. According to him, governan...

...NVBF targets new era for Nigerian volleyball   By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, has officially unveiled Japanese volleyball coach Ryan Masajedi as the new international coach for Nigeria, describing his appointment as a major step in the federation's long-term development programme. Speaking during the unveiling ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, Nimrod disclosed that Masajedi's engagement was facilitated through the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Development Commission following extensive discussions between the global governing body and the NVBF. According to the NVBF president, the Japanese tactician will spend 12 months in Nigeria, a significant departure from the conventional three-month coaching support usually provided by the FIVB. "Normally, FIVB provides international coaches for only three months to prepare teams for major competitio...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The race for honours at the 2026 FIDE World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship has intensified as the Rapid event reached its halfway mark in Abuja, with leading contenders beginning to separate themselves after six of the scheduled 11 rounds. The prestigious championship, holding at the Bolton White Event Hall, has attracted amateur players from different parts of the world, all battling for the coveted FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz titles. The tournament opened with a Technical Meeting where players and officials agreed to retain the full competition schedule despite the relatively small field.  Competitors are therefore set to contest 11 rounds each in the Rapid and Blitz events over five days, ensuring every scheduled game is played. Tournament officials also clarified that female participants remain eligible to win two prize categories, providing an added incentive for the women competing. The opening ceremony featured ...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The Ogun State Sports Council has dissolved the executives of all sports associations in the state, bringing an end to the administration of several associations, including the highly successful Ogun State Scrabble Association led by Adekoyejo Adegbesan. The dissolution, which takes effect from July 31, 2026, was announced in a circular signed by the Acting Director of Sports, Oluseyi Sonde.  The directive stated that all existing sports associations in the state stand dissolved, with the exception of the Basketball and Football Associations, whose executives will remain in office pending the conclusion of their respective national federation elections. The Sports Council commended the outgoing executives for their commitment, sacrifices and contributions to the growth of sports in Ogun State, noting that their achievements would remain an enduring part of the state's sporting history. Among the associations leaving office on a remarkable ...

By Maxwell Kumoye     The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced the leadership of its men's volleyball team by appointing national team star Abdulquadri Jaiyeola as alternate captain ahead of the decisive second phase of the 2026 Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Volleyball Premier League. The move reflects the club's confidence in the experienced playmaker, whose recent exploits with Nigeria's senior men's national team have earned widespread recognition after leading the side to qualification for the African Nations Championship qualifiers in Abidjan. Announcing the appointment on Monday, Head of Sports at the Nigeria Customs Service, Samuel Onikeku, said Jaiyeola's leadership qualities, commitment and experience made him an ideal choice to strengthen the team's captaincy group. According to Onikeku, the former African Men's Club Championship campaigner has consistently shown maturity and responsibility both with the national team and...

By Maxwell Kumoye      The Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the development of Scrabble in Nigeria, announcing plans to introduce the mind sport into secondary schools across the state following the successful conclusion of the 6th Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic in Yenagoa. Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall on Sunday night, Governor Diri praised the Nigeria Scrabble Federation and the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association for sustaining the annual championship, which he described as the country's biggest platform for the strategic board game. The governor, who participated in an exhibition match against Nigeria Scrabble Federation President, Engineer Bright Idahosa, said the experience revived cherished memories of his younger days when Scrabble played a vital role in improving vocabulary and sharpening analytical thinking...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Team Nigeria ended the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Africa's highest-ranked nation, finishing an impressive seventh on the final medals table with ten gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals for a total of 24 medals. Although Nigeria maintained its status as the continent's leading sporting nation at the Games, the team's overall haul fell short of its performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where it claimed 35 medals.  The Glasgow return of 24 medals represents 11 fewer medals, while the country's 10 gold medals were also two less than the 12 golds won four years ago. Australia dominated the Games with a commanding 70 gold medals, ahead of England and Canada, while Nigeria finished above traditional sporting nations such as Jamaica, Wales, Malaysia and South Africa. The final medals table also highlighted Africa's growing presence on the Commonwealth sporting stage, with 13 African countries winning a...

By Maxwell Kumoye      As part of its drive to strengthen the technical foundation of volleyball in the country, the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has selected 12 coaches to participate in the prestigious FIVB Level I Coaching Certification Course in Accra, Ghana. The six-day programme, scheduled to run from August 3 to 8, will bring together aspiring volleyball coaches from across the continent, with Nigeria sending a delegation made up of national team players, former internationals and league coaches. In a significant move aimed at promoting gender inclusion, seven of the 12 selected participants are women, while five are men. The Federation described the initiative as a deliberate effort to increase the number of qualified female volleyball coaches in Nigeria and build a stronger technical workforce for the sport. According to the NVBF, the certification programme is a strategic investment designed to bridge the shortage of qualified female coaches,...

...Says Bayelsa has lost a father and patriot By Sports Groove Plus     The Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, has paid a heartfelt condolence visit to the family of former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun, describing his death as a monumental loss to Bayelsa State, the Ijaw nation and Nigeria. Governor Diri visited the late elder statesman's family in Abuja on Friday, where he consoled his widow, children and relatives, saying Professor Isoun's passing had left a huge void because of his lifelong dedication to education, environmental advocacy and the struggle for the advancement of the Ijaw people. Professor Isoun, a distinguished scholar, pioneer Vice Chancellor of the former University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (now Rivers State University), died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 87. Speaking during the visit, Diri said he had lost not only a respected leader but also a father figure whose guidance ...

...With ARideForLife, Olubo hopes to inspire discussions about mental health, challenge stigma By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigerian adventurer Moses Olubo is on the brink of another historic milestone as he prepares to cross the unforgiving Western Sahara on his groundbreaking "ARideForLife" motorcycle expedition from the United States to Kaduna, Nigeria. Riding a three-wheeled Can-Am Spyder, Olubo is attempting what is believed to be a world-first journey across Africa on the platform.  But beyond the record attempt, his mission carries a deeply personal purpose, raising global awareness about mental health in honour of his son, who is living with mental illness. After battling freezing sub-Arctic conditions in Canada and Iceland, navigating Europe's busy highways and winding countryside, and receiving warm hospitality across Morocco, Olubo has now arrived in Laayoune, the last major stop before entering one of the world's most challenging desert routes. His ...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has applauded Corporal Ezekiel Nathaniel for his outstanding performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where he captured the gold medal in the men's 400m hurdles. Nathaniel produced a commanding display to finish atop the podium, adding another golden chapter to Nigeria's campaign and further enhancing his reputation as one of the country's finest track athletes. The Police chief described the victory as a proud moment for the Nigeria Police Force, saying Nathaniel's success reflects the discipline, commitment and excellence that officers can demonstrate both in the line of duty and on the international sporting stage. According to Disu, the Commonwealth champion has become a source of inspiration to police personnel and aspiring athletes across the country, proving that dedication and hard work can lead to global recognition. In his message, the IGP said: "On beha...

  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye  World and Olympic wrestling champion Daniel Igali has praised Team Nigeria's impressive performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, urging Nigerians to celebrate the athletes' achievements while recognising the challenges posed by the absence of wrestling from the competition. Nigeria has already secured nine gold medals at the Games, and Igali described the feat as "an achievement worthy of celebration," saying every medal represents years of dedication, sacrifice and relentless hard work behind the scenes. "The first thing I want to say is congratulations," Igali said. "Winning nine gold medals at this stage of the Games is an achievement worthy of celebration. Every one of those medals represents years of unseen sacrifice by athletes, coaches and support staff. We celebrate the few minutes on the podium, but we often forget the thousands of hours that made those moments possible." The Bayelsa S...

...As Team Nigeria wins its nineth gold medal By Maxwell Kumoye    Team Nigeria's remarkable outing at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow received another major boost on Friday night as Ezekiel Nathaniel powered to victory in the men's 400m hurdles, claiming the country's nineth gold medal of the Games and the second athletics gold. Nathaniel produced a commanding performance at Scotstoun Stadium, crossing the finish line in a brilliant 48.47 seconds to finish ahead of England's Jake Minshull, who took silver in 48.99 seconds, while Assinie Wilson claimed the bronze medal in 49.22 seconds. The Nigerian star controlled the race from the closing stages, displaying his trademark speed and composure over the barriers to secure the biggest international title of his career. His triumph adds to Team Nigeria's growing medal haul in Glasgow and marks the country's second athletics gold after an impressive campaign by the track and field team. Nathaniel...

...Calls for more better preparation after impressive Commonwealth Games campaign By Maxwell Kumoye    Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, a former Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has commended Team Nigeria Athletics for its impressive showing at the ongoing 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, describing the campaign as a positive step for the country's athletics programme. Nesiama, who is Nigeria's most senior World Athletics technical official in Nigeria, said the performances recorded so far have exceeded some expectations, with several athletes delivering surprising results despite pre-Games predictions. "It is so far, so fair," Nesiama said while assessing the team's performance. "Predictions might not come outright correct, but surprises still came out." The experienced athletics administrator, who served as one of the technical officials at this year's World Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswan...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Team Nigeria's medal haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games received another major boost on Thursday as Chukwuebuka Enekwechi produced a championship-winning throw of 21.07m to claim the men's shot put gold medal at Scotstoun Stadium. The Nigerian star edged out New Zealand's Tom Walsh, who settled for silver with 21.03m, in one of the closest field event contests of the Games. England's Scott Lincoln completed the podium after throwing 20.99m to take bronze. Enekwechi's winning effort proved enough to separate him from a world-class field, with just four centimetres dividing the top three finishers in a thrilling final. South Africa's Aiden Smith placed fourth with 20.31m, while India's Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Australia's Nick Palmer both recorded 20.27m to finish fifth and sixth respectively. The victory adds another gold medal to Team Nigeria's impressive athletics campaign in Glasgow and further underlines Enekw...

...Eyes strong comeback in 2027 ahead of LA28 Games  By Maxwell Kumoye   Hammer thrower Oyesade Olatoye expressed disappointment after missing out on a medal but insisted she remains motivated to return stronger after a challenging competition affected by difficult weather conditions. Speaking after the event, Oyesade Olatoye admitted that her preparation had been excellent but said she struggled to find her rhythm on the day. “I think my preparation for this competition was really great. Honestly, it was just my rhythm that was off today,” she said. “Everyone is in the weather, so I don’t like to use excuses. I just wasn’t able to get a throw out. I had two throws in the cage that felt pretty good, so it’s a little disappointing, but I know it’s there and there’s more to come.” The wet conditions also played a major role in the competition, with Oyesade Olatoye explaining that maintaining grip and balance became difficult throughout the event. “Having the grip on ...

By Maxwell Kumoye   Nigeria enjoyed another productive outing at the Commonwealth Games athletics competition on Wednesday as sprinters Jennifer Obi Chukwuka and Olayinka Olajide qualified for the women's 200m semi-finals, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi booked his place in the men's shot put final. Chukwuka was impressive in Heat 4 of the opening round, producing a personal best of 23.26 seconds to win the race and secure automatic qualification for the semi-finals. Canada's Marie-Eloise Leclair finished second in 23.50, while The Gambia's Nyimansata Jawneh claimed the third automatic qualifying spot with 23.74. In Heat 5, Olajide also progressed after finishing third in 23.62 seconds behind Jamaica's Lavanya Williams, who won the race in 22.91, and Singapore's Veronica Shanti Pereira, whose season's best 23.00 earned her second place. The performances ensured Nigeria will have two representatives in the women's 200m semi-finals as they continue...

...Three males and two females seek places in the sprint finals By Maxwell Kumoye      Team Nigeria's athletics contingent will be in action across the track and field on Tuesday at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with several medal hopefuls and sprint stars looking to make significant progress in their respective events. The day's action begins with the women's 400 metres first round, where Patience Okon George will compete in Heat 2 from lane six. The experienced quarter-miler heads into the race with a season's best of 51.41 seconds as she seeks qualification for the semi finals. Fellow Nigerian Esther Elo Joseph will feature in Heat 3, running from lane two. Joseph boasts a season's best of 50.97 seconds and will be aiming to secure one of the automatic qualification spots. Nigeria's sole representative in the men's 400 metres heat, Edidiong Udo, will line up in Heat 1 from lane four. With a season's best of 44.91 seconds, Udo wil...