Sports Groove

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt     Captain of Hoops N’ Reads Basketball Club, Francis Anekwe, has assured fans and the Nigerian basketball community that the Lagos-based side will produce a much-improved performance in their Match Day 5 clash of the Final 8 Playoffs. Anekwe, fondly known as “Mr. Reliable,” admitted that the team’s performances so far have fallen short of expectations, with Hoops N’ Reads still searching for their first victory of the playoffs. The Lagos giants suffered their fourth consecutive defeat after a closely fought 66–60 loss to 313 Warriors, leaving them with a crucial battle ahead as they seek to keep their Final 8 campaign alive. Despite the setbacks, Anekwe expressed confidence in his teammates, insisting that the squad has the quality and determination to turn things around in their next encounter against Koko. “Hello, my people, it’s your boy, Francis Anekwe, captain of the team. We thank you for the support and...

  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...

...Calls for fresh sustainable direction in Nigerian football   By Maxwell Kumoye     The President of TSM Football Academy, Epe, Lagos, Bode Alabi, has called for the former Nigeria international, Segun “Mathematical” Odegbami, to be given the opportunity to lead the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the ongoing reorganisation of Nigerian football administration. Alabi believes Odegbami’s illustrious playing career, administrative experience and long-standing advocacy for reforms make him a strong candidate to provide a new direction for the country’s football. In a statement titled “From the Green Eagles to the Glasshouse: Why Segun Odegbami’s Vision Can Redefine Nigerian Football,” Alabi described the former Green Eagles captain as a figure whose experience cuts across both the playing and administrative sides of the game. Odegbami was a key member of Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team and played a leading role in the count...

By Maxwell Kumoye  The maiden edition of the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) National Taekwondo Championship is scheduled to commence on September 17 in Lagos, with athletes from across the country expected to converge on the commercial capital for the tournament. The championship, sponsored by former Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and ex-Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, is expected to provide an exciting platform for athletes to showcase their skills while further promoting the development of taekwondo in Nigeria. Bamidele, who is now the Senate Leader, has remained an active stakeholder in sports and has supported various sporting initiatives over the years. He believes sports can serve as a powerful tool for promoting unity and bringing people together. President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria (TFN), Tayo Popoola, expressed delight over the championship, describing it as a welcome development and an example of stakeholders comp...

Isack Hadjar will miss a second consecutive Formula 1 race at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury. Red Bull confirmed on Wednesday that Liam Lawson will once again replace the Frenchman at the senior team for the race at Monza, while Yuki Tsunoda will continue to fill Lawson’s usual seat at Racing Bulls.  Hadjar sustained the injury during the summer break and was forced to sit out last month’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Although the 21-year-old had been hopeful of returning in Italy, Red Bull decided against taking any risks with his recovery. The team said Hadjar is making encouraging progress but will remain sidelined while his rehabilitation continues. Lawson, meanwhile, gets another opportunity alongside Max Verstappen after making an impressive return to Red Bull action in the Netherlands. The New Zealander qualified eighth and went on to finish seventh at Zandvoort, securing valuable points for the team.  Th...

Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o has urged African football leaders to support FIFA president Gianni Infantino, arguing that his leadership has significantly accelerated the development of football across the continent. Eto’o made the comments in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Équipe, amid growing scrutiny of Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.  The former Cameroon captain credited Infantino with helping African football associations strengthen their structures and providing greater opportunities for nations that have historically struggled to qualify for the World Cup. “President Gianni Infantino has changed football,” Eto’o said. According to the FECAFOOT president, African federations have benefited from Infantino’s approach to development and should acknowledge the progress made during his tenure. “Mr. Infantino has helped our continent. He has helped our federations develop much more quickly, a...

Everton’s Fans’ Forum has criticised the club’s transfer planning and recruitment strategy following the closure of the transfer window, demanding greater clarity over a period they believe was once again dominated by late moves and missed opportunities. The supporters’ group, which regularly engages with Everton’s board on issues affecting fans, said the club had pledged to introduce a more professional and structured approach to recruitment. However, they argued that the latest window followed a familiar pattern, with Everton attempting to resolve key squad weaknesses in the final days. The frustration intensified after Everton failed to complete a deadline-day move for United States striker Folarin Balogun. The proposed transfer collapsed, with Balogun publicly denying that he had agreed to join the Merseyside club. The failure to land the striker has left manager David Moyes with limited attacking options following Beto’s departure for Fiorentina. Everton also sanctione...

Kimi Antonelli heads into a landmark home Italian Grand Prix at Monza carrying the weight of history, despite facing the daunting prospect of starting from the back of the grid. The Mercedes youngster, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week, arrives at the iconic “Temple of Speed” as the first Italian in 73 years to lead the Formula One world championship. Antonelli is also chasing the possibility of becoming Italy’s first F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari claimed his second title in 1953. After 12 rounds of the season, Antonelli has established a commanding 59-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, putting him firmly in contention for a historic championship triumph on home soil. However, his Monza challenge has been complicated by his back-of-the-grid starting position, leaving him with a major recovery drive if he is to extend his championship lead. Behind him, McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris has closed...

Inter Miami have completed the signing of 19-year-old Brazilian winger Riquelme Fillipi from Palmeiras, securing his services through the 2029-30 season, with an option to extend the deal into 2030-31. The highly-rated youngster will occupy a U-22 Initiative slot as Miami continue to invest in emerging talent. Fillipi arrives with an impressive record at youth level, having scored 30 goals and provided four assists in 80 appearances for Palmeiras U-20. And Miami aren't done there. The Herons also acquired an international roster slot from the New England Revolution in exchange for $200,000 in General Allocation Money, split between $100,000 in 2026 and another $100,000 in 2027.

  By Maxwell Kumoye     A fresh controversy is brewing within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) ahead of its forthcoming elections, with federation member and highly rated FIBA match commissioner Adamu Deshi challenging the leadership of outgoing President Engineer Musa Kida over the conduct of the federation’s affairs. Deshi, a forensic auditor and accountant, issued the challenge in a strongly worded rejoinder to a recent publication on Zazamedia.com.ng titled “Setting the Records Straight: NBBF Clears the Air on Tenure Elongation.” In his response, Deshi disputed the publication’s explanation of the absence of several NBBF board members, questioning whether they had actually resigned or had been accused of boycotting federation activities. He demanded evidence of invitations allegedly sent to the affected board members, insisting that the NBBF leadership should produce correspondence showing that members were invited to meetings and deliberately refu...

...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...

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 12-year career with the national team. The 33-year-old centre-back made the decision to step away from international duty in order to concentrate on his club career while allowing younger players to emerge within the Germany setup. Rudiger won 86 caps for Germany after making his senior debut in 2014. He went on to become a key figure in the national team's defence, representing the country at three World Cups and several European Championship tournaments. Announcing his decision on Instagram on Tuesday, Rudiger said he had taken time to reflect before concluding that it was the right moment to close the international chapter of his career. "After some time to reflect, the time has come for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation," Rudiger wrote. Although Germany failed to secure a major international trophy...

Aston Villa have completed the permanent signing of Senegal international Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain, the two clubs announced on Tuesday. Mbaye, 18, brings an impressive pedigree to Villa after spending eight years in PSG's system, having joined the French club's academy when he was just 10. The forward made history in 2024 when he became PSG's youngest-ever player to start a Ligue 1 match. He was 16 years, six months and 23 days old when he was named in the starting XI against Le Havre.

Manchester City have agreed a £125 million ($169.08 million) deal with Chelsea for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to British media reports on Tuesday, in a transfer that would match the Premier League record. The proposed fee would equal the British transfer record set last year when Liverpool signed Sweden striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, while taking City's spending during the current close-season to almost £400 million. Fernandez, 25, joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a then-British record £106.8 million, signing an eight-and-a-half-year contract with the London club. The Argentina international went on to help Chelsea win the Conference League and Club World Cup last year, but is now set for a move to the Premier League champions as City continue to reshape their squad. The transfer would make Fernandez the first footballer to command a fee of more than £100 million on two separate occasions in his career. He would also reunite with ...

Egypt have committed their long-term future to head coach Hossam Hassan, extending his contract through 2030, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Tuesday. The 60-year-old has been rewarded with a new deal after guiding the Pharaohs to the knockout stage of this year’s World Cup and helping the team make significant progress on the continental stage. Under Hassan, Egypt secured their first-ever World Cup victory when they defeated New Zealand before advancing to the last 16 of the tournament. The former Egypt striker also led the national side to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, further strengthening his position as the man entrusted with steering the team through the next phase of its development. Hassan took charge of Egypt in 2024, returning to lead the country’s senior national team after an extensive coaching career in Egyptian football. However, he revealed in June that he had been working without a formal contract since February 2026...

Juventus have secured the services of German striker Nick Woltemade on a season-long loan from Newcastle United, with the deal running until June 2027, the Italian club confirmed on Tuesday. Woltemade, 24, joined Newcastle last year in a club-record transfer reportedly worth about £69 million ($93 million), but struggled to establish himself as a consistent goalscorer in the Premier League. The Germany international scored eight league goals in 34 appearances during his time at St James’ Park, while he found the net once in 10 Champions League outings. His move to Juventus represents a return to Serie A after a spell in England and gives the Turin club another attacking option as they seek to strengthen their frontline. Woltemade began his professional career at Werder Bremen, progressing through the club’s youth system before making his senior debut in 2020. He subsequently spent time on loan at SV Elversberg before joining Stuttgart in 2024. It was at Stuttgart that the f...

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is expected to spend around a month on the sidelines after being diagnosed with a minor heart condition that requires corrective surgery, the Serie A champions announced on Tuesday. The former Manchester United midfielder has developed a “mild, benign arrhythmia”, a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat, according to Napoli. The Italian club said the 29-year-old will undergo a corrective ablation procedure, known as pulsed field ablation (PFA), in the coming days. “Scott McTominay is due to undergo corrective ablation surgery (PFA) in the coming days. The player will be available again after the international break,” Napoli said in a statement. The procedure is expected to keep McTominay out for approximately four weeks, meaning he is likely to miss Scotland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. Scotland are scheduled to face Slovenia twice, as well as Switzerland and North Macedonia, between September 26 and October 6. McTominay has b...

Spanish champions Barcelona have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal on a three-year contract, the two clubs confirmed on Tuesday. The financial terms of the transfer were not disclosed by either club, although reports in the British media put the fee at around £8.6 million ($11.5 million) for the 29-year-old striker. Jesus becomes Barcelona’s sixth signing of the current transfer window, joining a squad that has already welcomed Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Rodri, Joao Cancelo and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. The move brings an end to Jesus’ four-year spell at Arsenal, where he arrived from Manchester City in 2022 and quickly became an important part of the London club’s attack. During his time at the Emirates, the Brazil international made 123 appearances across all competitions, scoring 32 goals. He featured 27 times during Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign last season. Jesus now begins a new chapter in Spain as Barcelon...

By Maxwell Kumoye   Nigeria’s remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2026 African Women’s Volleyball Championship in Nairobi has earned high praise from Nigeria’s High Commissioner-Designate to Kenya, Ambassador Danlami Ibrahim, who described the performance as a true reflection of the Nigerian spirit. Nigeria fought back from two sets down to defeat DR Congo 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-13, 15-13 in a pulsating 9th-12th classification match on Tuesday. The comeback victory left Ambassador Ibrahim highly elated, as he praised the determination and fighting spirit of the Nigerian players. “I’m highly elated. To come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2, that is the stuff Nigeria is made of. You underrate Nigeria at your own peril,” Ibrahim said after the match. The ambassador said the team’s progress throughout the championship had been encouraging, particularly after suffering a 3-0 defeat to host Kenya in their opening game. “These girls have ...

  By Maxwell Kumoye Nigeria’s women’s volleyball team staged a remarkable comeback on Tuesday, rallying from two sets down to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 in a thrilling 9th-12th classification match at the 2026 African Women’s Volleyball Championship in Nairobi, Kenya. The Nigerians appeared destined for defeat after DR Congo claimed the opening two sets 25-20 and 25-22, putting Nigeria under immense pressure. However, Nigeria refused to surrender. The team responded strongly in the third set, winning 25-21 before producing a dominant performance in the fourth set to crush DR Congo 25-13 and force a decisive fifth set. The final set was a tense affair, but Nigeria held their nerve to edge DR Congo 15-13 and complete a stunning 3-2 comeback victory. The result reflected the fighting spirit of a Nigerian side that found another gear when the match appeared to be slipping away. Reacting after the dramatic victory, Nigeria’s head coach, Elishama Elam, expres...

By Maxwell Kumoye        Fresh controversy has erupted within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), as a member of the federation’s board has dismissed reports that some board members have resigned and accused the leadership of attempting to prolong its stay in office. The development comes less than seven weeks before the reported expiration of the current NBBF board’s tenure, amid growing concerns over the absence of a clearly announced timetable for the federation’s next elective congress. Speaking in Abuja, the NBBF North Central Representative, Adamu Deshi, dismissed reports that members of the board had resigned, insisting that no such resignations had taken place. Deshi claimed that the tenure of the current NBBF board had been extended by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) until October 16, 2026, and maintained that the extension applies to all members of the existing board. He further alleged that reports of resignations were bein...