Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s leading shot put star, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, is investing in the next generation of athletes, committing ₦950,000 in prize money to the men’s shot put competition at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet. The initiative will give the top four competitors a financial reward for their performances when the anniversary meet takes place on November 7 at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. The sponsorship comes from Enekwechi, a two-time Olympian, African champion and African record holder, whose contribution is aimed at creating greater opportunities for athletes competing in the field events. Under the arrangement, the winner will pocket ₦400,000, while the second-place finisher will receive ₦300,000. Third place attracts ₦150,000, with the fourth-place athlete earning ₦100,000. The gesture for Enekwechi goes beyond putting money into a competition. The Nigerian international sees it as an opportunity to support a ...

By Maxwell Kumoye   Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has emerged as the new President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), securing a four-year mandate at Thursday’s elective congress in Abuja amid controversy over the conduct of the electoral process. Abdullahi polled 40 votes to emerge unopposed in a poorly conducted polls by Dr Lanre Glover led Electoral Committee. The outcome of the election has been overshadowed by allegations of constitutional violations, procedural irregularities and concerns over the credibility of the electoral process. In a major development, all the other presidential candidates reportedly withdrew from the process, citing what they described as an abnormal electoral procedure, multiple violations of the NBBF Constitution and other irregularities. The withdrawals have raised further questions about the legitimacy of the exercise, with the aggrieved stakeholders challenging the process and insisting that the federation’s electoral guidelines and ...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Three presidential candidates in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over electoral manipulation, constitutional violations and irregularities in the process leading to the 2026–2030 board elections. In a petition dated October 12, 2026, the candidates called for urgent presidential intervention, accusing the outgoing NBBF President, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, who also chairs NNPC Ltd, of allegedly manipulating the electoral process in favour of his preferred candidate, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. The petition was addressed to President Tinubu, with copies sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume. The petition was jointly signed by three presidential aspirants: Igoche Mark, who is also contest...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Popular Ghanaian traveller Efya Kimora has described her brief visit to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a memorable experience, highlighting the city’s rich history, distinctive architecture, traditional cuisine and welcoming people. Kimora, who is currently touring major cities, towns and villages across Nigeria, spent a day exploring some of Ibadan’s most notable attractions, offering a glimpse into the cultural and historical treasures that make the South-Western Nigerian city unique. Her accommodation in Ibadan was made possible by Gbolahan Fatuga, Chief Executive Officer of Caligeo Suites, who provided lodging support for the Ghanaian visitor during her stay. Caligeo Suites has also demonstrated its commitment to supporting Nigerian sports by rewarding medallists from Team Nigeria’s outing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with free accommodation. Under the initiative, gold medallists were offered up to 30 days of accommod...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Raymond Nwaduba   Ten clubs from Nigeria's second- and third-tier football leagues will converge on Sagamu, Ogun State, from October 15 to 24 for the inaugural African Football Holding (AFH) Pre-Season Tournament, with ₦2 million awaiting the eventual champions. The competition, which will take place at FC Ebedei Stadium in Apele, is aimed at giving Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) sides the opportunity to test their squads in competitive matches before the start of their respective campaigns. Beyond the battle for silverware, the tournament is expected to provide a platform for clubs to assess new players, improve tactical cohesion and build match fitness ahead of the new season. It also offers participating footballers an opportunity to showcase their abilities, with organisers disclosing that top European scouts are expected to monitor the competition for players who could attract overseas opportunities. The maiden e...

...Oyedeji, Ugboaja, Ahmedu, others caught in screening controversy By Maxwell Kumoye     The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Electoral Committee, led by Dr Lanre Glover, has come under scrutiny over alleged inconsistencies in its screening decisions ahead of the October 15 elections, with questions mounting over the application of the federation’s constitution and the eligibility of several prominent basketball stakeholders. At the centre of the controversy is the committee’s decision to clear some aspirants to contest for the NBBF presidency while reportedly denying them clearance to run for other positions on the federation’s board. The decisions have raised concerns about whether the screening process is being conducted under a consistent set of rules, with critics alleging that the committee’s actions could prevent certain candidates from securing board positions. Former D’Tigers captain and Olympian Olumide Oyedeji is among those affected. Although clear...

By Maxwell Kumoye Nigeria’s high jump record holder, Temitope Adeshina, has thrown her weight behind the development of emerging athletes by sponsoring the women’s high jump event at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet. The competition, scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the YabaTech Stadium in Lagos, will see the top four finishers in the women’s high jump share a total prize purse of ₦200,000. Under the prize-money arrangement, the winner will receive ₦100,000, while the second-place finisher will earn ₦50,000. The third and fourth-place athletes will take home ₦30,000 and ₦20,000, respectively. Adeshina’s gesture comes after an impressive 2026 season in which she won both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor High Jump titles for Texas Tech Track & Field, further cementing her status as one of Nigeria’s leading athletes on the international stage. A Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and two-time African Championships silver medallist, the Nigerian star has cont...

...NJF president describes international body’s position as a bad omen for sports administration worldwide   By Maxwell Kumoye    The President of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), Dr Musa Oshodi, has expressed displeasure over the position taken by the International Judo Federation (IJF) on the administrative crisis rocking the Nigerian federation. Oshodi’s reaction follows a letter dated October 9, 2026, in which the IJF acknowledged the dissolution of the NJF board and the establishment of a caretaker committee, while expressing support for efforts to ensure a transparent, fair and inclusive electoral process. In the letter addressed to the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, the IJF acknowledged the caretaker committee’s mandate to amend the NJF Constitution and convene an elective General Assembly. The international body also noted that members of the caretaker committee had undertaken not to contest in the fort...

...Tips Uganda, Kenya to challenge as Liberia prepares to host the 16th ASC ...As PANASA opens an additional entry window for ahead of Liberia Championship By Maxwell Kumoye     President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, is confident Nigeria has enough quality to defend its title at the 16th African Scrabble Championship scheduled to hold in Monrovia, Liberia. Adegbesan, fondly known as Sheikh, believes Nigeria's remarkable record in the continental competition puts the country in a strong position to retain its crown despite losing several players who have relocated abroad. Nigeria has won 14 of the last 15 editions of the African Scrabble Championship, establishing itself as the dominant force in the sport on the continent. Speaking ahead of the championship, Adegbesan acknowledged that the departure of some players could pose a challenge but insisted Nigeria still possesses the depth and quality required to remain African ch...

  By Maxwell Kumoye    Basketball administrator and sponsor Igoche Mark has accused unnamed interests of manipulating the build-up to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections, alleging that legitimate stakeholders are being pushed out to pave the way for favourable voting outcomes. Mark, founder of the Mark D' Ball Basketball Championship, made the allegations in Abuja, warning that the credibility of the federation's electoral process could be undermined if stakeholders are denied the opportunity to participate freely. He argued that those seeking leadership positions should convince voters with their plans for Nigerian basketball rather than allegedly influencing the composition of the electorate. Mark claimed that stakeholders in several states had been removed from the process without proper justification, with individuals he described as lacking knowledge of or involvement in basketball allegedly taking their places. The development, he said, ha...

...Insist that neither the IJF nor the NSC has dissolved its board By Maxwell Kumoye   The leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has taken another twist, with the board led by Dr. Musa Oshodi dismisses reports of its dissolution and insists it remains the legitimate governing body of the federation. In a statement issued on Friday, October 9, 2026, the NJF described reports that the National Sports Commission (NSC) had dissolved its board and approved a caretaker committee as fake news. The federation accused Mrs. Ngozi Amayo and her associates are spreading the information, alleging that they were attempting to take control of the federation. The NJF further claimed that Amayo had previously been dismissed by its board over alleged financial misappropriation and attempts to run the federation as her personal property.  Insisting that neither the International Judo Federation (IJF) nor the NSC had dissolved its board, the federation maintaine...

...Activist demands transparency over Abuja stadium rehabilitation, abandoned projects and maintenance failures By Maxwell Kumoye       National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko is facing fresh questions over Nigeria’s sports infrastructure spending, with the Unapologetic Masses Advocacy Movement demanding accountability for billions allocated to stadium rehabilitation and sports development. In a document titled “Talk Is Cheap: Reminder of Your Pronouncements from League to Federation to NSC,” dated October 8, 2026, the group, led by Ebbyzymore Inmohtap Numa, challenged Dikko to provide evidence of progress on commitments made during his years in football administration. The group’s concerns include the proposed 2026 N203.6 billion sports budget for 2026, particularly N18.775 billion for the first phase of rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium’s main bowl in Abuja and N5.8 billion for a High Performance Centre at the complex. It d...

By Maxwell Kumoye    The National Sports Commission (NSC) has moved to reset the troubled Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), approving a six-member caretaker committee following the dissolution of the federation’s board by the International Judo Federation (IJF). The decision, announced on Thursday, October 8, 2026, is the latest development in a prolonged leadership crisis that has raised questions over the federation’s administration, electoral process and international standing. The NSC said the action was taken pursuant to Section 16 of the National Sports Commission Act, 2023, with the caretaker committee serving as a transitional structure pending fresh elections and the inauguration of a new board. Sheriff Hammed will chair the committee, while Ekuta Catherine Ewa, Sule Musa, Bashir Musa Bassey and Oladipupo Idowu will serve as members. Amayo Ngozi has been appointed secretary. The committee has been mandated to oversee the federation’s day-to-day affairs, amend...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Michael “Hitman” Ani and two-time West African Welterweight Champion Taiwo “Gentle Boy” Olowu are set to finally settle their unfinished business when they headline The Street Rumble Season 2 in Ajegunle, Lagos. Match Makers Sports International has confirmed the highly anticipated super-welterweight clash for Sunday, December 13, 2026, at Maracana Square, with the bout expected to be one of the major attractions of the event. The fight revived a matchup that was originally scheduled for April 20, 2025, but never got off the ground after Ani suffered an arm injury in training just one week before the contest. The forced withdrawal brought an abrupt end to what had been billed as a compelling domestic showdown and sent Ani into a lengthy rehabilitation process. More than a year later, the former national title challenger gets another opportunity to share the ring with Olowu, who enters the contest with the experience of having held the West Afr...

  By FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG     Nigerian table tennis has lost one of the men who helped lay its international foundations, following the death of former national player and coach Babatunde Obisanya at the age of 77. Obisanya died on Tuesday, October 6, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), during a prolonged illness. His death has triggered mourning within the Nigerian table tennis community, with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) describing him as a towering figure whose influence extended far beyond his years as an active player. NTTF President Adesoji Tayo says, Obisanya’s contribution to the sport was impossible to overlook. Tayo recalled that even after ending his coaching career in 2010, the veteran remained closely connected to the federation, regularly attending competitions, offering advice and speaking passionately about issues affecting the sport. “He was also a father figure to many players, and he will be greatly missed by ...

...GRASOF seeks stronger corporate backing for grassroots football initiative By Maxwell Kumoye      The push to attract major corporate investment into grassroots football has received a boost following the appointment of StallionPole Media Limited to lead sponsorship mobilisation for the 2026 Senate President U-18 National Unity Cup. The Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF), organisers of the competition in collaboration with the Office of the President of the Senate, engaged the media and sports marketing firm as Tournament Support and Sponsorship Mobilisation Consultant ahead of the tournament. The competition is scheduled to take place in Akwa Ibom State from October 25 to November 1, 2026, with teams of young footballers expected to compete for honours while scouts and stakeholders have an opportunity to identify emerging talents. Beyond the football action, GRASOF says it wants the tournament to become a credible platform for youth development, talent ...

...Former 800m runner backs men’s and women’s races at 10th anniversary meet By Maxwell Kumoye   Athletes competing in the 800m at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet will have more than medals and prize money to chase, with Nigerian international Edidiong Udo putting a ₦200,000 performance bonus on the line for those who hit the required standards. The special incentive will form part of the men’s and women’s 800m programme at the anniversary meet, billed for November 7 at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Lagos. Udo has pledged support for both races, with the events to be known as the Edidiong Udo Men’s 800m and Edidiong Udo Women’s 800m. The bonus will be available to any female athlete who runs faster than 2:07 and any male athlete who breaks 1:52, irrespective of the regular prize attached to their finishing position. The gesture has a strong personal connection for Udo, who started his own athletics journey as an 800m runner before eventually switching to the 400...

By Trust Ittai    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing a fresh test of its regulatory authority following the controversial decision to reopen the 2026 WAFU-B final between Nigeria’s Edo Queens and Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies. The final, played in Ouagadougou on September 5, ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.  However, instead of the prescribed 30 minutes of extra time, officials proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out, which Edo Queens won 4-1 to claim the title and the qualification ticket for the CAF Women’s Champions League. Ampem Darkoa protested, arguing that CAF regulations required extra time before penalties. CAF’s Women’s Football Organising Committee upheld the protest and ordered the final to resume from the 2-2 scoreline and go through extra time, with penalties if required. The decision has since been challenged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which argues that Edo Queens should not be punished for an error they neither caus...

…Organisers plan wider national participation from next edition   By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      The countdown to the 3rd Senate President National Under-18 Unity Cup has entered its final stretch, with the organisers reporting a growing wave of interest from football academies and grassroots clubs across Nigeria. With 19 days remaining before the tournament begins, Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Dr. Mike Uyi, said the response from the football community has gone beyond expectations, with several academies already making enquiries about participation. The tournament will run from October 25 to November 1 at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, featuring 24 states in male and female competitions. Speaking in Uyo after a meeting of the organising committee, Uyi said the strong response had reinforced the need to expand the competition's reach. He disclosed that the organisers intend to move beyond the state-based format in future editio...

...To overhaul domestic league, give women's basketball gets priority By Maxwell Kumoye       Former D'Tigers captain and one of Nigeria Olympic Committee Vice Presidents Olumide Oyedeji has formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), promising to end the divisions that have continued to undermine the development of the sport. Oyedeji, who is also the Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association, made his declaration on Monday, presenting himself as an experienced administrator and former elite athlete capable of uniting Nigeria's fractured basketball community and repositioning the sport for sustainable growth. The former Nigerian international said his decision was not driven by personal ambition but by what he described as a call to rebuild, reunite and reposition Nigerian basketball. With more than three decades of involvement in the game, Oyedeji believes his journey from grassroots ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye Bayelsa State has continued to emerge as one of the strongest government supporters of scrabble development in Nigeria, with its sustained investment in competitions, grassroots development and elite players earning commendation from the Nigeria Scrabble Federation. For six consecutive years, the state has initiated and supported a national championship that has grown into one of the biggest scrabble competitions in Africa, attracting leading players from across Nigeria and participants from outside the country. The championship has also distinguished itself through its substantial prize purse, with the organisers taking the commitment a step further by doubling the prize money for the next edition. President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engineer Bright Idahosa, praised Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, for his consistent support and passion for the development of the sport. Idahosa described Governor Dir...