Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye      The Grassroot Sports Federation (GRASOF) is seeking closer collaboration with Akwa Ibom State sports authorities as it looks to expand opportunities for young athletes and strengthen grassroots sports development. The federation disclosed its plans after the opening ceremony of the 3rd edition of the 10th Senate President National Under-18 Unity Cup in Ikot Ekpene, where Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, joined other dignitaries to witness the start of the competition. GRASOF National President, Honourable John Bassey Ekpenyong, said the organisation was ready to work with government agencies and relevant sports bodies to identify young talents and create more pathways for their development. He identified the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Sports and State Sports Commission as key partners in the federation's proposed initiative. According to Ekpenyong, cooperation between private spo...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Former Olympic and world champion Daniel Igali has thrown his weight behind Team Nigeria’s campaign at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, visiting the national team’s camp as the competition enters its decisive phase. Igali, now Commissioner for Sports in oil rich coastal State of Bayelsa and immediate past President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), met with the coaching crew to offer encouragement as Nigeria seeks to end its three-year absence from the medal podium at the global showpiece. The challenge for Nigeria is vivid translate its strength on the African continent into medals against the world's leading wrestling nations. With the championships reaching a critical point, the team will be eager to make its remaining opportunities count. A former Olympic champion and Bureau Member of United World Wrestling (UWW), Igali understands what it takes to compete and win at the highest level. His presence at the camp offered...

...Regnant Queens deliver a statement in the female event  By Maxwell Kumoye     Agbana Wonders and St Patrick’s emerged among the winners as the battle for supremacy intensified at the third Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. While Agbana Wonders of Ekiti dispatched Regnant FA 2-0, St Patrick’s matched that scoreline against Rich Destiny Academy of Bayelsa, with both teams delivering the goods in the men’s category. The damage for Agbana Wonders was done before the break. Olarewaju Anderson and Mimiko Eric struck in the first half to put the Ekiti side in a commanding position, leaving Regnant FA with no way back into the contest. St Patrick’s also had a two-goal hero of their own. Igwe Paul found the net in both halves to secure a comfortable win over Rich Destiny Academy and underline his importance to the Anambra-based side. There was little to separate Essien Udim and Excellent Academy, whose encounter ended without a goal,...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Promise Okotoko   Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has recorded significant milestones in Nigerian wrestling since assuming office as President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) on October 25, 2025. Elected unanimously at the federation's congress held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Adeniyi has focused on international exposure, athlete welfare, technical development and expanding Nigeria's presence on the global wrestling stage. Building on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Daniel Igali, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service has pursued initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for athletes, coaches, referees and administrators. One of the early highlights of his administration was Nigeria's participation in the inaugural West Africa Wrestling Championship in the Republic of Benin. The federation sponsored six athletes and eight officials, with Team Nigeria returning with 11 medals, comprisin...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigerian athletics stars Charles Godfred and Ugwu Emeka have committed a combined ₦700,000 to sponsor the men's long jump and hammer throw events at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet in Lagos. Godfred, an African U20 champion, two-time Nigerian national champion and Big Ten champion, is sponsoring the men's long jump with ₦500,000, while NCAA All-American shot putter Emeka has pledged ₦200,000 for the men's hammer throw, which will be named the Ugwu Emeka Hammer Throw. Godfred's sponsorship will reward the top eight long jumpers, while the top four hammer throwers will receive ₦100,000, ₦50,000, ₦30,000 and ₦20,000 respectively. Explaining his decision, the University of Minnesota athlete said the long jump had transformed his life by giving him purpose and opening doors he never imagined possible. He added that his support was aimed at helping young athletes experience similar opportunities through athletics. Emeka, a junior at th...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Former Stationery Stores captain and junior international Taiwo Oloyede has called for far-reaching structural reforms, improved players’ welfare and strategic recruitment of foreign talents to help Nigerian clubs regain their competitiveness in continental football. Oloyede, 63, who featured for 12 different clubs in the Nigerian domestic league, made the recommendations following Enugu Rangers’ elimination from the CAF Champions League, a disappointing outcome for a club he once represented during his playing career. The former midfielder, now a coach, believes Nigerian football must look beyond its current challenges and revisit the foundations that once made domestic clubs formidable opponents on the African continent. He pointed to the successful periods of Enyimba and Stationery Stores as examples of what Nigerian clubs could achieve with proper planning, quality recruitment and a strong commitment to player development. According to Oloy...

...Senator Ningi to represent Akpabio at kicks off in Ikot Ekpene   By Maxwell Kumoye      More than 500 young footballers will take centre stage in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, as the third Senate President National U-18 Unity Cup gets underway tomorrow, with talent discovery and grassroots development expected to headline the competition. Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, will represent Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the opening ceremony scheduled for the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium. The Tournament Coordinator, John Ekpenyong, who is also National President of the Grassroots Sports Federation of Nigeria, said the competition would offer emerging players an opportunity to showcase their abilities before national U-17 coaches and international scouts. The presence of the scouts and youth national team coaches is expected to give the participating youngsters an opportunity to attract attention as they purs...

By Maxwell Kumoye  Nigeria’s top 400m hurdlers will have more than bragging rights to chase at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet, with Commonwealth Games champion Nathaniel Ezekiel putting an extra ₦250,000 up for grabs for anyone who finishes the race in under 51 seconds. Ezekiel, the Nigerian national record holder, is backing the men’s 400m hurdles with a total prize allocation of ₦500,000 for the top eight finishers, while the additional performance bonus could take the available rewards to ₦750,000. The event, to be staged as the Nathaniel Ezekiel 400m Hurdles Showdown, will form part of the anniversary meet on November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. The bonus adds a compelling challenge to the race. Athletes will not only be competing for positions and prize money but will also have a specific time target to pursue, with a sub-51-second performance earning the extra reward. By throwing his support behind the event, Ezekie...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Athletic Heat has strengthened its arrangements for the participation of young competitors at its 10th Anniversary Meet with the appointment of renowned athletics coach Felix Onoriode as chaperone for the U-11 and U-15 categories. The November 7 event, which will take place at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos, will provide a platform for athletes across different age groups and disciplines to display their abilities as Athletic Heat celebrates a decade of sporting impact. Onoriode’s appointment brings valuable coaching expertise and youth development experience into the event, with particular attention to ensuring that the youngest participants receive the necessary support and supervision throughout the competition. The experienced coach is the Secretary General of the Athletics Coaches Association of Nigeria (ACAN) and heads the Coach Felix Academics and Sports Foundation in Kaduna.  He also serves on the Monitorin...

...FIBA Africa Zone 3 Congress also scheduled for Accra – Ahmedu    By Maxwell Kumoye   The gateway to Africa – Ghana is gearing up to welcome the next generation of basketball talent from across the West Africa sub region next month Accra the beautiful and alluring Ghanaian capital has been selected to host the FIBA Africa Zone 3 (FAZ3) U-16 Boys’ and Girls’ Tournament from November 15 to 20, 2026, followed by the Zone’s General Meeting and Congress on November 21. With the Ghana Basketball Association (GBBA) leading the hosting arrangements, the West African nation is set to bring together young basketball prospects, team officials, referees and basketball administrators for a week of competition, collaboration and strategic discussions on the development of the sport. The tournament will be staged at the Multipurpose Hall of the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, with FAZ3 working alongside the FIBA Africa Development Commission and the Competitions Departm...

...As LOC promises bigger and better tournament By Trust Ittai     The fourth edition of the Abig Nwankwo Foundation Okija Annual Unity Football Tournament will kick off in December, bringing together the nine villages of Okija, Anambra State, for a festive celebration of grassroots football, community unity and youth development. Organised by the Abig Nwankwo Foundation, the competition will run throughout the Yuletide season, with the grand finale scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2027. The tournament is the initiative of Chief Chimezie Ken Nwankwo, popularly known as Owelle N’Okija and Ichie Ozoabatauno Adimma, Chairman of Bigly Group and founder of the Abig Nwankwo Foundation. It aims to strengthen communal bonds, promote peace and provide a platform for emerging football talents to showcase their abilities. All nine villages of Okija are expected to compete for the ultimate prize and the bragging rights that come with being crowned champions. Matches will be...

...To offer technical support for women’s hammer throwers   By Maxwell Kumoye           Nigerian international hammer thrower Kosi Umerah is taking her support for athletics beyond the competition arena, pledging ₦500,000 in prize money and offering technical guidance to female throwers ahead of the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet. The Texas State University master’s student-athlete is backing the women’s hammer throw competition at the November 7 meet, scheduled for the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. The prize pool will be shared among the top four athletes, with the winner taking home ₦200,000. The runner-up will receive ₦150,000, while third and fourth place will earn ₦100,000 and ₦50,000, respectively. The financial reward is only part of Umerah’s plan. The Nigerian thrower, whose personal best of 65.71 metres places her fourth on the country’s all-time women’s hammer throw list, is also offering individual...

...As MFM, First Bank and four other clubs fight for two tickets By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     The race for two places in the final rounds of the African Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) will take centre stage in Monrovia, Liberia as six clubs prepare to compete in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers from November 2 to 9, 2026. With the competition set for the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Indoor Gymnasium in Paynesville, the participating teams face a demanding week in which every result could prove decisive in their quest to reach the continental finals in Cairo, Egypt, scheduled for December 11–19. Liberia will have two representatives in the contest, with Flames Basketball Club, the domestic league runners-up, joined by reigning national champions D’Rockers Basketball Club. Both sides will be eager to make home advantage count against a competitive field. Côte d’Ivoire’s Friends of Basketball Association (FBA), the defending FIBA Africa Zone 3 champions, wil...

  By Maxwell Kumoye           Retired Col. Sam Ahmedu’s decades of service in international basketball administration have received fresh recognition following confirmation by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) that there are no regulatory impediments to his serving on the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Board. In a letter dated October 19, 2026, addressed to NBBF President, Dr Abdullahi Mustapha, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis confirmed that Ahmedu has been a member of FIBA bodies since 1997, making him the most senior Nigerian in the international basketball governing structure, according to the letter. The letter provides a significant reference point in the ongoing conversation about Ahmedu’s place in the administration of Nigerian basketball, particularly as the newly elected NBBF Board begins its 2026–2030 tenure. FIBA also stated that there were no impediments under its regulatory framework to Ahmedu’s s...

By Maxwell Kumoye   Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji has formally challenged the outcome of the 2026 Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections, asking the election Appeals Committee to nullify the entire process and order a fresh election. Oyedeji, one of the candidates who contested for the NBBF presidency, submitted his appeal in a letter dated October 16, 2026, addressed to the committee’s chairman, Emmanuel Okibe, Esq. The former national team captain raised several concerns over the conduct of the electoral process, alleging constitutional violations, bias and irregularities that he believes undermined the credibility of the elections. A major issue highlighted in his appeal was the initial exclusion of his name from the list of candidates for the position of South-West Representative on the NBBF Board, despite his submission of a duly completed nomination form to the Electoral Committee. According to Oyedeji, the belated inclusion of his name during t...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has congratulated Adebiyi Anthony Olusegun on earning his Level 2 refereeing certification from United World Wrestling (UWW). Adebiyi secured the international qualification after successfully completing the Level 2 Referees Course held during the 2026 African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt. His latest achievement represents another step forward in his officiating career and underlines the NWF’s growing emphasis on developing technical officials alongside athletes. Adeniyi sponsored Adebiyi’s participation in the course as part of the federation’s commitment to exposing Nigerian officials to international training and creating a pathway for them to acquire globally recognised qualifications. The NWF President said the achievement was consistent with the board’s vision of building a stronger and more susta...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s leading discus thrower Ebubechukwu Vincent Ugwoke has taken a major step towards supporting grassroots athletics by sponsoring the men’s discus throw event at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet with a prize purse of ₦575,000. The meet will hold on November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos, with the sponsorship expected to provide additional motivation for athletes competing in the field event. Ugwoke, a two-time national champion, recently strengthened his international credentials by winning bronze in the men’s discus throw at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a lifetime personal best of 63.89 metres. The performance also placed him as Africa’s second-best discus thrower in 2026. Beyond his achievements on the field, the University of Southern California (USC) athlete is now using his platform to encourage greater private-sector and individual involvement in the development of athl...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji has vowed to seek justice over the outcome of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Elective Congress in Abuja, claiming irregularities in the process and describing it as a “selection” rather than a credible election. Oyedeji, who contested for a South-West representative position and the President at the congress held at the ICC Centre in Abuja on Thursday, said his name was initially omitted from the list of candidates and was only included on the ballot after he protested on the floor. Although he acknowledged his eventual defeat, the former Nigerian international questioned the fairness and transparency of the process, insisting that candidates should be given equal opportunities to contest. “I am not saying there was no election, but there was a selection,” Oyedeji said in an interview. “Everything I said before the election played out. You can go back and review my statements before the electio...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye          The Nigeria Deaf Football Association (NDFA) has announced plans for a peaceful protest in Abuja over what it describes as years of neglect, unpaid entitlements and the threat to Nigeria’s participation in major international Deaf football competitions. The association said the protest, scheduled for October 19 to 22, 2026, will be directed towards the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly Complex, with the group seeking urgent intervention from the Federal Government. According to the NDFA, members of the Nigeria Deaf Eagles are still owed allowances and bonuses from their participation at the 2023 World Deaf Football Championship in Malaysia, while debts relating to registration, accommodation and feeding allegedly remain outstanding to the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). The association also highlighted the national team’s success at the 2025 West African Deaf Footbal...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      Barrister Damola Awosika, Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Basketball Association, has tongue lashed the integrity of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board elections. He described the outcome as another painful disappointment after eight years of hoping for a change. In his reaction to the just-concluded elections, Awosika argued that the credibility of the process should be judged not merely by the results announced but by the structures and procedures through which those results were obtained. “After 8 years of hoping for redemption, only to be punched in the gut all over again,” Awosika wrote, expressing his disappointment with the latest electoral exercise. He stressed that the controversy surrounding the election should not be reduced to a disagreement between individuals, insisting that the fundamental issue was the integrity of the process. “This is not about personalities, but about integrity. Integrity ...

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 ...