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Category: Sports

  • Women’s W/Cup: FIFA, TikTok in first-of-its-kind partnership on tailored content

    In a bid to bring fans closer to the action of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup which will feature exciting content from FIFA, official broadcasters, participating teams, and players, FIFA and one of the leading and fastest growing entertainment platforms, TikTok have joined forces to offer tailored content from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand as the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on 20 July.

    Throughout the tournament, TikTok and FIFA will bring fans closer to the action on TikTok with exciting content, including behind-the-scenes moments, team arrivals, live pre-match content promoting the game and where to watch it, match highlights, player and coach reactions and much more. Fans on TikTok will be able to access the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Hub, which will also feature all the latest content from FIFA, official broadcasters, national teams, and players, as well as offer a link to access the match schedule and scores on FIFA.com.

    FIFA & TikTok are also working together to bring creators from around the world to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand for the month-long tournament. By giving creators access to the event, FIFA & TikTok are helping the global sports community on TikTok get a behind-the-scenes look at moments from the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ through the eyes of their favorite creators.

    With over 38.2 billion views across #FIFAWorldCup, #FIFAWomensWorldCup, and #FIFAWWC      to date, this collaboration will further engage and attract more fans to join the 1.1 million followers who already share their passion for the women’s game on @FIFAWomensWorldCup.

    “We’re thrilled that TikTok has chosen FIFA to provide dedicated, creative and entertaining video content throughout what’ll be a groundbreaking FIFA Women’s World Cup. Our teams will be making use of the best formats and tone of voice to promote women’s football and reach a young and diverse audience that’s keen to consume and engage with football. This innovative agreement confirms that we represent a much-loved brand amongst the younger generations and it’s proof of our continued path to propose new forms of engagement,” said FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura.

    “By giving fans from around the world unique access to their favorite teams and players, TikTok has quickly become a go-to destination for women’s sports content. As we celebrate one of the biggest women’s sports events of the year, we’re excited to be working with FIFA to bring dedicated content from the Women’s World Cup to our global sports community, giving them a front row seat to all the action. Our collaboration with FIFA builds on our commitment to shine a greater spotlight on women’s sports while giving female players the equal representation and recognition they deserve,” said Harish Sarma, Global Head of Sports at TikTok.

  • Naija Super 8: Lobi Stars beat Akwa United, berths semifinal

    Lobi Stars FC on Wednesday defeated Akwa United FC, 2-0, in their last Group B encounter at the ongoing Naija Super 8 Football competition at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

    The victory sends Lobi Stars to the top of their group and qualified for the semi-final as group winners with seven points from three matches, while Akwa United finished second with six points.

    Lobi Stars started the game knowing that a draw would be enough to qualify, while Akwa United had already booked a semi-final slot with two wins from two matches.

    Fifteen minutes into the game, a cross from the right side found its way to Joseph Atule, who was left unmarked in the six yard box.

    The winger chested the ball into an open net to give Lobi Stars the lead.

    The winger doubled Lobi Stars’ lead eight minutes later after he was put through on goal to slot past the goalkeeper.

    Atule’s movement proved difficult to handle for the Akwa United defence and he almost bagged a first half hat-trick when his left-footed shot narrowly missed the top corner.
    Gift Elkanah produced a good save to deny Lobi Stars a third goal in the 42nd minute.

    In spite of having less of the possession, Lobi Stars continued to fashion the best chances in the match.

    Elkenah again denied the Makurdi side in the 55th minute with a fingertip save to parry Okoromi David’s looping shot over the bar.

    In his post-match interview, Lobi Stars Coach, Bala Abubakar, said his team would be ready for any opponent in the semi-final.

    “Lobi Stars is still a work in progress. We have changed the mentality of the players and our performance in this tournament shows we are on track.

    “What Lobi Stars need is to have a style, character, adequate preparation for matches and winning mentality.

    “That is why you are seeing a different Lobi Stars in this tournament. We will be ready to face any team that qualifies for the semi-finals,” Abubakar said.

    After losing top spot in the group, Akwa United Coach, Fatai Osho, said the objective was to give room for other players to perform.

    “We were torn between qualifying as group leaders or achieving our objective of giving players room to showcase what they can do.

    “Now everybody in the team has played. The semi-finals will not be a tea party.

    “It will be a lot of work and we will do our best,” Osho said

    In the other group match, Rivers United beat Yobe Desert Stars 1-0 to take third spot in the group.

    Kazie Enyinnaya scored the winning goal in the 25 minute of the match.

    Rivers United finished the match with 10 men after one of their players received a red card in the 87th minute.

    The other two semi-final slots will be decided on Thursday when Sporting Lagos and Katsina United face each other in the final Group A match, starting at 4:30 p.m.

    Katsina United currently sit atop the table on goal difference with four points from two games.

    Sporting Lagos are second with four points from two matches.

    Remo Stars are third with four points from three matches, while Enyimba was eliminated from the competition after losing two of their three matches.

    Naija Super 8 is organised by Flykite Productions in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria and sponsored by MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi and Custodian Assurance.

  • FIFA lifts sanctions on Zimbabwe FA, sets up normalisation committee

    World Football governing body, FIFA on Tuesday said it has lifted the suspension of Zimbabwe’s national federation, ZIFA.

    FIFA also installed a normalisation committee to ensure that its statutes are followed there.

    The news came ahead of Thursday’s African qualifying draw for the 2026 World Cup.

    FIFA suspended ZIFA in 2021 after the government disbanded the ZIFA leadership in connection with allegations of embezzlement of state funds and not having investigated several cases of sexual harassment committed by football officials.

    Under FIFA rules, government interference in football matters is prohibited and sanctioned.

    The normalization committee is to run the daily affairs of ZIFA and restructure its administration and review statutes, organize elections for a new ZIFA board and establish an agreement with the nation’s sports ministry to define each side’s role.

    Zimbabwe Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry named the suspension period tough and costly but that it will help football in the country. 

  • Women’s World Cup: 736 players ready as FIFA confirms squad lists

    With the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 just nine days from kick-off, world football governing body, FIFA has confirmed the full squads for all 32 teams set to participate at the tournament.

    736 of the world’s best female footballers will converge in the southern hemisphere for the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, each with the dream of lifting the iconic trophy at Stadium Australia in Sydney/Wangal on Sunday, 20 August.

    The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ kicks off on Thursday, 20 July with New Zealand facing 1995 winners Norway at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.

    The action will continue in Australia on the same day, with Australia facing Women’s World Cup debutantes Republic of Ireland at the Stadium Australia in Sydney/Wangal.

    Tickets for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 matches are on sale now via fifa.com/tickets, while fans that want to take their tournament experience ‘above and beyond’ can access ticket-inclusive hospitality packages at fifa.com/hospitality.

  • Uzodimma redeems N30m pledge to 6 Falcons’ players

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has redeemed his pledge of N30m to six Super Falcons players from Imo players who participated in the 2022 Africa Women’s Championship (AWCON)in Morocco.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, in Owerri.

    Uzodimma had pledged N5 million for each of the players when they paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri.

    The players are Desire Okparanozie, Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Vivian Ikechukwu, Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi,  Ohale Osinachi and U.S.-born Michelle Alozie.

    Uzodinma said that he was particularly touched by the display of football artistry exhibited by the women folk against their Morrocan competitors.

     “The six women not only did Nigeria proud but also Imo where they hail from,” the governor said.

    He congratulated the Super Falcons for also qualifying for the Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug. 20.

    On July 19, 2022, theAtlas Lionesses of Morocco beat the Super Falcons 5-4 on penalties to reach the final of the AWCON.

    In the keenly contested encounter at the Moulay Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, the North Africans dashed the Nigerian ladies’ hopes of winning the trophy for a record tenth time.

    The first 45 minutes was cagey and enterprising but ended goalless.

    Both teams, however, started the second half with increased vitality and a desire to score goals.

    Three minutes into the second half, Nigeria’s Halimat Ayinde was given her marching orders after getting a red card.

    Uchenna Kanu, however, broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute from a scramble within the opposition goal post to put Nigeria ahead.

    Four minutes after Kanu’s goal, Morocco leveled up from a defensive blunder by the Falcons back line.

    Rasheedat Ajibade, the heroine of the quarter-final game against Cameroon, was thereafter sent off for a second yellow card offence to reduce the Nigerian team’s workforce to nine.

    In spite of the red cards, the Falcons refused to let their guard down.

    After adding six minutes to regulation time, the game went into extra time. 

  • Nigeria wins U-21 Women’s Volleyball Championship

    Nigeria has clinched the 2023 African U-21 Nations Women’s Volleyball Championship Zone 3 title in Niamey, Niger Republic after defeating Ghana 3:0 (25-10 25-15 25-10) in the finals on Sunday night.

    The girls had earlier eased past local rivals, Ghana in their first match of the tournament with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-8) win.

    They continued their winning run in their second match against hosts Niger, winning 3-0 (25-4, 25-11, 25-4).

    The team also swept aside Benin Republic with a dominant display in their third match, claiming a 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-9) win to secure a rematch against Ghana in the final.

    Speaking after the match, Coach Rakiya Mohammed thanked God for the victory.

    “We bless God because this is the first time Nigeria is clinching trophy at the underage level. I feel so happy.

    “The Ghanaians came all out but the girls proved their worth and we have now qualified for the world championship in Thailand”.

    The team is expected to return to Nigeria later today. 

  • Advocates call for transparent measures in combatting sports corruption

    Sports enthusiasts have called on stakeholders in the sector to uphold the virtues of transparency and accountability in the fight against corruption in the industry.

    They spoke at a one-day International Conference on Corruption in Sport, Whistleblowing, and Transparency in Abuja on Saturday.

    The conference was organised by the Africa Centre for Media Information and Literacy (AFRICMIL), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), HEDA Resource Centre, and PLAY!YA Nigeria.

    Beverly Agbakoba-Onyeijanya, a Sports, Entertainment, and Technology legal practitioner, said that the sports industry had been so heavily politicised which has led to corruption in the sector.

    She said that member states of various Federations are involved in wars over who has the right to vote, with elections being a major source of contention and disputes in the sports industry.

    “We’ve seen the rancour that has torn apart the Basketball Federation in Nigeria with factions, and of course with this comes the possibility of bribery, corruption, and inducements,” she said.

    She said that given the amount of money involved in the prosecution of sports, there was a need for the anti-graft agencies to focus attention on financial crimes in the sports industry.

    According to her, the establishment of an anti-corruption sports desk in agencies such as the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and ICPC, would checkmate the excesses of sports administrators in the country.

    In a remark, Usman Kaltungo of the EFCC explained that the commission’s powers to fight sports-related corruption cases in the country were been hindered by undue interference from International Sports organisations such as FIFA, FIBA, and others.

    Francis Obih, President, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), said the issue of favoritism and sentiments must be stamped out from sports.

    “As far as I am concerned, it doesn’t matter where you are coming from, once you are going out to represent Nigeria, you are representing the country and not any ethnic group or a particular religion.

    “So, such things should be taken away from sports, it doesn’t matter whether you are my brother or not, it should be purely based on merit and competence.

    “Also one of the disturbing areas is also the sexual harassment of female athletes by their coaches.

    “This is a no go area for me and the height of indiscipline to have officials, the coaches or technical personnel to have any sexual relationship with their athletes.

    “We must do everything to stop it because it hampers the performance of the athletes,” he said.

    He said every stakeholder, be it administrators, ministry, journalists, must come together, join hands and set certain ethical standards.

    “These standards should guide the growth and development of sports in the country, in order to bring corruption to its barest minimum.

    “No one person cannot do it alone, all hands must be on deck and in agreement, even though in every group, there are always some bad eggs and that’s the truth.

    “However, we must find a way of isolating those elements and minimise the damage that they can do, so that the whole body is not seen in a bad light,” he said.

    Also speaking via Zoom, an Investigative journalist based in Germany, Grit Hartmann, said that journalists outside the shores of Africa were not ignorant of corruption stories from the continent, especially Nigeria.

    She called for synergy and transnational corporation among stakeholders, adding that the issue of corruption in sport in Nigeria and the African continent at large was a systemic problem.

    Stanis Elsborg, a Senior Analyst also based in Germany, said that corruption in sports was not limited to Africa.

    He said that Europe and other parts of the globe are also susceptible to corruption tendencies in the area of sports.

    Joshua Umeifekwe, a professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said the essence of measuring and managing multiple sports governance crises was to maintain the credibility and transparency of the sector.

    “Transparency as you know, ensures trust and so what we are saying is that there is a need to measure the nature of the crisis that we have.

    “For one to talk about ways of managing the crisis, you need to have an assessment of these crises.

    “Some of the ways include; collecting qualitative data, running a survey, and interviews, to mention a few.

    “Having done this, we must ensure we manage the crisis by ensuring transparency and ethical standards are followed and maintained,” he said.

    Chido Onumah, Coordinator, AFRICMIL, and Oluwashina Okeleji, a sports journalist for BBC Sports, among others, said that the role of whistleblowers in the sector cannot be overemphasized.

    They said for sports to grow, there was a need to have whistleblowers to expose some of the ills and corruption going on in the sector.

    They also called for the establishment of legislation to protect whistleblowers, as well as investigative journalists in the country. 

  • Agara, Aluo, Nkechi Obi head Leagues’ Boards

    A former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Silas Agara has been appointed as Chairman of the Nigeria Nation-Wide League One, which has been reconstituted along with the boards of the Nigeria National League and the Nigeria Women Football League.

    Agara will have Mr. Adeoye Adepeju as his vice, with Mallam Sabo Muhammed Dutse, Mr. Ogheneochuko Ambakaderemo, Mr. Tunji Onatolu, Barr. Bucknor Akintade and Mallam Danladi Ibrahim as members. Mallam Hassan Abdullahi Garo will be the chief executive officer.

    Mr. George Aluo is the new Chairman of the Nigeria National League, with Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki as his vice. Mr. Yakubu Sarma, Mallam Sani Mohammed, Dr. Donald Ikpe, Chief Joseph Uzoma Ebowusim and Chief Dotun Sanusi will serve as members, while Mr Emmanuel Attah will be the chief executive officer.

    Renowned marketing expert Nkechi Nneka Obi will head the Nigeria Women Football League, with Hajiya Hussaina Suleman as vice chairman. Alhaja Rukayat Lola Alaya, former FIFA referee Hadiza Musa, Mr. Ayodele Thomas, Ms Henrietta Ehiobor and Mr. Danny Nazzal will be members.

    The boards will be inaugurated once the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau returns to the country from continental assignments in Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire.  

    AT A GLANCE:

    NIGERIA NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mr. George Aluo (Chairman); Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki (Vice Chairman); Mr. Yakubu Sarma (Member); Mallam Sani Mohammed (Member); Dr. Donald Ikpe (Member); Chief Joseph Uzoma Ebowusim (Member); Chief Dotun Sanusi (Member); Mr. Emmanuel Attah (CEO).

    NIGERIA NATION-WIDE LEAGUE ONE: Hon. Silas Agara (Chairman); Mr. Adeoye Adepeju (Vice Chairman); Mallam Sabo Mohammed Dutse (Member); Mr. Ogheneochuko Ambakaderemo (Member); Mr. Tunji Onatolu (Member); Barr. Bucknor Akintade (Member); Mallam Danladi Ibrahim (Member); Mallam Hassan Abdullahi Garo (CEO).

    NIGERIA WOMEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE:  Mrs Nkechi Nneka Obi (Chairman); Hajiya Hussaina Suleman (Vice Chairman); Alhaja Rukayat Lola Alaya (Member); FIFA Hadiza Musa (Member); Mr. Ayodele Thomas (Member); Ms Henrietta Ehiobor (Member); Mr. Danny Nazzal (Member)

  • CAF Coaching Instructors’ Course commences in Abuja

    CAF Coaching Instructors’ Course commences in Abuja

    The first-of-its-kind CAF Coaching Instructors’ Course to be conducted on Nigerian soil was flagged off at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, with President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau expressing a sense of fulfilment with the calibre of instructor sent by the Confederation of African Football to conduct the course.

    CAF Elite Instructor and FIFA Technical Expert Abraham Mebratu from Ethiopia will take charge of the different aspects of the training programme, which has 15 of Nigeria’s elite coaches participating.

    “CAF has sent us one of the very best in the field. I urge you to follow this very unique programme and the different modules with rapt attentio, so that you can gain so much to pass on to other Nigerian coaches in subsequent courses,” NFF President Gusau said in a speech read on his behalf by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

    Sanusi implored the participants to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Federation by being diligent and assiduous in the training programme, and learning enough to impart to fellow coaches “as we hope to have more of these courses going forward.”

    NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, a former Captain and Head Coach of the Super Eagles, is among the group of 15 participants, which also includes Isah Ladan Bosso, former Super Eagles’ captain Daniel Amokachi, Alphonsus Dike, Stanley Eguma, Wemimo Oni Mathew, Henry Abiodun, Sam John Obuh, Edema Fuludu, Bala Nikyu and Lawrence Ndaks.

    Also at the occasion were NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; NFF Director of Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire; NFF Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David; Deputy Director (Technical), Dr. Robinson Okosun and; Assistant Director (Technical), Mr. Abdulrafiu Yusuf.   

  • Mbappe can’t leave PSG for free, says Club President

    Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe must sign a new contract if he wants to stay at the club as the French champions will not let him leave for free next year, Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said.

    Mbappe sent a letter to PSG last month stating that he had no intention of extending his contract, which expires in 2024.

    But he later clarified that he had not asked the French club to allow him to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, who have in the past tried and failed to land the World Cup-winning forward.

    PSG face the dilemma of allowing Mbappe to run down the final year of his contract and being unable to recoup any of the 180 million euros ($195.71 million) they spent in 2017 to sign him from AS Monaco.

    “My position is very clear. I don’t want to repeat it every time: if Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay.

    “But he needs to sign a new contract,” Al-Khelaifi told reporters after unveiling Luis Enrique as the club’s new manager.

    “We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, we can’t do that. This is a French club.

    “He said he would never leave for free. If he changes his mind today, it’s not my fault. We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, that’s very clear.”

    Mbappe has finished as Ligue 1’s top scorer in the last five seasons and PSG will be eager to keep him having already lost Lionel Messi on a free transfer.

    Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, opted not to renew his contract for a move to Inter Miami.

    Mbappe also said French President Emmanuel Macron had no influence on his career choices after the leader said he would push for the forward to stay in the country’s capital.