Nigeria Sports Arena

With the recent commendable rise in youth Basketball programmes in Nigeria, which has directly influenced success of national U-16 teams and the resurfacing on Nigeria as a powerhouse in Africa.  The ancient city of Ibadan with a rich history of Basketball will on Saturday 30th January,  2016 will add to the conveyor belt of talent production as one of the former of the Oluyole Warriors Basketball club star in the 80's, Barr. Damola Awosika launches the Hoops Dreams Basketball Academy. President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Mr. Tijjani Umar acknowledged and thanked the initiator of the programme,  Barr. Damola Awosika for his proactiveness and drive to build a structure that will sustain youth development and talent discovery in the State and the South West sub-region, adding to the Youth Alive Basketball programmes exsisting in Lagos and recently extended to Ekiti State last year. Mr Umar said "I acknowledge the opening of the Hoops Dreams Academy in Ibadan

Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Prime Football Club will resume training on Monday February 8, 2016 in preparation for the new season. The spokesperson of the club, Tunde Shamsudeen, confirmed the development after the board meeting of the Management Committee of the team, and said the team will thereafter map out the 2016 programmes. "We are reporting back to training on Monday February 8, to prepare for the new season, we have asked our players to report to camp February 7, which thereafter will strategies on how best we shall approach the season," he told newsmen at the Oshogbo Township Stadium.  Prime finished fourth on the NNL Zone B standings having missed promotion by whisker on the last league day. However, the Omoluabi Giants management has re-activate the existing ‎kit deal with local manufacturers Owu sportswears for the new season.

Popular Nigeria Dancehall, artiste Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie a.k.a Patoranking is the latest celebrity act to sign on for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. The multi-award winning musician was at the Lagos City Marathon office at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos on Tuesday where he picked a form to register for the first full international marathon in Nigeria in three decades. Patoranking after completing his registration formalities said he was quite excited at the Lagos Marathon project and he hinted that he will be going the whole mile on February 6, 2016 when over 20,000 athletes are expected to participate in the first edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. “Of course, I am happy to sign on for the race, trust me I will run on that day, I know I can go the whole 42km” Patoranking boasted. Patoranking who currently is an accomplished artist said if he was not into music, he would definitely have been into sports as he also has a soft spot for keeping fit

NFF President Amaju Pinnick has reiterated that the country’s football group is one big family, following Wednesday’s meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung and a group led by Ambassador Chris Giwa.  Pinnick also commended moves by the Minister to solidify the unity of the football family, and called on every member of the family to work assiduously in support of the present NFF administration to take the nation’s football to new heights.  “We want to say a big ‘Thank You’ to the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary (Mr. Christian Ohaa) and the Director General, NSC (Mallam Alhassan Yakmut) for their wonderful efforts in trying to solidify the unity among the football family.  “Wednesday’s meeting was another of such efforts and we praise the attitude of the Minister, Permanent Secretary and Director General all through the meeting.  “The NFF wishes to reiterate that we remain focused as ever on the several programs that we have this year. On Fr

President Muhammadu Buhari has rewarded sportsmen and women and their officials who brought honour to the country in the last seven months, as well as the 1985 Class of U-16 boys who won the inaugural FIFA Cadet World Cup title while Buhari was military Head of State.  A brief but impressive ceremony at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa on Thursday morning was witnessed by top government functionaries, leading politicians, members of the National Assembly, members of the Diplomatic Corps and top sports administrators.  Rewarded were the aforementioned ’85 Class of U-16 players and their coaches; men and women basketballers; powerlifters; world scrabble champion Wellington Jighere and officials; boxer Olanrewaju Durodola; athletes and officials; the U-17 world champion footballers and; the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations winners.  Various monetary rewards, including N2million for each of the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Cup winners, N1.2million for the 2015 FIFA U-17 world champions a

The third edition of Gold Cup Pre-Season Tournament scheduled to take place at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode from January 31 to February 9, as been rescheduled to hold between Thursday February 4, through Saturday February 13, 2016 at same venue. The tournament was announced to be postponed by the General Coordinator of the tournament, Tunde Shamsudeen, stating that Ogun State Government want to use the stadium from January 27 to February 2, as part of activities marking the 40 years of the state existence.  Shamsudeen stated further that new arrival date for all teams is now Wednesday February 3, and regret any inconveniences the postponement might cause.  The participating teams are Shooting Stars, FC Ebedei, FC Yarmalight, Supreme Court, Ikorodu United, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Crown FC, Remo stars and Lobi Stars. Sharks FC of Port Harcourt won the last edition and there is a giant befitting trophy for this year winner courtesy of Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari.

The secretariat of the Lagos City Marathon was a beehive of activities on Thursday as music star Olamide Adedeji popularly called Olamide, media celebrity Jimi Disu, Rapper Ogunbote aka Jaayglow and national champion in 100m Adeseye Ogunlewe all signed on for the February 6, 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. First to sign was rapper Jaayglow, the son of football coach Gbenga Ogunbote. The rapper said it is was an honour to be associated with Lagos Marathon while he also urged all Lagosians to come and run and for those that are not running, he appealed to them to come in their thousands to support the runners. On his part, Olamide said he was equally proud to be associated with Lagos City Marathon even as he enjoined other celebrities to come on board and be counted with the noble course. The multi-award winning musician together with the other visiting celebrities filled their race forms at the office of Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission and head of the organising comm

In a bid to put an end to the crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation the honourable minister, Solomon Dalung  set up a peace meeting on Wednesday in Abuja for the aggrieved parties, Amaju Melvin Pinnick and Ambassador Chris Giwa but the peace turn out a show of  shame. Check the picture below for the full gist.

The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Professor) Ben Ayade has declared keen interest in hosting matches of the various National Teams – a service which his predecessor, Senator Liyel Imoke (CON) rendered with much aplomb and to immense national acclaim.   Former Governor Imoke received encomiums now and again for hosting matches of the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets between 2012 and 2014, as well as long campings for the Golden Eaglets ahead of their triumph at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.   Governor Ayade’s position was conveyed to the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday by the Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Asu Okang.   Okang was at the NFF Secretariat, in company with the special adviser to Governor Ayade on youth empowerment, Prince Godswill Edward, to commiserate with the leadership on the death of the Federation’s Head of Protocol, Mr. Ibrahim Abubakar.   “Let me convey to you the condolence

It was celebration galore in Lokoja as Kogi United FC, Confluence Queens, and Feeder Team had it first ever end of the season awards to celebrate outstanding players for their excellent performance in the last calendar football season. The Indoor Hall of the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja was almost full to capacity on Friday as dignitaries, friends and family of the players and officials, supporters, fans, players and well wishers attended the august occasion. Three categories of awards were given to three players from each team after been voted for among the officials of the clubs. Each award recipients smile home with a cash award and a  sovenuers courtesy of the club management. Captain Abiodun Afolabi edged John Jerome to win the Most Valuable Player of the season for Kogi United. Ashadi Destiny won the Most Talented Player of the season while midfield general, Ismail Mayaki cart home the Most Well-Behaved Player of the season after a close competition with Nelson Ukwa and Abiodun

The Organizing Committee for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have opened another veritable channel for Lagosians to contribute to the development of their City as a volunteer scheme for the Marathon race has been activated. Head of the Volunteering department for the Lagos City Marathon, Ebidowei Oweifie said the call for volunteers to come on board is in line with international best practices as well as giving the citizenry a chance to be part of the epoch event billed for the Centre of Excellence on February 6, 2016. “This is a big event and we are ready to make it a memorable one, we are calling on everybody to come on board and contribute their little quota” Mr. Oweifie stated Interested members of the public ready to be part of the volunteer scheme for the Lagos City Marathon are enjoined to pick forms at the Marathon office situated inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, opposite the National Stadium. The forms will be available from Wednesday January 13th throug

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced her 2016 Annual Stakeholders Consultative forum for Wednesday 3rd February , 2016 at the National Institute for Sport Auditorium, National Stadium, Package B, Abuja. According to the statement from the NBBF secretariat, delegates which include Cooperate sponsors, Team owners, Club chairmen, Club secretaries as well players, coaches, technical officials and the esteemed media are expected to arrive Abuja on  February 2nd as the forum billed take off at 9am prompt on Wednesday. All present at the assembly will witness milestone presentations, from first, a top managing consulting group signed to manage and develop the Nigerian Basketball Federation’s digital space, i.e website and social media accounts. As well as, presentations from the Referees and Coaches Associations, both inaugurated and reconstituted respectively after the 2015 consultative forum which had over 150 stakeholders in attendance in Abuja. The Stakeholders forum will al

Coach Fatai Osho, on Friday afternoon resigned from his position as head coach of Kogi United Football Club of Lokoja. The fans and players of the Wada Boys, are in a state of shock following Osho's resignation. The news comes like a bolt of lightning on a sunny day for the Nigeria National League side, who are gearing up for promotion to the Globacom Premier League. “After difficult considerations, I have decided to resign from my position as head coach of Kogi United Football Club. I deeply appreciate my time with Kogi United and I want to thank all the fantastic people who make Lokoja a fantastic place to work for me,” Osho said.  However, the former Remo Stars Football Club, technical adviser, has been appointed the head coach of Crown Football Club of Ogbomosho, we can exclusively report. Osho's appointment takes immediate effect after the former Ajilete Valiants coach Akeem Busari, resigned on Monday and Osho is schedule to resume his new duty post on Monday evening

A new television sport show – Afrobasket Show is due on air fromWednesday 13th January 2016 on Lagos Television, LTV. The 30-minute all basketball television programme will focus on basketball events in Nigeria including the men and women leagues and Nigerian players abroad with in-depth analysis from basketball technocrats. The once in a week show will be aired every Wednesday between 9.30 pm and 10.00pm.   The programme is to bridge the gap in basketball reporting and coverage in Nigeria. The sponsors and advertisers delight programme will have on set every week some of the best minds in the game in Nigeria.

One of Nigeria’s leading road runners, Deborah Pam has promised to give a good account of herself at the fast-approaching Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.   Pam who ended the year 2015 on a low with an injury cupped in training back in November while preparing for the last Aba Half Marathon said she has chosen to work extra hard not just to be fit to compete at the Lagos City Marathon but more importantly to give a credible performance like she has been synonymous to in the long distance races.   “I had a small knock on my knee while preparing for the Aba half marathon, but I am much more better now, I am aware of the Lagos Marathon and I am already preparing for it “ Pam stated form her Jos, Plateau State base.   With a long list of honours from the Obudu Mountain Race, Okpepe Road Race and the Splash FM Integrity Full Marathon race which is staged annually in Ibadan among others, Pam said she is positive she could add the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon to her laurels.   “It

Nigerian athletes participating in the February 6, 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are not just looking at the prize money, but they are aiming at new national record and qualification for Rio 2016 Olympics Games. One of them is Jos-born long distance runner, Emmanuel Gyang who has stated that he will be gunning for another national record. A star-cast of athlete across the world is expected to grace the maiden Lagos City Marathon and for Gyan; running alongside the big guns from Kenya, Ethiopia and other parts of the world should help him lower the 42km National record which currently stands at 2:16:06secs set by Mohammed Abass for almost three decades. “I have already started my training and by God’s grace I want to set a new record in my first big outing in a full marathon” Gyan declared from his base in Jos, Plateau state. Gyan who on 7th, December 2013 set a new national record of 1:04:18secs in the 21km at the Nanning International race in China says Lagos has always bee