Nigeria Sports Arena

The organizers of the Prince Dapo Abiodun Pre-season Tournament have revealed that this year’s edition of the pre-season tourney will hold from November 16th – 23rd, 2020 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The maiden edition of the prestigious pre-season tournament was held in 2019 at the ancient city of Ijebu-ode in Ogun State, Shooting Stars emerged as champions defeating Delta Force 1-0 in the final game. The tournament witnessed an historic moment in the semi-final game when Shooting Stars defeated Lobi Stars 5-0. The tournament Coordinator Oye Bawala has revealed that the second edition promises an improved organization and top-notch competition for the clubs that will participate which also includes meeting up with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines on COVID19. “We recorded a huge success last season in the maiden edition and we are looking forward to the second edition. We have reviewed the organization and we are planning to improve on all fronts this year, this ed

The Minister  of  Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare  has announced that a new help line  will be opened to provide timely information on youth focused programs and attend to the needs of  Nigerian Youth. This move is to deepen  communication  between Nigerian youth and government and to ensure consistent  engagement.   Ministers of Women Afairs Dame Paulen Tallen and Minister of State,  Labor  Barrister  Festus Keyamo, SAN were all in attendance to update the youth on government actions in the wake of the endsars protest.  Speaking during the second   Virtual town hall meeting held on Friday October 23rd  which had about 11,500 youth participating Via zoom and Facebook/ YouTube organized by the Ministry, contributors  commended the steps  taken to address  the  demands of the youth from the EndSars campaign. While appreciating the concerns raised by Nigerians, Mr. Dare said "We are seeking for continued  engagements  with the youth , hence we are in dialogue  with them

  By Akin Bolarinwa  The families of late Ismaila Shagari who died mysteriously after a brief illness alleged that the management of Akwa united football club has abandoned the late player's family and the wife with two kids without the financial entitlement the state government promised the Akwa United players and officials that won the Aiteo FA Cup in 2017.  The late Ismail Shagari died this year because he was unable to get proper medical treatments while he was on sick bed due to financial constraint encounter by the family which led  to accumulated medical bills. Information reaching us revealed that Ismaila Shagari waa owed about Two million Naira (#2,million) being part of his share from the Seventy million naira (#70,million) promised the players and officials since 2017 for wining the FA cup. Shagari left behind a struggling wife and two lovely children and it is difficult period for them at this moment. Now several months after his death, the management of Akwa united foo

Players of Akwa United football club of Uyo have threatened to stage a protest against the government of Akwa Ibom state and Governor Udom Emmanuel following his  failure to fulfill a promise  he made three years ago, in the wake of their AITEO Cup victory. The Abdul Maikaba boys defeated Niger Tornadoes on  penalties in a pulsating  final, to win the second major football trophy for Akwa Ibom state, a feet that was celebrated by the club number one fan, governor Udom Emmanuel. In the euphoria of the victory the governor promised to give the players a cash reward of  70million naira  to be shared among all members of the AITEO Cup winning team The victory was the second for the club and the state since it was carved out of the former Cross River State in 1987. Regrettably, almost three years after, Governor Emmanuel is yet to fulfill his promise to the players, majority of whom have dumped Akwa United for greener pastures elsewhere. In a strong worded letter signed by three of the ex-p

    Protests have occurred across the country. Few saw this coming except with the aid of hindsight. However, the protests are here and we must be cognizant of the reasons why. Every society, every nation has its imperfections and challenges. Some of them are of high consequence while some of them minor in scope. No nation escapes this reality. The mark of a great nation is not that it does not have challenges and flaws, the mark of a great and hopefully compassionate nation lies in how it resolves its inconsistencies and social tensions.   Nigeria is a democratic republic established to ensure its people enjoy the benefits of good governance and the quiet enjoyment of their lives through the observation and protection of their fundamental human rights, including the rights to exist and to move about the nation freely as long as one moves about peacefully.   This is the ideal to which we as a nation and to which this government both strive. Yet, the protests show that we have not achie

    ‘My Security did not shoot anyone. I was in Ogbomoso to Condole Family of #EndSARS slain Protester’- Minister   Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has stated the facts behind his Sunday 11th October’s visit to his home town, Ogbomoso during which suspected hoodlums attacked the Palace of the traditional ruler.   The Minister disclosed in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday that he was in the ancient town to commiserate with the family of Isaq Jimoh, a young man who was killed by the police during the #EndSARS protest and other wounded protesters in line with his mandate as the Minister with responsibility for the affairs of the youth in the country adding that his visit was also to ensure the protest did not degenerate to full blown anarchy following the clash between the protesters and police.   "Following the unconscionable and despicable attack by misguided suspected hoodlums and miscreants who hijacked the peaceful protest by the youth agai

  Foremost sports management company based in Nigeria, A&A Sports Management has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his victory in the last gubernatorial election held on September 19, 2020, noting that Obaseki's re-election will bring positive growth to sports in the State. The election which was rated to be one of the most peaceful elections in Nigeria history by several independent bodies signifies the administration level of Obaseki which preaches love and light, and also the development of democracy in the State. Obaseki's administration has witnessed a big growth in sports development in Edo State. Top-notch welfare for the players and athletes in the state, construction of world-class sports and football facilities that witnessed the upgrade of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. A&A Sports Management is excited that the second term of this administration will ensure greater heights for all sectors in the State, especially

  Nigerian International and Molde FC forward Leke James has stated that he’s looking forward to an invitation to the Super Eagles. Having scored 24 goals for his Norwegian side from last season, Leke believes he’s ripe enough to play for the Nigerian men’s senior football team. The former Nigeria U23 invitee disclosed in an interview with foremost Nigeria Sports platform, Nigeria Sports Mouthpiece (NSM)    “I look forward to playing for my country if invited, I am a center forward and only Victor Osihmen is ahead of me in the Super Eagles set up at the moment”. The 27 years old who has had stints in the Chinese Super League, added that the current crop of players in the Super Eagles can be the Champions of the next edition of Africa Cup of Nation which is scheduled to take place in 2021. He said: “The current super Eagles technical crew is doing a good job, they are building a formidable team with a couple of young players." "With Consistency hopefully we can win the Nations

  North West Zone Director of Sports have called for the suspension of Representatives of the zone on boards of eight Federations, as well as cautioned others on ten Federations. The call was made after a three days meeting of the Director of Sports held in Kaduna state. In a communiqué jointly signed by Chairman North-West Zone Director of Sports, Nalado Iro Kankiya and representative of Chairmen North-West Zone Athletics Associations, Alhaji Mohammed Sule, the forum condemned the attitude of some representatives who have not impacted positively in their federations. The communique also called on the North-West Zonal Representatives on the boards of Aquatics,  Chess, Deaf Sports, Fives, Rowing, Canoeing and Yachting, Shooting, Tennis and Wrestling to within the next two weeks, submit their score card since election to the Zonal Sports office through their respective states Directors of Sports. It read, “We call on the Board of Cycling, Handball, Basketball, Hokey, Boxing, Rugby, Table

Three months ago, the Nigeria football federation toyed with the idea of appointing Daniel Amokachi as NFF Director of technical but later dropped the appointment at the last minute perhaps to slight the honourable minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare, who many felt was the brain behind his nomination.  Infact, NFF president Amaju Pinnick went on National TV to deny the news claiming that they had full confidence in Bitrus Bewarang, a man whose tenure as director technical had already expired but was allowed to continue for obvious reasons.  Just on Thursday, president Mohammadu Buhari shocked Nigerians when he confirmed Amokachi as his new special assistant on sports, a position that has now made the *REJECTED STONE, THE CORNER STONE* By this appointment, Amokachi has moved miles above his contemporaries and now sits on the exalted seat of decision makers. He is now the third strongest man in sports after the honourable sports minister and the permanent secretary.  Amokachi shoul

United State of America-based Nigerian Coach, Micheal Nsien has stated that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have all it takes to lift the next edition of Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Cameroon in 2022. Micheal Nsien who manages FC Tulsa in the USL Championship in the USA disclosed during an interview on Nigeria Sports Mouthpiece (NSM) that the Super Eagles can go all the way and win the next AFCON coming up in Cameroon  "Looking at the current crop of Super Eagles players, I would say hundred percent we have the potential of winning tue Nations Cup in Cameroon. "I think we probably need to look at it from the midfield and forward, we have absolute world class players in talent in quality all over the field who can win the Nations Cup for Nigeria. We need to identify a solid back four to ensure that the game is tight. “We need players that can shore up things and stay connected as a group. “You don’t lose games when you don’t concede goals,” the 39-year-old concluded.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah President, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has been re-elected as the new Anambra State Football Association Chairman for the second time running to steer the ship of the State's Football powerhouse.  The astute  administrator who has invested billions of naira on Football development in and outside Nigeria claimed 22 out of the 26 votes casted earlier on Monday, July 27, 2020 and emerged as the Chairman of the State F.A for another term. After the electoral process,  the Congress members and the newly elected Executives visited the State F.A Grand Patron, Arthur Eze. The Grand Patron of the F.A donated N10 million  to the association to aid the programs of the newly elected Executives. The newly re-elected Anambra State FA boss, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah vowed in an interview shortly after the victory, that his administration will take football to a lofty heights in the State with programs that will have long lasting effects on the Youths and the People of Anambra.

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development, Friday submitted the hard copy of a well researched and properly designed Covid-19 Sports Code and resumption protocol to the National assembly and the presidential task force on Covid-19. This document if approved,  will pave way for the gradual resumption of selected sporting activities after over 3-months of abrubt stop occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic which has put the world at a standstill in the last few months. Sports minister, Sunday Dare said that the objective of the Covid-19 sport code and protocol is to provide a Covid-19 infrastructure and standard operational procedure to regulate the practice of sports in Nigeria. The ministry has also put in place a central coordinating and working committee to work hand in hand with the state cordinating and working committee in ensuring proper coordination, devoid of lapses, taking into consideration the paramount importance of lives of athletes and officials at this

Top Nigerian football agent Attai Emmanuel Udia, has stated that there are notable number of players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) that can represent the country at the national level.  The agent revealed during an interview session on Family United By Football (FUBF) claiming players from the Nigerian top flight can actually play for the Super Eagles. “You have very good players in the NPFL, I have gone round, I have watched the Nigerian Premier League and I can tell you categorically that you have players in the NPFL that are good enough for the Super Eagles. “But, that is the job of the scouts to do, by going round and see which player fits into the coach’s plans. “Generally, I will say yes. I feel and I know that there are good players in Nigeria Premier League that are good enough for the Super Eagles,” he stated. As the Chief Scout Manager of Players Sports Management, Atta has been able to manage top Nigerian players — Odion Ighalo, Aaron Samu

Former Chairman Nigeria Premier League, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, has argued that the impeachment process used to impeach him as the league body head was illegal. Rumson Baribote was duly-elected Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League in 2011, at an election organized by the NPL Electoral Committee and supervised by the Nigeria Football Federation but was unceremoniously kicked out in 2013. Reacting to questions on one of Nigeria's top sports platforms, *Family United by Football (FUBF)* on Sunday evening, the legal luminary pointed fingers at former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullah for his impeachment. "The process of my impeachment is illegal. The NFF statues is very clear and FIFA has said it clearly that whatever decision any Federation takes can't come from outside the FIFA rules," he told FUBF. "You cannot go outside the law of Nigeria to operate. Most times we swim in ignorance and illegalities. "Some of those people that were u

By Akin Bolarinwa.  One of the most respected sports entrepreneur/administrator in the country has donated two hundred thousand Naira worth of pallatives to the Nigeria foremost WhatsApp sports group called Nigeria Sports Mouthpiece (NSM) Rebranded. According to the administrator who chose to remain anonymous,  this is to alleviate the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 lock-down on sports journalists that serves as essential workers. The Philanthropist fondly addressed by his kinsmen as " Mr Talk and Do", delivered the palliatives to the leaders of the NSM noble platform for onward distribution to journalists. He said, "Journalists across the world are one of the worse hit during the COVID-19 pandemic because the sports sector has been shut down for 3 months. Here in Nigeria, sports may not resume until the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 gives us the go ahead.  "The palliative is to ensure that sports journalists who are also

Like the biblical Paul who went on three missionary journeys preaching the gospel and performing miracles, another Paul is set to embark on his second missionary journey as Flying Eagles chief coach. Adjudged the best National team coach in 2019 due to his sterling performances with the Under 20 National team that saw Nigeria make it to the last 16 of the 2019 FIFA Under 20 world cup in Poland and a Silver winning exploit at the All Africa games in Egypt, Paul is the man looking good to get the job again Blessed with UEFA A' Licence certificate, the former Warri Wolves and Enyimba FC chief coach is currently in the United kingdom undergoing intensive coaching from some of the world's best coaches as the Covid-19 pandermic persists. He has travelled from London to Ireland and lately Scotland to beef up his credentials A top official of the NFF told this reporter that Paul is top on a list of four and is looking food for the job. According to him, Paul Aigbogun has do

The Federal Government has donated 600 bags of rice to assist vulnerable youths across the country.  The donation of  palliative to the youths was facilitated by the Minister for Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Affairs. The rice was handed over  to the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria led by Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo who has distributed it to youths across the country. While thanking the government for the gesture, Sukubo said, "We are indeed very grateful to the Federal Government for the gesture of donating rice to vulnerable youths to cushion the effect of the lockdown due to Covid-19. "We commend Mr. President Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari for the proactive measures he has taken to cushion the effect of the lockdown as a result of covid-19. We also applaud the Minister for Youth and Sports Development as well as the Minister for Humanitar

Exponential marketing has described the CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Hon. Bukola Olopade as a leader with intellectual sagacity and a consistent result oriented administrator. The encomiums were showered on the former commissioner for sports in Ogun State on the occasion of his birthday today, Thursday, 4th June 2020. According to a release, the head of exponential marketing, Adewale Ajayi lauded the giant strides of the owners of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Abeokuta 10 kilometre Marathon, the Remo Ultra Race among other prominent Sport events in the country and said "through the years, Hon. Bukola Olopade has remained consistent in character and results, dutifully serving the cause of national development with altruistic fervor" Exponential marketing also used the occasion of “Ozo” birthday to congratulate with him on scaling through his Coronavirus hurdle.

The 5,000 capacity township stadium in Ikot Ekpene District of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria is currently receiving a face-lift courtesy five months old NNL club Vandrezzer FC. The contract for the face-lift worth millions of Naira was awarded by Vandrezzer FC to local contractors in the state. The implementation is in two phases : the first phase involves the ongoing regrassing (planting) of the pitch, daily watering and supply of nutrients. The second phase will take care of daily,proper maintenance for effective pitch preservation before, during and after use. According to the workers, the pitch will be in great shape and will ready in few weeks, hopefully before the NNL resumes for the year 2020. This pitch project is in addition to painting of the entire stadium, restructuring of all dressing rooms, renovation of stands, fixing of technical benches and  refurbishing of other parts of the facility, which were carried out before the close of last year. The  stadium which

By Olaoluwa Aro Few years ago, May 23, 1970 was a day off for people residing in the area where a King of Grassroots football development in Nigeria was birthed. This was the moppet that became Comrade Ahmed Yusuf 'Fresh', which I nicknamed as "Jesu ti oni igee", meaning Jesus without big a chest. Upon his arrival into this miasmal world, herald angels went around the nation to announce the arrival of this small king and of course, his news was therapeutic for everyone in that community, as it created atmosphere of endless joy whilst receiving the news. In fact, eye witnessess confirmed that even witches and wizards, naysayers and other unauthorized messsgers bowed because Fresh came into this with heaven's factory- fitted anointing of greatness. In other words, Ahmed Yusuf was behallowed by almighty Allah, so nefarious beings had to be "Still" because his case was thou shalt not touch my anointed Man; reason Fresh has been a mystery for e

The Nationwide League One (NLO) Chief Operating Officer, Olushola Ogunnowo, has confirmed that the 2019/20 Nationwide League will be held amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Ogunowo while reacting to questions on Sports WhatsApp platform, Family United By Football FUBF, said the league will be completed within eight weeks adding that the clubs will be notified ahead of time to prepare their teams for the league. He stated that the Nigeria Football Federation has given a standing order that the League must hold this year, though a go ahead order from the government will determine when the league will kick off. “The League will surely be played this year, NLO will go on this year. There are many format to play the League but set aim might not be met. Certainly, we will achieve 80% of why the league is set up if will play it this year,” the astute football administrator told FUBF. “Our strategy is very simple we will be looking at doing a zonal league for Division One, Divis

  Before now, many are not aware of the exploits of Holland-based Nigerian International who is currently turning heads far away in the Netherlands, donning the Jersey of SC Hererenven in the Eredivisie League but Nigerians are now appealing to Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr to invite the explosive winger. Chidera Ejuke is one name on the lips of a lot of football pundits and many Football lovers in Nigeria and Holland. The 22 year-old left-winger has made a name for himself in the Netherlands top flight with sterling performances week in week out before the outbreak of the ravaging global pandemic COVID-19. The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Sunday Dare retweeted Chidera's goal from his team’s handle with “Nigeria got talent. Chidera Ejuke. Playing for Hererenven, In Holland.” This has got a lot of people talking as they call on the Super Eagles gaffer to invite the former Gombe United player. Reacting to the Honourable Minister's twe