Nigeria Sports Arena

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Chief Bukola Olopade, has promised to splash $5,000 cash reward on the national men's Under-23 soccer team, if they defeat their opponents from Tanzania this afternoon at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, in the second round fixture of the qualifiers for the African Olympic qualifying tournament scheduled for the Kingdom of Morocco in 2023. A victory for the Nigeria Olympic Men's team will give the Dream Team a ticket to play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Soccer Event. The two teams had played a 1-1 draw in Dar Salaam in the first leg. The Nigerian Olympic Eagles must defeat Tanzania in today's fixture to qualify for the next round. Olopade, noted that the personal gift of $5,000 cash that will be presented to the Olympic Eagles after the match, is his own little way of motivating the players to victory. And he will still do more as the team progresses to

Let me start this piece by first defining the word *'Unbound'*. It simply means not bound together,    release, separate, not fastened together, not confined, freedom and so much more.  In this context, Unbound means freedom, proliferation, opening the space for private investors to come in and operate in an environment that is condusive, accommodating and appreciative.  The Nigeria professional football league as it is today, is a 20-clubs league format that has 95 percent government owned clubs and just 5percent privately owned clubs.  What this means is that government plays a huge impact in what goes on within and around the league, leaving our football at the mercy of some politicians who see football as a political tool that has to be managed by their political loyalists, who inturn know that the only way they can keep their jobs is by getting results at all costs.  *Disadvantages of government ownership of Nigeria clubsides* 1. *Poor management*.        Most times, the m

Olaoluwa Aro Mahanaim FC pacing winger and Flying Eagles forward, Rilwanu Haliru Sarki powers his team to the knockout round of the ongoing Unity Preseason Tourney- with an unexpected 17-yards shot against Wikki Tourist. The Nigerian U-20 Star strike, confirmed the exit of the Nigeria Professional Football  League ( NPFL) side, Wikki Tourists alongside Doma United in their last group games on Tuesday in Abuja. The last matches in the  group D which took place simultaneously at both Old parade football complex, venue of the game between Mahanaim FC and Wikki Tourist, while  EFCC versus Doma took their Make or Mar encounter to Area 3, Football Pitch. The two fixtures showed how difficult it was for two the teams, to have qualified before the last round of matches in the Unity preseason tournament groupings.  Wikki Tourist drew the first blood against Mahanaim FC during the course of the first 45 minutes and managed to consolidate on it till they went on recess.  The non-league side, Maha

The Technical Director of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Mr. Yusuf Ali, has dispelled the wrongful date for the 2023 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, which was erroneously published by one Nigerian online newspaper, 'The Niche', in their October 23, 2022 edition. The online newspaper wrongly quoted that, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon 2023 edition will hold on February 12.  The newspaper reported that: " The seventh edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will hold on Sunday, February 12, 2023.The new date was confirmed by World Athletics, the world governing body for athletics on it's official website." The newspaper was quoted. Yusuf Ali, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Technical Director, said the February 12, 2023 date reported by the Niche newspaper is false, misleading, embarrassing and incorrect. There is no truth about such report.  Especially when the reporter didn't confirm the report from the management of Nilayo

All logistics have been put in place for a successful hosting of the Fidelis Ilechukwu U13 Football Championship 4th edition, billed to kick off November 19th, at the Abete Playing Ground, Iwaya, Yaba-Lagos. The grassroot football tourney is a pet project of Plateau United Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu and it's centred towards catching talented players young and giving them a platform to showcase their skills. Speaking from his base in Jos, Ilechukwu a passionate advocate of grassroot football said: "It's my own little way of giving back to football. "The tourney is to allow football talents to be discovered by as many people as possible which is the best way to attract new players to football and give them access to the game in their community." Tournament Coordinator, Jolayemi Kunle said: "The U13 football championship is open to all grassroot teams in Lagos. In this year's edition, we have decided to use weight as a means of curbing age-cheat.

  Football followers who have grown accustomed to interesting action in Nigeria are assured of quality but more excitement when Jagaban Cup gets underway. The Organizing Committee is working assiduously to put all the modalities in place for November 15 when the championship is scheduled to get underway.  Brain behind the tournament, Gafar Liameed, spoke with the Media and assured that his team is working overtime to ensure that fans receive high quality of football. “At the moment we are deeply engaged in discussions with the relevant stakeholders pertaining to plans for the staging of the event, including our communication with grassroot football clubs, officials and agencies,” he revealed. The 36 Lion Investment executive further assured that his team is bent on delivering the high quality of entertainment that fans have grown accustomed to receiving. “Preparations are going well as planned. From the onset, there have been engagements to meet the timelines.” “The number of days that

Nottingham Forest earned their second English Premier League victory on Saturday, with a gusty performance to after a shocking 1-0 win over Liverpool courtesy of a strike from Taiwo Awoniyi  The Unicorn and Imperial Academy product was brilliant in the lunch time fixture at the City Ground, posting a Man of the match performances. The visitors came close to getting    the opener in the early minutes of the game through Roberto Firmino but the Brazilian’s header couldn’t find the target. Awoniyi was presented with an opportunity in the 12th minute of the game, but Allison Becker did well to close down the dangerous striker. In the 19th minute, Forest got on the front foot through Taiwo Awoniyi. The forward did well to tee up Cheik Kouyate, who played the shot on time, to the waiting gloves of Becker. Awoniyi dropped to the left side of attack and tried to fire a tame shot which was gathered by Becker. Former Liverpool forward Awoniyi opened the scoresheet for his team in the the the 55t

  Osayi Kingdom hails from Edo State, Uzebu village Ewohimi Esan South East Local Government, Area. He was Born on 03-06-2004 and lived with parents for 12 years before he was in pursuit of following his dreams of becoming a professional football player. Osayi Kingdom has always loved Football since he was a little boy; his neighborhoods are made up of football lovers in Surulere, Lagos State Nigeria, he enjoys playing football not until his grassroot coach in the person of Coach Peter Obikwelu aka (SIR P) encouraged him to be a Goalkeeper in the City of Lagos Nigeria. Osayi Kingdom who's now a professional Goalkeeper presently with Sunshine Stars FC of Akure (ONDO STATE) plays in the NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NPFL) and has also played for Heartland FC, 2018/2019 season, becoming the youngest goalkeeper in the league (NPFL) before moving on loan to Giant Brilars FC Enugu, Nigeria, that plays in the 2nd division called Nigeria National League (NNL) so he could get more p

In the recognition to his excellent contributions and commitment to the growth and development of sports in the country especially in the area of infrastructure development, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare will on Friday, receive the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service. This award will be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Federal Government of Nigeria had nominated the Sports Minister to receive this 'Distinguished Award for Sports Development' at the forthcoming Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NESPS). President Muhammadu Buhari will present the award at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. There will be an opportunity for questions and answer with the Sports Minister after the events. Apart from ensuring the best podium finishes for Team Nigeria in recent international competitions, Sports Minister Sunday Dare has initiated programmes that have led to the rehabilitation of some of the nation's sports edifices whi

  Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One, Olushola Ogunnowo has informed of plan to have an NLO Selected Team go on tour of the UK. Ogunnowo who is in England with five NLO club owners on an 8-day business tour facilitated by London-based NVA Sports & Entertainment Group (NVA SEG), gave the hint. The Nigerian football businessmen and the NLO COO were at the English Football Association training ground, St. George Park in the city of Burton on the invite of Burton Albion FC on Tuesday. Later that evening they watched the  English Football League Trophy game between Burton Albion and Bradford City which ended 4-0 at the Pirelli Stadium. According to Ogunnowo, "We are here for core business purposes and to have strategic partnerships with some of the English League clubs that have well-structured youth football models. "We are impressed with what we have seen in Burton Albion, its development spanning over five and half decades. "Burton Albion player's

  President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has appointed respected football administrator and Chairman of Katsina State Football Association, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi and sports marketing guru, Hon. Bukola Olopade as part of a three-man panel of advisers for preparations of age-grade National Teams for upcoming major international competitions.   The empanelling of the football experts, which also includes Alhaji Abba Mukhtar, has been done pending the composition of Sub-Committees by the new NFF Executive Committee, and the panel will be inaugurated on Thursday, 20 th  October at the NFF Secretariat by Alhaji Gusau.   The U23 National Team, also known as Olympic Eagles, will engage their Tanzanian counterparts in a two-legged second-round fixture, starting with the first leg in Dar es Salaam on Sunday and the return session in Ibadan next week Saturday. Victory on aggregate will take the Olympic Eagles to the next round of the qualifiers, which final tourna

As countdown continues for Jagaban Cup coming up in Lagos, 36 Lion has mapped out strategies to mobilize support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Presidential Flagbearer of APC at the 2023 General Elections. CEO of 36 Lion, Gafar Liameed has concluded arrangements to set up a GIANT banner at the Badagry roundabout. This will be visible to 300 Thousand people of Badagry and for millions of travelers along the ECOWAS axis.  According to the Football technocrat, "This is just the beginning of many grassroots awareness we shall be doing for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu." "The awareness is a driving parade at the Badagry axis," he added. The ‘Jagaban Cup’ kick-off November 15th.

  Super Eagles forward, Ishaq Rafiu, has finally made his debut for Slovenian top side, NK Maribo, after his move from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Rivers United to Europe. Having made the matchday squad in one or two occasions, Ishaq was called upon to make his first appearance in Europe, on Saturday in his team’s 1-0 defeat at NK Olimpija, in the Slovenian Top League. The 21-year-old Super Eagles left-footed winger, who can play in any position in the attack, replaced Andraž Žinič, in the seventh minute of the 14th added time, after 90 minutes, and played for five minutes before the game ended. “I would say I’m happy in away to make my debut with my new team, because I have been waiting for this moment.  “It would have been a special moment for me if we had won or drew the game. “This is Football where you win or lose, but I love to win all the time, and I’m very confident that we will come out good in our next game,”Ishaq said during an interview on Sunday.

The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to partner with the Republic of Hungary on grassroots football development by ensuring a successful hosting of the Dreamland Embassy of Hungary Football Tournament scheduled to take place in Abuja between November 14 - 20, 2022. The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, gave the assurance today in his office in Abuja, when he received the Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria,  Amb. Sandor Beer who came to brief him on the preparedness of the Tournament as well as solicit the Ministry's support towards the success of the competition. According to him, the game was an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its budding football talents at the grassroots with a view to harnessing them for international competitions  Dare therefore assured of the Ministry's readiness to collaborate with Republic of Hungary in ensuring the success of the tournament. He explained that Nigeria, being a football loving nation,

Nigeria is set to join YouthConnekt Africa, a youth forum that brings together young people from across the African continent. The Nigerian Delegation led by directors in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports: Olusegun Olufehinti, Hajiya Amina Dauran and the Special Assistant on youth and ICT to the Honourable Minister Kemi Areola are currently attending the YouthConnekt Africa Summit holding in Kigali Rwanda to solidify the partnership between Nigerian youth and the youth across the African continent under the umbrella of YouthConnekt Africa. Following the commitment of the Federal Government to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen youth policy, which is the subject of a sectoral policy letter focusing on citizenship, volunteerism, social cohesion and employment of young people and women that correspond to the objectives of YouthConnekt Africa, the Federal Government through the Youth Ministry decided to approve Nigeria joining the youth group. This decision, to join this initia

The newly elected Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Chairman of Chairmen, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, has stated that the Nation-wide League One (NLO), is the most important League in the Country. Ahmed Fresh made the unpopular statement, which is against popular opinion by few football stakeholders, during the 2022 edition of the NLO Super 8 Championship in Lagos, held at the Legacy pitch, last Sunday. Before now there has been a popular saying in the Nigeria Football circle, that the second tier league in Nigeria – Nigeria National League (NNL) is the most important, but the Chairman of Chairmen disagrees. “Well for me NLO is the most important League in Nigeria, people say NNL    but I disagree with that fact, because this is where you catch them young,’’ the former Referees Appointment Committee Chairman told newsmen. He stressed further stating why the third tier league is crucial to the development of the round lethal game in Nigeria. “You can see the