Nigeria Sports Arena

  _Organisers announce juicy prize money for winners_  The Premium Trust bank Abuja city international half marathon has been awarded a bronze labelled status by World Athletics . This feat is a fulfilment to the rapid growing stature of the race which is just in its second edition after a highly successful first edition in 2024. MD/CEO, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Yetunde Olopade said this is a reaffirmation of the company's commitment to excellence and global standard.  She maintained that the company will continue to elevate it's organisational structure to meet world class standards at all times. " We will continue to deliver World class sports events and Saturday's race will be another testament to that commitment". The MD also expressed gratitude to Premium Trust Bank for the role it played in making the Abuja city half marathon a truly global road race. " To our sole sponsors and partner , Premium trust bank, this marathon stands toda...

As the second edition of the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon draws near, organisers are expecting a strong contingent of elite long-distance athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and other nations to arrive in Nigeria ahead of the race. With the race scheduled for December 6, 2025, the build-up is already generating huge excitement. The organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML), along with title sponsor PremiumTrust Bank, say that city infrastructure, race routes and volunteer logistics are being finalised to deliver a “world-class” experience for both elite and community runners.  New National Star This year’s marathon enjoys the endorsement of World Athletics, earning its official label for the second edition, underlining the organisers’ ambition to position Abuja as a major hub on Africa’s long-distance running map.  Officials emphasize that the participation of elite long-race runners will intensify competition and elevate the...

Nigeria's foremost Sports Company, Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML) has announced the second edition of the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, set to light up Nigeria’s capital city on Saturday, December 6, 2025. With the theme “Steady Strides,” this year’s race captures the measured rhythm and determined pace that define world-class long-distance running, a reflection of the steady progress and ambitious vision shaping the marathon’s evolution into a global platinum-labelled event. In a historic milestone for Nigerian sports, the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon has been officially awarded the prestigious World Athletics Label for its second edition, a distinction achieved in record time. This remarkable feat makes it the first marathon globally to earn the label so swiftly, underscoring both the organizational excellence of NSML and the dynamic rise of PremiumTrust Bank, currently celebrated as Nigeria’s fastest-gr...

The National Sports Commission, NSC, has announced Lagos State as the Host for the first edition of the National Intermediate Games in 2026. The concept of the intermediary games is one of the RHINSE initiatives of the National Sports Commission to structurally earnest, monitor and develop the country's Sporting talents within the ages of 16-19. Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said as a country, Nigeria must have a proper grassroots model for the discovery of budding talents which will show an organic pathway system to the Elite cadre. " We are determined to have a sustainable podium success at International competitions but it will only come with having the right structure that can aide elite success and the intermediary games will strengthen our goals". " The bedrock of every sustained Sports development is an effective grassroots system and this is what we are aggressively pursuing with the mandate given to us by Mr...

Mr. Jens Ole Bach Hansen, the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, made a significant impact on Monday by expressing his enthusiasm for the remarkable facilities at FC Ebedei Stadium and Ebedei Sports College in Apele-Sagamu.  This visit marks a groundbreaking moment in Nigerian football history, highlighting the transformative strides being made in the football infrastructure at Ebedei Sports College. Upon his arrival, Hansen was warmly received by FC Ebedei President Barrister Churchill Oliseh, General Manager, Fredrick Oliseh, and FC Midtjylland's UEFA Pro License coach, Jonas Dal Andersen.  He embarked on a thorough tour of the multi-million-naira Ebedei Sports College and the FC Ebedei stadium. Hansen's admiration for the cutting-edge FC Ebedei facility was evident as he commended the Nationwide League One team for their exceptional achievements in upgrading their football infrastructure and talent development .  He emphasized that: "This world-class...

The 13th edition of the Gold Cup Preseason Tournament is set to kick off from October 16th to 25th, 2025, at the state-of-the-art FC Ebedei Stadium in Apele-Sagamu, promising an exciting event for football fans. This season is particularly noteworthy as it marks a transition for the tournament, with the absence of some familiar club powerhouses, including the defending champions, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, due to the earlier start of the Nigeria Professional Football League calendar. In a bid to enhance participation and increase the competitiveness of the tournament, top-class teams from the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the same in the Nationwide League One (NLO) will be making their appearances this year.  This decision reflects the organisers’ commitment to broadening the scope of players and clubs involved in the competition. Gold Cup General Coordinator, Tunde Shamsudeen, shared important updates on this year's tournament while conversing with the Gold Cup Medi...

​Ahmad Ghali has completed a permanent move to SK Sigma Olomouc from Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic top league. The ex-player of Abuja-based Mahanaim FC sealed a three-year permanent deal with a subsequent one-year option, following a successful medical. Expressing his excitement about the latest transfer, the former Nigeria U20 and MFM FC player said "I'm happy to be here, I'm excited to go to such a great club with great ambitions. I believe I will help the team". He continued "It was a bit surprising for me. Everything was agreed within one week. I had to make a decision quickly, it wasn't exactly easy, but on the other hand I didn't have to think too long.  "Sigma is a club that will play in Europe. I see it as a step forward in my career," said the 25-year-old Nigerian midfielder, who can play on both sides of the pitch.

Ikorodu City FC forward, Salami Farouk has sealed a permanent deal to Czech Republic side FC Sellier & Bellot Vlašim. The forward completed his first international deal to the Czech Republic team after an impressive preseason outing with the club. Farouk is a prolific striker, creative, young and very energetic. A double-digit striker bar injuries. At Ikorodu City, before travelling abroad, Farouk scored breathtaking goals for the Oga Boys and various awards as well.

The National Sports Commission, NSC, has described as monumental the performance of the Nigeria Women Basketball team, the D"Tigress, for winning the Afrobasket for the fifth time in a row to set a new record that might not be broken for a very long time. The Nigerian girls showed passion, grit, confidence, composure and the calmness of true champion as they overpowered the rest of the continent for the umpteen time at the Palais de Sports de Treichville in Abidjan , Cote d'Ivoire. The Rene Wakama's girls defeated Mali 78 -64 points in Sunday's final to win Nigeria's 7th Women Afrobasket title and further stretched the team's unbeaten run in the competition to 29 since 2015. The Leadership of the NSC led by the chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade who tenure have continued to reshape and refocus the winning formular of Nigerian sports, commend the girls for the consistent heart of the country. The NSC Chairman who w...

Issa Saheed Aduragbemi put up a commanding display in the Nigeria National League (NNL) as Ikorodu City defeated Osun United 2-0 in Lagos. Tosin Oyedokun Ikorodu City gave the Oga Boys the lead few minutes into match. Taheer Abubakar put the icing on the cake with the second goal. The promising winger, Issa, gave a good account of himself against the visitors with his runs and dribbling skills.

The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has commenced its "Catch-Them-Young" multi-sports trials, marking a significant milestone in the preparation for the 2025 National Youth Games. The talent identification programme aims to discover, nurture, and develop talents who will represent Lagos State not only at the 2025 National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, but also a pipeline of champions who will represent Lagos State on the national and international stage. The trials, which commenced a few weeks ago at various sporting facilities across the state, will span multiple athletic disciplines, including track and field events, swimming, gymnastics, dead sports, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton, basketball, football, chess, ayo and other sports. Young athletes aged 9-14 years from various parts of the state are participating in the programme. Speaking at the venue of the trials for track and field events held today, Mr. Lekan Fatodu, Director ...

By Akeem Busari  Another product from the famous 36 Lion FC football factory, is presently turning heads and making football agents and aficionados wax lyrical about his innate football skills and huge potentials to dominate world football.  The prodigiously talented Quadri Liameed contributions in the midfield have been both consistent and invaluable in Spain, which has now earned him a position with CE Sabadell FC. His development has continued to astound football experts who have been equally quick to point to his ratings as one of the best midfielders in Segunda and with his skills set, technical ability to dominate play and dictate fortunes of every game, the football world is on the alert about this emerging midfield dynamo. According to Quadri’s agent, Cem Saga,  it is only a matter of time before he ranks among the top 5 midfielders in Spain, as he is confident in Quadri’s skills, intelligence, and ability to penetrate defenses. Quadri has also attract...

Omowunmi Blessing Awe is an elegant and intelligent leader who serves as the Head of Operations at Green Lock FC/Academy. She is dedicated to making a significant impact in a male-dominated industry. Awe has demonstrated a strong ability to build and lead teams, enhancing the performance of both the football club and the academy. Green Lock FA conducts its training sessions at the Navy Town Sports Centre, which boasts excellent facilities that support both training and leisure activities. The accommodation provided ensures a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for players. The launch of the Green Lock Football Academy is scheduled for August 31st in Lagos. Awe explains that the academy’s structure is designed to foster the success and career growth of its football talents. "Green Lock Football Academy distinguishes itself in Nigeria through its comprehensive approach to player development," she states, "emphasizing technical skills, tactical understa...

Alansmith Nigeria Limited has once again delivered a world-class sports facility to one of its clients, Imperial Football Club, located in Odogbolu, Ogun State.  This achievement reinforces its status as a leading player in the construction of sports facilities in West Africa. Joshua Adamu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Alansmith Nigeria Limited, shared insights into the project, which was completed in record time.  "The Imperial Football Club sports facility boasts a 9,200 sqm pitch made of 60mm double-colour monofilament grass with a shock pad, rated FIFA 2-star," Adamu informed.  "This makes it one of the largest privately owned pitches of this standard, as Alansmith Nigeria Limited is dedicated to sports development." Adamu, a seasoned construction expert who has successfully established Alansmith Nigeria Limited as a prominent brand in sports facility construction, further remarked.  "I remember when the project began; the s...

This is me wishing the Special Adviser Media and Public Communications to Mr. President, Chief Sunday Dare, a heartfelt wishes on the occasion of his 59th birthday today. An astute, competent, hardworking, and charismatic trailblazer are some of the virtues that uniquely characterised the personality of Chief Sunday Dare, as he marks another year. As the former Minister of Sports , I remember how he pioneered some of the enabling policies that we are currently implementing today as part of our Renewed Hope initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy. His passion for sustainable sports development is one of the reasons the 22nd edition of the National Sports festival is held in Ogun State and today marking the closing ceremony of the Games rightly coincides with his 59th birthday. As a consultant I bidded for Ogun state to host the Sports festival and Chief Sunday Dare  then Sports Minister believed strongly in our bid and awarded us the hosting rights and today the games is d...

By Akeem Busari In his characteristic magnanimity, the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, has once again activated his annual scholarship for another set of beneficiaries for the NIS Coaches Course. He has decidedly upped the ante by adding five female and nine male students drawn from the pool of National Association of Nigeria Students.  They would join another set of 36 coaches selected for the training course, who would certainly swell the ever-increasing list of football coaches sponsored for the training programme on the scholarship of 36 Lion Investment Limited.  These 14 lucky students will enjoy football education at the National Institute For Sports, the premier sports institution in Nigeria.  According to the sponsor, Hajji Gafar, the sports education initiative is in alignment with the youth empowerment mantra of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, which also include using sports, particular...

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Hon. Sunday Dare has commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for presenting a spectacular opening ceremony at the 22nd National Sports Festival. Dare, a former Youth and Sports Minister, who was in attendance at the Moshood Abiola Stadium for the opening ceremony praised the NSC leadership under Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade for delivering a memorable event while speaking with NSC Media Team, He described the ceremony as "a sparkling splendor" that showcased sports and unity.  "The opening ceremony was a sparkling splendor. A combustion of excitement as the stadium was filled up and the beautiful scenes unfolded.  The opening ceremony was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and several serving governors. Dare attrib...

The National Sports Commission, NSC, has sent a resounding congratulatory message to the Nigeria U20 Team, the Flying Eagles for booking a semi final ticket at the AFCON U20 tournament in Egypt and ultimately securing their place at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. The Aliyu Zubairu team achieved the feat after knocking out defending Champions Senegal in the quarter finals of the tournament on Monday at the Suez Canal stadium in Ismailia, Egypt. An excited Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the performance of the boys has steadily improved with every game they played and were a better side against their Senegalese opponents. " I must thank the Nigeria Football Federation for this qualification feat which shows the collective resilience of the boys and their coaching crew". " The boys performance so far only showed the hard work that was put into the team both in preparations and camping". " We have a very good record at this level and th...

Former Enugu Rangers midfielder, Kazeem Ogunleye who recently joined Albanian side, FK Partizani has made his debut with the club. The 18-year-old midfielder was included in his team’s matchday squad for the Albanian Superliga game against Dinamo Tirana after his impressive performance with the reserve team. Kazeem Ogunleye scored a goal and created two assists in four games while playing with the reserve team. The teenage midfielder was introduced against Dinamo Tirana in the 65th minute of the game at the Elbasan Arena and posted a fine performance.

As the countdown hits five days to the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival—tagged the 2024 Gateway Games—anticipation is building across Nigeria. Set to be hosted by Ogun State, the Festival remains a fertile ground for discovering future champions and unearthing raw talent destined for global greatness. Over the years, the National Sports Festival has served as the launchpad for some of Nigeria’s most celebrated athletes—those who moved from local fame to Olympic immortality. As we gear up for another historic edition, we take a look back at some iconic names who were first spotted on this national stage before ascending to global prominence. Mary Onyali: The Queen of the Track Mary Onyali, one of Nigeria’s most decorated sprinters, was first discovered at the National Sports Festival when she competed at the 1984 Kwara ’85 Games and later the 1997 Oluyole Games in Ibadan. Her dazzling performances earned her a spot at the 1986 World Junior Championships in Athens...

The teenage winger has racked up 9 goals and 2 assists in 28 games, playing a key role in Ikorodu City’s push for continental football. Ikorodu City winger Ayomide Cole is turning heads in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a scintillating run of form that has seen him score 9 goals and provide 2 assists in 28 matches across all competitions this season. The teenage sensation has been at the heart of Ikorodu City’s impressive campaign, racking up 11 goal contributions and playing a pivotal role in the club’s rise to fourth place on the league table. His influence has been immense, directly involved in 27% of the Oga Boys’ total goals this season. Cole's consistency and attacking prowess have made him one of the most lethal wingers in the NPFL. As Ikorodu City eyes a potential berth in continental competition, his performances continue to fuel the team’s ambition. All eyes will be on him once again this Saturday when Ikorodu City faces Wikki Tourist FC in th...

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, has charged the Country's Invited Junior Athletes ( IJA), contingents to see their participation at the forthcoming 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State as a bold step towards their Sporting Greatness. The DG gave the charge when he visited the Athletes in their training camp in Abuja on Wednesday, where he held an exciting interactive discussion with them to boost their morals ahead of the Games. Nigeria Sports is currently receiving a breath of fresh air with the IJA concept where the very best of the Country's young athletes across multiple Sports have been selected to feature as the 38th State at the Sports Festival. The NSC DG reminded the athletes that they are the future of the country's Sports and that is why Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, backed the Commission to create the IJA concept into the Sports festival, starting with the Gateway Games. ...

With just 11 days left until the 22nd National Sports Festival dubbed “Gateway Games” kicks off in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the anticipation continues to soar — and one of the most compelling storylines emerging is that of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA). Introduced by the National Sports Commission (NSC) as a bold innovation, the IJA concept was born out of the need to nurture the nation’s brightest young sports prospects.  Dubbed the “38th state,” the team heading to the NSF comprises just over 100 teenage athletes selected from across Nigeria to compete against more established counterparts in about 11 sports at the upcoming National Sports Festival. The NSC’s vision is to provide these young athletes a rare platform to test their skills on a grand stage while accelerating their development in a highly competitive environment. And with the IJA camp currently buzzing with energy and optimism, that vision is beginning to take shape. The IJA will compete in athletics, badminton, foo...