Nigeria Sports Arena

Under 23 forward Junior Ajayi will not be part of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan squad that will be facing Bayelsa United in Match day 12 on Wednesday at the Oghara Stadium  Delta State. His striking parner Nojeem Olukokun believes the team will miss his service but remain optimistic of a good result. The duo of Olukokun and Dream Team VI forward, Ajayinave formed a formidable partnership in front of goal for the Oluyole Warriors this season, both players have scored six goals out of 3SC's nine goals with a couple of assists. Junior has four to his credit while Nojeem only has two in his kitty. Ajayi and fellow Under 23 team mate who was between the sticks for 3SC in their last home match against Lobi Stars, Biodun Akande will be missing out on this encounter due national team assignment. The former Kwara United forward, Nojeem Olukokun told Nigeria Sports Arena after 3SC victory over Lobi Stars that his team will...

Asian country, Cambodia are parading two Nigerians in the 28th edition of the SEA Games taking place in Singapore. Abayomi Koledoye will lead Cambodia’s bid for gold in basketball event having handled the team for 12 years since his move to the tiny nation 17 years ago. Singapore 2015 will be the FIBA certified coach’s fifth appearance as the handler of the national side he helped rise to 7th in South East Asia and 86th in the world ranking. On the other hand, seasoned sports administrator Gabriel Ken Gadaffi is the head of the country’s delegation as they battle for honours in the East Asian sports fiesta. Nigeria-born Gadaffi, who is the chief executive officer of Rising Stars International Sports Academy doubles as an adviser to the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia. The South East Asian Games will draw to a close on June 6, 2015.

Sunshine Stars have been named the winners of the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Q1 after finishing the top of the Glo Premier League in the first quarter of this season. The Owena Waves, after match day 10 in the Nigerian top flight amassed 20 points, two more than the chasing pack of Kano Pillars and Enyimba in second and third positions respectively. Sunshine Stars won six matches, drew two and lost two while they scored 14 goals, including five of the goals being netted by Tunde Adeniji. They shipped in seven goals from the 10 games played. The Akure club are yet to lose in their last five matches including a win at Heartland and a draw at Nasarawa United. Their last defeat was on match day five when they lost one-nil at El-Kanemi Warriors on April 22. Sunshine Stars have also scored in every of their last five matches in the league. "Sunshine Stars have been playing great football since the second half of the first quarter and it's no surprise that they have emerged w...

Kogi United Head Coach, Yomi Elijah has praised his boys' resolve and discipline during their goaless encounter against Supreme Court FC in the Week Two of the Nigeria National League, NNL. The match played at Area 3 football pitch, Abuja on Friday saw both sides created few scoring chances but failed to convert them. The Confluence State club displayed excellent maturity as they defended real hard to deny Supreme Court boys from scoring. Elijah who praised his boys for their composure noted that the result would spur them to do better in their subsequent matches. "We thank God for this result and I want to thank our players for their wonderful display, they deserved this point because they worked for it, I praise them well," Elijah begins. "Our first match was unfortunate as we dropped two points at home (against Spotlight FC) the draw we had here has restore our confidence and I'm very confident in them that we will do better than this in other games,...

Head Coach of Kogi United, Yomi Elijah has expressed optimism on his side's chances to gain promotion to Premier League despite 1-1 draw against Spotlight in the opening day of Nigeria National League, NNL season. Kogi United were behind within just eight minutes of the game when Spotlight capitalized on a lose ball in the midfield and Kabir Janaidu raced down to put the ball in the net. The Confluence State club could have leveled the score but Obinna Martins missed a spot kick for the hosts in the 36th minutes after Keffi Andrew used his hand to block Sanni Idris' goal bound shot. The restart of the grueling encounter saw Kogi United dominating the game thanks to introduction of Ashadi Destiny and Tenimu Abubakar. The pressure on Spotlight's defense was paid off for the Confluence State club as Babangida Chindo headed in Destiny's free kick in the 73rd minutes. All efforts for the home side to get the winning goal proved abortive as Spotlight defended well and we...

The Nigeria National League (NNL) finally gets underway this weekend with 16 breathtaking fixtures across various match center as relegated Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs Kaduna United, Gombe United, Crown FC and Nembe City flagged off their lower division campaign. Interesting games are billed to go down this weekend in the second tier league in Nigeria. Kaduna United welcomes Adamawa United at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Sunday. Adamawa United finished the 2013/2014 NNL seasson with 46 points and claimed the six spot while the Crocodiles dropped to the lower division after a 19th place finish last season. Both teams lost their last game in the  Federation Cup, Kaduna United were defeated by Enugu Rangers 8-7 on penalties, Adamawa United didn't made the round of 64 of the Cup competition. The Crocodiles wouldn't want to start the season on a low key, they will be going all out for the maximum points. Having lost out of the Federation Cup in a 3-2 defe...

With the first phase of the Zenith Bank Female Basketball league ongoing at the national stadium in Abuja, the board of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) sat on Sunday to address major issues brought forward by the technical committee as regards the National domestic leagues and the National team programmes, with far reaching decision made and some already being implemented. After a comprehensive update on both the current DSTV Premier Basketball League and the Zenith Bank basketball league season, major issues pertaining to clubs owing players were brought forward by the technical committee and disciplinary action will be taken against Premier league teams, Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan and Kada Stars of Kaduna for owing their players sign on fees and salaries from last season. The Civil Defenders (Civil Defence team) in the lower league were also in for the NBBF hammer for bringing the game into disrepute by deliberately failing to honour their match against Hoop ‘n...

Former Super Falcons assistant coach Rolandson Odey has expressed satisfaction over his team first away win in the first match of the 2014/2015 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) encounter against league newcomers FC Robo at the Onikan Stadium. Game ended 1-2. Bayelsa Queens began their campaign in the Women Premier League with a 2-1 hard earned victory in Lagos over FC Robo, Rafiat Sule scored the first goal of the season for the visitors six minutes into the game before Joy Bokiri doubled the lead for the Bayelsa outfit with a 31 minutes strike. Second half resumed with both teams stringing passes, the homers mounted a lot of pressure on the visitors defence, their effort paid off with a spot kick after Okeke Chidinma was brought down in the box five minutes into the second 45 minutes,  Ndubuisi Esther takes the penalty kick and plays it wide over the cross bar. FC Robo got a consolation goal in the 67th minutes through Chidinma Okeke when she flicked in a great header from ...

The Nigeria National League (NNL)  which is to kick off this weekend may be postponed for the third time according to a top source who pleaded to be anonymous. The second tier league in Nigeria is scheduled to get underway this weekend but the situation on ground may force the league organisers to shift the resumption date by  due to late registration of some teams.  The league has witnessed postponement on two occasions might be postponed for at least a week in other to enable participating  teams finish up their registration.  According to the source who wants to remain anonymous, disclosed that the league might see a new date once again.  "As I speak to you now the league might be postponed cause we still have like 10 teams who are yet to complete their registration by one reason or the other and we cant start the league without the teams completing their registration. So its looking like we give them a grace of one week and after that we start the...

  A controversial goal in added time by Prince Aggrey gave Sunshine Stars a 2-1 win over Dolphins in the league on Sunday evening at the Akure Township stadium.   It was a game Dolphins drew last season and when Chiwendu Ali put the Pride of Rivers ahead after 37 minutes it seemed like another day in the office for the 2011 league winners.   Ayo Saka turned round his marker in midfield and passed to Victor Alegbe who in turn freed Ifeanyi Egwim on the left.   Egwim’s cross who struck in ferociously by Chiwendu in only his second game for Dolphins after joining from National Division One side, Go Round FC.   Two minutes later, referee, John Charles called a penalty for Sunshine after a Dolphins defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, but Tunji Adeniyi shot the kick wide.   At half time, Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Boboye brought in Dele Olorundare and he made his impact felt two minutes later.   Joseph Douhadji f...

By Oluwafemi Adefeso Having successfully qualified to defend her All African Games title in Congo Brazzaville, and also an opportunity to vie for a place at the 2016 Rio Olympics by qualifying for the 2015 FIBA Africa Championship in Tunisia come August. The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has received thumbs up from National Sports commission (NSC) for her recent accomplishments following a meeting between the hierarchy of the Basketball Federation and the Director General of the National Sports commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye. President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Mr Tijjani Umar, disclosed after the meeting which was held in Abuja that the impressed NSC DG immediately requested the Nigerian Basketball Federation to submit her national programmes to the Sports commission to ensure Basketball receives optimum support to succeed in the various competitions leading to the Olympics.  “We’ve set a huge precedence in qualification for the 2016 Rio Oly...

By Oluwafemi Adefeso Having successfully qualified to defend her All African Games title in Congo Brazzaville, and also an opportunity to vie for a place at the 2016 Rio Olympics by qualifying for the 2015 FIBA Africa Championship in Tunisia come August. The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has received thumbs up from National Sports commission (NSC) for her recent accomplishments following a meeting between the hierarchy of the Basketball Federation and the Director General of the National Sports commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye. President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Mr Tijjani Umar, disclosed after the meeting which was held in Abuja that the impressed NSC DG immediately requested the Nigerian Basketball Federation to submit her national programmes to the Sports commission to ensure Basketball receives optimum support to succeed in the various competitions leading to the Olympics.  “We’ve set a huge precedence in qualification for the 2016 Rio Olym...

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced April 23rd as the jumpball for the first phase of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League season. The new date is sequel to the conclusion of the general elections which necessitated the postponement of the Women’s League in the first place. The championship traditional first phase which will take place at the indoor sports hall of  the National Stadium Package ‘B’ Abuja will see the likes of Customs, FCT Queens, Benue Princess,  Plateau Rocks, Delta Force, AHIP Queens, Coal City Queens, Oluyole Babes, GT-2000, Immigration, IGP Queens and Taraba Hurricanes wrestle power houses Sunshine Angels, First Deepwater, Dolphins and defending champions First Bank for the 2015 title. The teams are expected to arrive Abuja on Thursday, 23rd, ahead of the technical meeting on the 24th of April as action is set to resume on  Saturday, 25th April till May 4th.

Ferencvárosi Torna Club striker Ebere Orji struck twice as her side thrashed Dorogi Diofa 6-1 in the match day 1 of the Hungarian Női Nemzeti Bajnokság Championship play off on Saturday.   Orji tormented the defence line of Diofa and accounted for their woes.   Three minutes into the match Viktoria Szaba open scoring for Ferencvárosi, before Orji doubled the lead in the 11th minute.   Nineteen minutes later Evelin Mosdoczi hit the target for Ferencvárosi’s third goal and Jelena Cankovic still had the time to score her side's 4th goal of the match. Second half recorded three goals with the away side scoring one. At first Orji obtained the ball inside the visitor’s area to hit a brace.   Monica Benko then reduced the deficit 17 minutes from time, but Boglarka Horvath scored with four minutes remaining to end the game 6-1.    Orji's team will next be away to Astra Hungary on 19th April.

Atlantic Conference Oluyole Warriors 78-70 Kwara Falcons Union Bank 54-59 Lagos Islanders Customs 60-55 Delta Force Dodan Warriors 61-42 Police Batons Savannah Conference Bauchi Nets 45-77 M.Mentors Kano Pillars 70-64 Gombe Bulls Peaks 60-52 Immigration Kada Stars vs FCT Rocks Postponed. (Force Majeure)

Upcoming defender Tobore Isaac has moved to Nigeria National League club Plateau United. The Jos based club have confirmed that they have signed the 2012 National Sports Festival product. "We can confirm that Tobore has completed his move to our club," a club official told Nigerian League reporter Ademetan Abayomi on Thursday night. Plateau United are seeking promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League in the new NNL season due to get underway on 18th April. "I have acquired enough experience to be able to succeed here and I will use this experience to help Plateau United return to where they belong," Tobore said. The young defender helped Dynamites Force to a 4th round run in the 2014 Federation Cup.

Chairman of Kogi State Football Clubs, Kogi United FC and Confluence Queens, Mallam Abdul Adama has tendered his resignation to manage the clubs. Mallam Adama who was appointed the sole administrator of both clubs September, 2013 was saddled with responsible of restructuring and repositioning both clubs in their respective leagues. Adama said the decision to leave the clubsides, which are close to his heart, was difficult as he enjoyed a good working condition throughout his stay adding that he would remain grateful for the chance to serve and contribute to the development of sports in Kogi State. The former Chairman of Bukola Babes (now ABS FC) said “This has been a very difficult decision to make as I enjoyed a good and progressive working condition throughout my appointment as chairman of Kogi United and Confluence Queens,” begins Adama. “I remain grateful to Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State for the opportunity to serve and contribute my quota to the developmen...

The Nigeria Basketball Federation says it will continue to promote basketball development from the grass root in all the geo-political zones, to this end the Federation will be giving technical support to the forth-coming annual Samuel Oguche youth Basketball Camp which is billed for Abuja in the month of May.   The famed summer basketball camp for youths which has been held in many cities across the world since 2007, is scheduled to commence on May 18th to 22nd in the city of Abuja.   Ex-basketball international Samuel Oguche, Founder and organizer of the yearly event hinted that all arrangements have been made by the foundation to ensure a hitch-free camp.   “This year’s camp will feature exposure to the rudiments of basketball and basketball drilling to be handled by experienced and national team coaches with world class training facilities; motivational speeches by successful individuals and sports icons as well as career talk and mentoring on having s...

Agege Stadium is one of the standard stadia in Lagos State but it has remained the most unfriendly venue to fans and media men. The refurbished stadium that looks beautiful haven't enjoyed the best of crowd turnout owing to the that the management of the facility have perfected strategies to frustrate fans and most especially the media who are always around to cover sporting event at the stadium. "When I'm going to cover an event at the Agege stadium, I get a bit worried of the stress I'll be put through before gaining access into the stadium," a Journalist told SL10.ng The stadium that is yet to be commissioned has hosted a lot of football event yet fans and Journalists have been messed up by security operatives at the stadium. On so many occasion, Journalist have been forced into the main-bowl bare footed because the securities usually give some flimsy excuses insisting that some particular foot wear isn't good for the tracks beside the pitch but the sa...

By-Bball Naija There is an African saying that if the knife is thrown up a thousand times, the handle will always hit the ground first. We cannot do things he same way over and over again and expect different results. I am beginning to think that this is one of our major problems in Nigeria sports. I was reading The Adobe 2015 Digital Trends Briefing when a paragraph caught my attention. The digital trends briefing is a quarterly digital intelligence briefing which is based on a global survey of more than 6,000 marketing professionals. The report highlights how business development leaders in corporate organisations grow their businesses and stay ahead of competitors. The paragraph says, “It is no secret that customer experience (CX) has emerged as a key priority for many organisations over the last few years. The emphasis on CX coincides with rising consumer expectations, which has led brands to focus on customer satisfaction or even delight at every touch point in ...