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NPFL: Nasarawa State Govt Drums Support For Lobi Stars Ahead Abia Warriors Tie In Lafia

In shared solidarity, the Nasarawa State Government has continued to show support to border neighbours, Benue State, as the latter State’s men’s football team, Lobi Stars, use the Lafia City Stadium for their 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League Season home games.

After receiving unprecedented support from indigenes and residents of the State a fortnight ago in Lobi’s 3-2 win over visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure in the NPFL match-day two clashes, the Nasarawa State’s Government continues to strengthen the bond that binds both States together with the surprise visit of the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango, alongside other top Government functionaries to the evening training session of the “Yes Father” Boys, as Lobi Stars are nicknamed, at the Lafia City Stadium on Thursday ahead of their match-day four encounters against Abia Warriors FC on Saturday, 21st October 2023, in Lafia.

Addressing the team, the Commissioner, Jafaru Ango, said Nasarawa and Benue States share many things in common, including sports.

“Politics aside, Nasarawa and the Benue States are one. We were all together before the creation of States, and you can testify to this by the mixture of ethnicities and cultures that exist in both States; you find some of your people here, so also some of our people there, as well as the cultures.

“Recently, your State Governor, His Excellency, Hyacinth Alia, wrote a letter to our Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, requested the release of the Lafia City Stadium to enable Lobi Stars to play their home games here, and the Governor graciously granted the request.

“Today, you have adopted the Lafia City Stadium as your home for the 2023/24 NPFL Season, the same place that our dear Clubs, Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons use as their home ground.

“Ordinarily, one would have said the pressure would be much on the turf, but we are brothers, and we must be seen to be supporting each other to achieve our common goals.

“We want to see Lobi Stars succeed and even win the League on our turf, which would be historic, because not many teams could win the league on a make-shift venue, and we hope that that will spur our team, Nasarawa United, to return to the elite domestic football league.

“In your first home game here, some high-profile dignitaries from your State were here, including the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, my friend, the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, a House of Assembly Member, and other personalities, and I think they didn’t regret the reception they got from the Government and people of Nasarawa State.

“We are going to do more for Lobi Stars and Benue State here because a portion of our State’s Anthem talks about ‘passion, loyalty, peace and unity’.

“So, feel at home here; Nasarawa State is your home. We will continue to garner the needed support for the team and State to excel.”

Validating the position of the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi said it was the shared bonds between the two States that made it possible for the allocation of the venue as the home ground for Lobi Stars.

He revealed that Benue State had shown similar solidarity to Nasarawa State when the Lafia City Stadium was undergoing renovation as both Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons used the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, for their home matches in the past, and had success in their various leagues.

Danladi noted that Benue State and her people have continued to close ties with Nasarawa State in myriads of ways, emphasizing the concrete relationship he has been enjoying with Lobi Stars’ Vice Chairman cum Chief Executive Officer, Dominic Iorfa, and other worthy Benue indigenes.

He wished the Club well in their sojourn in Nasarawa State, and hoped that the Benue State Government would speed up the completion of the renovation work at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

Responding, Lobi Stars’ Captain, Daniel Atsaka, appreciated the Nasarawa State delegation for the visit.

He acknowledged that the support his team has been getting from their host State is the reason for their current performance in the league and would spur them to outperform their outings in the previous seasons.

He specifically commended the Permanent Secretary, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, for always checking up on the team to ensure everything is intact and in accordance with the mandate of the Club and League Organizers.

Other members of the Nasarawa State delegation included Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani(SSA to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth and Students’ Affairs), Comr. Hamza Moyi Awe(SSA to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Affairs), Lawrence Shammah (Director, Sports Organizing), Mustapha Isa(Director, Administration and Supplies, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development), Abdul Yakubu Balarabe(Director, Finance and Accounts, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development), Haruna Viba(Director, Youth Development), Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo(Chairperson, Nasarawa Amazons FC), Hajiya Fatima Yamusa(Head of Audit, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development) and Comr. Ja’afar Loko(Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Nasarawa State Chapter).

The match between Lobi Stars versus Abia Warriors FC will be held at the Lafia City Stadium on Saturday, 21st October, 2023, by 4pm, with supporters and fans encouraged to troop out en masse to cheer the host team to victory.

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AFCON 2025

Flying Eagles Set to Soar at U-20 AFCON 2025: What You Need to Know

AFCON 2025- Sportmarkinternational

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are back in the spotlight — and this time, it’s not just for their skill, but for what could be a legacy-defining tournament.

 

As the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Côte d’Ivoire on April 30, all eyes are on Nigeria’s U-20 team to deliver a performance worthy of their rich football history.

A Group of Dreams… or Nightmares?

 

Drawn in Group B alongside Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco, Nigeria will have to bring their A-game from the very first whistle. With only the top two teams qualifying for the semi-finals — and the top four overall earning a spot at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile — there’s no room for slow starts or second chances.

 

Why This Matters

 

For many of these players, this tournament isn’t just about national pride — it’s their audition for global stardom. Former Flying Eagles like Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho made their mark at this level before rising to international fame. Now, a new generation has the chance to follow in their footsteps.

 

And with Nigeria’s senior team facing increasing pressure to deliver results on the continental and world stage, this U-20 squad could be the spark that ignites a fresh era of football excellence.

 

The Build-Up: Preparation & Mindset

 

The team has been in intensive training, and coach Ladan Bosso has promised a squad that blends tactical discipline with flair — a classic Nigerian combo that fans love to see. With players coming from domestic clubs and a few based in Europe, the chemistry is building, and the hunger is real.

 

“We’re not just going to participate. We’re going to compete, and we’re going to win,” one of the assistant coaches declared in a recent press briefing.

 

Key Matches to Watch

 

April 30 – Nigeria vs Egypt: A must-watch opener. Both teams have pedigree, but only one can dominate the group.

 

May 3 – Nigeria vs Tunisia: Tactical battle incoming. Expect fireworks.

 

May 6 – Nigeria vs Morocco: Likely a decider. Qualification could come down to this.

 

Can Nigeria fly higher than ever before?

One thing’s for sure: when the whistle blows on April 30, the journey begins — and the whole of Africa will be watching

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Nigeria Plans Olympics-standard National Sports Festival In Ogun State

 

An Olympics-standard National Sports Festival in Abeokuta will be the true test of the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian sports sector. These were the views of National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko while virtually delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary National Council on Sports meeting in Abeokuta today from Milan Italy.

The NSC chairman is the chairman of the National Council on Sports which comprised all the commissioners of sports and Directors of sports from across all the 36 States plus FCT and other stakeholders. It is the apex policy decision-making body for sports.

While hailing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the bold decision to scrap the Federal Ministry of Sports for the National Sports Commission and the deliberate and intentional decisions to advance sports, Mallam Dikko pointed out that this has set the tone for the reforms in the sector.

His words, “Mr. President is noted for taking very bold decisions. The decision to reintroduce the NSC was a very bold one and truly challenged us. The current status has placed sports as a national asset and the necessary legislations and regulations supporting the sector are being facilitated.

“We aligned with the President’s Renewed Hope and Shared prosperity agenda and came up with the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports Economy (RHINSE) to anchor the reforms agenda. This has taken us to a road less-travelled. So we are no longer competition driven but we are focusing on the domestic development of our sports from the grassroots to the elite levels. Hence we have set the three Rs namely reset, refocus and relaunch as the key pillars.

“We are very deliberate with what we are doing. The private sector has to be more involved in our sports development; our infrastructure should be refurbished and upscaled while we must place more emphasis on grassroots and schools sports. We must focus on talent development. If we get this right, we can generate immense revenue through the export of talents. The target is basically to make sports a huge contributor to the nation’s economy and one of its major drivers.”

Considering this, the importance of the National Council on Sports Extraordinary Meeting cannot be overemphasized.

“All these reforms mean that the National Council on Sports has to align appropriately and ensure that the 22nd National Sports Festival to be hosted by Abeokuta should be the best ever. We should host an Olympics-standard Festival that will set a benchmark for future editions”, he said.

While welcoming the Council members to the extraordinary meeting, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Deputy Governor Enge. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, assured that the state will host a memorable Sports Festival.

He said, “National Council on Sports as the apex sports decision-making body plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of sports in our nation. This meeting will usher in the 22nd National Sports Festival Ogun 2025. Just yesterday we unveiled the official logo, theme song and mascot. All these speak to our commitment to delivering a world-class Sports Festival in May.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun Wasiu Isiaka had reiterated the state’s readiness to host a memorable Sports Festival.

The ceremony reached a crescendo when Director-General of the NSC Hon. Bukola Olopade, who chaired the technical session earlier, read out the Memoranda of Understanding and proposals which was deliberated upon and approved by the Council.

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The Game Of New Thinking: How Federation Secretaries Are Powering A New Era for Nigerian Sports

BY KOLA DANIEL

There is a quiet revolution happening in Nigerian sports. At the heart of it is a bold new strategy by the National Sports Commission (NSC), and it’s beginning to yield tangible dividends. This new thinking has found expression in one of the most critical layers of the sports ecosystem—the secretaries of national sports federations.

In a move that industry observers have hailed as both strategic and timely, the NSC recently executed a major shakeup—reassigning secretaries to federations where their expertise, passion, and vision align more closely with the goals of each sport. The results are already turning heads.

One shining example is the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), where a newly launched initiative, Raising Athletics Champions Everywhere (RACE), is making waves. The project led by AFN Secretary Isreal Inwang, RACE has been approved for grant funding by World Athletics—a significant endorsement of Nigeria’s reimagined approach to grassroots sports development.

The project aims to increase grassroots participation in athletics among children aged 6 to 14 by integrating the Kids’ Athletics program into schools nationwide.

It will train 1,000 Physical Education (PE) teachers, establish sustainable athletics clubs in primary and secondary schools to engage 4,000 children, and implement a nationwide tracking system to monitor young athletes’ progression from beginner to elite level.

By reaching 774 schools per year, the project promotes inclusive access to athletics, develops young talent, and aligns with the World Plan for Athletics by expanding participation and embedding athletics into the education system.

With the right leadership and support as offered by the NSC and sports federations themselves , secretaries can drive innovation, foster talent development, and position their sports for local and international success.

These moves will see improved outcomes at respective federations.

In cricket, the Nigerian U-19 team delivered a historic performance at the World Cup, finishing 5th globally—an unprecedented feat for a country previously considered a minor player in the sport. That success didn’t just happen overnight. It was the result of meticulous planning and renewed vigor at the Nigeria Cricket Federation, where the new secretary has been instrumental in laying a foundation for global competitiveness.

Basketball, too, has seen a resurgence. After a sluggish start to the AfroBasket qualifiers, D’Tigers mounted a remarkable comeback to secure their qualification. The turnaround was not merely athletic—it was administrative. Behind the scenes, strategic planning and robust support from the federation’s secretariat played a pivotal role in ensuring Nigeria remained on course.

In para-badminton, Nigeria’s athletes soared in international circuits, clinching medals in Spain’s Toledo and Victoria tournaments, and shining again at the African Championships in Cameroon. Table tennis has followed suit, with Nigeria impressing at the ITTF circuit, securing qualification and further cementing its place as a continental powerhouse.

Meanwhile, the nation’s Paralympic athletes are proving their mettle as well—three gold medals have already been secured in Jordan at the time of reporting. These successes point to a consistent theme: sports federations are becoming better organized, more visionary, and increasingly result-driven.

Much of this transformation can be traced back to the leadership at the NSC. Under Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade, the Commission has embraced “positive disruption” as a guiding principle. Their mandate to restructure, refocus, and reset the Nigerian sports sector is paying off—not just in medals and rankings, but in restored confidence.

And indeed, they are delivering. Last month, a national age-grade swimming tournament was organized to spotlight and nurture young talent. It is part of a broader commitment to long-term planning—a shift from reactive sports administration to a sustainable model built around discovery, development, and discipline.

In this unfolding story of renewal, the federation secretaries are not just placeholders —they are visionaries, architects of a better future for Nigerian sports. Thanks to their passion, initiative, and unwavering commitment, the game of new thinking is no longer just a slogan. It is a movement—one that is powering Nigerian sports to new heights.

 

*Kola Daniel is the Special Adviser on Media to the Director General of the National Sports Commission 

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