After a controversial breaking story by ScoreNigeria, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Ibrahim Gusau, has promised the Super Eagles will be paid 10% of their outstanding payments not later than next month.

The Super Eagles expressed their disappointment that they have not been paid allowances and bonuses with some of these monies dating as far back as 2020.

The players said this has caused them to lack the motivation to play for the national team.

This was at a meeting in Abidjan with Gusau.

The NFF boss has now given the team a commitment that due to the poor finances of the NFF, they will receive 10% of these monies in the new month.

However, close watchers have been left stunned by the rationale behind this payment even after the Federal Government of Nigeria paid 17 Billion Naira to the NFF to offset the debts owed the Super Eagles as well as the Flying Eagles, Falconets and the Golden Eaglets that go back several years.

The Lagos State Sports Commission is set to organize the 4th edition, Blind Sports Fiesta tagged ‘ Hope Awaken’ from 18 – 22 November, 2024, at the Molade-Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The 5-day competition will have the visually impaired athletes compete for honours in four different sports namely, Blind Powerlifting, Blind Judo, Ayo Olopon, and Goalball.

The concept of the Blind Sports Fiesta has over the years been a top priority and interest of the State Government to promote inclusiveness and increase public awareness on adaptive sports towards grassroots development.

The competition is primarily designed to discover budding talents and encourage mass participation in sports and engagement talented athletes drawn from various locations across the state.

Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu said the competition has come to see the light of the day through the relentless efforts of the LSSC and commitment of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration not to leave anyone behind.

Fatodu has indicated massive interests in sports development, in line with the mission of the LSSC assured that the Blind Sports Fiesta will be sustained even as the initiative will be used to select athletes that will represent the State at the National Sports Festival tagged ‘Gateway Games ‘ in Ogun State coming up in January 2025.

Badagry Angels have been crowned champions of the Lagos U-15 Softball Championship held at the Badagry Grammar School playing field, Badagry.

The 5 day tournament which began on November 11, 2024, reached its climax on Friday, November 15, where eight teams participated in the event designed to drive the growth of the sport at the grassroots level.

As Champions of the tournament, Badagry Angels showcased their dexterity and skills against Rak Angels in the grand finale, maintaining their good position and dominance on the field before finally trouncing their opponents 9 runs to 1.

The grit and agility exhibited by Badagry Angels on the pitch testified to the power of how to command the ball, forging valuable connections as well as making calculative runs on the pitch.

Speaking after the presentation of medals to the champions, Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu represented by the Director Sports Development, Travih Nunayon, highlighted the significance of the tournament, bringing softball game closer to the suburb in an effort to expand and implement Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s cardinal programme of inclusivity of all Lagosians, irrespective of their location, distance or community.

Fatodu stated that “We have mapped out the five divisions with the intention to know the sports that are peculiar to different communities and to provide opportunities for every community to engage in sports and to further contribute to the growth of identified talents in achieving their potential.

Its been a long journey of six month cumulative training of our coaches, working with the various students in their various schools, which we’ve tried to form clubs, grow these athletes and increase the level of their interest”, Fatodu stated.

Member, Lagos State Sports Commission Board, Saidi Olanrewaju, said the developmental championship is in line with the THEMES + agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s to reinvigorate sports and youth development at the grassroots level.

Olanrewaju noted that the event provides the right platform for budding talents to exhibit their skills in the softball game, stressing that the tournament is a deliberate effort to develop grassroots sports. He assured that the state will continue to expose upcoming talents to championships, to horn their skills and improve their performance.

Captain of Badagry Angels, Ifeoluwa Oluwafemi expressed excitement with the opportunity provided for the girls to compete and thanked the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Association.

“I feel very, very excited. I’m happy for leading my team to a successful softball championship, here in Badagry”.

After a successful outing in Badagry, Oluwafemi, a third baser revealed that she looks forward to becoming a professional player in softball, adding that part of her plans is to showcase her talents across the world and compete at the international level and play among professionals.

While Rak Angels finished as the 1st runners-up following their gallant display in the girls tournament, Kosoko Team ended up as the 3rd place winners.

Alia Olatunde from Rak Angels got the award of the best catcher while Koku Yemaise from SHS went home with the best pitcher award and Kuton Seseyon from Badagry Grammar School awarded the best in-fielder to complete the three best positions.