The 13th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament co-hosted between ECOWAS and National Sports Commission ended at the Velodrome MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday with panache. Scintillating, well-choreographed cultural displays and breathtaking traditional wrestling bouts highlighted the glitzy evening.

Senegal emerged overall winners with three gold and one silver while Nigeria (two gold and one silver) and Benin Republic (one silver, one bronze) finished second and third respectively.

Nigeria’s second-place was down to gold medals won by Ebipatei Lienbofa and Ebi Bigos in the women’s 66kg and 76kg respectively, a development which did not go unnoticed by the National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko. While declaring the tournament closed, Mallam Dikko noted the fact that female athletes had contributed immensely to the nation’s past sporting exploits and had taken that trend to the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament.

He said, “Today is women’s day and we are proud as a Commission and, indeed the entire country, of the doggedness and resilience of our female wrestlers in this tournament. Over the years, the women have always come through for our sports in winning medals and have done the same at this tournament. We salute our sports women. Where could we have been without them.”

He emphasized that the performance of those female wrestlers is a clear testament to the Renewed Hope Agenda and shared prosperity vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in sports.

The NSC Chairman further assured of a well sustained collaboration with all stakeholders in every aspect of sports adding particularly buttressing the preparedness of the National Sports Commission to synergize with the Ministry of Youth Development in engaging the youths positively through sports.

“Mr President has given us a clear directive that there should be proper collaboration within agencies of government which has to do with developing youths, culture, women and sports. We will put our energy together so as to get our youths productively engaged in sports, so that we can have that feel-good factor of doing sport and also staying healthy as well as earning revenues. You can see the money the people participating in the tournament are earning. We can really empower our youths through sports”, he pointed out.

He hinted that Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in investing in Nigeria’s sport, particularly its traditional sports, which according to him, underscores the essence of collaboration.

An elated Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande was thrilled with the abundance of sporting talents in the country and promised to continue to engage foster collaboration between his ministry and NSC to ensure that Nigerian youths realized their sporting potentials.

“I am so proud to associate with the Chairman of NSC, let me assure you that we are determined to work together in making sure that we provide a pathway for our youths through different sporting activities as well as our domestic sports competitions for the benefit of all”, he said.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs ECOWAS Commission, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Amb. Francis Chuks Njoaguani, thanked Nigerian government for hosting the tournament and urged all participants to carry forward the values of unity, resilience, and excellence that they all celebrated in the three days impactful event.

The highpoint of the tournament was the award of medals, trophies and cash prizes. As the overall winners, Senegal smiled home with $10,000, followed by Nigeria with the sum of $6,000, while third-placed Benin pocketed $3,000.

The DG of NSC Hon Bukula Olapade in his closing remarks thanked all participanting countries and the LOC of the championship for a well-organized competition. He assured of NSC’s desire to continue to promote and host international tournaments in its drive to advance all sports in line with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports (RHINSE) framework.

Also present was former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District Sen. Shehu Sani.

FINAL RESULTS

A- TEAM CATEGORY
1. SÉNÉGAL
2. NIGÉRIA
3. BÉNIN
4. GUINÉE

B- WEIGHT CATEGORY

– 66KG (WOMEN)
1. EBIPATEI LIENBOFA ( NIGÉRIA)
2. SAFIETOU GOUDIABY (SÉNÉGAL)
3. BAKOYOKO CÉLINE JOSEE ( COTE D’ IVOIRE)
4. MARIAMA FOULA KABA ( GUINÉE)

– 76KG (WOMEN)
1. EBI BIGOS (NIGERIA)
2. YOUIN AMY (COTE D’ IVOIRE)
3. BODJRENOU ROSINE (BENIN)
4. KOUMBA DIOUMA SOW (GUINÉE)

– 86 KG (MEN)
1. SINY SEMBENE (SÉNÉGAL)
2. BONI ILIASSOU (BÉNIN)
3. MUSA ABDALAHI (NIGERIA)
4. LAGO GUY ALAIN

– 100KG (MEN)
1. GORA NIANG (SÉNÉGAL)
2. CAETANO ANTONIO (GUINÉE BISSAU)
3. BADARO ESSO (TOGO)
4. YACOUBOU SADATH (BENIN)

– 120 KG (MEN)
1. NGAGNE SENE (SÉNÉGAL)
2. GINO N’TCHALAH (GUINÉE BISSAU)
3. ISSAH FOUSSEINI (GHANA)
4. INOUSSA ISLAM DINE (BENIN)

One of Nigeria’s leading sports for change NGO, CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative recently, (26 and 27 February 2025) held a two-day seminar on netball for P.E. Teachers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

The training held in collaboration with the Airforce Secondary School, Airforce Base Rumuomasi, Port-Harcourt, was held at the school premises.

This training is part of “Project 2027,” which is CSED Initiative quest to provide Nigerian school children and youths access to learn and play the game of netball in a safe space. Netball is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women.

CSED Initiative, sees the game of netball as an important tool that could be used to promote the general health and well-being of the girl child, as well as empower them to blend sport with their academic pursuit.

However, in line with Netball World goal of promoting the inclusivity of the game, two secondary schools in Nigeria, Tare Pet School Yenagoa and C.S.C.S. Itam, currently have boys’ netball teams, alongside their female netball team.

35 participants from various secondary schools including the Nigeria Navy secondary, Army Day Secondary School, private and public secondary schools, in the city, as well as, two Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroonian community that are based in Adagom 3, Camp in Ogoja local government area.

The training was facilitated by coaches Edema Fuludu, Funsho Ekundayo and Onome Fuludu. These coaches were supported by Deborah Bakari (a University of Benin Student) who has been playing netball in the past four years in Uhoghua (Benin City).

Some volunteers like Gold Dappa-Wogu, also benefited from this free netball training that uses a training manual that was developed by Ambassador Mary Waya (a Netball Africa certified instructor). The trained netball coaches were provided with free T-shirts that were donated by Lord’s Taverners (a UK based charity).

The newly trained coaches were first taught the importance of safeguarding and safety in the sports environment which was covered by coach Onome Fuludu, a graduate of Guidance and Counselling, who is also a qualified safeguarding practitioner. His presentation focused on the importance of sporting and educational authorities ensuring that students and athletes are supported to take part in sports in a safe environment.

The new netball coaches were also provided with additional access to free online safeguarding training. This was followed by the basics of the game, netball rules, applications of the rules, how to mark a netball court, the different netball positions, as well as the roles that are attached to these positions.

Warming-up, passing the ball, throwing the ball, the restriction of the movement of players in certain parts of the netball court, practicing of how to throw the ball and how to score were also covered. This was then followed by a practice game between the new coaches who were divided into team blue and team purple.

The Commandant of the Airforce Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Wing Commander Nasir Adamu, who was instrumental in bringing CSED Initiative to Port Harcourt, stated that he was very pleased to see an NGO, who has passion for carrying out developmental and empowerment programmes that are targeted at the girl child.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the training and become reliable coaches in a sport that is being revived in Nigeria. He also stated that he will visit the schools to monitor progress and use of the freely donated netball starter packs (a pair of netball rims/nets, finger held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs, and netball balls) to the representatives of the participating schools.

CSED National Coordinator, Edema Fuludu, used the opportunity to inform participants that the game will soon become a National Sports Festival event and urged them to be serious and as enthusiastic, as they have exhibited during the two days training event. The new netball coaches take the number of trained netball coaches under “Project 2027” by CSED Initiative to 411.

Basking on their stellar performance at the recently held southwest zonal eliminations for team sports for the National Sports Festival, Lagos State handball players have vowed to replicate this performance in the Gateway Games 2024.

Lagos State won the tickets in both the male and female handball at the tournament, which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State

After securing their qualification, Lagos women’s handball team captain, Oyewusi Olubisi, said it is a long journey as the team remains united while setting their sight to winning gold at the Games proper in Ogun State. She attributed the success story to the support from the leadership of the sports commission for the improved welfare and hospitality.

Olubisi also lauded the technical crew’s role in ensuring a 100 percent win during the Zonal Elimination against four other states in the region.

Another handball player, Jimaza Tabitha, noted that the team really played out its best with the mentality of coasting home to victory, stating that togetherness, commitment and rigorous training contributed to their triumph in playing all three matches without losing anyone.

Tabitha said: “The government of Lagos state motivated us very well. So, that’s why we are here to put in our best and come out victorious.”

The Chairperson of Lagos State Handball Association, Adeola Opeifa, highlighted that the triumph of the team, both men and women, stems from the early preparations, from camping and providing necessary things in place to ensure their success at the Zonal elimination.

Meanwhile, the 22nd National Sports Festival South-West Zonal Elimination Ball Games was concluded in Ibadan, Oyo State, with Team Lagos emerging victorious in various sports.

Team Lagos secured an impressive 13 slots for the Gateway Games, which will be held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in May 2025.

According to the official results, Lagos clinched tickets in Basketball (male and female), Handball (male and female), Hockey (male and female), Cricket (male and female), and Football (male and female).

Other team sports that also made it to the Gateway Games are beach volleyball (male), volleyball (female), and Abula (mixed doubles).

Lagos’ compelling performances at the Southwest Zonal Elimination were a direct result of the state government’s commitment to grassroots sports development, providing a platform for talents to thrive and inspiring a new generation of athletes.