Chelle: My Boys Have A Winning Culture, Penalties Won’t Scare Us

 

Chelle: My Boys Have A Winning Culture, Penalties Won’t Scare Us

Nigeria’s Head Coach Eric Chelle says his team is prepared to retain the Unity Cup Tournament trophy in Saturday’s final in London no matter which circumstances present themselves on the day.

 

The Super Eagles and the Reggae Boyz won their semi final encounters against Zimbabwe and India respectively by two unreplied goals, and face off for the third time in the history of the Afro-Caribbean mini-tournament that celebrates football, music and culture in the British capital.

 

Last year, Moses Simon gave Nigeria an early lead, with the Reggae Boyz replying almost immediately through Kaheim Dixon. Early in the second half, Nigeria regained their lead at the Brentford Stadium through Samuel Chukwueze, but the Boyz found the leveller again, through Jon Russell.

 

The three-time African champions netted their five penalty kicks while Dwayne Atkinson blew his kick above goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s sticks.

 

Though Simon and Chukwueze are not at this year’s tournament, Nigeria showed class with a largely new group on Tuesday, outclassing Zimbabwe’s Warriors with a brace from debutant Femi Azeez. The following day, Kaheim Dixon scored the second for the Boyz against India, after Courtney Clarke had put them ahead.

 

Asked whether his team is prepared to go through the penalty shootout ritual again – having won last year’s tournament through that route and being subjected to the lottery in the semi-final and third-place match at the last Africa Cup of Nations finals - Chelle said: “Penalties are part of the game, and it can decide who wins a match. Every time I go into a game, I have the mentality to win.

 

“This is the culture I have put in these boys – the winning culture. I don’t know if Saturday’s game will end in penalties; what I know is that I have prepared my team to win. These are very young players with a bright future and they are hungry for success at any level. So, on Saturday, we will see how the game is decided, but we surely have prepared to win and defend the Unity Cup.”

Kingsley Awodi Welcomes Nigeria’s Para-Powerlifting Team After Algeria Championship Success

 

Kingsley Awodi Welcomes Nigeria’s Para-Powerlifting Team After Algeria Championship Success

Fresh from the 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championship in Algeria, Nigeria’s para-powerlifting team returned not just with luggage, but with 49 medals and a story of grit that had already begun to ripple across the country.

Leading the welcome was Kingsley Awodi, a philanthropist who has quietly backed Nigerian sports for years. Recall that he re-grassed the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja under Sunday Dare, restoring one of the country’s key sporting venues for athletes and fans.

Awodi is also a major stakeholder in the sports industry. In the past, he single-handedly paid athletes’ grants to ensure competitors could focus on training and competition without financial strain. His support has remained consistent and practical: in April, he hosted and sponsored the Kingsley Awodi Para-Powerlifting Championship in Abuja, providing the team with competitive exposure just weeks before their departure for Algeria. That same commitment was evident again at their homecoming.

Addressing the athletes, coaches, and officials gathered in the arrival hall, Awodi opened by framing their achievement within the larger narrative of Nigerian resilience and excellence on the continental stage:  

“I am deeply honoured to welcome home our victorious Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Team from the 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championship in Algeria. You have once again shown the world the strength, resilience, discipline, and fighting spirit that Nigerians are known for.”

For four days in Oran, Nigeria’s lifters competed against Africa’s best and returned with 32 gold, 12 silver, and 5 bronze medals. The result secured second place overall behind Egypt and reinforced Nigeria’s standing as a powerhouse in para sports. Beyond the medal count, it was the composure and precision of their performances that drew widespread praise.

Recognizing the collective effort behind the success, Awodi acknowledged the pride and honor the team had brought to the nation:  

“Your performances have brought pride, joy, and honour to our nation, and I celebrate every athlete, coach, and official who contributed to this remarkable success.”

He then turned to the responsibility of sustaining such progress, commending the leadership of the National Sports Commission while emphasizing the need for broader private sector involvement:  

“While I sincerely appreciate the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for their work in repositioning sports in Nigeria, government efforts alone cannot carry the weight. This is the moment for the private sector to step forward and actively support our athletes and sporting institutions.”

To match words with action ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Awodi announced immediate cash rewards for medal winners:  

“Every gold medalist will receive ₦1.5 million, every silver medalist ₦1 million, and every bronze medalist ₦500,000. This is not merely about financial rewards, but about recognizing sacrifice, hard work, and the courage to represent Nigeria with pride.”

As the team posed for photos with medals around their necks, the message was clear. The performance in Oran was about more than weight on a bar, it was about raising the standard for Nigerian sports and showing what becomes possible when athletes are consistently backed.

A Fitting Tribute: Muda Lawal Stadium Set For World-Class Revamp

 

A Fitting Tribute: Muda Lawal Stadium Set For World-Class Revamp

The Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), has approved the revamping of the Muda Lawal Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in honour of one of Nigeria’s greatest football legends, Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal.

The rebirth of the historic stadium is part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to upgrade sports infrastructure across the country and create world-class facilities capable of driving grassroots and elite sports development.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the project as a “fitting recognition for a true Nigerian sporting icon whose legacy continues to inspire generations of athletes across the country.”

“Muda Lawal remains one of the finest footballers ever produced by Nigeria and deserves to be immortalized through a modern sporting facility that will serve not only Ogun State but the entire nation,” the DG said.

He added that the revamp of the stadium will significantly boost football and other sporting activities in the region, especially at a time when sports participation and youth engagement continue to grow rapidly across the country.

The renovation project will include the installation of new tartan tracks and the rehabilitation of major facilities within the stadium to meet modern standards. The upgraded complex is expected to become a hub for sports and national competitions.

Muda Lawal, who hailed from Abeokuta, Ogun State, remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football heroes. The former Green Eagles player was a central figure in Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, where he scored in the memorable 3-0 victory over Algeria to secure the country’s first-ever continental title. He was also instrumental in IICC Shooting Stars’ success as the club won Nigeria’s first continental club trophy, the African Cup Winners Cup, in 1976.

Part of the Federal Government’s commitment to sports infrastructure development nationwide, the next three host states of the National Sports Festival are set to receive strategic support and facility upgrades.

Enugu State, which is the next immediate host of the National Sports Festival, will benefit from the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool, upgrade of its indoor sports hall, rehabilitation of athletes’ hostels and several other intervention projects aimed at ensuring a successful hosting of the Games and long-term sporting development in the state.

The National Sports Commission reaffirmed that these interventions align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on youth empowerment, infrastructure renewal and the use of sports as a tool for national development, unity and economic growth.

Super Eagles Vs Reggae Boyz: All Eyes On Chelle’s Side In Unity Cup Final

 Super Eagles Vs Reggae Boyz: All Eyes On Chelle’s Side In Unity Cup Final

Nigerians are demanding nothing less than victory when the Super Eagles face Jamaica in the final of the 2026 Unity Cup.

The final goes down Saturday night at The Valley in South London, setting up a rematch between Nigeria and the Reggae Boyz.  

Jamaica booked their spot after beating India 2-0 in tonight’s second semifinal.  

Coach Eric Chelle has already pointed out some weak spots in the squad. All eyes will be on how this under-strength Super Eagles side responds and whether they can deliver the win Nigerians expect.

New Osun SWAN Leadership Urged To Uphold Constitution, Carry Members Along

 

New Osun SWAN Leadership Urged To Uphold Constitution, Carry Members Along

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Osun State chapter, on Tuesday elected new executive members to pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.

The positions contested included chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer, and the positions were contested unopposed.

The immediate past chairman of the association, Timothy Agbor, was returned for a second term.

Others elected were Omolola Oluwaseun as vice chairman, Tunde Adeleke as secretary, and Akanni Oluwaseyi as treasurer.

Speaking after the election, the SWAN National Vice President, South-West, Ayodeji Ogunsakin, who presided over the exercise, inaugurated the newly elected executives after dissolving the caretaker committee overseeing the association’s activities in the state.

Ogunsakin commended the Osun SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO) for conducting a peaceful election and administered the oath of office to the new executives.

He congratulated the elected officials and stressed the importance of meeting stipulated qualifications before contesting SWAN executive positions.

Ogunsakin also urged the chairman to carry members along in all activities and ensure strict adherence to the constitution and regulations of the association in decision-making.

Earlier, the chairman of Osun SWANECO, Mr Ismail Azeez, presented certificates of return to the newly elected executives.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Timothy Agbor called for greater cooperation from the national body of SWAN to support the expansion of sports writing activities in the state.

Also speaking, the General Manager of Osun Sports Council, Ademola Daini, said sports writers could contribute to sports development in the state through reports capable of shaping government policies.

Similarly, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel in Osun State, Shina Abubakar, urged sports writers to focus on exposing challenges in the sports sector and proffering solutions.