Second Orumogege Football Competition to kick off September 8 - Amos Ado

 

The prize money for the second edition of the Orumogege Football Competition, which features grassroots teams, has been announced.

This tournament, which includes both male and female teams, is set to begin on September 8 and is held in honour of the Soun of Ogbomosoland Orumogege III, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye.

Amos Adewale Ado, the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), stated that a substantial cash prize of ₦1,000,000 will be awarded to the champion in each category. The runners-up will receive ₦500,000 each, while the third-place teams (both male and female) will each earn a consolation prize of ₦250,000.

The primary goal of the tournament is to promote sports in Ogbomoso. Our Royal Majesty is a king who is passionate about sports and views them as a means to foster youth development.

The LOC has also announced the registration details for the age-free football competition, which aims to include 40 teams (both male and female) from within and outside Ogbomosoland.

Participating male teams are required to pay ₦15,000, while female teams will pay ₦10,000 to the Zenith Bank account number provided by the Orumogege Sport Promotion Service. 

Payments should be made in the respective club names, which will be used as references for easy confirmation. Teams can also send proof of payment to a specified WhatsApp number.

GreenLock Football Academy gets September 6 lunch date in Lagos

 GreenLock Football Academy gets September 6 lunch date in Lagos 

GreenLock Football Academy gets September 6 inauguration date in Lagos

The official ceremonial inauguration of the fast-rising football citadel of learning, GreenLock Football Academy, will take place at the Navy Town Stadium, Satellite Town, on 6th September. 

The GreenLock Football Academy facility is equipped with modern training amenities and accommodations that promote a safe, comfortable, and productive environment for player development.

Omowunmi Blessing Awe, Head of Operations at GreenLock FC/Academy, shared the reason for establishing the academy in Lagos. 

"We are excited about the opportunity to set up the GreenLock Football Academy in the Centre of Excellence, a city that is passionate about the beautiful game and serves as a hub for scouting and nurturing football talent. 

"At GreenLock, we aim to share our knowledge and innovative programs, utilizing cutting-edge technology to facilitate football development across every corner of this cosmopolitan city. We focus on enhancing technical skills, tactical understanding, physical conditioning, mental preparation, and educational support.”

The Chairman of GreenLock FC, Engr. Olubunmi Peters, and actress Angela Okorie are among the VIP guests expected to attend the event.

Among those expected at this momentous inauguration are prominent figures in Lagos football, including the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Hajj Liameed Gafar, and his Vice Chairman, Mr. Dotun Coker. 

Also attending will be the Technical Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Mr. Keye Onadeko, and the energetic woman who runs the LSFA Secretariat, Mrs. Vera Okechukwu. 

Additionally, the Chairman of the Badagry Football Division, Mr. Osahon; the Lagos State Referees Council Chairman, Mr. Adam Saludeen; and his Secretary, Mr. Dele Atoun, are expected to grace the occasion.

Lastly, the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Mr. Alao Emiloju will also be in attendance.

Second Edition Of Sven Graversen/FCE Cup Kickoff In Sagamu

 

Plans have been unveiled for the maiden Sven Graversen/FCE Cup, which is billed to debut in Sagamu, featuring six talented football teams. 

The project is of unprecedented scale, which is set to change the face of grassroot football scouting in Nigeria and will be proudly sponsored by Ebedei Sports College. 

The tournament will kick off at the evergreen FC Ebedei Stadium (Pitch A & B), Sagamu, from Wednesday, August 27th, through Friday, August 29th, 2025.

The tournament is majorly for U16 players, with B.E Arena, Ebedei Sports College, Elebuibon Boyz, Star Builders, GreenLock FC, and Karamba FC will compete at the inaugural edition. 

The championship serves as a scouting platform for the Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland, whose Sporting Director, Sven Graversen, is in Nigeria.

MatchDay 1 fixtures and their kickoff schedules for the three-day event have also been released by the organizers. 

It's an 8am clash between two tough and familiar teams Ebedei Sports College versus Elebuibon Boyz. 

At 10 am, B.E. Arena FA will test Star Builders for size while it will be an entertaining one for Karamba FC and GreenLock FC at 3pm.

SWAN's Demand For National Sports Commission Board Inauguration Gains Momentum

 

SWAN's Demand For National Sports Commission Board Inauguration Gains Momentum

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to immediately inaugurate its 17-member governing board.

Established in 1964, SWAN, the umbrella body for all Sports Editors, Reporters, Producers, and Presenters, warned that the Commission is operating in gross violation of its establishing law with the delay of a properly constituted NSC board.

SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, in a statement through Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, on Sunday, said the Commission has been functioning without a statutory board since its creation in October 2024, contrary to the NSC Establishment Act 2023.

“As a statutory board member of the NSC, I'm compelled to urge the Chairman and Director-General to take all necessary steps to inaugurate the board without further delay,” President Benjamin said.

“Operating without a duly constituted board for nearly a year is not only a breach of the law but also undermines transparency and accountability.”

He said Section 2(1) of the Act “is very clear” on the composition of the board, which includes representatives from ministries, sports bodies, the organised private sector, academia, medical field, military, persons with disabilities, the Nigeria Football Federation, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, and SWAN.

“There is no lawful way to run the National Sports Commission without a properly constituted board.

“All major decisions made since October 2024 lack legal backing in the absence of the board,” he added.

The SWAN President also linked the situation to a wider pattern of governance lapses in Nigerian sports, citing ongoing litigation involving the Nigeria Football Federation and controversies surrounding the Athletics Federation of Nigeria elections.

“The NSC cannot continue to function as a two-man entity – comprising only the Chairman and the Director-General – while 15 other constitutionally mandated positions remain unfilled.

“This issue will remain on the front burner until the law is obeyed,” he warned.

SWAN further lamented the neglect of the association in the scheme of operations, particularly in overseeing the engagement of experienced, qualified, and skilled Communication Managers to handle media operations of various sports federations. 

According to President Benjamin, this would “complement the service of the NSC, enhance promotion, and boost the digital marketability of sports for sponsorship drives.” 

He added, “Ignoring SWAN’s expertise in this regard is a missed opportunity to leverage professional sports journalism for national sports growth.”

SWAN also noted that a situation where National and International events are carried out unilaterally without necessary inputs by the  professional sports media body was unacceptable.

"One of the major reasons why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his wisdom approved a National Sports Commission is to enable accelerated and holistic growth and development of Sports in Nigeria. What obtained in the past when sports was under Ministry or bureaucratic encumbrances is supposed to be a thing of the past with the emergence of NSC.

"A situation where unnecessary political/non-professional application or approach is deployed in the day-to-day operations of the Sports Commission is by far not the way to go," the statement said.

8th African Nations Championship: Eagles lose opening match 0-1 to title-holders Senegal

 

8th African Nations Championship: Eagles lose opening match 0-1 to title-holders Senegal

 

Cup-holders Senegal scored with their only shot on goal after a subtle onslaught that teased goalkeeper Lawal Mustapha out of his goalpost, and enabled the Senegalese strikers the opportunity to score the only goal of their African Nations Championship Group B clash in Zanzibar on Tuesday with 15 minutes left.

 

The high-octane encounter in the Indian Ocean Island lived up to its billing, with both teams matched strength-for-strength and pace-for-pace for large swathes of the game at the Amaan Stadium.

 

Goalkeeper Lawal Mustapha read quite well a good cross from the left in the 21st minute, and in the 33rd minute, the Lions of Teranga came close again from a free kick on the right.

 

Despite dominating possession, and throwing bodies manfully during attrition, the Eagles came just short of carving out clear opportunities, as the West African rivals defended with resolution.

 

Leonard Ngenge and captain Junior Nduka worked hard at the rear, just as Tochukwu Michael and Olamilekan Adedayo in the midfield, but Senegal threw several men at every Nigerian onslaught and denied the Eagles clear sight of goal.

 

With a minute left, the Cup-holders could have added another goal with a flowing team move, but Ngenge and Nduka were on hand to clear their lines.

 

Defeat means the Eagles occupy the bottom of group D without a point, following the earlier 1-1 draw between Congo and Sudan which meant the two teams shared the spoils.

 

Next up for Nigeria is their second match of the group phase, against Sudan, also at the Amaan Stadium, on Tuesday next week.