Sports
Omidiran Drops NFF Ambition For Politics
Long time woman football club proprietor, Ayo Omidiran at the weekend withdrew from the election into the NFF executive committee after getting her party’s nomination to contest for elections into the House of Representatives.
Omidiran was one of five candidates seeking to be elected as chairperson of the Women’s Football Board last weekend, a position that automatically guarantees a seat on the NFF board.
But the owner of Omidiran Babes, a women’s football club, beat six other candidates to claim the ticket to run for a seat in the lower house under the aegis of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in her home state of Osun.
If she wins the election in April, she will represent Ayedabee/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constitency.
Omidiran said she decided to peel off from the NFF elections to channel her energies towards the April general elections
“I did not step down for anybody,” she said. “I just think it will be appropriate for me to pursue my political ambition rather than pursue two major projects at the same time. To me the House of Reps ticket is a bigger platform,” she says.
The former NFF board member did promise, however, to offer her support to whoever emerges as the chairperson if elected into the lower chamber.
“Football remains my first love even though I will be going into the house to represent the interests of my constituency. However my support for the game and to our representative remains intact,” she said.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
-
News2 hours ago
Fubara Recommits To Wellbeing Of Rivers People
-
Rivers2 hours ago
Rivers Partner TAF To Promote Disability Inclusion
-
News2 hours agoFubara Urges Rivers People To Remain Peaceful, Law-abiding …As Eze Worlu-Wodo Inaugurates Palace For Akpor Kingdom
-
Featured2 hours agoWe’ll Comply With Supreme Court Judgement, Fubara Assures …As CJ Inaugurates Judges’ Quarters
-
News3 hours ago
Lassa Fever: Death Toll Rises To 15 In Edo
-
Niger Delta2 hours ago
Ex-Ogbia Youth Leader Lauds Police, Others Over Kidnap Victims’ Rescue … Condemns Kidnapping
-
News3 hours ago
NiMet Warns 19 States Of Impending Heat Stress, Urges Safety Precautions
-
Niger Delta2 hours ago
Diri Rejects S’South PDP Congress … Calls For Unity