Sports
Minister Tasks S’Eagles On 2026 W’Cup Ticket
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, has urged the Super Eagles of Nigeria to start their qualifying campaign strong and pick a ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they host Lesotho tomorrow in Uyo.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The minister said this yesterday in Abuja, ahead of the team’s opening home game against Lesotho tomorrow.
The Eagles will thereafter lock horns with Zimbabwe on Sunday in match day two of the doubleheader qualifiers.
He stressed the need for the team to be ruthless and avoid taking the same route that led to the heartbreaking non-qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“The memory of losing out during the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians.
“The team should avoid leaving their fate to permutations. We should bring out our best to pick the first six points in front of us,” he said.
Owan-Enoh expressed confidence in the team’s ability and highlighted the immense pride the nation holds for the Super Eagles.
He urged the technical crew and the players to put their best foot forward in the two crucial games.
“I have complete faith in our talented squad. The Super Eagles have a rich history of success, and we believe they are fully capable of securing two wins in the upcoming matches.
“This is not just a football game; it is a representation of the spirit and resilience of the Nigerian people. I encourage our players to give their all on the field and make the nation proud,” he charged.
The minister also commended the coaching crew, led by Jose Peseiro, and support personnel for their dedication and hard work in preparing the team.
“As the Minister of Sports Development, I want to assure the full support of the government.
“We will continue to invest in sports infrastructure, training facilities, and program that nurture the talent of our young athletes,” he said.
Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow’s qualifier, 22 players have arrived the Super Eagles camp in Uyo as they fine tune preparation ahead of the fixtures against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Sixteen players arrived the team’s camp yesterday, increasing the number to 22.
Bendel Insurance goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie is now the only player being expected in camp.
Obasogie replaced injured Udinese of Italy shot stopper, Maduka Okoye in the team.
The Super Eagles were expected to hold two training sessions (on Tuesday and Wednesday) before facing Lesotho tomorrow.
The match against the Likuena is slated for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Jose Peseiro’s side will also do battle with the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium, Butare, on Sunday.
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.