The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.

Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.

In a bid to enhance the operational effectiveness and overall performance of Nigerian athletes, the National Sports Commission (NSC) have signed a memorandum towards a fixed period for the National Sports Festival (NSF), as well as an affirmation of the Rules to streamline the number of sports at the Festival has been approved by the National Council on Sports.
The both memoranda were presented at the Extraordinary National Council of Sports meeting, that took place on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State and were approved accordingly.
In a communique signed by the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, it noted that the Council gave its approval for the National Sports Festival to be held between November and December of the Festival year.
The decision was reached in order to align with international best practices, as it is essential to maintain a stable and predictable sports calendar for our traditional national competitions such as the National Sports Festival.
A fixed period for the NSF would improve organisation, participant engagement, financial and logistical efficiency, and marketing and sponsorship opportunities of the NSF.
The communique also stated that the Council reaffirmed its decision on Rule 11 (i), (ii), and (iii) of the 2024 National Sports Festival General Rules and Regulations, as reached at the Extraordinary Council Meeting held in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
The Rule 11(i) stated that a maximum of 32 sports shall feature at the Festival (27 compulsory and five optional).
Rule 11(ii) affirmed that the compulsory sports were selected based on their popularity in the 36 States, including the FCT, State entries in the sports in previous Festivals, and the standard of Nigeria’s participation in the sport at the international level.
Rule 11(iii) stated that the Host State is at liberty to select a maximum of 5 sports out of the 25 optional sports to make up the 32 sports to feature in the Festival.
This move will help stabilize the number of sports at the multisports event, to mitigate irregular changes that may affect management and organization of the Games.
The Council commended the Federal Government for its dedication to developing sports in the country by establishing the NSC.
The Council also appreciated the Ogun State Government for their commitment to hosting the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival.
The 22nd National Sports Festival, Tagged Gateway Games, will take place from May 18-30, 2025 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.