The maiden edition of the Benin Unity Cup will kick off in Benin, Edo State, on November 20 and will end on December 20.
Sponsor of the event, Senator Neda Imasuen, who is representing Edo South in the Senate, said his motivation came from a burning desire to empower young people and revive Edo’s historic football culture.
Imasuen, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, said, “This initiative is not about my position, but about helping our youths discover their purpose.
“Edo is overflowing with untapped talents. We must harness these opportunities so that our young people can have dignity, respect, and pride in what they do.”
He added that the tournament was aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the sporting vision of Governor Monday Okpebholo, both of whom have emphasised youth empowerment as a pillar of sustainable development.
He added, “Empowerment isn’t just about giving people jobs; it’s about helping them become who they are meant to be. Through sports, we can tackle unemployment, idleness, and restiveness among our youths,” Imasuen stressed.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, commended the senator’s vision, describing it as a legacy project that would live beyond his tenure. Shaibu pledged NIS support for the initiative.
Also, Chairman of the Edo Football Association, Fred Newton, hailed the tournament and assured that international scouts have confirmed attendance for the tournament, promising young players a real shot at professional exposure abroad.
According to the draws, Group A has Ovia North-East, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, and Uhumwonde, while Oredo One, Ovia South-West, Orhionmwon, and Oredo Two make up Group B.
Apart from trophies and medals, the winning team will smile home with N1m, the first runner-up gets N700,000, the third-placed team gets N500,000, and N300,000 will go to the fourth-placed team.
In addition, each team will also get N100,000 mobilisation allowances and a set of jerseys each.
Flamingos of Nigeria will take on Italy in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, as the knockout stage gets underway this week in Morocco.
The highly anticipated clash is set for Tuesday, October 28, at the Stade Olympique de Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
Naija News reports that the Flamingos are heading into the fixture full of confidence after their dominant 4-0 win over Samoa on Saturday in Rabat. The result sealed their qualification and continued their strong run in the tournament, as they push for a maiden world title.
Host nation Morocco will also play later that night when they face South Korea at the Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 2 in Sale. The match is expected to draw a lively crowd, with home supporters eager to cheer the Atlas Lionesses into the quarter-finals.
Earlier on Tuesday, Brazil will face China PR, while the United States take on the Netherlands, both kicking off at 4:30 p.m. in Sale.
The excitement continues on Wednesday, October 29, with Mexico facing Paraguay and defending champions Spain locking horns with France in what promises to be a thrilling all-European tie. Later in the evening, Canada meets Zambia, while Japan will square off with Colombia to complete the Round of 16 fixtures.
All matches will be played across Rabat and Sale, with global coverage available through major broadcasters and FIFA’s official streaming platforms.
Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, believes a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury is finally within reach, declaring that the British heavyweight rivalry “is more possible now than ever.”
In a chat with Marca, the former unified world champion said Fury has finally run out of excuses and must face him next.
“I think it’s very possible. I think it’s more possible now than ever. He has no options anymore. He has to fight me,” Anthony Joshua said.
His comments come weeks after Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, revealed that the former WBC champion was more interested in a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk than in the all-British clash fans have been waiting for.
“The fight he really wants is another go with Mr Usyk; he really wants that,” Warren told Sky Sports in October.
Fury, who briefly announced his fifth retirement earlier this year, has endured back-to-back losses to Usyk, both on points. Those defeats remain the only blemishes on his professional record.
The rivalry between Joshua and Fury has been simmering for years. Talks for a fight have collapsed more than once, leaving fans frustrated as both men took different paths in their careers.
Joshua, 35, appears eager to seize his last chance to reclaim the heavyweight division’s top spot. He has spoken about wanting to match Muhammad Ali’s record by becoming a three-time world champion, and he sees Fury as the key to that dream.
Time is running out for both fighters, and Joshua seems convinced the moment has finally arrived.
“I’ve always said, it’s not a matter of if, but when,” he added, hinting that one of boxing’s biggest rivalries might finally get the ending fans have been waiting for.
Presidential elections for several sports federations will take place on Saturday (today) at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, with the National Sports Commission overseeing the process to ensure transparency and adherence to due process.
The elections come after weeks of controversy and interventions by the NSC, which has been working to ensure fair and credible processes across multiple federations.
In tennis, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, is tipped to emerge as president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation following his acceptance to contest for the position.
Ochei was recently nominated by the National Sports Commission as the Sponsorship/Philanthropist representative on the board of the federation. However, the businessman, who for many years sponsored the Wheelchair Tennis Championship, has been successfully lobbied by some stakeholders to contest for the top job.
While Ochei is tipped for the presidency, stakeholders are reportedly working hard to get former Nigerian tennis superstars Nduka Odizor, David Imonitie and Sadiq Abdullahi to join the board.
Explaining the stakeholders’ choice of Ochei as NTF president, a representative of the stakeholders, Caleb Tsav, said it is important that tennis gets it right this term to put the federation on the right growth path.
“Ochei has faithfully and diligently committed about N200 million in sponsoring the yearly Davnotch Open Tennis Championship for half a decade (2021-2025),” Tsav said.
“To buttress his affinity for tennis, he is an Audemars Piguet Ambassador, as he religiously attends the four yearly global tennis grand slams for over a decade. As an avowed sports aficionado, he equally sponsors the yearly Onicha-Olona Unity Cup football tournament for the past five years.
“He also constructed the Donald Ochei mini-stadium in his home town, Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North LGA, Delta State, a feat that is worthy of emulation.”
In kickboxing, the federation conducted board member elections on September 16, with Emmanuel Atagana winning the Technical Representative position with 23 votes, ahead of Kevin Onyika, who got 11 votes. In the Athlete Representative category, Jibrin Inuwa Baba secured 22 votes, defeating Olakunle Awoyele, who polled 11 votes.
Air Vice Marshal Batnan Frama, former Director of Sports at the Defence Headquarters, has been screened as a presidential candidate for the Kickboxing Federation, while GM Nelson Oluigbo, winner of the South-West Representative position, was screened for the vice president position.
In gymnastics, presidential candidate Omowunmi Olalere has called for transparency, inclusiveness, and adherence to due process in the federation elections, urging the NSC to ensure a credible process that reflects the voices of all stakeholders.
The fresh elections follow the annulment of the September polls, which saw incumbent president Kelvin Erhunmwunse emerge unopposed. The NSC declared the elections inconsistent with national sports governance principles after complaints from affected parties.
Olalere welcomed the NSC’s intervention but rejected an offer to accept the position of second vice-president, insisting that accepting an appointment without due process would further alienate stakeholders.
“Accepting the position of vice-president without due process would further disenfranchise many people. The NSC press release clearly stated that zonal representative elections must be conducted,” she said.
“If these zonal elections do not hold, and I simply accept an appointed position, it would compromise my integrity and go against my principles. It would also deepen grievances within the gymnastics family.”
Meanwhile, president of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Dr Musa Oshodi, has commended the NSC, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, and other stakeholders for resolving the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria’s impasse.
In a statement, Oshodi appreciated the fair and transparent approach used to address the issues.
“Every aspect of the matter was carefully considered and treated on its merits, culminating in a just and fair resolution acceptable to all parties involved,” he noted.
Oshodi apologised to NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade for any miscommunication that may have caused misunderstandings related to the Judo Federation.
Looking ahead, Oshodi expressed optimism that the same constructive approach will be applied to address challenges facing the Judo Federation, promoting good governance and sports development in Nigeria.
The NSC has been actively involved in ensuring fair electoral procedures across multiple federations, having previously suspended planned polls in both boxing and judo federations after widespread concerns over electoral irregularities and inadequate preparation time for prospective candidates.
