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Kwara set for Golf tourney as 297 players vie for ₦15m prize

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The city of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, is set to host one of Nigeria’s biggest golf events of the year as 297 golfers from across the country and beyond storm the Ilorin Golf Course for the second edition of the ICMA Pro-Am Open 2025, which tees off on Thursday.

The four-day championship, featuring both professional and amateur golfers, boasts a prize purse of ₦15 million and is expected to inject excitement and economic activity into the city.

Among the top names confirmed for the tournament are defending champion, Okoko Godwin, Ekpe Francis, Sunday Olopade, and Peter Kakasiaka, alongside a host of emerging stars eager to make their mark.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the Captain of Ilorin Golf Club, Mr Jide Allen, said the ICMA Pro-Am has grown into one of Nigeria’s most anticipated golf events, combining sport, tourism, and youth development.

“This tournament has become a symbol of sporting excellence and community engagement. We’re proud to have Ilorin as a hub for golf in Nigeria,” Allen said.

He disclosed that professionals and Category One players will open play on Thursday, while 170 amateur golfers will hit the course on Saturday after a welcome cocktail scheduled for Friday night.

Allen also praised ICMA Professional Services, the event’s sponsor, for its consistent support through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

“Every Monday, we open the course to young players to encourage grassroots participation. This is part of our vision to grow the next generation of golfers,” he added.

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On his part, Farouk Ismail, former captain of the Ilorin Golf Club and ICMA representative, disclosed that the event had attracted players from Cameroon and Ghana, adding international flair to the competition.

“This year’s tournament promises to be more competitive and colourful.

“ICMA’s commitment to this project reflects our belief that sports can drive social and economic development,” Ismail said.

Endorsed by the Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria, the tournament’s first edition, held last year, was hailed for its top-notch organisation and impact.

Organisers say this year’s edition will raise the bar even higher, cementing Ilorin’s place on Nigeria’s golfing map.

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Finance ministry confirms release of Super Eagles’ bonuses for AFCON

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The Federal Government has said all group-stage bonuses due to Super Eagles players at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations have been released and are expected to reflect in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this on Thursday while responding to reports that the national team was considering boycotting training sessions and could decline to travel to Marrakesh for their quarter-final clash against Algeria.

In a post on her official X handle, Uzoka-Anite said the concerns over unpaid bonuses had been resolved through coordinated action by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria have successfully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice,” she said.

She explained that all bonuses earned by the players during the group stage of the tournament had been fully processed and cleared through the required regulatory procedures.

“All group-stage bonuses were fully released and have now cleared the necessary regulatory stages,” the minister stated.

Uzoka-Anite added that a fast-track process was introduced to meet the players’ preferences for payment in foreign currency. “We have implemented a fast-track conversion process to move funds into foreign currency, honouring the players’ preferences,” she said.

According to her, the final stage of the payment process is already underway, with transfers to the players’ domiciliary accounts currently in progress. “The final transfers to domiciliary accounts are currently in flight. Players can expect these funds to reflect starting today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday),” she added.

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The minister stressed that the government remains focused on the welfare and morale of the team as they advance into the knockout phase of the competition. “Our focus remains entirely on supporting the team’s welfare so they can maintain their incredible momentum in the knockout rounds,” she said.

Uzoka-Anite also assured that the administration was committed to ensuring that off-field issues do not distract the players from their performance at the tournament. “We move forward with one goal: Bringing the trophy home!” she said.

The update is expected to ease concerns around the team’s preparations ahead of their quarter-final fixture as the Super Eagles continue their campaign at AFCON 2025.

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Morocco to host draw for 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON Qualifiers

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the draw for the 2026 CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers will take place today in Rabat, Morocco.

The qualification process will be played over two home-and-away knockout rounds, with seven teams set to qualify for the 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON final tournament, where they will join host nation Morocco.

A total of 17 countries will compete for places at the continental tournament. They are Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The final tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2026 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Morocco have hosted and won the last two editions of the men’s Futsal AFCON. They lifted the trophy in Laayoune in 2020 with a dominant 5–0 victory over Egypt in the final, before successfully defending the title in Rabat in 2024 after a 5–1 win against Angola.

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AFCON 2025: Super Eagles must maintain winning formula against Algeria — Adepoju

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Former Nigerian international, Mutiu Adepoju has urged the Super Eagles to maintain their winning formula as they prepare to face Algeria in Saturday’s quarter-final clash at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria, three-time AFCON champions, secured a convincing 4–0 victory over Mozambique in the round of 16, while Algeria needed extra time to edge past DR Congo to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Speaking with Footy Africa, the 1994 AFCON winner praised the Super Eagles’ dominant display against Mozambique but warned that Algeria would present a much tougher challenge.

“It was a very good win and I would say it was a statement victory,” Adepoju said. “They played very well and got the goals, which is what has been expected throughout this tournament.

“We have been improving game by game, and I hope that improvement continues in the quarter-finals. The performance was tremendous, the play was good, and it was total dominance over the Mozambicans. It was a very good win.

“Hopefully, we can replicate the same performance against Algeria, who will be another difficult side.”

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