Editorial
Rising Profile Of Nigerian Football
In the recent couple of weeks, the lot of Nigerian football has been on the rise on world stage following cheering news on and off the pitch.
On the 14th of this month, Nigeria’s women football team, Super Falcons, broke every available record in clinching their sixth African Women Championship title in seven attempts after beating their Equatorial Guinean opponents 4-2 in the final match of the seventh edition in South Africa.
To win the championship, the Falcons, kept a 100 per cent performance, winning all matches, scoring a whooping 19 goals and conceding only four. Apart from the ultimate prize, Falcons’ players, Perpetual Nkwocha and Stella Mbachu, won the individual awards of Highest Goal Scorer (11 goals) and Most Valuable Player (MVP), respectively while the team carted home the Fair Play award.
This came just few months after the nation’s U-20 women team, Falconets stunned the world in the FIFA Women World Cup in Germany in August.
The Falconets, became the first African women team to finish second in any tournament at that level, and thus, Africa’s best.
Off the pitch, ex-internationals, Mike Emenalo and Finidi George were elevated to unprecedented high positions of responsibility at Chelsea Football Club, England, and Real Betis in Spain.
While Emenalo was named assistant coach of the defending English Premiership Champions, Chelsea team, George was appointed director of international scouting in Real Betis.
After the abysmal performance of the senior national team, the Super Eagles, at the last 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the air of disappointment that followed, the recent success stories really provide a welcome relief for soccer loving Nigerians.
As has been demonstrated in the past, Nigeria has the potential to rule the world in the game of soccer and the manpower to thrust forward some of the best technical hands in the game.
That Emenalo and George could be handed such huge responsibilities by big European clubs shows that hardwork, commitment and loyalty have their rewards, even in a foreign land.
Theirs is a case study, and challenge to other Nigerian players and coaches. They should not limit their scope within the shores of the country but have the entire world as their territory.
However, Emenalo and George must see their new positions as an opportunity to prove their mettle and live up to expectations of their compatriots.
The managers of the game in Nigeria, especially the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), must feel challenged by the recent developments, and take steps that would sustain the achievements of the nation’s teams by creating the enabling environment for players and ex-players to fully explore their potentials.
Now also is the time for Super Falcons to rise up and raise the standards to the world stage, especially the forthcoming FIFA Women World Cup in Germany, next year.
They must show that their prowess goes beyond the African continent, and drop the toga of under-achievers at the world stage, as it seems they are in better position to lift the game higher as did their male counterparts in the past.
Also, the male national teams must take up the challenge raised by the recent successes of their female counterparts in order to re-establish themselves in Africa and the world.
While Nigerians celebrate the recent surge in profile of our football and emergence of our citizens in world club football roles, the country ought not be carried away by the euphoria but must know that the real work towards sustaining the achievements starts now.
Editorial
Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Editorial
That FEC’s Decision On Tertiary Institutions

Editorial
Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
-
Sports2 days ago
CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
-
Sports2 days ago
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
-
Sports2 days ago
NPFL club name Iorfa new GM
-
Sports2 days ago
NNL abolishes playoffs for NPFL promotion
-
Sports2 days ago
Kwara Hopeful To Host Confed Cup in Ilorin
-
Sports2 days ago
NSF: Early preparations begin for 2026 National Sports Festival
-
Sports2 days ago
RSG Award Renovation Work At Yakubu Gowon Stadium
-
Sports2 days ago
RSG Pledges To Develop Baseball