Sports
Director Charges CAF On Reforms
The Abia Director of Sports, Ejikeme Ikwunze, has urged the African Football Confederation (CAF) to introduce “drastic reforms’’ that would bring positive change to football in Africa.
Ikwunze made the call in an interview with Tidesports in Umuahia on Sunday. He dwelt on the challenges of the continental football governing body.
He said there was need for a transformation of African football to meet the standard in Europe, to check the exodus of talents from the continent to other parts of the world.
He regretted that African football had not improved significantly since the inception of CAF in 1957.
Ikwunze blamed the situation on the “obsolete ideas’’ of the leadership of the confederation.
He also regretted that CAF was recycling its executive members, citing the re-election of its president, Issa Hayatou, who had remained in office as president since 1988, as an instance.
Ikwunze attributed Hayatou’s re-election and the failure of the President, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Aminu Maigari, to make the CAF executive to “Francophone connections and power of language.’’
“CAF is not doing well because it is recycling persons. CAF is recycling Hayatou,’’ Ikwunze, popularly called “Mr Football’’, said.
“In Africa, we have 53 countries that make up CAF and about 75 per cent of the membership is Francophone and they employed the power of language in the election.
“Maigari would have been a wonderful man to be in the CAF executive. He deserved to be there,’’ Ikwunze said, regretting that “he was schemed out due to Francophone connection’’.
He advised the NFF president not to be discouraged by the outcome of the election.
“Abraham Lincoln failed election many times in America but kept on trying, so Maigari should not be discouraged,’’ he said.
He described Maigari as “a good, gentle, highly organised and a very articulate man,’’ arguing that he had brought transformation to football administration in Nigeria.
Ikwunze urged CAF to emulate FIFA’s outstanding performance over the years, saying: ‘’FIFA has introduced a number of reforms, why can’t CAF do the same?’’
He also described CAF’s 1.5 million dollars cash prize for winning AFCON, as “paltry and insulting,’’ adding that such an amount should be for teams that merely qualified for the championship.
Ikwunze said the 10 million dollars usually disbursed to the body by FIFA annually as part of its financial assistance programme had not been substantially deployed to football development and players’ welfare.
The sports director appealed to CAF to replicate FIFA’s ‘financial assistance programmes and goals projects’ in Africa to promote football development and players’ welfare.
Ikwunze also lamented that no Nigerian had officiated as centre referee in the finals of CAF-organised tournaments, while smaller countries had continued to officiate in that capacity.
He warned that ‘’Nigeria will continue to lose out due to the intrigues in CAF,’’ and urged the country to “learn football politics and get involved in it.’’
Ikwunze, who recently authored a book on “World Cup: A Statistical Analysis from 1930-2010,’’ called for a reliable data base and proper documentation on African football.Ex-South African Keeper Tasks Team On Defence
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi began his 2026 season with victory at the Orlen Cup in ?ód?, producing a dominant 20.82m throw to win the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Poland, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Africa record holder finished ahead of Romania’s Andrei Toader, who placed second with 20.55m, while Serbia’s Armin Sinan?evi? took third on 19.93m.
Poland’s Szymon Mazur, the best-placed home athlete, finished fourth with 19.69m, with Italy’s Nick Ponzio completing the top five on 19.58m.
The rest of the field was headed by Piotr Go?dziewicz (18.02m), Jakub Korejba (17.55m), Wojciech Marok (17.48m), Damian Rodziak (17.23m) and Ukraine’s Maksym Lebediuk (15.75m).
Enekwechi’s winning mark gave him a clear margin over the field and underlined his status as one of world’s leading throwers, as he laid down an early marker for the new campaign in his traditional season-opening competition.
The result also marked an improvement shift in his Orlen Cup history. This was his third consecutive appearance at the meeting and his third straight season opener with the event, having previously finished second in 2024 with 21.14m and again in 2025 with 20.88m.
On this occasion, he converted consistency into victory, finally standing on the top step of the podium in ?ód?.
Enekwechi is the reigning two-time African champion in the shot put, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a two-time African Games champion, having won titles in 2019 and 2023.
His performance in Poland continues a career trajectory that has established him as Nigeria’s leading figure in the event and one of the continent’s most reliable performers on the global circuit.
The women’s competition at the meeting was won by Poland’s Zuzanna Ma?lana.
With the 2026 season now under way, Enekwechi’s opening victory at the Orlen Cup sets an early tone for the year ahead, as he builds momentum towards major continental and international championships.
The next edition of the Orlen Cup is scheduled to take place in ?ód? in February 2027.
Tanzanian giants Simba have opened discussions over a potential move for Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as they look to reinforce their squad following an injury to first-choice shot-stopper Moussa Camara, Tidesports source reports.
The 29-year-old, who plays for South Africa Premiership side Chippa United, is in the final six months of his contract and is eligible to enter pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs.
Foot Africa reported that Simba are exploring the possibility of bringing Nwabali to Dar es Salaam either during the current window or on a free transfer at the end of the season, although no agreement has been reached.
“Sources have indicated that Simba are in active talks with the player’s camp in a bid to lure him to Dar es Salaam in the ongoing window or on a free transfer – but no agreement reached,” Foot Africa reported.
Simba’s interest has been accelerated by Camara’s knee injury, which prompted the club to move quickly to sign Mahamadou Tanja Kassila from Niger’s AS FAN.
The club are reportedly considering deregistering Camara to accommodate the new foreign signing, a situation that has frustrated the Guinea international, who has asked for the remaining six months of his contract to be terminated.
In their search for a longer-term solution, Simba identified Nwabali as a prime target, although formal negotiations with his club have yet to begin.
“Simba identified Nwabali as the ideal successor to Camara, but the club is yet to submit a formal bid to Chippa United, who are open to offers,” Foot Africa added.
Nwabali’s profile has continued to rise following his performances for Nigeria, most notably at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he kept four clean sheets in seven matches as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal.
Oyo State is set to return to the continental football spotlight as it prepares to host Nigeria’s Falconets in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Senegal’s Lioness of Teranga.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The Oyo State Government said the state was selected for the fixture following its successful hosting of a previous Falconets’ qualifier, further underlining its growing profile as a destination for international sporting events.
In a statement on Monday Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, confirmed that preparations were in top gear to ensure a hitch-free match. She said the choice of Oyo State as host was a reflection of confidence in the state’s sporting infrastructure, organisational competence and security architecture.
She recalled the emphatic victory recorded by the Falconets against Rwanda at the same venue last year, describing the match as a testament to the state’s readiness to stage major sporting events.
“The successful hosting of the Falconets against Rwanda showcased Oyo State’s world-class facilities and our capacity to organise international fixtures that meet global standards,” Adegoke said. “The Lekan Salami Stadium has continued to serve as a fortress for our national teams, and we are confident the Falconets will once again make the nation proud.”
Adegoke also disclosed that the Falconets are expected to arrive in Ibadan today ahead of the qualifier, to allow ample time for acclimatisation and final preparations. She added that the team would enjoy full logistical support from the state throughout their stay.
The Falconets, who reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Japan 14 years ago, will go into the last round of the qualifying series if they win this encounter, to confront the winner of the Guinea-Bissau/Malawi fixture, for one of Africa’s four tickets at the final tournament.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Poland, from September 5 to 27, 2026.