Sports
Albert Onyeanwuna: A Tribute To Soccer Legend
I was holidaying in Port
Harcourt in 1962 when I had the rarest of opportunities to meet the great soccer legend, Albert Onyeanwuna at the Port Harcourt City stadium. This was my second year at the Ibo Union Grammar School, Kano, the elite college which the Igbo merchants of Kano had established and modelled on Britain’s Eton College primarily for their children to attain the highest levels of education in those days. The college was special enough for the Premier of Northern Nigeria the late Sir Ahmadu Bello to send one of his relatives, Sani to attend the college. We were both in Class 2B.
Staying just across the road from the stadium at No. 10 Takoradi Street, Port Harcourt, with my in-law, Francis Uzoenyi, I was not necessarily a soccer addict but as an avid newspaper reader, I knew by their names all the soccer stars of that generation such as Thunder Balogun, Albert Onyeanwuna, Elkanah Onyeali, Dejo Fayemi, Godwin Achebe, Fabian Duru, Augustine Oduah and others. I had never watched a major football match before this one and I was very excited. The Red Devils of NPA, Port Harcourt, was playing ECN of Lagos and the three Onye’s – Onyeador (Green Eagles captain in the early sixties) Onyali and Onyeanwuna were on the team sheet.
The Red Devils were in action and Onyeanwuna scored a brace and the excitement I had was simply too much for me to put up with that I had to write a report of the match and sent it to the Eastern Nigerian Guardian newspaper of Port Harcourt which had its offices close by Takoradi Street on Bathurst Street. I had no inkling that the report would be published until the Monday following the Saturday of the match when the Editor ran the report under my byline Anthony Amadi. It was my first ever printed article and I felt like a million dollars.
Onyeanwuna lived at Lagos Street, Port Harcourt, just a stone throw from my Takoradi Street residence and I used to hang around his No 30 house hoping to see and adore him. A few kids like me used to loiter around as well to see the famous man and he used to honour us with his presence by coming out, his trademark haircut which he wore with a pattern that had a straight line cut on the left side of the massive hair was copied by many soccer buffs in the area.
On the national stage, Onyeanwuna was a sensation and proved a continental threat to defenders of his generation. He always found a way to wriggle through the massed defence, whether it was Lagos teams or international teams clashing with the Nigerian sides that he played for. In the days of the Black Stars of Ghana, Onyeanwuna was probably the only striker that was an antidote to the deadly defenders of the Black Stars. On a major soccer date against the Ghanaians, Lagos used to freeze when they touch down at the Ikeja airport as it was known in those days. They come with their deadly strikers like Agreey Finn, Gyamfi and the rest of them that I cannot remember their names. But Onyeanwuna and the Green Eagles were always going to give a good account of themselves, even though there were days that Ghana gave us a good thrashing.
Looking back, I doubt if Nigeria could ever produce great players like those of that generation. The passion exhibited in those days by players was certainly greater even with the general state of penury that marked the fate of footballers of the fifties and sixties. Onyeanwuna and his generation served Nigeria with more zeal. They still maintained their day jobs at NPA (Nigeria Ports Authority) or ECN (Electricity Corporation of Nigeria) unlike footballers these days that play professionally.
If Onyeanwuna was a British citizen, the premiership we all adore today would hold a series of events in his honour. Matches would not start before at least a one minute silence before is observed in his honour across the country and his name would have become Sir Albert Onyeanwuna MBE (Member of the British Empire).
What is the Federal Minister of Sports, Dr Tamuno Danagogo, waiting to send Onyeanwuna’s name as well as other great footballers that brought immense glory to Nigeria to the National Merit Award for appropriate posthumous honour? What is the Rivers State Government waiting to rename one of the stadiums in Port Harcourt, after Onyeanwuna or at the least, build a monument after Onyeanwuna at No 30 Lagos Street, Port Harcourt or even rename that street after this great man who lived most of his life there in the Garden City to the glory of Nigerian sports.
Thank God that Anambra State is doing something about honouring Onyeanwuna by the string of events penciled down for his burial programme on the 19th of this month at Abatete, his home town by the Action Governor Willie Obiano and his vibrant Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Tony Nnachetta, who is a guru himself in the arena of Nigerian Sports. What makes the new governor tick is simply that he is fixing round pegs in round holes and not placing dummies around him to confuse him the more.
In a News Agency of Nigeria report on September 5, 2014, the Anambra Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Tony Nnacheta, confirmed that the state would immortalise the late football legend, Albert Onyeanwuna, who died on April 22 in Lagos. Nnachetta inaugurated a 15-member burial committee in Awka to plan and execute the burial, and promised that Onyeanwuna would be buried on September 19 at Abatete in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state in recognition of his contribution to Nigerian football. He said the state government had also constituted a 30-man national committee comprising top football personalities across the country, assuring that the late soccer hero would be given a befitting state funeral.
According to the Commissioner, “This is in remembrance of his contributions to the growth and development of the game in Nigeria.” He described the late footballer as an illustrious son of the state, and added that the Anambra State Government would continue to appreciate any son or daughter that brought the state to limelight. He said that burial activities for the football legend would hold in four Nigerian cities — Lagos, Port Harcourt, Awka and Abatete.
He expressed optimism that the events would be hitch-free one of the activities included a novelty football match last Sunday between Lagos All Stars and Lagos SWAN at the Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and his Anambra State counterpart were expected to have been part of the match.
Nnacheta said Rivers State football coaches Association would also play a friendly with Port Harcourt ex-professionals at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, tomorrow and the final football match on September 18 would be played at the home town of the legend between Enugu All Stars and Onitsha All Stars, at Notre Dame College pitch, Abatete.
The late Onyeanwuna would lie in state at the Women’s Development Centre, Awka on September 18 and would be laid to rest after a funeral mass at the St. Dominic Catholic Church, Agbaja, Abatete on September 19.
Onyeanwuna was one of the biggest players of his era, a master dribbler who debuted for the Red Devils, as the Nigerian senior football team was then known, on October 30, 1955. He was a member of the Eastern Region’s Spartans Football Club that won the National Golden Cup for keeps in the 60s.
Looking back to the glory years of Nigerian football, it is necessary that sportsmen are given their due recognition for these are the men and women who made Nigeria proud and the reason that Nigeria is today a great country in the comity of nations. In football Onyeanwuna, Onyeali, Onyeador, Thunder Balogun, Dejo Fayemi, living legends like Segun Odegbemi, Christian Chukwu, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Stephen Keshi and the current Eagles sharp shooter, Ahmed Musa must never be forgotten in a hurry.
Footballers mentioned above were never the type that failed to train or threaten boycott because of pecuniary issues. As we mourn the departure of Onyeanwuna, let us hope that the Ministry of Special Duties that compile national honours would not fail to put his name up to be immortalised Onyeanwuna with a major national honouror name one of the stadia that dot the country after this illustrious sone of Nigeria.
May the soul of Albert Onyeanwuna rest in perfect peace.
Amadi writes from Port Harcourt
Sports
Former Champion Seeks Title Defence At Para Table Tennis Tourney
The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist spoke to Tidesports source her desire to defend her para singles title in the women’s category and to also secure a qualification berth for both the regional West Africa para table tennis event in Abeokuta in September and the continental championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt in November.
The multiple Paralympian said, “My expectation is to come out great at this wonderful tournament and to qualify for the forthcoming tournament that is coming up in Nigeria and Egypt in September and November. Last tournament, I won the singles. I won three golds at the last ValueJet tournament. And I want to believe and hope that I will maintain my position by coming in first position.”
Ugwueke had featured in the para event at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in January, where she suffered a stunning defeat to eventual finalist and tournament runner-up Taiye Oyinloye, who in turn was beaten 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) by Commonwealth Games medallist, Kate Oputa, to become the women’s class 1-5 champion.
The ValueJet Lagos Para table tennis Open, which is in its seventh edition, is an event sanctioned by the governing body ITTF Africa and put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission.
The event will come to a close on July 11, with the competition serving as qualifiers for the country’s players for the regional tournament in Abeokuta.
A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events.
Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.
Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.
Sports
Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans
The AIU announced in the June 2025 sanctions list on July 1 that 21-year-old quarter-miler Uko was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation committed on June 5 2024. Her infraction falls under whereabouts failures, having missed three tests within a 12-month period.
The AIU confirmed that her period of ineligibility will run until 23 July 2026 and all results recorded from the date of the infraction have been officially disqualified.
Uko rose to fame after clinching three gold medals at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, winning the women’s 400 metres, 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay.
Stephen Eloji (June 2028)
Sprinter and hurdler Stephen Eloji tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-
The 25-year-old was active in the American collegiate circuit, recording strong performances in the 110m hurdles and relay events as recently as April 2024, including at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Music City Challenge.
Ada Princess Bright (September 2027)
Ada Princess Bright is serving a four-year ineligibility period after testing positive for Metenolone during the National Athletics Trials held on July 6 2023 in Benin City.
She had an active season prior to her suspension, competing in national meets in Lagos, Uyo, and Benin, and earning a relay gold at the African U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.
Grace Nwokocha (August 2025)
Nwokocha is serving a three-year ban after testing positive for SARMS substances including Ostarine and Ligandrol during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The fallout was significant, as Nigeria was stripped of its women’s 4x100m relay gold medal at the Games. Prior to her suspension, she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, posted a personal best of 11.00s in the 100m, and reached the semi-finals in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She is ineligible to compete until 2 August 2025.
Yinka Ajayi (January 2030)
Ajayi, a 400m specialist and one-time Olympic representative, is currently serving an extended eight-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.
The first sanction, issued after she tested positive for Metenolone in an out-of-competition test in Iowa, USA, led to a four-year ban starting in December 2021. However, further findings of tampering led to an additional four-year penalty in 2024, extending her suspension until January 25 2030.
Glory Okon (January 2026)
Glory Okon is serving a four-year ban for testing positive for Metenolone following an out-of-competition test conducted on December 2 2021 in Nigeria.
She previously won gold in the 400 metres at the 2019 African U-20 Championships in Abidjan and featured prominently at the 2021 National Sports Festival in Benin City.
Blessing Okagbare (July 2031)
Once the face of Nigerian athletics, Okagbare is now serving a 10-year ban following multiple anti-doping rule violations. She tested positive for human growth hormone and EPO in an out-of-competition test in June 2021.
Her suspension came while competing at the Tokyo Olympics and was announced in February 2022. It was later extended by an additional year in June 2022 due to further breaches.
Divine Oduduru (February 2029)
Oduduru’s career was derailed by anti-doping violations linked to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On October 12 2023, a Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU imposed a six-year ban on Oduduru after he was found guilty of possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances and methods. The case stemmed from the wider investigation into Eric Lira, the first individual convicted under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, who supplied banned substances to athletes, including Okagbare, ahead of the Tokyo Games.
Oduduru’s ban is effective from February 9, 2023 and will run until February 8, 2029.
Henry Azike (Lifetime ban)
Azike is one of two Nigerian athletes currently serving a lifetime ban after testing positive for Metenolone, an anabolic steroid. His case was classified as a second ADRV, automatically triggering a lifetime suspension from the sport.
Azike last competed in 2011, including at the Doha Amir Cup and Nigerian Championships in Calabar.
Vivian Chukwuemeka (Lifetime ban)
Two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Vivian Chukwuemeka is serving a lifetime ban for a second doping offence after testing positive for Stanozolol at the 2012 National Championships in Calabar.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion and multiple-time African gold medallist had previously served a two-year ban following a 2009 positive test. Her personal best of 18.43m remains the African record in women’s shot put.
Sports
Eagles B Players Admit Pressure For CHAN Qualification

Invited players into the Super Eagles B camp ahead of the rescheduled African Nations Championship tournament are feeling the pressure of selection, three days into their training camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The eighth CHAN tournament is taking place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between August 2 to 20.
Ahead of the tournament, head coach Eric Chelle had invited an initial 35 players to camp and they began training on Monday with 21 players.
Five more players arrived on Tuesday to take the number to 26 while 28 players trained on Wednesday morning with the rest expected before the end of the week.
Captain of the team through the qualifiers, Junior Nduka, spoke about the intensity of the sessions and the jostle to make the final squad.
“Everybody is under pressure but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” Nduka said.
River United and former Flying Eagles forward, Aniekeme Okon, also admitted the pressure.
“It puts pressure on us, 35 players being invited, everybody is going to give out their best with an expectation of being selected. So we keep pushing.”
Ikorodu City defender, Leonard Ngenge also said, “Obviously, it puts everyone under pressure even myself. But I just need to do my best to be on the coaches’ radar.”
Nigeria, the 2018 runners-up, are in group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo.
The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.
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