Sports
LMC Fines Ex-Eagles Star, Officials
The League Management
Company (LMC) last week said it had sanctioned two senior club officials, a coach and 12 match officials, including four referees and eight assistant referees.
In a statement, LMC said the 15 of them were charged under the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rules for various acts considered inimical to the good of the game.
“The General Manager of FC Taraba of Jalingo, Tijani Babangida, and that of Heartland FC of Owerri, Okechukwu Ibe who is also a Director of LMC, have been fined N50,000 and N200,000 respectively.
“They were sanctioned for comments and behaviour which were in breach of some sections of the Code of Conduct for club officials under the NPFL rules,’’ the league organising body said.
LMC similarly said Abia Warriors’ Head Coach Ladan Bosso was fined N50,000 for comments it ruled to be in breach of regulations.
It said this was in line with Article 14 of the Code of Conduct for coaches and managers and Article C1 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
“Babangida and Bosso were punished for public comments against referees, comments considered capable of bringing the league to disrepute, while Ibe was charged for acts capable of bringing the league to disrepute.
“This included excessive complaints against the referee during Heartland FC’s Match Day 11 fixture against Enyimba International.
“Babangida’s charge followed his comments to the media on the Match Day 11 fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and FC Taraba, even after he had followed the official channels to lay a complaint about the officiating.
“This was even after he was aware that his complaint was being dealt with.
“Bosso’s charge is in relation to comments he made to the media against the referee after the Match Day 12 fixture between Rangers and Abia Warriors.
“The LMC believes he failed to act in an ethical and professional manner, in the best interest of the game, and he made statements capable of bringing the game to disrepute,” the statement said.
The LMC then asked all those sanctioned to within 48 hours accept the respective sanctions imposed or elect to defend themselves before a commission.
“They have all accepted the charges and apologised,’’ it said in the statement.
The LMC said it had also forwarded the cases of the match officials to the Referees Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“We have requested that the listed officials’ performances be reviewed and they should be dropped from further officiating NPFL games, pending the conclusion of the review of their performance in some matches.
“In referring the case to the Committee, the LMC expressed dissatisfaction with their performances in some fixtures of Match Days 11 and 12,’’ the statement said.
It said referee Jerry Akure from Benue and his assistants, Aliyu Jingi of Bauchi State and Garba Musa from Yobe, were charged for below par handling of a match.
The match was the Match Day 11 fixture in Umuahia between Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars.
“Referee Maaji Mohammed and his assistants Abbas J. and Alfa Gimba, all of Niger Referees Council, were charged for poor officiating in the fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and FC Taraba, also on Match Day 11.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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