Sports
Kada Stars Consolidate Top Spot In Hockey League
Kada Stars of Kaduna last Wednesday consolidated on their top position at the ongoing National Hockey Super League in Abuja as they held defending champions Niger Flickers to a 1-1 draw.
Tidesports source reports that the league which flicked off on August 25 at the Asro-turf pitch of Package B National Stadium is expected to end tomorrow.
The Star game of match day five saw the defending champions, Niger Flickers come into the game desperately needing a win to stake their claim as top spot contenders, while Kada Stars looked to consolidate their lead as table toppers.
The Kaduna boys who could have slipped off from the top position had they lost to the defending champions opened the scoring in the 50th minute of the clash.
This was through a lovely field goal scored by Kelvin Linus after an intense 49 minutes of battle against the defending champions.
The three-time champions who lost to Stallions of Lagos by a lone goal on Tuesday however got a much needed late equalizer through Aliyu Idris in the 54th minute.
The goal ensured that the spoils were shared as Niger Flickers did not suffer back-to-back loses for the first time in the league.
The draw meant that Kada Stars consolidated on their position at the top of the log with just two games to the classification games.
In other games played last Wednesday, Yobe Desert Rollers beat Delta Force 2-1 thanks to goals from Bala Husseni and Adamu Sadiq.
Yobe Desert Rollers opened the scoring in the 9th minute through Husseni but Bernard Wilson powered Delta Force back in the 28th minute of the game.
The Yobe club side however got the winning goal through Sadiq in the 54th minute.
Sikiru Salawu scored all three goals in Stallions’ 3-2 scrappy win against IGP Flickers.
Salawu scored his first-two goals in the 15th and 32nd minutes before Awasa Augustine pulled one back in the 35th minute from a well converted penalty corner.
Salawu completed his hat-trick when he stepped up to convert a penalty stroke awarded after Ezekiel Faluyi was brought down by IGP Flickers goalie.
Bala Emmanuel reduced the deficit in the 51st minute to ensure the game ended with supporters of both teams on the edge of their seats.
The Stallions however looked like a shadow of the side that put up an excellent performance against defending champions Niger Flickers on match day four as they were unimpressive against IGP Flickers.
In the last game of the day, Police Machine beat 3-2 Nasarawa Flickers.
With just two precise passes, Police Machine went in front as Tosin Adekeye scooped a ball from 50 yards out which found Mohammed Inuwa who drove in and finished with aplomb.
Two minutes after he scored his first goal, Mohammed Inuwa scored his second in the 16 minutes but Nasarawa Flickers pulled one back in the 19th minute through Usman Mustapha.
Inuwa completed his hat-trick when he scored again in the 37th minute from a penalty corner.
Nasarawa Flickers refused to go down without a fight as they reduced the deficit in 56th minute through Godwin Sunday from a penalty corner.
Tidesports source also reports that the win catapulted Police Machine into the second position on the eight team log with 11 points, two behind table toppers Kada Stars.
Defending champions, Niger Flickers are third with 10 points, while Stallions are fourth with nine points.
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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