Sports
‘Facilities In Ebonyi,Good To Host National Teams’
Ebonyi State is ready to host matches involving the national teams as well as other competitions because it has the facilities to host such events, a state government official said last Saturday.
The state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Charles Akpuenika, said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other sports bodies should look the state’s way when taking decisions on hosting events.
“The facilities at the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium are of international standard and the fans are very passionate about football and other sports events,’’ he told Tidesports source in Abakaliki.
“The players and officials who participated in the just-ended South-East/South-South Pre-Season Football Challenge gave eloquent testimonies about facilities at the stadium and we wish to draw NFF’s attention to this fact.
“We appeal to the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF to organise some of its engagements in the state and not concentrate on having most of national teams’ matches in one geo-political zone,” he added.
The commissioner urged the NFF to recall that a letter was sent to it by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) some time ago, asking it to come and inspect facilities at the stadium.
“We are eagerly waiting for NFF’s response on the invitation as we have better facilities than the stadiums which host national teams’ matches and other national sports competitions.
“The state government spent millions of Naira to renovate the stadium and other sports facilities in the state and we intend to put these facilities into good use.
“Facilities at the stadium have been upgraded and they include a good pitch, 500 KVA and 350 KVA stand-by generators for steady power supply, regular water supply, exquisite VIP stand, among others,” he said.
Akpuenika added that it was a blessing for the state to have produced the Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Obinna Ogba.
He said the state was hopeful his influence would help to attract such matches and competitions to the state.
Patrick Ngwaogu, Coordinator of the South-East/South-South Pre-Season Football Challenge, supported Akpuenika’s contention, saying the stadium could host any competition.
“The stadium can host any type of tournament or competition, and I am confident that competitions such as the one we organised would let the world know that such a stadium exists in Abakaliki.
“Hosting of competitions in the stadium will also eliminate the apathy displayed by fans during the competition we hosted. That was one of our findings during the competition,” he said.
Adenrele Moses, the coach of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, one of the participants in the competition, described the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium as impressive.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.