Sports
260 Participants For 21st IBB Ladies Golf Championship
Chairperson of the 21st IBB Ladies Golf Championship, Maryrose Richard-Obioha, on Wednesday said no fewer than 260 participants would compete for honours at this year’s edition of the tournament.
Tidesports source reports that the championship holding at the IBB Golf and Country Club in Abuja would feature players from six African and one European countries.
The countries are Ghana, Uganda, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sweden, as well as hosts Nigeria.
Richard-Obioha, who disclosed this at a news conference held at the club, said the event would be a three-day gross tournament and would tee off today and end on Sunday.
“So far we have no fewer than 160 lady golfers who have registered for the championship with 120 of them within the 0 to 28 handicap level.
“We also expect our men to participate as well as our foreign players. So, on the whole we have no fewer than 260 players taking part in the championship.
“We will be having a ceremonial tee-off on Thursday (yesterday), and the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, will be the guest of honour at the event,” she said.
Richard-Obioha explained that the competition will have Friday and Saturday as qualifying days, “and at the end of day two, there will be a cut”.
“A total of 45 players are expected to make the cut and they will proceed to the final where the champion is expected to emerge on Sunday,” she added.
The official further said the main event of the championship was for lady amateur golfers within handicap 0 to 28, with players of other handicap levels participating in other draws.
“Lady golfers within the 0 to 28 handicap credit will qualify to participate in the main draw/event.
“The Ladies Open is also listed on the World Amateur Golf (WAG) ranking calendar and the golfers will be playing to improve their ranks.
“At the end of the championship, the scores of the players will be collated and sent to WAG.
“They will be analysed and the players will be ranked according to their performance level,” she said.
Speaking also, the Lady Captain of IBB Golf and Country Club, Julie Acholonu, said the championship promises to be exciting and very competitive.
“Players of the host golf club have been working very hard to ensure that the title of the main event and other major honours are won by the home players.”
She disclosed that there were several prizes to be won and that there were about 10 gross prizes available.
“We also have guest prizes for those between handicap 29 to 36 as well as nett and sponsors prizes.
“By the grace of God, at least one Nigerian player will be on the WAG rankings this year,” Acholonu said.
She thanked the sponsors of the event for their support, noting that without them the championship would not have taken place.
“We use this opportunity to appreciate the NNPC, who are our major sponsors, for the continued support we have enjoyed over the years.
“We also thank our other sponsors who have ensured that the championship has continued to grow from strength to strength,” the lady captain said.
The Chairperson, Media and Publicity for the championship, Olu Usim-Wilson, thanked the event’s Organising Committee for preparations made so far.
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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