Sports
Academy: AS Roma Partners Nigerian Clubside
Italian football giant, AS Roma has confirmed its first presence on the African soil, with a partnership with Nigerian club side, Garden City Panthers of Abuja.
The club confirmed this on Wednesday via its website, www.asroma.com/en, that it had entered an agreement with Garden City Panthers to run a football academy in Nigeria.
“The link between AS Roma and the African country grows ever closer with this latest news, which will see young boys from the age of 5-17 given the chance to follow the same training methods experienced by their compatriots in the Italian capital.
“The new academy will be run in conjunction with local club Garden City Panthers FC, and is the club’s first on the African continent.
“We are really pleased to have begun this partnership with the club,” said Robinson Adakosa, President of Garden City Panthers FC.
“This project is the result of our great relationship with AS Roma, based on creating opportunities and training programmes for Nigerian children through our academies.
“This new collaboration is an important milestone for all of us,” the club said via its official website.
The club also explained that its coaching staff from the Giallorossi will help support the work done by local coaches, advising them on methods and techniques to help all students grow and develop.
In addition, a total of 60 scholarships will be made available to the most talented players at U-13, U-15 and U-17 levels.
The new academy marks the first in a planned expansion throughout the region, with further AS Roma Academy sites being worked on in Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Lagos and Benin City.
The close bond between Roma and the country of Nigeria began in 2018 when, with Italy not participating at that summer’s World Cup, the Giallorossi ‘adopted’ the Super Eagles as the team they would support.
Initially a social media initiative, led to the creation of the club’s Pidgin-language social media account, along with a subsequent link-up with the Nigerian FA.
“In the last few years a digital link between Nigeria and our club has been formed,” said Francesco Calvo, Roma’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“Opening our first academy on the continent is a natural and positive result of that, especially in an area of the world where so many boys and girls love the game.
“We want to give them the opportunities and resources to help their development as both footballers and people.”
Confirming the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, Adakosa said that all the paper works have been completed.
He said the Coronavirus pandemic denied both Roma and Garden City Panthers a formal ceremony, adding several meetings took place via Zoom before the agreement was reached.
Adakosa explained that Garden City Panthers and Edo State Government are in talks to have a branch of the academy in Benin City.
“We will be extending our tentacles to some parts of the country, so that we can spread our search for talented players across the country.
“I am delighted about this partnership and it is the beginning of many things to come through Garden City Panthers FC,” Adakosa said.
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi began his 2026 season with victory at the Orlen Cup in ?ód?, producing a dominant 20.82m throw to win the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Poland, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Africa record holder finished ahead of Romania’s Andrei Toader, who placed second with 20.55m, while Serbia’s Armin Sinan?evi? took third on 19.93m.
Poland’s Szymon Mazur, the best-placed home athlete, finished fourth with 19.69m, with Italy’s Nick Ponzio completing the top five on 19.58m.
The rest of the field was headed by Piotr Go?dziewicz (18.02m), Jakub Korejba (17.55m), Wojciech Marok (17.48m), Damian Rodziak (17.23m) and Ukraine’s Maksym Lebediuk (15.75m).
Enekwechi’s winning mark gave him a clear margin over the field and underlined his status as one of world’s leading throwers, as he laid down an early marker for the new campaign in his traditional season-opening competition.
The result also marked an improvement shift in his Orlen Cup history. This was his third consecutive appearance at the meeting and his third straight season opener with the event, having previously finished second in 2024 with 21.14m and again in 2025 with 20.88m.
On this occasion, he converted consistency into victory, finally standing on the top step of the podium in ?ód?.
Enekwechi is the reigning two-time African champion in the shot put, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a two-time African Games champion, having won titles in 2019 and 2023.
His performance in Poland continues a career trajectory that has established him as Nigeria’s leading figure in the event and one of the continent’s most reliable performers on the global circuit.
The women’s competition at the meeting was won by Poland’s Zuzanna Ma?lana.
With the 2026 season now under way, Enekwechi’s opening victory at the Orlen Cup sets an early tone for the year ahead, as he builds momentum towards major continental and international championships.
The next edition of the Orlen Cup is scheduled to take place in ?ód? in February 2027.
Tanzanian giants Simba have opened discussions over a potential move for Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as they look to reinforce their squad following an injury to first-choice shot-stopper Moussa Camara, Tidesports source reports.
The 29-year-old, who plays for South Africa Premiership side Chippa United, is in the final six months of his contract and is eligible to enter pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs.
Foot Africa reported that Simba are exploring the possibility of bringing Nwabali to Dar es Salaam either during the current window or on a free transfer at the end of the season, although no agreement has been reached.
“Sources have indicated that Simba are in active talks with the player’s camp in a bid to lure him to Dar es Salaam in the ongoing window or on a free transfer – but no agreement reached,” Foot Africa reported.
Simba’s interest has been accelerated by Camara’s knee injury, which prompted the club to move quickly to sign Mahamadou Tanja Kassila from Niger’s AS FAN.
The club are reportedly considering deregistering Camara to accommodate the new foreign signing, a situation that has frustrated the Guinea international, who has asked for the remaining six months of his contract to be terminated.
In their search for a longer-term solution, Simba identified Nwabali as a prime target, although formal negotiations with his club have yet to begin.
“Simba identified Nwabali as the ideal successor to Camara, but the club is yet to submit a formal bid to Chippa United, who are open to offers,” Foot Africa added.
Nwabali’s profile has continued to rise following his performances for Nigeria, most notably at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he kept four clean sheets in seven matches as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal.
Oyo State is set to return to the continental football spotlight as it prepares to host Nigeria’s Falconets in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Senegal’s Lioness of Teranga.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The Oyo State Government said the state was selected for the fixture following its successful hosting of a previous Falconets’ qualifier, further underlining its growing profile as a destination for international sporting events.
In a statement on Monday Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, confirmed that preparations were in top gear to ensure a hitch-free match. She said the choice of Oyo State as host was a reflection of confidence in the state’s sporting infrastructure, organisational competence and security architecture.
She recalled the emphatic victory recorded by the Falconets against Rwanda at the same venue last year, describing the match as a testament to the state’s readiness to stage major sporting events.
“The successful hosting of the Falconets against Rwanda showcased Oyo State’s world-class facilities and our capacity to organise international fixtures that meet global standards,” Adegoke said. “The Lekan Salami Stadium has continued to serve as a fortress for our national teams, and we are confident the Falconets will once again make the nation proud.”
Adegoke also disclosed that the Falconets are expected to arrive in Ibadan today ahead of the qualifier, to allow ample time for acclimatisation and final preparations. She added that the team would enjoy full logistical support from the state throughout their stay.
The Falconets, who reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Japan 14 years ago, will go into the last round of the qualifying series if they win this encounter, to confront the winner of the Guinea-Bissau/Malawi fixture, for one of Africa’s four tickets at the final tournament.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Poland, from September 5 to 27, 2026.