Sports

Kano Pillars To Pay N5m Fine Over Covid-19 Protocol

Published

5 years ago

June 16, 2021

Kano Pillars have been charged for breaching the NPFL Framework and Rules, following the infraction in their Matchday 27 fixture vs Akwa Utd at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna last Sunday.
The Kano club has been charged for breaching the Covid-19 Protocol by admitting and/or permitting spectators and supporters into the venue.
Pillars are also charged for encroachment after their supporters encroached onto the field of play, thereby disrupting the match.
The club is further charged for failing to provide adequate security leading to failure in crowd control and restriction of access by unauthorised persons to restricted areas.
In line with The Nigeria Football Federation directives, Kano Pillars are hereby sanctioned with a fine of N5 million for breaching the Covid-19 Protocol.
A fine of N2.5 million is also imposed on Kano Pillars for encroachment by their supporters, which led to a discontinuation of the match.
There is also an imposed sanction of a deduction of 3 points, which shall be suspended for the duration of the remainder of the season, subject to good conduct.
The club also faces a venue sanction of being banned from their Kaduna home ground and subsequently moved to another venue if there is a recurring event.
Kano Pillars have been directed to submit a revised security plan within 7 days and ensure they comply strictly with Covid-19 Protocol. All subject to approval by the LMC.
The club, however, has 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal these sanctions.

Sports

NDG: Committee Disqualifies Five Athletes Over Age Discrepancies, Others

Published

5 minutes ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Five athletes have been disqualified from the ongoing Niger Delta Games following investigations into eligibility concerns ranging from age discrepancies to state-of-origin violations.

According to findings contained in the official protest report, Otunla Kolade Israel (Edo State) was disqualified and stripped of his medals in swimming after his National Identification Number (NIN) indicated he is from Ikorodu, Lagos State. The athlete had won five gold medals and one silver, all of which have now been withdrawn.

In handball, John Vera and Ayimba Maria (Bayelsa State) were both disqualified on grounds of age declaration, with documentation reportedly showing they were overage for their category.

Goodness Ekunke (Chess) was also disqualified after inconsistencies were discovered in submitted eligibility documents.

Meanwhile, Okafor Adolphus (Ondo State, Athletics) was removed from the competition following investigations that revealed issues relating to state of origin and age declaration. Investigations reveal he is from Anambra State.

However, not all protested cases resulted in sanctions. Bright Joel Udoh (Edo State, Table Tennis) and Wisdom Chibueze Nweke (Abia State, Tennis) were cleared after reviews found insufficient grounds for disqualification.

In athletics, Ngozi Okereke Treasure (Delta State) was deemed eligible to compete despite an age discrepancy flagged by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, as no legal documentation was provided to substantiate the claim.

The disciplinary decisions underscore the Games’ commitment to upholding eligibility rules and maintaining competitive integrity across all participating states.

Sports

D’Tigress Unveils W’Cup Provisional Squad

Published

5 minutes ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria’s seven-time African champions, D’Tigress, have announced a provisional squad ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, set to take place from 11–17 March 2026 in Lyon, France, Tidesports source reports.

Head coach Rena Wakama has selected a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent as the side prepares to face France, Germany, South Korea, Colombia and the Philippines in the qualifying event.

Leading the squad are established stars Amy Okonkwo, Sarah Ogoke, Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu, alongside young prospects Pius Idubano, Adenike Olawuyi, Grace Efosa, Rita Igbokwe, Wandoo Hemba and Tewogbade Mololuwa.

The full provisional roster includes Ezinne Kalu, Elizabeth Balogun, Promise Amukamara, Pius Beggi Idubano, Nicole Enabosi, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Grace Efosa, Amy Okonkwo, Ayomide Tewogbade, Rita Igbokwe, Ifunaya Okoro, Wandoo Hemba, Adenike Olawuyi, Sarah Ogoke, and Blessing Ejiofor.

Nigeria will open their qualifying campaign against Colombia on March 11, followed by games against South Korea on March 12, the Philippines on March 14, France on March 15, and Germany on March 17.

The top three teams from the group will advance to the next stage. Having secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin by winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket, the D’Tigress will use the Lyon tournament to sharpen strategies and build team cohesion ahead of the global event.

Alongside host Germany, Australia, Belgium and the USA have already qualified.

Nigeria have appeared at the Women’s Basketball World Cup on two previous occasions, in Brazil in 2006 and Spain in 2018, and will aim to build on that experience as they prepare for Berlin in September 2026.

Sports

NSSF Holds Seminar For Game Masters, Others

Published

5 minutes ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) has held its yearly administrative seminar, bringing together state coordinators from across the country for a one-day workshop in Lagos at the weekend.

Designed to build capacity and align with global best practices, the seminar empowered sports handlers with tools for effective management of events, programmes, and activities.

Themed, “Enhancing Capacity for Effective School Sports Leadership,” the highly interactive session featured lectures, knowledge sharing, and practical experiences from resource persons, reinforcing NSSF’s commitment to maintaining high standards in school sports administration.

Delivering a paper titled, “Effective Organisation of Sports Programmes for Talent Identification and Maximisation in Nigerian Schools,” Professor Macpherson Akindele Ogunsemore of the University of Lagos highlighted the critical role of coordinators in harnessing grassroots talent.

He urged participants to collaborate with coaches and physical education teachers to channel their expertise toward nurturing athletes from the grassroots to elite levels.

In another lecture, “Effective Writing of School Sport Reports: A Guide for Administrators,” the director of School Sports at the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, emphasised the importance of documentation.
She noted that concise and structured reporting helps in planning, identifying successes and shortcomings, and ensuring continuous improvement in future events.

Also among the topics was the media visibility for school sports. NSSF President, Olabisi Joseph, reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to empowering coordinators and keeping them updated with evolving practices in school sports management.

“Sports keep evolving, and we must ensure our coordinators are equipped with the latest tools for organising competitions and writing reports. This seminar, which has been held consistently for seven years, has brought significant improvement and development to our officers,” she said.

Participants commended the initiative, acknowledging NSSF’s efforts to elevate school sports development and ensure Nigeria continues to reap meaningful rewards with support from government and stakeholders.