Sports
NFF Secretary Wants Equal Fans’ Attention On Other Sports
Bolaji Ojo-Oba has challenged Nigerian sports fans to ask critical questions of other sports the same way they ask of football.
Speaking in Abuja early in the week, the FIFA/CAF Match Commissioner and Security Officer said he is of the view that should Nigerians ask of other sports even one tenth of the questions they usually ask of football, leaders of those other sports might also sit up and do something for general sports development.
“I am aware that football is King of sports, but let us not continue to pretend that football is the ONLY sport. That football is the ‘King of sports’ does not mean it is the only sport. Every minute, every hour, we ask questions of football, of the administrators, of the coaches, of the players, of the referees, and so on.
“But we keep quiet about the failings of the other sports and those other sports remain comatose.
“The present administration at the NFF has won five trophies, won Olympic silver, made good changes to administration in terms of personnel and physical edifice, got more partners from the private sector than ever, focused on areas of development and achieved harmony within its rank. Yet, the critics are unsparing, for God knows what.
“This country won her first Olympic medal in boxing (1964 Tokyo Games), and then won another bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and then a silver at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, long before football won in Atlanta in 1996. What has happened to Nigeria boxing? ”Our country used to be heavyweight in weightlifting at the top level, and there was an era we were much–reckoned with in volleyball in Africa. Where is Nigeria volleyball now?
“There was a Governor’s Cup tennis tournament in Lagos recently where all Nigerian players were beaten black and blue, and several years past, we used to be in serious play in the Davis Cup. What has happened? Recently, there was a FIBA African Basketball Championship in Libya where our team performed woefully. That was allowed to ride without much noise.
“In August, our track and field athletes went to the world championship in Berlin and failed to win a single medal, a trend that had been on for eight years or so. At the Atlanta Olympics 13 years ago, we won gold in women’s long jump. What has happened to athletics? ”Our country used to be the leading light of table tennis and wrestling in the African continent. What has happened to those sports?
“I can go on and on, but nobody appears to care about those sports, most of which have more medals at the Olympics than football. The so–called critics have failed us because they only talk about football, out of more than 30 sports.
“Football is the only sport doing something to lift Nigeria’s name, and yet the detractors go on without end about their perceived ‘downward trend’ of Nigeria football. Those critics also have questions to answer about the genuineness of their intention,” Ojo-Oba said.
The Delta State Sports Commission has come under scrutiny following the state’s disappointing performance at the just-concluded National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, where Lagos dethroned Delta to clinch top spot.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, visibly displeased with both the poor outing of Team Delta and the organizational lapses witnessed during the Games, summoned an emergency meeting with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) immediately after the closing ceremony.
Delta, which had dominated the NYG by finishing first in the last eight editions, only managed second place this time — a result the governor described as “totally unacceptable,” especially given the state’s significant investment in the event.
According to a reliable source privy to the meeting, Governor Oborevwori expressed deep disappointment, stressing that his administration had provided all necessary support to the Sports Commission and the LOC to ensure Delta retained its traditional top position.
In a decisive move, the governor demoted his Executive Assistant on Sports and former Director-General of the Sports Commission, Festus Owhojero, under whose leadership the Games were organized. Owhojero was reassigned from Executive Assistant (EA) to Senior Special Assistant (SSA) with immediate effect.
The governor’s action, our source revealed, reflects his zero-tolerance stance on incompetence and underperformance within his administration. Mr. Owhojero thus becomes the first high-profile casualty of the governor’s resolve to reposition sports in Delta State.
Furthermore, Oborevwori directed the Sports Commission and LOC officials to submit a detailed report on the Games, outlining what went wrong and providing recommendations for improvement. The governor emphasized the need for urgent reforms to restore Delta’s dominance, especially as the state is set to host the next edition of the Games under an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The Nigeria Football Federation has distanced itself from a post-match statement that criticised some Super Eagles players following the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The statement, issued by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, singled out forward Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong for criticism.
It accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Ekong for the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.
However, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday that the statement did not represent the official position of the Federation.
“I saw the release just like everyone else did. Nobody in the Federation is happy with it,” Sanusi said.
“The NFF did not authorise that statement. We have great respect for all the players. Blaming an individual for a team result is unfair.”
He added that the Federation regards the South Africa match as a collective effort and will not support attempts to scapegoat any player.
“When we win, it’s a team victory. When we lose, it’s also collective. No player should be singled out,” Sanusi said.
He described the targeted criticism of Troost-Ekong as unjustified, noting that the defender had previously been celebrated as the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
“It was an unfortunate own goal. His intention was to clear the ball. Anyone who knows football understands that such things happen,” he said..
Sanusi also expressed confidence in the team’s unity, revealing that efforts were ongoing to regroup and refocus ahead of the remaining qualifiers and AFCON.
“Our house is in order. We’re preparing for the rest of the qualifiers and the AFCON in Morocco,” he said.
“There’s no problem with our players or coaching crew. Our relationship remains cordial. The government and the NFF are proud of the players’ efforts.”
The Federation had initially praised Calvin Bassey for his equalising goal and lamented the team’s failure to convert second-half chances.
But Sanusi made it clear that internal disciplinary action would be taken over the unauthorised release.
“I can assure you the NFF will take action on the matter,” he said.
Nigeria currently sit third in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 11 points from eight matches. South Africa lead the group with 17 points.
The Super Eagles must now win their remaining games against Lesotho and Benin Republic and hope other results go their way to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tagged “Boxing Jams Music,” the year-end edition will once again blend elite professional boxing with live musical performances. Fans can look forward to thrilling bouts across weight divisions and electrifying performances by some of Nigeria’s top entertainers.
Flykite Productions’ Chief Operating Officer, Bamidele Johnson, said the forthcoming edition will build on the event’s tradition of combining sport and music in a festival-like atmosphere. He assured fans of an unforgettable Boxing Day experience, with added entertainment elements planned.
“GOtv Boxing Night 34 will once again deliver the best of both worlds of top-class boxing and live music. We are committed to giving fans a truly memorable Boxing Day experience at Tafawa Balewa Square,” he said.
Over the years, Boxing Jams Music has grown into the country’s biggest sport-entertainment spectacle, hosting title bouts sanctioned by continental and global bodies alongside live performances by top acts such as Burna Boy, Teni, Mayorkun, Zlatan and Wande Coal.
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