Sports

Nigerians In South Africa Want Sponsorship

Published

13 years ago

January 25, 2013

The
Nigerian community in South Africa has urged wealthy Nigerians to sponsor Super
Eagles’ fans to watch the team’s matches at the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations (AFCON).

According to the body, such
well-to-do Nigerians should emulate an Ethiopian billionaire, Mohammed
Al-Amoudi, by providing support to enable their compatriots to watch the
matches.

Some of the Nigerians spoke to
newsmen in South Africa on Wednesday.

They complained of lack of
support, particularly in transportation and tickets, to watch the National
team’s matches in the tournament.

“It is unbelievable to see the
large number of Ethiopians at the stadium last Monday to watch their national
team game against Zambia.

“The number was so
overwhelming: everywhere you turn to inside and outside the stadium, all you
see are the Ethiopian supporters.

“What amused some of us was
the fact that it was an individual that provided the resources for the
Ethiopians to come out in their numbers to support their National team.

“We have lots of wealthy
Nigerians ‘who can support a worthy cause’ for nation building and integration
through sports. More so, this could be used in promoting the good image of
Nigeria,’’ South Africa-based Olubanjo Adesuyi said.

He said the number of
Ethiopians in South Africa could not match the number of Nigerians in living in
the country.

“Nigerian citizens are more in
number than the Ethiopians and you know that an average Nigerian is football
crazy and always wants to support the National team.

“But the greatest problem we
have here as individuals and groups is lack of transportation to the match
venues.

“Although a lot of Nigerians
drove more than four hours to Nelspruit to cheer the Super Eagles, we will
match the Ethiopians, if we have transport from different parts of South Africa
to match venues to cheer the Super Eagles,’’ Adesuyi said.

He
added that some fans were ready to purchase match tickets, if transportation
would be provided.

President, Nigeria Union in South Africa,
Ikechukwu Anyene, added that the union
was talking with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a bid to assist the
union in providing transportation to willing supporters of the Eagles to watch
their matches.

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification

Published

4 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.

We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION

Published

4 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.

Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.

“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.

“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.

The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.

He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.

” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN

Published

4 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.

Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.

He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.

The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.

He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.

“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.

Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.

It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council meeting held in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.

By: Tonye Orabere