Sports
Director Charges CAF On Reforms
The Abia Director of Sports, Ejikeme Ikwunze, has urged the African Football Confederation (CAF) to introduce “drastic reforms’’ that would bring positive change to football in Africa.
Ikwunze made the call in an interview with Tidesports in Umuahia on Sunday. He dwelt on the challenges of the continental football governing body.
He said there was need for a transformation of African football to meet the standard in Europe, to check the exodus of talents from the continent to other parts of the world.
He regretted that African football had not improved significantly since the inception of CAF in 1957.
Ikwunze blamed the situation on the “obsolete ideas’’ of the leadership of the confederation.
He also regretted that CAF was recycling its executive members, citing the re-election of its president, Issa Hayatou, who had remained in office as president since 1988, as an instance.
Ikwunze attributed Hayatou’s re-election and the failure of the President, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Aminu Maigari, to make the CAF executive to “Francophone connections and power of language.’’
“CAF is not doing well because it is recycling persons. CAF is recycling Hayatou,’’ Ikwunze, popularly called “Mr Football’’, said.
“In Africa, we have 53 countries that make up CAF and about 75 per cent of the membership is Francophone and they employed the power of language in the election.
“Maigari would have been a wonderful man to be in the CAF executive. He deserved to be there,’’ Ikwunze said, regretting that “he was schemed out due to Francophone connection’’.
He advised the NFF president not to be discouraged by the outcome of the election.
“Abraham Lincoln failed election many times in America but kept on trying, so Maigari should not be discouraged,’’ he said.
He described Maigari as “a good, gentle, highly organised and a very articulate man,’’ arguing that he had brought transformation to football administration in Nigeria.
Ikwunze urged CAF to emulate FIFA’s outstanding performance over the years, saying: ‘’FIFA has introduced a number of reforms, why can’t CAF do the same?’’
He also described CAF’s 1.5 million dollars cash prize for winning AFCON, as “paltry and insulting,’’ adding that such an amount should be for teams that merely qualified for the championship.
Ikwunze said the 10 million dollars usually disbursed to the body by FIFA annually as part of its financial assistance programme had not been substantially deployed to football development and players’ welfare.
The sports director appealed to CAF to replicate FIFA’s ‘financial assistance programmes and goals projects’ in Africa to promote football development and players’ welfare.
Ikwunze also lamented that no Nigerian had officiated as centre referee in the finals of CAF-organised tournaments, while smaller countries had continued to officiate in that capacity.
He warned that ‘’Nigeria will continue to lose out due to the intrigues in CAF,’’ and urged the country to “learn football politics and get involved in it.’’
Ikwunze, who recently authored a book on “World Cup: A Statistical Analysis from 1930-2010,’’ called for a reliable data base and proper documentation on African football.Ex-South African Keeper Tasks Team On Defence
The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.
Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.
Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.
Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.
The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.
Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.
Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.
Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.
“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”
The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.
The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.
“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.
“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”
The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.
With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.
The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.
Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.
As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.
His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.
In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.
It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.
Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.
Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.
We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.
It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.
The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.
The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.
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