Sports
Kalu Laments Nigeria’s Failure In CAF Election
A former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, has described as “unfortunate’’ Nigeria’s failure to clinch the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive seat for West Africa zone 2.
Kalu, who is the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Pillar of Sports, made this known in Abuja last week.
He told journalists that Nigeria lost in the election because both the government and the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) did not take some of the stakeholders into confidence.
“If Isa Hayatou must be President of CAF, then Nigeria should have produced an executive committee member going by the contribution of the country to football development in Africa.
“We understand CAF and FIFA politics; government and the NFA should have relied on us for advice because this is the type of politics our people don’t understand.
“There is no way a country like Nigeria should lose to another country in the region to be executive member of CAF; it is unfortunate.
“If NFA and the sports minister consulted me, we would have found a way to handle Isa Hayatou.
“We know the language to speak to the delegates and they will abandon Hayatou.
“It happened in Tunis when the South Africans almost edged him out but I later came and bargained Amos Adamu with him and we played the politics and he got it.
“The two times Hayatou was elected, I bargained with Adamu.
“I told him that Nigeria is a powerful country and that as the governor of a state, I was going to scuttle his plans if he did not give us a chance.
“He later made us a promise in writing that he will support Adamu and that was how we got it,’’ Kalu explained.
The former governor noted that Nigerian Government had turned a blind eye to issues concerning sports development in the country.
He said to make sports thrive, government had to stop giving support to the mediocres that had nothing for the country.
“Nigerians are playing politics of bitterness and until sports stakeholders begin to pick those that can deliver, Nigerian sports will not move forward.
“I know most people don’t like Adamu but he is a great goal getter; I worked with him and I know him.
“When I was in the National Sports Commission and Chief S.B Williams was directly in charge of the NFA with Tony Ikhazobor as the chairman of NFA, Adamu was there also and he had answers to every situation.
“We must be able to see what is good in somebody; every bad thing has a good part to it and every good thing has a bad part to it.
“Nobody is a saint and leaders must possess the good, bad and ugly character; that is how to go,’’ he added.
Kalu has promised to build a befitting secretariat for FCT SWAN as part of his contribution to the development of sports in the country.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has approved a parcel of land inside the Abuja National Stadium Package ‘B’ for the construction of FCT SWAN secretariat.
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.
-
Politics2 days ago
2027: Bayelsa APC Adopts Tinubu As Sole Candidate … As Lokpobiri, Lyon Shun Meeting
-
Sports2 days ago
GOtv Boxing Night 34 holds Dec. in Lagos
-
Sports2 days ago
WCQ: NFF Denies Post Match Statement
-
Politics2 days agoAlleged Smear Campaign Against Yakubu, CSOs Demand Apology From Uzodimma
-
Politics2 days ago
Why INEC Can’t Punish Politicians For Early Campaigns – Yakubu
-
Politics2 days ago
2027: Jega Condemns Premature Campaigns, Blames Elected Officials
-
Politics2 days ago
Stopping Natasha’s Resumption Threatens Nigeria’s Democracy – ADC
-
Sports2 days ago
Gov. Decries Delta’s Poor Performance At 2025 NYG