Sports
Amaechi Lauds PHCCIMA Over USA Soccer Camp Hosting
Wheel chair race
Executive Governor of Rivers
State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has commended the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA over successful hosting of the 1st USA College Prospect Soccer Camp initiative, tagged ‘Play Football and Study Free in America’, held at the prestigious Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Amaechi, who made this commendation when he visited the stadium venue of the talent hunt programme said he was impressed with the chamber’s support for the state government effort at giving youths of the state a meaningful direction.
He said the Ministry of Sports will be given the necessary support needed to collaborate and involve in such activities to ensure not just support for our youths, but also maximum utilisation of the stadium facilities.
Speaking about the foreign coaches who flew in to conduct the talent hunt, Governor Amaechi said the development shows that the state is a safe haven for foreign investment, expressing hope that the programme would open channels of collaboration and sporting relationship between the state and foreign partners.
He said that, the state government is willing and open to valuable partnership that will see the concession of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium facilities to foreign collaborators to manage in line with the global standard, saying it was the only way “we can ensure that the facility is successfully managed and sustained”.
Similarly, the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Fred Wigwe, was also full of praises for the organizers of the event, stating that he was amazed at the prospect of the initiative that would see youths of the state play football and study free in American Universities.
Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with renowned youth football promotional outfit, Change the Game Project organised the event with the objective of providing youths with a virile and meaningful direction even as the selection process in the week long programme produced a good number of youths who were successfully selected by the foreign coaches.
President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu, in his remark described the programme as a huge success, adding that the event was part of PHCCIMA’s End-to-End empowerment programme.
The PHCCIMA boss noted that the idea was not just to hunt for talents and train youths for skills, but to also empower them and guide them through mentorship to succeed.
He explained that the success achieved was as a result of days of careful and well-thought-out planning, diligence of staff and collaborators, security, health officials and of course the magnanimity of the Rivers state government who provided the turf.
Unachukwu said he was excited that the lofty objective of the project was achieved which consequently has been translated to value to the lives of these talented youths, who ordinarily would have been left to fall prey to the devices of street life.
He explained that the programme also afforded youths the opportunity to realise their lifelong dream of studying in universities abroad free of cost in the United States while playing football to make ends meet.
The one week football camp event tagged ‘Play Football and Study Free in America’witnessd the presence of coaches from about 15 Universities in America and others from Europe and Italy who took on the screening of boys and girls between the ages of 15-19 and other categories to hunt out exceptional talents at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
States of America soon to kick start an illustrious career.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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