Sports
Ekiti Athletes Lament N15,600 NSF Allowance
Ekiti State athletes have expressed their unhappiness with the Ekiti State Sports Council over the N15,600 allowance paid to them by the council for their participation in last month’s Abuja 2018 National Sports Festival.
The state finished 31st at the festival with two silver and four bronze medals. National junior table tennis champion Esther Oribamise led the state to win bronze in the women’s team and women’s doubles events in Abuja.
Oribamise said she rejected the N15,600 because the council agreed to pay her N100,000 for the competition.
The Ekiti State University student lamented that the state failed in their promise to her despite not giving her and her teammates the best preparations for the Games.
She said the state’s athletes were paid N15,600 each after their arrival in Ekiti from the festival, which she rejected.
Other athletes, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were unhappy with the way they were treated by the state but only collected the money because they had no option. Oribamise said, “Before the festival, I was approached by Rivers State to compete for them and we agreed that I would be paid N80,000 monthly for a year. Unfortunately, some officials of the Ekiti State Sports Council learnt of the proposal and urged me to drop the idea and stay with the state at the festival.
“I refused because since I first represented Ekiti in the festival at Eko 2012, I had been neglected by the state. Medal winners at the Eko festival were promised employment by the state government. Fortunately for me, I won bronze in the team event but while the other medallists were employed, I was told after Eko 2012 that I could not be given employment because I was too young – I was 12 years at the time.
“I pleaded with them to convert the employment to scholarship but no one listened to me and I was left alone until I secured admission into the Ekiti State University and the Vice-Chancellor gave me a scholarship.”
The former African junior champion added, “So when they came this year, I refused to represent Ekiti but the officials threatened me, my coach and my parents that my scholarship at the university would be withdrawn if I went to another state. After much plea and threats, I agreed to play for Ekiti but I told them that I would be paid N100,000 for participating and the officials agreed.
“What we went through before and during the festival are indescribable but we came back with some medals. When we reached Ekiti, each athlete was given N15,600, which I refused. I have told them to pay me the agreed N100,000 but no one is attending to me again. “Ekiti has been unfair to athletes and they want us to remain faithful to the state after neglecting us.” Another athlete, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “What we experienced at the festival was not encouraging. Although we weren’t camped while preparing for the event, which was why we didn’t get any allowance, we still prepared, spent our money and time. All we got for being among the few that participated in the festival was N15,600.
“Nobody was happy with it, but we collected it due to our economic situation. The poor treatment was the reason for the dismal performance of Ekiti State in the competition. We could have won at least six gold medals. I do not blame those who did not win. How could anyone have won under that condition?
“Many of us trained, but only a few were selected to participate. Some went to the event on their own, some coaches volunteered their allowances, some athletes, who sponsored themselves, were told not to expect any allowance”.
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi began his 2026 season with victory at the Orlen Cup in ?ód?, producing a dominant 20.82m throw to win the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Poland, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Africa record holder finished ahead of Romania’s Andrei Toader, who placed second with 20.55m, while Serbia’s Armin Sinan?evi? took third on 19.93m.
Poland’s Szymon Mazur, the best-placed home athlete, finished fourth with 19.69m, with Italy’s Nick Ponzio completing the top five on 19.58m.
The rest of the field was headed by Piotr Go?dziewicz (18.02m), Jakub Korejba (17.55m), Wojciech Marok (17.48m), Damian Rodziak (17.23m) and Ukraine’s Maksym Lebediuk (15.75m).
Enekwechi’s winning mark gave him a clear margin over the field and underlined his status as one of world’s leading throwers, as he laid down an early marker for the new campaign in his traditional season-opening competition.
The result also marked an improvement shift in his Orlen Cup history. This was his third consecutive appearance at the meeting and his third straight season opener with the event, having previously finished second in 2024 with 21.14m and again in 2025 with 20.88m.
On this occasion, he converted consistency into victory, finally standing on the top step of the podium in ?ód?.
Enekwechi is the reigning two-time African champion in the shot put, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a two-time African Games champion, having won titles in 2019 and 2023.
His performance in Poland continues a career trajectory that has established him as Nigeria’s leading figure in the event and one of the continent’s most reliable performers on the global circuit.
The women’s competition at the meeting was won by Poland’s Zuzanna Ma?lana.
With the 2026 season now under way, Enekwechi’s opening victory at the Orlen Cup sets an early tone for the year ahead, as he builds momentum towards major continental and international championships.
The next edition of the Orlen Cup is scheduled to take place in ?ód? in February 2027.
Tanzanian giants Simba have opened discussions over a potential move for Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as they look to reinforce their squad following an injury to first-choice shot-stopper Moussa Camara, Tidesports source reports.
The 29-year-old, who plays for South Africa Premiership side Chippa United, is in the final six months of his contract and is eligible to enter pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs.
Foot Africa reported that Simba are exploring the possibility of bringing Nwabali to Dar es Salaam either during the current window or on a free transfer at the end of the season, although no agreement has been reached.
“Sources have indicated that Simba are in active talks with the player’s camp in a bid to lure him to Dar es Salaam in the ongoing window or on a free transfer – but no agreement reached,” Foot Africa reported.
Simba’s interest has been accelerated by Camara’s knee injury, which prompted the club to move quickly to sign Mahamadou Tanja Kassila from Niger’s AS FAN.
The club are reportedly considering deregistering Camara to accommodate the new foreign signing, a situation that has frustrated the Guinea international, who has asked for the remaining six months of his contract to be terminated.
In their search for a longer-term solution, Simba identified Nwabali as a prime target, although formal negotiations with his club have yet to begin.
“Simba identified Nwabali as the ideal successor to Camara, but the club is yet to submit a formal bid to Chippa United, who are open to offers,” Foot Africa added.
Nwabali’s profile has continued to rise following his performances for Nigeria, most notably at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he kept four clean sheets in seven matches as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal.
Oyo State is set to return to the continental football spotlight as it prepares to host Nigeria’s Falconets in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Senegal’s Lioness of Teranga.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The Oyo State Government said the state was selected for the fixture following its successful hosting of a previous Falconets’ qualifier, further underlining its growing profile as a destination for international sporting events.
In a statement on Monday Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, confirmed that preparations were in top gear to ensure a hitch-free match. She said the choice of Oyo State as host was a reflection of confidence in the state’s sporting infrastructure, organisational competence and security architecture.
She recalled the emphatic victory recorded by the Falconets against Rwanda at the same venue last year, describing the match as a testament to the state’s readiness to stage major sporting events.
“The successful hosting of the Falconets against Rwanda showcased Oyo State’s world-class facilities and our capacity to organise international fixtures that meet global standards,” Adegoke said. “The Lekan Salami Stadium has continued to serve as a fortress for our national teams, and we are confident the Falconets will once again make the nation proud.”
Adegoke also disclosed that the Falconets are expected to arrive in Ibadan today ahead of the qualifier, to allow ample time for acclimatisation and final preparations. She added that the team would enjoy full logistical support from the state throughout their stay.
The Falconets, who reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Japan 14 years ago, will go into the last round of the qualifying series if they win this encounter, to confront the winner of the Guinea-Bissau/Malawi fixture, for one of Africa’s four tickets at the final tournament.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Poland, from September 5 to 27, 2026.