Sports
Bet9ja Ogba Elephant Cup Winners To Get N500,000
Ahead of the Bet9ja Elephant Cup, a grassroots football competition in Ogba Ashade, Agege, Lagos, the organisers have dangled N500, 000 for the winners at the end of the 2019/2020 season matches.
The Chairman, Ashade Ogba Football Committee, Mr Felix Ajanaku, made the disclosure at Ogba Ashade Palace during the draw and grouping of the 14 teams that would partake in the 2019/2020 season matches on Sunday.
According to him, 2019/2020 competition will be better organised than the last season.
“We are going to improve better than last season for both players and the best team this season.
“The most valuable player will be selected and the best team will all be compensated respectively.
“Also the best supporters group will be rewarded, all this has been put in place to encourage and engage our youths.
“The winners will be rewarded with N500,000, while the second and third place winners will also be rewarded with N250,000 and N100,000 respectively,’’ he said.
According to Ajanaku, all the teams are advised to appeal to their respective supporters during the matches to ensure there is peace and tranquility during matches.
Ajanaku said that with the cooperation of the teams and their supporters the 2019/20 season matches would be improved and advanced more than the previous ones.
“The success of the matches and security depend on our attitudes, we know ourselves very well and any team’s supporters that want to cause trouble will be sanctioned,’’ he added.
The committee’s chairman said stakeholders and team leaders had signed “No Violence Undertaken’’ to ensure everyone talked to his people when the matches kick off on October 20.
Ajanaku also tasked each team to pay any fine allotted to them during the competition before coming to the next match.
“Every team must be ready to abide by the rules and regulations which is very vital for the progress of the competition.’’
The competition has been existing for the 18 years where many of the teams’ players have earned both national and international offers.
“We thank the sponsors Bet9ja, Nigerbev, COMART, Ikeja and Agege Local Government Councils for their kind gesture toward the success of the Elephant Cup Competition yearly,’’ he said.
Chief Omokehinde Orejoko, the Matron of the Elephant Cup competition, also advised the players to imbibe fair play attitude during the matches, adding that the tournament was not a do or die affair.
“This is a competition, it is not a do or die tournament, and there must be fair play among the players.
“Teams must exercise brotherliness and ensure the matches are w0orthy to watch, the games should not scare the spectators away through violence because of the amount involved,’’ she said.
A player, Babatunde Baruwa, playing for Pokilee FC, also thanked the organisers, saying that such take away prizes would encourage them to perform better than in the previous seasons.
“I thank the sponsors of this year’s tournament, and the reward for the winners and I am still appealing to the ex-internationals to come and encourage grassroots football in the country.
“This will not only encourage the players but also take football to greater heights in the country,’’ he said.
Tidesports source reports that 14 teams were on Sunday drawn to groups to kick start the season’s matches at Ogba Ashade Place playing ground.
Group A has Great Achiever FC, Pokilee FC, Iyalode Mangoro FC, Sango Agege FC, and Oloke FC, while in Group B are Unique FC, Baddy Oosha FC, Keke United FC, Ghetto FC, Omo Better FC.
The third group has Getting FC, Scope FC, Adura Obi FC and Successful FC.
Tidesports also gathered that Elephant Cup competition 2019/2020 season will kick off on October 20.
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.