Sports
Kickboxing Head Coach Found Dead In Hotel Room
The Head Coach of kickboxing in Ogun State, Olufunke Ogunsuyi, has been confirmed dead.
She died in Ilorin at the weekend while participating in the Kwara Zonal and Invitational Kickboxing Championship.
She officiated in the competition and also fielded two athletes.
Tidesports source gathered that the corpse of the former kickboxing champion was picked up in her hotel room, when her lifeless body was discovered, after the door to the hotel room was broken into.
Her body was taken to the General Hospital, Ilorin, where she was finally confirmed dead, at about 4 p.m.
The search for the late Olufunke began when it was discovered that she was not at the stadium as at 12 noon when all the other officials were supposed to converge for the commencement of the final ceremony of the competition.
Several calls put to her mobile phone were not picked or returned.
The organisers and other officials then went to her hotel, where it was confirmed that she was still in her room but without life.
Late Olufunke, who hailed from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun state, was former champion in the sport.
Her remains have been deposited at the Kwara General Hospital, Ilorin, mortuary, pending transfer to her home, Ogun state yesterday.
It was also confirmed that the Ogun State Sports Council, her family and friends have been contacted on the unfortunate development.
The Director, Grassroots Sports Development at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ali Durotoye, was among top administrators that went to the general hospital where she was confirmed dead.
The Saturday final of the competition was however postponed to yesterday as a sign of respect for the deceased.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
