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Concerns Mount Over All Cover Plan For TBS

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The decision by Lagos State government to convert the Teslim Balogun Stadium (TBS) to an all-covered complex has raised fears in some Nigerians that the complex might not be strong enough to withstand the heavy equipment being added to it.
The fear of ‘structural defect’ being raised in some quarters notwithstanding, an official of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mrs. Oluyomi Oluwasunmi, has said there is no cause for alarm. She explained that a team of engineers had certified the complex safe for the additional work to commence.
Construction of the stadium, located directly opposite the National Stadium in Surulere, started in 1984 under the administration of military governor, Gbolahan Mudasiru. But construction later got stalled and the stadium became a white elephant project. By the time the stadium was completed in 2007, it had taken 23 years to build and cost Lagos State over N1.386 billion.
Already some pillars have been mounted around the seating arena, preparing it to become an all-covered stadium. A bulldozer was also seen leveling the tartan track, which was re-laid in the build up to Eko 2012 National Sports Festival.
What is left in the complex is the football pitch, which serves as home ground for MFM Football Club and other teams featuring in the lower divisions of Nigerian football.
Some players of MFM FC, who spoke with our source after their training session last week, said the Lagos State government may have been ill advised by politicians to change the entire complex to an all-covered arena.
“Personally, I don’t see any reason why Lagos State should turn this old complex into an all-covered arena,” one of the players said, pleading anonymity. “The foundation may not be strong enough to withstand these heavy pillars.”
Another player said: “Lagos State has enough space to build an all-covered stadium instead of mounting heavy pillars on this old stadium. I don’t think it is safe for the fans. I want Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come with qualified engineers to inspect this complex. He should see things for himself.”

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New Eagles Squad Excites WizKids

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Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has expressed his satisfaction with the Super Eagles’ preparation ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali.
The team, now under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle, held its first training session on Tuesday afternoon.
Reacting to the new squad, Wizkid took to his X handle on Wednesday, writing, “New Super Eagles team! (I) love the energy,” he wrote.
The crucial qualifier is set to take place at the Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda on Friday, March 21, with kickoff scheduled for 5 pm Nigerian time.
Following the match, Nigeria will return home to face Zimbabwe in Uyo on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles must secure maximum points from both fixtures to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria’s current squad features several in-form players, including Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Genk’s Tolu Arokodare and Fulham’s Calvin Bassey.
The match against Rwanda will be Chelle’s first game in charge of the three-time African champions, who are desperate for a positive result to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
The Super Eagles last played at the Amahoro Stadium in September 2024, where they were held to a goalless draw by Rwanda.

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NLO Tasks Clubs To Complete Players’ Facial Registration

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The Nationwide League One (NLO) has mandated the clubs that make up the Division One and U19 Youth League to complete their players’ facial verification process.
The Secretariat of the nation’s third-tier league regulatory body via its media department gave reasons on the essence of exercise as the March 30th players’ registration deadline draws near.
According to the NLO, clubs must complete facial verification for each player during registration to prevent duplicate registrations.
As regards players that have already been registered, the NLO explained that if a player fails verification (already registered with another club), the holding club must release the player. The NLO Admin will confirm the release and allow the verification of such a player for the new club.
The NLO stressed the importance of the release documentation and Registration Window Closure.
Releasing clubs must upload the player’s release document. This document will be reviewed and verified by the NLO Admin.
After the registration window closes, clubs cannot sign new players.
With the introduction of the new facial recognition technology, all clubs must register both their existing and new players.
These updates ensure a fair and transparent registration system. For assistance, clubs should contact NLO support.

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Aruna Up For $275k WTT Chennai

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Nigeria table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, will contest in the maiden WTT Contender Chennai in India after he was picked as a replacement for German star, Dimitrij Ovtcharov.
The WTT Contender Chennai is the fifth WTT event of the year and marks the first staging of the series in the City.
The event which has a prize purse of $270,000 will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, India from March 25 to 30.
Aruna and nine other players have been confirmed for the men’s singles including his African rival, Egypt’s Omar Assar.3.
Other players confirmed so far include Denmark’s Jonathan Groth (17), Hugo Calderano of Brazil (6) and world number four Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan.
The 36-year-old has played in two WTT events this year.
In January, he made it as far as the semi-finals in the WTT Star Contender in Doha where he lost in straight sets to Japanese sensation Tomokazu Harimoto.
Last Wednesday, the world number 19 crashed out of the WTT Champions Chongqing 2025 after suffering a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to world number two Wang Chuqin of China in their round of 32 clash.
Aruna will hope to put up a more commanding show in India, as he has been tipped to shine by the world body.
“Stay tuned. There’s more to come from Quadri Aruna in India,” WTT captioned Aruna’s video on Monday after announcing his participation.
WTT Executive Director of Events Mounir Bessah also said the competition is a bold step forward as they expect Aruna and other players to deliver a memorable spectacle.
“Chennai’s inclusion in the WTT Series calendar underscores our mission to expand the reach of table tennis globally while honouring the sport’s passionate fanbase in India. With a venue like the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium and the support of Tamil Nadu’s government, we are ready to deliver an unforgettable spectacle for players and fans.”

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