Sports
Nigerian Clubs Can’t Win CAFCL – Coach
The chairman of Remo Stars FC, Kunle Soname, has declared that it would be difficult for any Nigerian club to win the prestigious CAF Champions League for now. Enyimba of Aba is Nigeria’s most successful club, after winning the CAF Champions League twice in 2003 and 2004. The Peoples’ Elephants defeated Ismaily of Egypt 2-1 on goals aggregate to lift the title for the first time in 2003 to end Nigerians long wait. They retained the crown the following year, with cash and moral support flowing from former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
Since then, Nigerian clubs merely make up the numbers in CAF competitions.
Speaking with Tidesports source at Ikenne on Friday at the end of the 2023 MTN/NPFL/LaLiga U-15 tournament, Soname said: “I don’t see any Nigerian club winning the CAF Champions League for now because of the huge financial burden involved.”
This season, Remo Stars made its continental debut, but faded away in the early stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Ikenne Warriors lost at home 1-0 to Morocco’s AS FAR, after recording a soul lifting 1-1 draw away in Casablanca two weeks earlier. They lost 2-1 on aggregate to become the fifth Nigerian club to crash out to the ‘military’ tactics of the Royal Moroccan Army football club.
Soname whose football academy and sports facilities at Remo, Ikenne is attracting football scouts from across the world, said that Nigerian clubs does not have the financial capacity required to win the CAF Champions League at the moment.
“I am saying this with all sincerity because finance has a huge role to play in modern day football,” Soname said. “We played against Morocco’s AS FAR and lost due to a number of factors. In our team, the highest paid player earns around $1,000, if you convert it at the rate of N750 per dollar. But in the Morocco’s AS FAR, a majority of the players earn between $10,000 and $11,000 monthly. Apart from having more money to recruit players, the North African clubs have more experience players. The only good thing about us is that in Nigeria, we have abundant talents waiting to be nurtured into stardom. You need a combination of experience players and money to do well in CAF competitions. We will continue to do our best,” Soname stated.
The Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, which began with the first phase in Benin City months ago, before the second phase in Lagos which ends with a finale that the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, ably represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Ardova PLC, Mrs Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, described as delightful to watch in her speech.
For Safety Shooters, it was a historic moment as they clinched the men’s title for the first time since 2020, completing a dominant campaign that saw them finish top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches while Safety Babes also etched their name deeper into Nigerian handball history, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s championship, reaffirming their status as the league’s most dominant team, not just in the women’s category but in the history of handball premier league in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Safety Shooters finished the season in style, beating COAS Shooters 43–32 (20–10) to cap off a dominant outing in Phase 2.
Their final-day victory ensured they remained clear at the summit with an impressive 18 wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling a superb goal difference of +214 after scoring 638 goals and conceding 424.
The organisers of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters Tournament have earmarked N4 million as the prize money for this year’s edition.
?The Chairman of the tennis section of Ikoyi Club, Diran Famakinwa, stated this at a briefing, highlighting the activities for the second edition of the tournament.
?The tournament, which is in collaboration with MegaMound Investment Limited, is endorsed by the Nigerian Tennis Federation.
?According to Famakinwa, the male and female champions will receive N500,000 each, while the runners-up in both categories will go home with the sum of N350,000 each, with the remaining money to be shared among the semi-finalists and other participants.
?Sixteen players, which includes the eight top ?male and eight top female players, will feature in the one-week event, which started on December 5, and run till Saturday, December 13.
?The female final will be held on Friday, December 12, while the male final will take up on Saturday, December 13.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NSC described the defender as “Captain Fantastic” and praised his decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, highlighting a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty.
“After a decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, Troost-Ekong leaves behind a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty,” the NSC stated.
The commission noted that, as one of the most capped defenders in Super Eagles history with 83 international appearances since his debut in 2015, Troost-Ekong served as a pillar of leadership across multiple tournaments and qualification campaigns.
“His exceptional outing at the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals and was named Player of the Tournament, remains one of the most remarkable achievements by a defender in AFCON history,” the NSC added.
The statement further emphasised that Troost-Ekong’s “Nigeria first” mindset, discipline and exemplary conduct set a standard for the next generation of athletes, with his influence within the national team extending beyond the pitch to inspire unity, resilience and professionalism among his teammates.
Meanwhile, Troost-Ekong has dismissed rumours that he was forced to retire by the country’s football administrators as punishment for leading a revolt against the NFF.
The 32-year-old’s announcement came less than a month before the AFCON, and he was named in the 54-man preliminary list. His decision sparked speculation, particularly as he had led a strike in protest against unpaid bonuses during the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
One fan speculated on social media, suggesting that Troost-Ekong was pressured to quit after exposing the NFF. The Al Khoolood defender offered a sharp retort, establishing that he unilaterally made the decision to retire.
“Not true! My own choice/decision and on my own terms. No one ever asked/tried to force me out. If anything, the opposite when I shared my decision. I wish the team all the best and support them together with all Nigerians for the upcoming AFCON to go all the way,” he wrote on X.
The NSC concluded by wishing Troost-Ekong the very best in the next chapter of his career and commending him for representing Nigeria with honour.
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