Sports
President Allays Fear Over Nigerian Athletes Sanction
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has allayed fears that Nigeria will be sanctioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency after its National Anti-Doping Agency failed to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code, Saturday Tidesports source reports.
This is the second time in four years that WADA threatened to sanction Nigeria for its sloppy handling of anti-doping issues, including domesticating international anti-doping rules.
But Okowa believes that the sports ministry will amicably resolve the lingering issues concerning Nigeria’s anti-doping agency and WADA.
WADA, in a statement made available to our correspondent November 16, stated that the country’s anti-doping agency had not addressed several critical requirements after an audit was carried out in October 2022.
Venezuela and Tunisia were the other countries found guilty of the same offence.
The world body also handed NADO a deadline of December 8 to comply or face damaging consequences which would affect funding, their right to host or co-host regional, continental and World Championships.
WADA added that should NADO fail to meet the stipulated deadline, it would lose its privileges until the reinstatement conditions were met.
The statement from WADA to NADO partly read, “The Nigeria NADO’s representatives will be ineligible to participate in any WADA Independent Observer Program or WADA Outreach Program or other WADA activities.
“The Nigeria NADO’s representatives will be ineligible to sit as members of the boards or committees or other bodies of any Signatory (or its members) or association of signatories until the reinstatement conditions set out below are met (see ISCCS Article B.3.1 (d)).
“Nigeria’s flag will not be flown at regional, continental and World Championships, and events, organised by major event organisations (other than the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games), until the reinstatement conditions set out below are met.”
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Okowa said, “The sports ministry is handling the issue and eventually they will tell us how to go about it.
“All necessary documents have been packaged and sent to WADA about NADO and Nigeria’s action plans.
“Nigeria won’t be sanctioned. That matter has been on since the previous tenure but the sports minister has assured that it will be resolved, so, we are waiting to hear from them.”
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.
