Sports
Netball ‘Project 2027’ Sets Higher Target
As part of their goal of bringing the game of netball to the attention of one million Nigerian school children, the organisers of ‘Project 2027’ have resolved to take their quest for the higher visibility of netball to the next level by setting a target of training and equipping 300 teachers and community youths in netball in Nigeria this year 2026.
Though, the recently held Africa Netball Cup in Malawi suggests that netball is gradually becoming an inclusive sport at the continental level, the main focus of ‘Project 2027’ would still be to take netball to the girl child because it is originally their sport.
Furthermore, playing netball in a safe environment is likely to keep them engaged in a sport that they enjoy beyond their teenage years.
In ‘Project 2027’ last training event in Udu Local Council of Delta State in October 2025, 58 teachers were trained, which takes the number of trained teachers and community youths to 511.
According to the organisers, “Project 2027” netball training has been held in nine states (Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Cross River, Enugu, Taraba and Rivers).
“These training events which are usually free for all attendees is organised by CSED (Community Sports and Educational Development) Initiative and some of their partners like the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation, Sports Commissions and Ministry of Education in the respective states.
The organisers stated that Bayelsa State Government was a trailblazer in singlehandedly sponsoring the netball training event that was held in Otuoke in September 2025.
“This is a clear indication that the state wants to be the number one netball playing state in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Tare Pet Montessori Group of Schools and CSED Initiative jointly piloted the “Sporting Coders” programme in 2024. The school is also one of the two schools in Nigeria that has a functioning male netball team.”
To Cornelius Ehimiaghe, a sport for change advocate, mobilising members of the Naija Netball Stakeholders (NNS) in promoting the growth of netball at the grassroots level in Nigeria is a call to national duty.
“We have no choice, we cannot wait. It is a tough task, which has been made tougher by some sports administrators at the national level. We will keep trying, we will keep pushing the boundary in our efforts to promote the rights of Nigerian children to play netball on their own terms, and not an imposed term. We will beg, we will borrow, but we will not steal in our bid to revive the game of netball in Nigeria. Lord’s Taverners our major kits and equipment supporter may have folded up, but they did not leave us as orphans. In their last week of operation, they donated 2,200kg of sports kits and equipment to us.”
“In the past two months, we have been discussing with sporting and educational authorities in the states we have identified as potential host of our netball training events.
“Just as we have also identified some relevant NGOs and corporate organisations we are going to partner with in order to deliver better training event experience for our attendees. While availability of fund remains our biggest challenge in rolling out more netball training events, we have adjusted our funding mechanism by getting onboard NGO partners and Sports Commissions who will be willing to co-sponsor our netball training events. Thus, ensuring that our training standard is maintained.”
According to an official, attendees would be expected to take responsibility for subsequently producing netball training bibs for their students.
“The only exception would be for training events that are going to be held for members of displaced communities and Ogoja. As we have an obligation to foot the training events bills of residents of vulnerable communities. We have trained four Cameroonian refugees as netball coaches. They are expected to play an invaluable role in the training of 30 teachers in the Ogoja and surrounding areas in March this year.”
“The NNS (Naija Netball Stakeholders) also hope to encourage the holding of more netball competitions at the state level and encouraging the formation of more netball associations at the state level. Also, some Netball Africa certified coaches would be supported to hold refresher training for some teachers, as well as for clusters of new schools in the community. NNS also hope to encourage the netball community in Nigeria to back the online bid to get netball included in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.
Only Denmark, ranked 21st globally, sits higher among nations that failed to qualify for the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
England and Chelsea legend John Terry was among those to voice his disappointment, describing Nigeria as a significant loss to a tournament that features 48 nations for the first time.
“Nigeria will be a big miss. This is a World Cup for participants who haven’t had the opportunity to play in the tournament. I would have loved to see a top team like Nigeria there because they’ve got some great individuals. They’re a great nation,” Terry said during a virtual roundtable session organised by SuperSport.
“I think they are a big miss because Nigeria probably would have gone further in the competition, but unfortunately, one side’s loss is another’s gain,” the former England captain added.
Eric Chelle’s side finished second in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers behind South Africa, who secured automatic qualification. Nigeria kept their hopes alive with a playoff semi-final victory over Gabon before falling to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the decisive playoff final — their second successive absence from the World Cup after also missing the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The Nigeria Football Federation later challenged DR Congo’s qualification, alleging the use of ineligible players during the campaign, but the appeal was dismissed.
Despite missing the World Cup, the Super Eagles remain Africa’s 3rd highest-ranked team behind Morocco, who sit seventh in the world, and Senegal. Algeria and Egypt complete the continent’s top five.
Defending champions Argentina enter the tournament as the world’s top-ranked side, ahead of Spain, France, England and Portugal. Brazil are sixth, followed by Morocco, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
The next FIFA World Ranking will be released on July 20, a day after the World Cup final.
Chima Akachukwu and Miracle Akhigbe are among the 16 notable stars picked by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) for the forthcoming Namibia Tour, where the YellowGreens will compete in a T20 and 50-Over Tri-Series, featuring hosts Namibia and Hong Kong China.
Both players make their way back into the YellowGreens fold after periods away from the side and will be eager to contribute their experience and quality as Nigeria pursues success in Namibia.
The NCF said yesterday that the squad, which departs Nigeria today, forms part of the national team’s continued preparations for future international assignments as the YellowGreens seek to build on recent performances and strengthen their standing on the global stage.
Leading the squad is Captain Sulaimon Runsewe, who will spearhead Nigeria’s campaign against two formidable opponents in what promises to be a highly competitive series.
The selected squad combines experienced internationals with emerging talents, providing the technical crew an opportunity to assess player development and team combinations in both the T20 and 50-over formats.
The team will be led on tour by Coaches Leke Oyede and Tamuno John, who will oversee preparations and match operations during the opening phase of the series.
Joining the squad later in Namibia will be the newly appointed Head Coach and High Performance Manager, Stephen Magongo, whose arrival marks another significant step in the Federation’s commitment to strengthening the national team structure and enhancing player development pathways.
Supporting the coaching staff are Team Analyst Jamal Okechukwu, Strength and Conditioning Coach Seye Olympio, and Team Physiotherapist Timothy Adesomowo, forming a well-rounded technical crew focused on maximising player performance and welfare throughout the tour.
The NCF views the Namibia Tri-Series as an important platform for the continued growth of the national team, offering valuable international exposure and competitive match experience against quality opposition. The series will provide the players and technical crew with another opportunity to evaluate progress, fine-tune strategies, and build momentum ahead of future international competitions.
The YellowGreens will face Namibia and Hong Kong China in both T20 and 50-over contests, with the matches expected to test the team’s adaptability, discipline, and resilience in challenging conditions.
Blessing Otu on Monday overcame hard-fighting Kelvin Bebe- Emmanuella in two sets of 6-1, 6-3 to qualify for the second round of the women’s singles of the ongoing 47th Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship, held at the Tennis Courts of the package “B” of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Speaking after the round of 32 game, Otu, who will be 19 years old in September, said she capitalised on her opponent’s weaknesses to gain victory, having studied her game very well.
“Bebe is a very good and tough player. But I studied her game and did the job well.
“Although she tried to come back in the second set, I punctured all her tricks to win the match and move on. I wish I could continue like this in the rest of my games,” she said.
Another member of the Otu family, John Out, was also victorious as he defeated Mohammed Abdusalam 2-1 (6-2, 6-7, 6-1) in the men’s singles category to advance into the round of 32.
But the third Otu in the game, Thomas, was not that lucky as he lost by 6-0, 7-5 in two straight sets to Danjuma Isaac.
In other matches, Michael Emmanuel defeated Ibrahim Aminu to advance, while Drimiya Mevi outclassed Seyi Ogunsakin by beating him 2-1 (6-7, 6-3, 6-1). Action continues tomorrow when other top players, including the men’s singles top seed, Abua Cannice, join the chase for honours.