Sports
Haruna Set For Improved Attitude, Performance For Nigeria
Haruna Lukman’s representative John Ola Shittu is confident that his ward has put his attitude problems behind him.
Lukman is one of four players, the others being Joseph Yobo, John Mikel Obi and Chinedu Obasi, managed by Shittu, giving the agent the singular distinction of being the only manager with four players in the Nigeria squad.
But apprehension remains as to the discipline of his youngest charge, especially after a near miss with Colombian players during last Sunday’s friendly match.
That altercation did nothing to calm frayed nerves back home with many suggesting that he is a red card away from costing Nigeria dearly at the World Cup. But Shittu says that will not be a concern.
“He is gradually becoming a changed player now. His attitude is improving and as he gets older, he is getting more matured,” Shittu told Tidesports source, “I dont think he will pick up a red card if he plays at the World Cup.”
Shittu also pointed to the calming influence of team captain Nwankwo Kanu.
“Kanu is like his mentor when they are in camp, and he advises him and takes care of him. He is a really big influence on the young man’s career and I believe he will learn from Kanu.”
Shittu also says the Monaco midfielder will be spoken to prior to kick-off.
“We have been talking to him and we will still talk to him and make him understand that he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He is a young boy, and he will learn from his past experience.”
Lukman captained Nigeria at both Under-17 and Under-20 levels but became the subject of government, media and fan displeasure at the 2009 African Youth Championships when he was caught on camera chewing gum during the national anthem.
Things did not improve when he missed a penalty in a 1-2 loss to South Africa, and his hairstyle and general attitude drew widespread condemnation.
He was also axed by coach Ladan Bosso during the tournament.
Haruna’s growing reputation as one of the rising stars of Nigerian football also took a tumble following reports of poor discipline, and a lack of commitment to the cause when Samson Siasia took over from Bosso for the World Youth Championship and Siasia stripped him of the captaincy, handing it to Odion Ighalo instead.
The youngster’s misery was complete when a rush of blood to the head saw him give away the ball in the dying seconds of the quarterfinal game against Germany at the World Youth Championships in Egypt.
Among the new NBA draftees are Felix Okpara, Ebuka Okorie, Zubby Ejiofor, Otega Oweh, Tobi Lawal and Ugonna Onyenso.
Felix Okpara (selected 46th overall by the Orlando Magic) and Ugonna Onyenso (selected 53rd overall by the Houston Rockets) marked the second time that two players from Nigeria were selected in the same NBA Draft.
Onyenso is the third NBA Academy Africa alumnus and 15th NBA Academy alumnus overall to be drafted into the NBA.
Ebuka Okorie of Stanford University was the 17th overall pick by Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a planned trade.
In the arrangement, the Thunder will send the draft rights to Okorie to the Memphis Grizzlies who will send his draft rights to the Detroit Pistons).
Zuby Ejiofor was drafted from St John’s University as the 23rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks, just as Otega Oweh of the University of Kentucky was selected as the 41st overall pick by the Miami Heat, as part of a planned trade, which will see the Heat sending the draft rights to Oweh to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Oweh was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the league’s coaches in both seasons at Kentucky (2024-25, 2025-26).
He led the Wildcats in scoring (18.6 ppg) and steals (1.8 spg) as a senior in 2025-26 and also scored a career-high 35 points vs. Santa Clara in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. He is also the brother of Washington Commanders defensive end Odafe Oweh, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Felix Okpara of University of Tennessee, who was selected 46th overall by the Orlando Magic, earned 2025-26 SEC All-Defensive Team honors as a senior in his second season at the University of Tennessee.
He ranks second in programme history in blocks per game at 1.6 and is one of four Tennessee players to record multiple 50-block seasons.
Okpara finished third in the SEC in blocks during the 2024-25 season, averaging 1.7 per game, and ranked seventh in 2025-26 at 1.5 per game.
Prior to Tennessee, Okpara played two seasons at Ohio State and was in 2023-24, ranked 11th nationally in blocks, averaging 2.4 per game.
Okpara grew up playing football in Nigeria and picked up basketball shortly before moving to the U.S. in August 2018.
Tobi Lawal of Virginia Tech, who was selected 48th overall by the Dallas Mavericks, did not pick up a basketball until he was 16, growing up in London and starring for the City of London Academy before crossing the Atlantic.
At Lee Academy Prep, he was dominant, averaging 14.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 steals while shooting 67 per cent from the floor.
Ugonna Onyenso of the University of Virginia was selected 53rd overall by the Houston Rockets, but the Rockets will send his draft rights to the New York Knicks, who will then send his draft rights to the Detroit Pistons, marking the second time that two players from Nigeria were selected in the same NBA Draft.
Onyenso spent three years at NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal, making him the third NBA Academy Africa alumnus and 15th NBA Academy alumnus overall to be drafted into the NBA.
At 17 years old, Onyenso became the youngest player ever to suit up for the Nigerian senior national team. The Owerri-born center first picked up basketball after a local coach pulled him away from soccer, then attended NBA Academy Africa before relocating to Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.
Also in the latest NBA draft are AJ Dybantsa, who has ties to the Republic of the Congo and Jamaica, Nate Ament of Rwanda, who is the second player of Rwandan heritage to be drafted into the NBA after Frank Ntilikina, selected eighth overall by the New York Knicks in 2017.
Ghana’s Jack Kayil and Narcisse Ngoy of the Central African Republic are also among the new NBA intakes.
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), on Friday, warned newly promoted clubs that failure to meet the league’s licensing and infrastructure requirements could bar them from playing at home or even jeopardize their participation in the top flight.
The NPFL recalled that some clubs were relocated from their home venues last season after failing to meet the required standards.
The Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi, disclosed this in Abuja, during an orientation and induction programme organised for the owners and general managers of the four newly promoted clubs ahead of the 2026/27 NPFL season.
He said the programme was designed to acquaint the clubs with the league’s operational procedures and club licensing requirements before the new season begins.
According to him, the early engagement provides clubs with enough time to address any shortcomings before the commencement of the season.
“The purpose is orientation and induction, to ensure they are acquainted with the basics of what we do in the NPFL and to break down the club licensing process so everyone understands what is expected.
“We still have plenty of time before the league starts. This is the appropriate time to acquaint them with what they will be facing. Those who cannot meet the requirements will know early enough.”
Owumi added that the league had yet to assess the newly promoted clubs for specific deficiencies, explaining that the current exercise was focused on education rather than evaluation.
“We are just interacting with them for the first time. We have not tested them in any way. After this education, if they are unable to meet the requirements in the coming weeks, then we will know those that are deficient.”
The NPFL chief stressed that the league would continue to enforce strict compliance with infrastructure standards, including stadium, security and medical requirements.
“Any club that does not meet the standard requirements will be moved from its home ground. We have always enforced these rules because professional football demands the right infrastructure.” Owumi said.
Speaking on behalf of one of the promoted clubs, Chairman of Sporting Lagos, Godwin Enakhena, described the orientation as timely and beneficial, saying it exposed participants to important aspects of the league’s operations that many may not have been aware of.
He said while some club officials had previous experience in the NPFL, the seminar remained valuable because learning in football administration is continuous.
Expressing confidence in the readiness of the promoted clubs, he noted that Sporting Lagos, Wikki Tourists, Barau FC and Doma United were not newcomers to the top flight and understood the demands of competing in the NPFL.
Enakhena said: “The day you stop learning and reading, then there’s a big problem. Even for me, there were issues discussed today that opened my mind. I would have been ignorant of those things if I wasn’t at this seminar.
“You don’t struggle to gain promotion and then you’re not ready for the battle. Based on my conversations with the other club managers, I can assure you the four teams are ready.”
Enakhena also welcomed the increasing number of privately owned clubs in the NPFL, describing it as a positive development for Nigerian football.
He said the success of privately run clubs would encourage more investors to enter the game and expressed hope that they would eventually make up the majority of clubs in the top division.
“I’m seeing more private clubs getting to the Premier League. Let’s have 70 per cent privately owned clubs and 30 per cent government clubs. That would be a fantastic development for Nigerian football.”
Team Nigeria has announced multiple Paralympic and world champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo as the captain of the nation’s contingent to the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
The decision reflects the team’s deliberate commitment to appointing a leader whose achievements, professionalism, and exemplary character embody the values of Nigerian sports.
Speaking on the appointment, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade emphasized that the selection was intentional and based on merit.
“We are intentional about the selection of our team captain. Folashade Oluwafemiayo is the ideal choice, having consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, resilience, and excellence throughout her distinguished career. She is a multiple gold medalist, a former world champion, and one of Nigeria’s most decorated para athletes. Her leadership qualities and winning mentality make her an inspiration to every member of Team Nigeria.”
Oluwafemiayo has established herself as one of the world’s finest para powerlifters, winning multiple Paralympic, World Championship, and Commonwealth titles while setting world records. Her remarkable consistency on the international stage has made her a symbol of excellence in Nigerian sports.
Her appointment also recognizes the outstanding contributions of Nigeria’s para athletes, who have consistently delivered exceptional performances at major international competitions. Over the years, the country’s para athletes have been among Nigeria’s most successful ambassadors, accounting for a significant share of the nation’s medals at the Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, African Games, and World Championships.
Folashade is a four-time world champion and two time Olympic gold medalist.
In 2021, she won the gold medal in her event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. At the event, she also set a new world record of 152.5 kg.
She competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she won a gold medal in the heavyweight event.
Team Nigeria heads to the Commonwealth Games with a blend of experienced champions and promising young talents across various sports, united by a shared determination to represent the nation with distinction.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
The NSC stated that Team Nigeria remains committed to excellence, discipline, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of podium finishes that will make the nation proud.
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