Sports
Obi, Ayew Lead New Young Stars Of Africa
The next six months will be very busy for African football, as the final round of qualifiers for next year’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations and the excitement of a new FIFA World Cup preliminary campaign take centre stage. In October, the last ten places in the 16-team field for the continental championship, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, will hit a feverish pitch while the following month, the road to Brazil 2014 commences. The Cup of Nations itself kicks off January 21 and ends three weeks later.
Big events bring change, and the established order is under threat, with Egypt and Cameroon already out of the running for the African finals and new heroes emerging across the continent. Tidesports source looks at some of the enchanting players who have come to the fore during 2012 qualifying rounds and who appear set to be the paths set by the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Michael Essien enroute to Brazil 2014.
Mogogi Gabonamong (Botswana): The tough-tackling midfielder provides steel and strength for the biggest surprises in the African game. Based in South Africa with SuperSport United, he made his international debut more than a decade ago as a 16-year-old and is finally going to get a chance to show his ability on a bigger stage when Botswana goes to her first-ever continental finals.
Delvin Ndinga (Congo): The CNFF academy in Brazzaville is now six years old and has already produced a number of the players that took Congo to two FIFA youth tournaments. But their biggest achievement has been the discovery of Ndinga, who moved to Auxerre in 2007 and is now key to both club and country. Linked with a number of bigger clubs, Ndinga is a spark for the Red Devils as they try to improve on a poor AFCON qualifying campaign.
Wilfried Bony (Côte d’Ivoire): Formerly a top scorer in the Ivorian league, Bony has broken through to the national team in the absence of Drogba. The 22-year-old went to Europe in 2008 with Sparta Prague, but in January, he made a high-profile move to Vitesse in the Netherlands and has been in fine form since, including scoring a brace for the Elephants against Rwanda at the weekend.
Jordan Ayew (Ghana): The younger brother of South Africa 2010 break-out star Andre Ayew, and son of three-time CAF African Footballer the Year Abedi Pele, the Marseille attacker has all the right footballing genes. He won his first cap last September and is quickly emerging as another potential playmaker for the Black Stars, a side already full of prodigious talent.
Cheikh Diabate (Mali): A product of the Salif Keita academy in Bamako, Diabate moved to France in 2008 and has worked his way up through the ranks and into the first team at Bordeaux. Mali, who are a win away from reaching the 2012 finals, have had plenty of classy midfielders to choose from, but Diabate is emerging as the successor upfront to Frederic Kanoute.
Youseff Al Arabi (Morocco): Such were his goals and promise that the 24-year-old Al Arabi player ignored interest from of a number of European teams to sign for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal after an impressive start to his career at hometown club Caen. For Morocco, he has emerged as a key attacking figure since making his debut in September of last year, thriving on the confidence handed him by coach Eric Gerets as the Atlas Lions stand on the brink of 2012 qualification.
Moussa Maazou (Niger): Niger are another surprise package to upset the formbook in the Cup of Nations. They have built up momentum since a home victory over Egypt in October when Maazou blasted home a spectacular winner. The burly striker also got the decisive goal at the weekend against South Africa to take his country top of the group.
Joel Obi (Nigeria): The Super Eagles have been searching for several years for a successor to Augustine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha in the creative department and may well have found the solution in Obi. Touted as an up-and-comer at Inter Milan, Obi made his national team debut this February and is considered a natural partner for Jon Obi Mikel in the middle of the pitch.
Moussa Sow (Senegal): Sow is a candidate for the CAF African Footballer of Year award after winning the French title with Lille, ending Ligue 1 as top scorer and scoring four goals in five matches as Senegal won their Cup of Nations qualifying group in front of Cameroon. Linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Sow could be the next superstar for the continent’s passionate fans.
Thulani Serero (South Africa): Diminutive but tricky, Serero was chosen as South Africa’s best player last season. He also earned a move to Ajax and has immediately impressed. For Bafana Bafana the 21-year-old provides the hint of unpredictable genius that coach Pitso Mosimane says he is looking for, and has won three caps since his February debut for the national team.
Knowledge Musona (Zimbabwe): Another 21-year-old attacker, Musona is full of speed and skill and it comes as no great shock that he has moved to one of world football’s top leagues, with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga after two prolific years in South Africa. He scored three vital goals for his country in the Nations Cup qualifiers – including a brace and the 90th-minute winner in Zimbabwe’s most impressive victory, a 2-1 reverse of Mali.
The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.
Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.
Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.
Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.
The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.
Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.
Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.
Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.
“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”
The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.
The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.
“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.
“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”
The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.
With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.
The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.
Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.
As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.
His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.
In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.
It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.
Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.
Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.
We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.
It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.
The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.
The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.
-
Editorial10 hours agoEnough Of Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians
-
Environment11 hours agoMOSOP – Tinubu Not Sincere With Ogoni People For Oil Resumption
-
Nation9 hours agoRSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Hold Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria
-
News14 hours agoFubara, Wife Hail Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative …As Over 6,800 Families Benefit From Largesse In Rivers
-
Oil & Energy9 hours agoRivers PETROAN Elects 12-Member Executive
-
Maritime12 hours agoProducts, Others, To Arrive Lagos Ports Today — MPA
-
Environment11 hours agoNGOs Task Media On Investing In Climate Literacy
-
Oil & Energy11 hours agoSEED: FG To Train 6,000 Energy Professionals