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The newly elected President of the Yola Polo Club, Abdulrahman Haske, has delivered a message of consolidation and steady promotion of the ‘game of kings’ to the Nigerian polo community.

?Speaking during an interactive media session following his election, Haske vowed to redouble efforts to promote polo in Adamawa State, across Nigeria, and on the international stage. He expressed gratitude to the Grand Patron of the club and Lamido of Adamawa, HRH Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa, for the opportunity to serve, declaring that his management committee will elevate the sport to greater heights. Haske, who is also the patron of the Haske and Williams polo team, assured fans that the forthcoming 2026 Yola International Polo Tournament will be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

?Revered as the premier sporting attraction and social highlight of the North-East region, the 2026 festival is scheduled to run from September 8 to September 13 at the historic Lamido Musdafa Polo Ground in Yola. Confirming the dates, Haske noted that no sporting event captures the cultural heritage of the Adamawa Kingdom quite like this annual gathering. He recalled that since the inaugural edition was held at the Eastern Gate of the Lamido Palace in the mid-1930s, the tournament has grown steadily in both popularity and prestige.

?Traditionally hosted by the Lamido and supported by the Adamawa State Government alongside corporate and private sponsors, the tournament features several highly coveted trophies. Key prizes include the high-stakes Governor’s Cup and the historic Lamido Cup-the oldest trophy in the club’s 80-plus-year history. According to Yola Polo Captain Asharaf Yahaya, over 25 top teams from across Nigeria, featuring foreign players, are expected to compete. Other silverware up for grabs includes the Emir of Mubi Cup, INTEL Cup, ABTI Cup, General Hassan Cup, A.A. Mustapha Cup, and the M.C. Tahir Cup.

?Club Secretary Usman Saad highlighted the tournament’s role as a major tourist draw, noting that it regularly attracts visitors from neighbouring Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Europe. ‘We promise a much bigger Yola International this year, as the country’s top-rated players are set to battle for the four major prizes and various individual awards,’ Saad stated.

?The upcoming event follows a thrilling previous edition where the Jos-based Malcomines team and the local Haske and Williams contingent dominated headlines. Murtala Laushi’s Malcomines secured the Governor’s Cup, while Crown Club Resort claimed the Lamido Cup. Haske himself delivered strong performances last year, leading Haske and Williams and Bijou Africa Race to runner-up finishes in the Governor’s and Lamido Cups, respectively. Other winners included the Bauchi Valadora team and Jalingo’s Sadauki Starboys, who lifted the Emir of Mubi Cup.

President of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB), Mrs Bouchra Hajij, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nigerian international beach volleyball referee, Samuel Timothy.

Hajij also extended her condolences to Rwandan international referee Fadset following the death of his mother.

The CAVB president conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved families during the ongoing African Beach Volleyball Championship at Abu Hef Beach in Alexandria, Egypt.

Hajij described Timothy’s death as a major loss to the African volleyball family, recalling his commitment and service to beach volleyball across the continent.

According to her, the Nigerian official was a familiar figure at several beach volleyball competitions and made a significant contribution to the growth and development of the sport in Africa.

In honour of Timothy and as a mark of respect for the family of the Rwandan official, the championship’s Organising Committee observed a minute’s silence before the men’s match between Mauritius and Burundi.

The gesture brought players, officials and organisers together in mourning and remembrance, highlighting the sense of solidarity within the African volleyball community.

The African Beach Volleyball Championship, which is currently taking place in Alexandria, is scheduled to end on August 22.

The championship has attracted some of the continent’s leading men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams, with continental honours and qualification opportunities towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games at stake.

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), which coordinated the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has thanked residents of the state for their support that secured the governor’s victory at the polls.

The council, in a statement jointly signed on Friday by its Director-General, Senator Lere Oyewumi, and Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, also appreciated traditional rulers for their prayers and support throughout the election period.

The council said the victory reflected the people’s confidence in what it described as the Imole vision and their desire for continued development and good governance in the state.

It said, ‘We extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the good people of Osun State for the confidence, support, prayers, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment demonstrated throughout our journey.

‘The victory we celebrate today belongs, first and foremost, to God Almighty and to the good people of Osun State. It is a testament to the strength of your faith in the Imole vision and your determination to see Osun continue on the path of progress, development, and good governance.’

The council also commended traditional rulers for their counsel, prayers and contributions to their communities.

‘To our Royal Fathers and Traditional Rulers, we salute your wisdom, dignity, and invaluable counsel. Your leadership remains a pillar of our communities, and we deeply appreciate your prayers and support,’ it said.

Religious leaders were also recognised for their prayers, guidance and commitment to peace, unity and the wellbeing of Osun State.

The council said the victory belonged to all residents of the state, including those in the diaspora, and urged them to remain united.

‘To every citizen of Osun State-at home and in the diaspora, we see and value you. You will never be taken for granted. This moment belongs to all of us,’ it said.

The council acknowledged that the campaign was not without challenges but said the outcome demonstrated the importance of collective support for a shared vision.

It stressed, however, that the electoral victory should be viewed as a renewed responsibility to serve the people.

‘As we celebrate this milestone, we are conscious that victory itself is not the destination. It is a renewed responsibility to serve, to listen, to unite, and to deliver on the aspirations of the people,’ the council said.

It pledged that the trust placed in the administration would not be taken for granted.

Within Sri Lanka’s sporting history, there are a variety of different results that have had an impact upon both the country’s sporting profile and the development of those individual sporting disciplines within the nation. Two of the sports that have experienced both a national and international impact include cricket and athletics. Within these sports, four different results between the years of 1948 and 2014 indicate how the performances of both individual and team sports altered the trajectory of sport within Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s win in the Cricket World Cup final marked the country’s first title in the global competition and the most often mentioned sporting accomplishment of the nation. On March 17, 1996, Sri Lanka defeated Australia by seven wickets in the final held in Lahore. Aravinda de Silva hit an unbeaten 107 in the match and took three wickets to win the player of the match award. Following the Cricket World Cup final, there was an increased interest in other forms of entertainment within the nation. Platforms offering games like Sri Lanka casino games began to receive increasing attention from citizens of the nation. Furthermore, the victory occurred amid the civil war within the nation.

The Cricket World Cup final also helped to reveal the capabilities of Sri Lanka to host international events. The nation co-hosted the Cricket World Cup final along with other nations such as India and Pakistan. Australia and the West Indies forfeited their games in Colombo against Sri Lanka due to security concerns in the nation. Additionally, Sri Lanka changed the way in which teams approached the cricket match with their opening batsman pair of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana.

Several factors distinguished the 1996 campaign from its predecessor Sri Lankan World Cup appearances:

The aggressive opening of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana changed the way in which other teams approached the first 15 overs of the innings

Aravinda de Silva topped the score in the final and took three wickets with the ball

Arjuna Ranatunga’s decision to employ the non?? spinners in several of the matches

The conditions across South Asia that allowed Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers to thrive

All of these factors contributed to a template that subsequent Sri Lankan teams would employ in their own cricketing journeys.

Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medal came decades before the 1996 cricket win. Duncan White, competing for Ceylon, won silver in the men’s 400 meters hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics, finishing in 51.8 seconds, seven-tenths of a second behind American gold medalist Roy Cochran. The result, achieved in the same year Ceylon gained independence from Britain, stood as the country’s only Olympic medal for more than five decades.

Susanthika Jayasinghe extended that record at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, finishing third in the women’s 200 meters with a time of 22.28 seconds. She was awarded silver in December 2009, after the International Olympic Committee disqualified gold medalist Marion Jones for doping and reallocated the event’s medals. Jayasinghe remains the only Sri Lankan woman to win an Olympic medal in athletics.

Sri Lanka’s second global cricket title came at the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, held in Bangladesh. On April 6, 2014, the team defeated India by six wickets in the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, with Kumar Sangakkara scoring an unbeaten 52 in what was his final Twenty20 international appearance. The win, achieved under the captaincy of Lasith Malinga, followed four consecutive defeats in global finals for Sri Lanka between 2007 and 2012, and it renewed commercial interest in the sport, with betting operators such as Melbet expanding coverage of Sri Lankan cricket fixtures in the years that followed.

The victory also marked a generational shift, as senior players Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene retired from the Twenty20 format immediately afterward. Players who emerged in the following seasons built on the tactical foundations established during that tournament.

These four results are commonly referenced in discussions of Sri Lankan cricket history and represent turning points across two Olympic cycles and two ICC tournaments. The table below summarizes each result.

Year Event Athlete/Team Achievement

1948 London Olympics, 400m hurdles Duncan White First Olympic medal for Ceylon (silver)

1996 Cricket World Cup final Sri Lanka national cricket team First ICC World Cup title, defeated Australia by 7 wickets

2000 Sydney Olympics, women’s 200m Susanthika Jayasinghe Second Olympic medal for Sri Lanka (bronze, upgraded to silver in 2009)

2014 ICC World Twenty20 final Sri Lanka national cricket team Second global T20 title, defeated India by 6 wickets

The growth in fan engagement with these results has also translated into other sectors of the economy. The interest in sports betting online has increased along with the number of television and streaming channels that cover cricket on television within the region.

Sri Lanka is also set to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 along with India once again. The results that the nation has achieved in the years 1948, 1996, 2000, and 2014 continue to define the potential of the athletes that represent the nation on the international stage.

For a team accustomed to winning, failure can be more instructive than victory.

The Super Falcons arrived at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco searching for redemption after years of near misses, administrative turbulence, and questions about their dominance in African women’s football. Justine Madugu, appointed permanently after taking charge on an interim basis in September 2024, delivered the answer Nigerians wanted.

Nigeria captured a record-extending 10th WAFCON title, recovering from two goals down to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final. Madugu went from a sceptic’s choice to one of the most celebrated indigenous coaches in Nigerian football history.

A year later, he was gone.

Failure at the 2026 WAFCON, followed by a loss to South Africa in the World Cup qualification playoff, ended Madugu’s tenure. The NFF dismissed the entire technical crew after the Falcons failed to reach the continental semi-finals for the first time, consequently missing out on the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

That turnaround is startling, but it raises a critical question: What exactly does Nigeria want from its next head coach?

Addressing Nigeria’s structural rot

The temptation after a tournament collapse is to place everything on the manager. Nigeria has done this repeatedly: appoint a coach, watch expectations soar, suffer a setback, fire the staff, and reset the cycle.

However, the Super Falcons face systemic issues that extend far beyond the technical area. Past tenures-notably Randy Waldrum’s-were marred by public disputes over contracts, unpaid wages, and poor preparation schedules. Furthermore, an elite manager cannot succeed in a vacuum. The NFF must provide video analysis, modern sports science, dedicated scouting, and adequate preparation windows.

The next coach must be judged on football, but the federation must be judged on the environment it creates.

Nigeria no longer needs a motivator whose primary pitch is understanding the local ethos. African women’s football has evolved dramatically, as demonstrated in 2026 when Cameroon won the title under Valentine Nguele after knocking out Nigeria, Malawi made a shock run to the final to secure their first-ever World Cup berth, and Algeria achieved a historic third-place finish.

Physical dominance and historical pedigree are no longer enough. The next manager must possess a defined tactical identity-capable of mid-game system changes, structured set-piece routines, and midfield control. Furthermore, team selection must be ruthless: based strictly on current form, physical condition, and tactical fit rather than reputation or origin.

Evaluating the domestic candidates

If the NFF looks within Nigeria’s borders, five distinct profiles emerge.

*Christopher Danjuma boasts deep institutional knowledge from his time with the Falconets and Nasarawa Amazons, whom he led to the 2026 President Federation Cup. However, his previous senior stint ended after a disappointing 2015 World Cup run.

*Moses Aduku is a proven winner who secured the 2026 NWFL Premiership title with Edo Queens and took them to the CAF Women’s Champions League. His current role with the Falconets makes him ideally positioned to bridge the youth-to-senior transition.

*Edwin Okon offers extensive senior-level experience from his Rivers Angels and previous Super Falcons tenures, but the NFF must weigh modern tactical fitness against nostalgia.

*Whyte Ogbonda is available after leaving Bayelsa Queens in July 2026. While skilled at club level, managing a national team with European-based stars presents a starkly different challenge.

*Wemimo Matthew represents the most intriguing development candidate. Highly qualified within CAF coaching programs, her appointment would align with FIFA’s 2026 mandate requiring female representation on technical benches while creating a genuine pathway for female coaches in Nigeria.

The foreign connection

Looking abroad brings another set of complex decisions. Former managers Randy Waldrum and Thomas Dennerby both bring familiarity and previous success. Yet, rehiring Waldrum risks reigniting past administrative feuds, while Dennerby’s methods must be evaluated against how rapidly the modern game has accelerated since 2019.

On the global stage, figureheads like Pia Sundhage, Bev Priestman, Desiree Ellis, Nora Häuptle, and Jorge Vilda represent the elite standard. However, contract statuses and practicalities make most unrealistic, and Nigeria must avoid chasing high-profile names simply for prestige.

The ideal Super Falcons coach must meet several key criteria to succeed. First, they need a defined tactical identity that establishes a structured possession and defensive framework. Second, they must understand African football nuance to navigate the unique logistical and physical demands of the continent.

Third, they need a clear youth integration strategy to phase out aging legends and bring in new talent, combined with total selection independence to pick squads without administrative interference. Finally, the role demands modern analytical skills, strong man-management to unite overseas stars with domestic talent, and a long-term vision built toward the 2028 Olympics and the 2029 WAFCON cycle.

The NFF must abandon behind-the-scenes appointments. Instead, it should form an independent technical panel to interview candidates against a clear blueprint. Applicants should present concrete plans for set-piece design, domestic player integration, defensive structure, and camp scheduling.

The ultimate takeaway from Justine Madugu’s tenure is that a coach can be capable of winning a trophy, yet remain ill-equipped to drive a long-term project. Winning the 2025 WAFCON was a triumph, but the collapse that followed exposed a lack of continuity.

Nigeria does not just need a new manager to win the next match-it needs a technical architect to build the future of the Super Falcons.

The Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club (ANFASSC) has written to President Bola Tinubu, appealing for a structured dialogue involving the Presidency, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to address what it describes as a sustained decline in Nigerian football.

In the letter, copied to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, ANFASSC – recognised by the Confederation of African Football and endorsed by FIFA – stressed it was not seeking government interference in the NFF’s statutory independence under FIFA and CAF rules, but a partnership-based engagement to chart ‘a new, progressive course’ for the sport.

The club’s request is threefold: a transparent dialogue between the Presidency, the NSC, the NFF and recognised stakeholders; a shared push to build a ‘modern, well-governed and competitive football ecosystem’; and a timeframe from the President’s office for when such engagement could begin.

ANFASSC’s appeal traces Nigerian football’s slide from the peak of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA U-17 World Cup double under the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF, which took office in October 2014, through to the current administration of Ibrahim Musa Gusau, in office since October 2022.

The Super Eagles missed the 2015 and 2017 AFCON tournaments, and the decline has deepened since. Nigeria’s U-23 side missed both the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, while the CHAN Eagles missed the 2022 edition of their tournament. The Flying Eagles were eliminated from 2027 U-20 AFCON qualification after a 4-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in August, and Nigeria’s U-17 side failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and, in turn, the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Most significantly, the Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo on penalties in the November 2025 African play-off final, missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing their play-off to South Africa.

ANFASSC noted this marks the first time both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons will be absent from their respective World Cups in the same cycle.

‘ANFASSC does not raise these concerns to assign blame but to responsibly highlight a pattern that calls for thoughtful, forward-looking intervention,’ the letter states.

The club said it envisions the requested engagement leading to renewed investment in grassroots and age-grade development, stronger coaching structures, improved player and official welfare, and a more transparent governance framework, and offered itself as a ‘constructive partner’ in the process.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Deputy General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, MON, has pledged to continue promoting the ‘ideals, values, and image’ of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) wherever he goes, after his investiture as a University Ambassador on Monday.

In prepared remarks circulated alongside the investiture, Ikpeme described the honour as ‘not only a recognition of past contributions but also a call to greater service,’ and dedicated it to God, his family, mentors, colleagues and supporters.

Speaking at the ceremony, presided over by Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, Ikpeme, said the honour carried personal significance.

‘It’s a great honour to be given an award by the university. Thank you very much, sir,’ he said.

Ikpeme was also given the opportunity to present his newly published book, Perspectives on Sports Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Ways Forward, to the university, donating five copies, three for the university library and two for his former department, Human Kinetics .

‘I felt I should make a contribution to sports in general, so I published a book, which was unveiled on 18 June,’ he said.

He further backed his pledge of continued service with a financial commitment, offering ?1 million annually as prize money for the university’s Vice-Chancellor’s football competition among students.

‘When I visited your office, I asked for clarification on the university’s annual Vice-Chancellor’s football competition for students. Having confirmed that, I want to donate ?1 million to that competition every year – ?500,000 for the winning team, ?300,000 for the runners-up, and ?200,000 for third place,’ Ikpeme said.

Egbewole, in his remarks, said Ikpeme was selected for the honour for having ‘consistently portrayed the university in a most favourable light’ through his public and professional engagements over the years.

Ikpeme lectured at the University of Calabar for several years and later served as Sole Administrator of the Cross River State Sports Council. He joined the NFF as Deputy Secretary General (Technical) in 2007 before rising to Deputy General Secretary in 2015.

The Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders Forum has called for a comprehensive review of the remote and immediate causes of the party’s defeat in the August 15, 2026 governorship election, and has proposed a broad restructuring of the state chapter to restore unity and rebuild party members’ confidence.

In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu dated August 18, the group identified internal divisions, concerns over candidate selection, and the distribution of political appointments as factors that contributed to the party’s defeat.

The forum, coordinated by Professor Akin Adeyanju and Secretary Sola Ajayi, said that the concentration of political appointments and electoral decisions around the immediate past governor of the state and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, had raised concerns among certain sections of the party.

It said that the limited involvement of some party elders and stakeholders in key decisions affecting the state chapter had also weakened internal cohesion and may have contributed to the loss of support among critical stakeholders and communities across the three senatorial districts.

To address the situation, the stakeholders urged President Tinubu to facilitate an independent review of the Osun APC leadership structure and candidate-selection process, alongside measures to reconcile the various interests within the party.

As part of its proposed way forward, the group called for the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a state congress to produce what it described as a genuinely representative state executive.

It also proposed a stakeholders’ reconciliation summit bringing together all factions, party elders and interest groups within the state chapter.

The forum urged the APC to establish a transparent and inclusive framework for future candidate selection, based on broader consultation rather than the preference of any individual leader.

It also called for a more equitable distribution of federal appointments and future electoral opportunities across the three senatorial districts and the party’s various interest groups.

The stakeholders said the proposed measures were necessary to reposition the APC and improve its prospects in Osun ahead of future elections.

They expressed confidence that timely intervention by President Tinubu would help reunite the party, restore members’ confidence and position the APC for stronger performance in subsequent elections.

The forum commended Tinubu for what it described as his leadership and commitment to the party before and after the August 15 election, while expressing regret over the APC’s defeat despite his support.

Former Golden Eaglets midfielder Peter Agba will spend the 2026/27 season on loan at Hungarian club Eto FC.

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder has joined Eto FC on a one-year loan deal that includes an option to buy.

Agba remains under contract with Israeli club Maccabi Haifa until 2028. He joined the club in September 2025.

The Nigerian has one appearance for the country’s Under-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets.

According to Transfermarkt, Agba’s current market value is pound 1 million.

His move to Hungary is expected to give him regular playing opportunities and further experience as he continues his development at senior level.

Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Rivers State Ministry of Health have sealed an illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt used by a child-trafficking syndicate for selling three children for N13.5million.

The agency explained that the operation, which led to the arrest of three persons, followed intelligence on a criminal network allegedly involved in the procurement, sale, and unlawful transfer of children.

Those arrested are the owner of the facility, the facilitator in the alleged baby sale, and one other member of staff of the maternity.

The maternity is regarded as one of the high-profile health centres in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

In a statement, the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit at NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, said preliminary investigation indicates that a Liberian who resides in Belgium arrived in Nigeria with no evidence of pregnancy and allegedly took custody of three children in one month.

NAPTIP stated that intelligence available to it indicates that about N13.5 million was exchanged in connection with the transfer of the three children and other members of staff of the maternity.

On the status of the investigation, the statement reads: ‘Acting on intelligence, NAPTIP operatives in Abuja and Rivers State, and officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health carried out a coordinated operation at the suspected facility, sealing the premises to preserve the scene and safeguard potential evidence pending the outcome of investigations.

‘Investigators are now conducting forensic and documentary inquiries to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare status of the children, determine their biological and legal parentage, identify all persons involved in their procurement and transfer; and trace the financial transactions and other circumstances surrounding their alleged procurement.’

NAPTIP added that it is also examining the possible role of medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected criminal enterprise.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, expressed worry over the fraudulent activities of operators of some maternity and health centres across the country, especially their suspected involvement in illegal adoption, child sale and trafficking.

She said: ‘I am particularly disturbed that foreign nationals now come to Nigeria to patronise these suspected criminal elements and procure children like a common object of trade across the border. This is sad and totally unacceptable.”

‘We have spread our dragnet to fish out all those involved in this case, and they shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.

‘I wish to reaffirm that the matter remains under active investigation and that all persons found connected to it will be subjected to due process under the law. The Agency will ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice, while the safety and welfare of the affected children remain its foremost priority’.

The DG urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, baby-selling or other forms of exploitation to NAPTIP through its nearest zonal/state command.