World News Update

 PRESS STATEMENT The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has commended the Lagos State Government for transforming the State into a true sports hub of global repute. Hon. Olopade gave this commendation following the state’s successful hosting of the E1 Electric Boat Racing Championship over the weekend, which was a first-of-its kind in Africa. With this achievement, Lagos now joins top global cities such as Monaco (France), London (United Kingdom), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and Venice (Italy) in staging the prestigious E1 Boat Championship. The NSC DG further highlighted that this is the latest in a series of international sporting events hosted by Lagos this year, including the annual Access Bank Lagos International Marathon, the Lagos International Badminton Classic, and the “Chaos in the Ring” boxing event. “Lagos State is really setting the pace and living up to its status as Nigeria’s foremost commercial city in sports development, and t...

PRESS RELEASE The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that it will embark on an inspection of facilities in Enugu State from October 21–24, 2025, as part of ongoing preparations for the 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Coal City Games 2026.” The inspection of facilities is a crucial step in ensuring standards and that the Festival delivers on its promise of being a world-class sporting event that celebrates excellence, unity, and talent development across Nigeria. The inspection team will assess existing infrastructure, review progress on upgrades, and engage with local stakeholders to guarantee that Enugu is ready to host athletes and fans from all over the country. The Commission expressed appreciation to the Enugu State Government for its commitment to delivering a successful festival, noting that their dedication reflects the true spirit of partnership needed to elevate Nigeria’s sporting landscape. The National Sports Festival remains Nigeria’s premier multi-sport...

PRESS STATEMENT The National Sports Commission (NSC) applauds Nigeria’s weightlifting sensation, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, following her historic performance at the 2025 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Forde, Norway. On Saturday, October 4, Lawal etched her name into the history books as the first Nigerian to win three silver medals at the World Championships, competing in the fiercely contested women’s 58kg category.  Lawal lifted 101kg in the snatch and 128kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total of 229kg to secure her place as No. 2 in the world. North Korea’s Kim Il-Gyong clinched gold with a world record total of 236kg, while Olympic champion Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei took bronze with 224kg. Lawal’s achievement builds on her remarkable record of success, including gold medals at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, the 2023 African Games in Accra, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.  Congratulating the champion, NSC...

The Director General of the National sports commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, has described Amaju Pinnick's new position in FIFA as a well deserved honour for his contribution to global football development. The Former NFF President is currently the Deputy Chairperson of the FIFA men's National teams competitions committee. The committee is one of the most powerful and influential organs of administration in the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA. The new appointment has further positioned Amaju Pinnick as one of Africa's most influential and globally connected Sports administrators. Hon Bukola Olopade said this is a big deal for Nigerian football and Sports in general and the Nigerian Government through the National Sports commission will always support our Sports administrators to get into global Sports administration. " I want to congratulate my friend and brother Amaju Pinnick for this lauded feat and as a country we are proud of him for how ...

Anticipation has continued to soar as ticket sales officially went on sale for the Barça Legends vs African Legends Championship Cup, scheduled for October 25, 2025, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.  Football fans across Nigeria and beyond are set to witness a once-in-a-lifetime encounter that will see some of the greatest names in football history lace up their boots again to deliver an unforgettable spectacle. Leading the African Legends side will be household names such as Jay-Jay Okocha, the mercurial midfielder celebrated for his dazzling dribbling and creativity; Nwankwo Kanu, the two-time African Footballer of the Year and Olympic gold medalist; Emmanuel Adebayor, former Arsenal and Manchester City striker known for his power and finishing; and Alex Song, the ex-Barcelona midfield general.  They will square off against the Barça Legends, featuring some of the Catalan club’s finest exports including Ronaldinho, the Brazilian magician who redefined flair in ...

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu berths on the plains and rolling hills that dominate the Jos landscape tomorrow, he will meet a people resourceful, friendly and  resilient but weighed down by conflict, yet unbowed by adversity. So, tomorrow, national attention turns to the Plateau- a locale laden with history and rich with potential. From the tin mines that gave the city of Jos its name, to the Irish potato, strawberry farms and beetroot plantations that dot its landscape, Jos remains a land of promise—truly the Home of Peace and Tourism. Jos is also deeply woven into Nigeria’s political history. Plateau is home to towering figures such as Generals JD Gomwalk, Yakubu Gowon, John Shagaya, Joshua Dogoyaro, and Jerry Useni.  Solomon Lar, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and numerous others also stand tall in the annals Plateau political history. Jos was also the rallying ground of the famed Langtang Mafia—a group of influential military officers from Langtang in Plateau State who, at the h...

PRESS STATEMENT The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has expressed grief and deep sorrow over the passing of the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Engr. Ifedayo Akindoju. The highly respected tennis administrator passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2025, in Abuja. Hon. Olopade described Engr. Akindoju’s demise as a monumental loss to the Nigerian sports family, noting that the void created by his death will be felt for many years to come. He praised the late tennis president as a perfect gentleman whose selfless leadership brought steady growth and development to Nigerian tennis. “I am still pinching myself not to believe that Engr. Akindoju is no more because of how full of life he was the last time he came to my office. This is a big loss to the tennis family and the country in general.” “When you see Engr. Akindoju, you see his selfless passion for Nigerian tennis and how he constantly thinks of how Nigeria can produce the next ...

PRESS STATEMENT The Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, was electrified as boxing stakeholders, enthusiasts, and global stars gathered for the spectacular “Chaos in the Ring” fight night, a world-class event that reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing reputation as a hub for international sports entertainment. The main event saw an explosive contest between American Cruiserwight fighter, Brandon Glanton against 2012 Olympic Games boxer, Marcus Browne.  Fans witnessed pure grit and power as Glanton delivered a stunning knockout in round six, securing victory in one of the most tightly contested bouts of the evening. In another highly anticipated clash, Nigerian-born UK boxer and ex Commonwealth and European champion, Dan Azeez made an emotional return to fight in Nigeria for the very first time. Azeez thrilled fans as he faced Sulaimon Adeosun, earning a resounding victory by TKO in round four. Speaking after the event, Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission, appla...

With exactly 25 days left until kick-off, anticipation is building for one of Africa’s most eagerly awaited football experiences of 2025: a legends showdown between African Legends led by Jay-Jay Okocha and Barca legends led by Ronaldinho, set for October 25 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Organized by the Attom Foundation in collaboration with ZMB Homes and WGI Sports, the Champions Cup clash pits a Barcelona Legends side led by Ronaldinho against an Africa Legends team captained by Okocha and featuring icons like Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Adebayor, Alex Song, among others. The game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time, bringing together some of football’s most celebrated legends to Abuja, Nigeria. Beyond the football spectacle, proceeds from the event will support girl-child empowerment initiatives in Nigeria.  While Okocha and Ronaldinho graced the same PSG squad between 2001 and 2003, their dynamic back then was more mentor-mentee than rivals — with Okocha guidin...