Sports
1996 Olympic History , Africas first football gold medal,Nigeria’s feat,documented through film-Sports Minister
…As Ministry Signs Partnership with Homelands Films
Joel Ajayi
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has announced a transformative initiative to celebrate Nigeria’s Dream Team’s 1996 Olympic gold medal win, stating that while celebrating one of the nation’s greatest sports night, the Ministry will use the power of storytelling to inspire a new generation of Nigerian sportsmen and women, fostering a sense of pride, dedication, patriotism, and resilience.
Senator Enoh made the statement on Monday during the landmark signing of a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and Homelands Films to document the heroic journey of Nigeria’s Dream Team to their gold medal victory at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.
The Minister emphasized the film’s potential to bring to life a story deeply embedded in the hearts of Nigerians and sports lovers worldwide.
“In the run-up to the Olympics, nothing in concrete terms prepared Nigeria, Africa, and the global audience for what was to follow. They went to the Olympics under the unlikeliest of circumstances,” he said. “Although they were called the ‘Dream Team,’ not many people betted on them to return with the gold medal considering the fact that world football superpowers who were part of the competition were indeed bookmakers’ favourites.”
“Against all odds, our Dream Team went, saw, and conquered the world. It was not just about the gold medal but also the way this victory – which remains Nigeria’s greatest glory in world football – was achieved and celebrated that mattered. I recall Nigerians of all walks of life pouring into the streets in every town, city, and even the remotest villages in wild jubilation; they danced, sang, and draped themselves with the national flag.”
Senator Enoh highlighted the unifying power of sports and its transformative capacity, and its importance today, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu steers the country to greater prosperity.
“Nigerians forgot their different tribes, tongues, creed, and political differences that tend to polarize them. They reveled and danced well into the dawn of the next day. This poignant moment underscored the unifying power of sports. This unity, is what we must imbibe today.”
“We want a world-class film that tells the story of the heroics of 1996 in a manner that is enriching, compelling, and inspiring a sense of nationalism. Especially at this time, where the Olympics opening ceremony starts this week, it matters that we kick off this project now.”
The president of Homeland Films, Mrs. Mary Ephraim Egbas, expressed her excitement about the project. “By bringing this story to the big screen, we aim to honor the legacy of our athletes and ignite a renewed sense of pride and passion for Nigerian sports. The significance extends beyond entertainment. It’s poised to revolutionize the industry in Nigeria and Africa. It would have a profound impact on the sports industry.”
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Sports Development, Atinuke Watti, and other top sports stakeholders were present at the event to lend their confidence to a pro-Nigerian project.
As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games approaches, Enoh reflected on the potential for new heroics. “In a few days, the 2024 Paris Olympics Games will commence, and I am sure the inevitable question on the lips of some of our countrymen and women would be; are we on the cusp of something special? Will our sportsmen and women shock the world? These posers evoke the heroics of 28 years ago when young Nigerians carried the burden of the hopes and aspirations of their countrymen and women on their fragile shoulders, went to war, and returned in triumph.”
“One of our strategic intents as a ministry is to enliven sports in Nigeria by fully reawakening the entertainment potential inherent in sports and cause the world to pause and take note of a truly positive moment in our national life. This is why we have gone into partnership with the film industry and Homeland Films, to help us capture this moment in a blockbuster world-class film production that will feature in cinemas across the world and help showcase Nigeria’s sporting prowess, the resilience of her people, and our greatness as a nation,” The Minister concluded.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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