Sports
2025 CGC Volleyball League: Customs appoint new women’s captains and coordinators
Joel Ajayi
National senior women’s team player Rafiat Mustapha has been named the new captain of the Nigeria Customs Service VC ahead of the 2025 Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Volleyball Premier League.
In a statement signed by Samuel Onikeku, head of sports NCS, Mustapha will be assisted by Bethel Ogownma (1st assistant captain) and Kelechi Ndukauba (2nd assistant captain), while Enewa Udoh will join the captain pool immediately after return from maternity leave.
Onikeku said senior national team players, Francisca Ikhiede and Aisha Umar, will serve as coordinators.
He said, “First and foremost, the service want to thank the former captains, Helen Umeh, Franscica Ikhiede and Tochukwu Nnoruga for their service during their tenure.
“Nigeria Customs Service won the league multiple times and finished fourth place in the 2021 African Club Championship.
“Rafiat Mustapha is the new captain to be assisted by Bethel Ogownma (1st assistant captain), and Kelechi Ndukauba (2nd assistant captain). Enewa Udoh will join the captain pool immediately after returning from Maternity leave.
“We have successfully done our trials and gotten players who will add value to the team and give their best. I am confident that the NCS will not disappoint the CGC Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) and his management this season.
“We do not want to be only champions of the Nigerian league, but to be among the best teams in Africa, like we did in 2021, where the country placed first. This is a time to rekindle the team and build on the success of the previous leadership.”
Onikeku charged the players to continue to uphold the virtues of the service and be good ambassadors wherever they meet themselves.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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