Sports

Africans Must Defend Continent And Nations Cup Timing-Eto

Published

3 years ago

September 13, 2022

Joel Ajayi

Former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o said it is the duty of Africans to defend the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2021 tournament was held in Cameroon in January and February this year, in the middle of the European season, to avoid the rainy season in the Central African nation.

The timing of the Nations Cup has led to repeated disputes with clubs who have been forced to release players, and the issue will persist after the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast were moved to early 2024 because of weather concerns.

Napoli owner and President Aurelio de Laurentiis said the Italian club would avoid signing any more Africans unless they agree not to play in the biennial tournament – with Senegal coach Aliou Cisse hitting back that international football should never play second fiddle to club commitments.

Eto’o, who had spells at Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan and won the Nations Cup twice with the Indomitable Lions, has backed Cisse’s stance.

“We are Africans – nobody else can defend our continent better than ourselves,” Eto’o, who is now president of Cameroon’s football federation.

“Before the Nations Cup in Cameroon, I said that it’s important to play in January-February, something that obviously didn’t please some other people.

“But this is a fact in Africa. We have the rainy season in June, July, August, and even early September in our continent. It’s just a matter of getting on the same page with others and explaining things.”

“I am rather happy to see children of this continent being aware that nobody else will defend our continent for us.”

“We can notice for the first time in history that the World Cup will be played in November and December.”

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Sports

Governor’s Cup Final: NIS DG, Shaibu, Gusua, Others leads Support for tournament

Published

10 hours ago

June 15, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Institute of Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Nigeria Football Federation president, Ibrahim Gusua has thrown their weight behind the Governor Diri Douye governor’s cup tournament.

The dou were at the finals of Governor’s Cup final between Eternal Grace Ministry FC (EGM FC) and Advance Dreams FA at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, Director-General of the National Institute of Sports and immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, was in attendance, lending his support to the event.

The Governor’s Cup tournament, which commenced earlier in 2025, has been a thrilling competition, featuring top teams from across the state.

As the match gets concluded, both teams gave their all, Comrade Philip Shaibu watched the game closely his experience as a sports administrator informing his analysis of the game.

The crowd is fully engaged, cheering on their favorite team with enthusiasm. Philip Shaibu’s presence is adding to the excitement, and he is being warmly received by the Governor of Bayelsa State and other sports enthusiasts, including NFF president, Mallam Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former super Eagles Coach and Technical Director Samson Siasia and Austin Egueavon.

As the tournament ends, the DG , National Institute of Sports hope that othe Governors should emulate their Bayless state counterpart in developing grassroots sports through cach them young.

Speaking shortly after the the tournament, Shaibu said look forward into partnership with state governments in producing experience and qualified coaches in different sports field.

” Yes, an happy that am here to witness this final game, we are ready to partner with all State Governors and the FCT in our task ahead. We need to measure up globally in terms of our coaches Media care . “

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