Sports

Beat Tanzania, pocket $20,000 – Task Force boss tells Olympic Eagles

Published

3 years ago

October 20, 2022

The Chairman, NFF Task Force on youth competitions, Alh. Aminu Balele Kurfi has pledged the sum of $20,000 for the U23 men national team, Olympic Eagles, if they beat Tanzania in the first leg of their U23 AFCON qualifying fixture in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Alh. Kurfi made the pledge at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos while speaking with the team Thursday evening shortly before the team’s departure to Tanzania aboard a Kenyan Airways flight. The Katsina State-born football administrator charged the Olympic Eagles to make Nigerians proud by ensuring they beat their Tanzanian counterparts on Saturday.

Kurfi also conveyed the goodwill messages of Youth and Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare and NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau to the team while assuring them that Nigerians are fully supporting the team to come out victorious.

Responding, Head Coach Salisu Yusuf thanked the Katsina State FA Chairman for prioritizing the team while assuring that the team will give its best in the showdown with Tanzania.

Also speaking, team captain Success Makanjuola stated that the players are highly motivated and will go all out to secure victory on Saturday

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Sports

Leadership Boost: Dr. Nneka Anibeze Takes Helm as AFN COO

Published

6 hours ago

June 12, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

In a major boost for Nigerian athletics, Dr. Nneka Anibeze, a seasoned sports journalist and respected figure in the Nigerian sports community, has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The appointment was officially announced on Thursday in Abuja, shortly after the conclusion of the AFN elections.

AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa stated that the appointment aligns with the National Sports Commission’s broader objective to promote inclusivity and inject fresh, dynamic leadership into the federation’s administrative framework. Alongside Dr. Anibeze’s appointment, Kola Oredipe was named Auditor, with other professionals also appointed into key legal advisory roles.

Dr. Anibeze brings to the role a wealth of experience, leadership, and a proven track record of contributing to the growth of sports in Nigeria. Her appointment is widely seen as a strategic move to strengthen AFN’s operations, both domestically and on the international stage.

Stakeholders across the sports sector have hailed the appointment, expressing optimism that Dr. Anibeze’s knowledge, professionalism, and vision will help reposition Nigerian athletics for long-term success.

In her remarks following the announcement, Dr. Anibeze took a moment to appreciate the critical role of the Nigerian media in advancing sports development.

Speaking shortly after the election of the Nigeria Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS) representative into the AFN board, she described the media as “the most important stakeholder” in the sporting ecosystem.

> “The future of Nigerian sports is very bright,” she stated. “The media is the greatest stakeholder in sports. Without the media, it’s like blinking in the dark.”

Drawing from her extensive experience in sports journalism, Dr. Anibeze recalled covering iconic international competitions, including the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, where she reported on Nigerian legends like Fatima Yusuf, Mary Onyali, and Innocent Egbunike.

“Back then, sports coverage was occasional. Today, sports is big business—and the media drives that business. Without television rights, sponsorship deals, and live coverage, sports would not attract the massive investments it does today,” she explained.“The media makes sports visible, marketable, and profitable.”

Dr. Anibeze urged journalists and media organizations to continue championing the growth of Nigerian sports, stressing their responsibility in shaping narratives and driving positive change.

“Despite the challenges, I believe in the future of sports in Nigeria. With people committed to doing the right thing—and with the media actively involved—we will get there,” she concluded.

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