Sports
Sons and daughters of Oyo state salute Sunday Dare for bringing football back to the ‘Pace Setter State
They screamed, they danced and sang his praise to the heavens. According to them, they never knew that during their lifetime, they will ever watch a Nigerian team play a competitive football match before their naked eyes in the Pace Setter State.
That fear has finally been laid to rest as the Nigeria Under-23 national team, also known as the Olympic Eagles camped and played the first of many games to come in the Olympic Qualifiers at the Adamasingba stadium in Oyo State.
After the match, Ranti Bello, an indigene of Molete, in Ibadan, said she couldn’t hold back the tears.
” I was among the early birds at the stadium today, I came here with my husband and two kids just to be part of history. I have watch the Nigeria National teams play but have never done so in my state. I have prayed for this day to come and it is finally here. That perhaps explains why i am in tears”.
“Today is my happiest day as I sat with my husband and kids, cheering the Under-23 team to victory. I kept asking myself if this was a dream”.
Biodun Balogun traveled all the way from Ogbomosho to be part of history. He is particularly impressed with the successes a son of the soil, Sunday Dare has achieved so far as Nigeria sports minister and he is proud to be associated with a man who many never gave a chance but has gone on to silence his critics.
“For me, it is all about Sunday Dare. I am happy because a yoruba man is doing us proud at the very top. Dare has shown in the last four years that Oyo state can produce exceptional leaders that can help fix this country. Since his appointment as Sports minister, we have followed his success story with keen interest and we have all come out today, to support the Nigeria team and our dear brother and leader, Sunday Dare”
Fatai Jamiy traveled all the way from Shaki town, he is a trader who decided to close down his business for football.
“I am happy to be hear he said”.”these memories will linger on in my head forever”.
“Watching our national football team here in Ibadan has always been my dream and seeing us win in style got me crying. It was all tears of joy” he concluded.
Sports
FIFA MA Course: Gusau, FIFA instructors harp on hard work, integrity and fraternity
The two-week FIFA Member Associations Course for physical and technical instructors, and Young Talents came to a close in Abuja on Thursday with FIFA Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed publicly declaring his confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s budding arbiters to reach unprecedented heights in the vocation globally.
The physical and technical instructors’ course was activated between 9th – 13th June, while the Young Talents programme lasted between Sunday, 15th – Thursday, 19th June 2025.
President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), who also doubles as President of WAFU B, told the young talents to endeavour to put all they have learnt during the course into practice, as the Federation is in the process of elevating more of the young talents to take on higher responsibilities, such as handling matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
“I am happy that now, we have a total of 86 young talents in our refereeing pool. This deeply gladdens my heart. Last year, we had 40 people undertake this course, and this year, we have 46. Let me reveal to you that 10 of those young talents from last year have been elevated to the NPFL, and none of them was found wanting throughout the season.
“Their record of performance gives great hope to yourselves, and also shows that the NFF is right in our commitment to the young talents. However, in order to keep improving, I charge you to always find ways to fraternize, collaborate in all aspects, and bond together to jointly and severally enhance your capacities.”
Mohamed, who is from Somalia, said: “I am very satisfied with the group that we worked with over the past one week – the young talents. Their level of assimilation is very high and I see them going places in the work of refereeing. Please always have integrity at the back of your mind in whatever you do.
“We know Nigeria is everywhere, qualifying for all major tournaments and winning trophies and putting up podium performances here and there. But it will also be good to have Nigerian referees not only in the AFCON but also at the FIFA World Cup. Having worked with these young ones for the past one week, I can tell you with assurance that the future of Nigerian refereeing is in very good hands.”
President of NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu thanked FIFA and the NFF for the success of the programme, and asserted that the growing confidence in Nigerian referees at home and abroad can be traced to the support that the referees continue to get from the NFF for their capacity-enhancing programmes, and the intentionality of the NFF President.
FIFA Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi from Tunisia was also present at the closing ceremony, as well as Nigerian instructors Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Cecilia Ugbuji, Emmanuel Imiere, Stella Emoji and Promise Uwaeme.
There were also President of the NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu; Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Madam Faith Irabor; deputy chairman Rafiu Umar Gusau; members of the committee, Kabiyesi James Odeniran, Calistus Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, Dr Bello Mohammed, Abraham Zakowi, Waziri Abba Gawe and secretary, Mohammed Ameenu; NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire and; Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Isah Ladan Bosso.
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