Sports

AFRICAN BEACH GAMES 2023: Nigeria Teqball Contingent Arrives Hammamet

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2023

…Set to conquer Africa

Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian Teqball delegation arrived Hammamet, a city located in the South-Eastern section of Cap Bon a popular destination for swimming and water sports and is one of the primary tourist destinations in Tunisia hosting the 2023 African Beach Games.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head, Competitions, Communications and ICT Promise Uwaeme revealed that, the Athletes and team official have already settled at the El Mouradi El Menzah Hotel and will have a lite walkout later in this evening at the Yasmine Hammamet beach (Teqball Arena) and a full training session tomorrow.

The Teqball event is scheduled to start on Friday 23rd June 2023 with a Technical Meeting and organised training sessions for all the participating countries between 14:00 – 18:00Hr (local time) and the games will start on Saturday 24th June 2023 with the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles (Group Stage and Knockout stage).

Speaking with newsmen, the Head of Technical and Education – Nigeria Teqball Federation and leader of delegation, Mr. Abdul Bajeh said, “We are thrilled to be here in Hammamet to represent our beloved country in the Teqball event and qualify for the World Beach Games in Indonesia, Bali 2023”.

“The Athletes are in high spirit and by the grace of God, they will not only win medals but they will qualify for the World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia that will hold in August this year”, he added.

The team captain Victor Oyemade reassured the president of the federation Engr. Habu Gumel and Nigerians that they are ready to take Africa by storm. “We sincerely thank the federation for this opportunity to represent Nigeria and we promise to bring back gold medals in all the three events and qualify for the World Beach Games in Asia”, Oyemade stated.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports is on ground providing all the necessary support to team Nigeria.

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Sports

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

Published

11 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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