Sports
Sports Minister Celebrates 60th Posthumous Birthday of “the Gangling” Rashidi Yekini
Joel Ajayi
…Says the “Goals father” will forever remain in the hearts of millions of Nigerians
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, yesterday joined the nation and the global football community in commemorating the 60th posthumous birthday of legendary Nigerian footballer, Rashidi Yekini.
Yekini, born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, left an indelible mark on the world of football during his prolific career. As an Eagle, Yekini’s contributions to Nigerian football are immeasurable. He became an inspiration to countless young athletes in Nigeria and beyond, setting a high standard for excellence on the field.
“Rashidi Yekini’s name resonates with passion, dedication, and outstanding talent,” the Minister said. His unforgettable moments on the football field, including his historic goal during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, have left an indelible mark on the history of Nigerian football. Yekini’s records, achievements, and charisma continue to inspire generations of aspiring footballers across the nation.”
Senator Enoh recognized the enduring impact that Rashidi Yekini had on the sport and the unity he brought to the nation through his extraordinary talent. He stated, “Rashidi Yekini was not just a football legend; he was a source of national pride and unity. He captured the hearts of millions with his passion, dedication, and remarkable goal-scoring ability.”
We remember Rashidi Yekini not only for his incredible goals but also for the humility and grace with which he carried himself both on and off the field. “As we celebrate the life of Rashidi Yekini, we must also remember the values he represented – hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in oneself. These are the values that inspire us,” the Minister concluded.
The Gangling remains Nigeria’s highest goal scorer to date, with 37 goals for the Super Eagles. His “inside net” celebration after his goal against Bulgaria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup remains iconic 29 years after the showpiece event. He won the golden boot prize at the 1992 African Nations Cup in Senegal and clinched other top awards in the course of his career.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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