Sports
Shaibu Commits to Renewed Hope Agenda at NIS
Joel Ajayi
The newly appointed Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has pledged to revitalise the institution and realign it with the vision of its founding fathers.
Shaibu made this commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko, and to the NIS office located within Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
He formally notified the Chairman of his resumption and expressed his determination to reposition the institute for greater impact.
He underscored the importance of collaboration and teamwork in achieving the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Nigerian sports sector.
“I am here to officially inform the Chairman of my assumption of office as Director General of the National Institute for Sports, following my appointment by Mr. President,” Shaibu stated. “I also wish to discuss areas of collaboration to help us fulfill the mandates set before us. Although we have been working towards this vision for a while, it cannot be fully achieved without a genuine passion for sports development.
“By working closely with Alhaji Shehu Dikko, I believe we can translate Mr. President’s Renewed Hope for sports into tangible results.”
In his response, Malam Dikko described Shaibu’s appointment as a perfect fit, commending his leadership qualities and past achievements.
“I am delighted to welcome my brother to the family. When he last visited, it was to congratulate us on our appointments. Today, he returns to join us in the mission to advance sports development in Nigeria,” Dikko said.
“We remain grateful to Mr. President for his continued support. The NIS plays a central role in building the human capacity required to transform our sports landscape.
“Shaibu’s passion for sports and his impressive track record make him the right person to lead the institute.”
After the meeting, Shaibu embarked on an inspection tour of the NIS facilities at the stadium, assessing the condition of training infrastructure and overall operational capacity. He identified areas that require urgent intervention and pledged to address them swiftly.
He reaffirmed his commitment to fostering teamwork and engaging stakeholders at all levels to achieve a complete transformation of the institute in line with its core mandate and national development goals.
Sports
August 22 Set as Kick-Off Date for 2025/26 NPFL Season
By Joel Ajayi
Following what many have described as one of the most successful football seasons in recent years, the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, has announced that the 2025/26 season will commence on August 22 and run through May.
Elegbeleye made this known on Friday during a press briefing held to review the just-concluded season and unveil plans for the upcoming campaign.
According to him, the decision to announce the kickoff date early is to ensure that the NPFL aligns with the international football calendar.
“We called this briefing to review the achievements of the past season and to inform Nigerians about the date for the new season, in line with global football standards,” he stated.
“This is perhaps the first time in nearly 20 years since the start of the modern NPFL era in 2005 — that both kickoff and closing dates have been strictly adhered to. It’s a promise we made and a promise we’ve delivered,” Elegbeleye stated.
He added that the new season will begin on August 22, 2025, and conclude in May 2026, maintaining the calendar structure established in the previous season.
Reviewing the recently concluded 2024/25 season, which ran from August 31, 2024, to May 25, 2025, Elegbeleye highlighted several milestones and statistical achievements.
He noted that Remo Stars made history by clinching the league title with three matches to spare after defeating Niger Tornadoes on Matchday 35, April 27. Remo Stars finished at the top of the table, followed by Rivers United and Abia Warriors.
In total,380 matches were played across the season. Each of the 20 clubs played 19 home and 19 away games, 286 matches were won, while 94 ended in draws.
A total of 784 goals were scored, comprising 552 at home and 232 away goals.60 goals came from the penalty spot, with 16 penalties missed. 13 own goals were recorded, and there were four hat-tricks.
On discipline: 1,380 yellow cards and 56 red cards were issued.
As Yusuf Anas of Nasarawa United topped the list with 18 goals, including two hat-tricks.
He was followed by veteran Rabiu Ali with 13 goals, and Anthony Ijoma of Abia Warriors with 12 goals.
Isaac Saviour (Rangers) and Amadu Liman also recorded a hat-trick each.
He added that: “Out of the 380 matches played:188 were broadcast live by StarTimes, while Propel streamed over 200 matches online.
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