Sports

NFF President Receives NNL Award for Transforming League

Published

9 hours ago

June 18, 2025

By Joel Ajayi

The Nigeria National League (NNL) on Wednesday honoured the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, with a special award in recognition of his unwavering support for the growth and development of the league.

The award was presented in Abuja during the May and June editions of the NNL Awards, which celebrate outstanding players, coaches, teams, and other stakeholders for their exceptional performances and contributions to the league.

The award initiative aims to promote excellence, encourage grassroots football development, and foster stronger collaboration between government bodies and football stakeholders across the country.

Alhaji Gusau’s recognition underscores the positive impact of his leadership on Nigeria’s domestic football scene, particularly at the second-tier level.

While presenting the award, the NNL Chief Operating Officer, Emmanuel Attah, expressed gratitude to the NFF President for his continued support and fatherly guidance, which he said have contributed significantly to the progress and success of the league.

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Basketball

Team Plateau Crowned Champions of CDS U-18 Basketball Championship in Abuja

Published

4 hours ago

June 18, 2025

The Gleamer

…As FCT Defeats Kaduna 70–53 to Clinch Bronze

By Joel Ajayi

Team Plateau on Wednesday emerged champions of the second edition of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Democracy Day U-18 Basketball Championship after defeating M2 Academy 50-36 in a fiercely contested final.

The championship game, played at the indoor basketball court of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was a thrilling display of grassroots basketball talent. Both Plateau and M2 Academy entered the final unbeaten, setting the stage for one of the tournament’s most intense matchups.

The Plateau boys started strong, edging the first quarter 8–6. They built on that momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead to 27–20 by capitalizing on defensive lapses from M2 Academy.

Although M2 Academy responded with a stronger third quarter, Plateau managed to maintain their advantage, finishing the quarter 36–32. The final quarter was all Plateau, as they pulled away to seal the victory with a final score of 50–36.

Earlier in the third-place match, also held at the indoor basketball court (Package B) of the stadium, the FCT U-18 boys’ team defeated their Kaduna counterparts 70–53 in a dominant performance.

The FCT side controlled all four quarters with superior teamwork, accurate shooting, and solid defensive play to secure the bronze medal.

The five-day tournament, themed “Encouraging Grassroots Basketball Talents”, aimed to identify, nurture, and promote young basketball talents capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.

A total of 16 teams—10 male and 6 female—participated in the championship, which tipped off on Saturday, June 14, and concluded on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

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