Sports
All Stars Veterans Invitational: Gwagwalada All Stars, Ex-Pros, USF Book Round of 16 Spots as Final Group Drama Unfolds
Joel Ajayi
The All Stars Veterans Invitational Tournament continues to thrill fans with intense action and surprise results as Gwagwalada All Stars, Ex-Professionals, and USF secured their places in the Round of 16, joining Karu All Stars, Apo Fitness All Stars, All Stars International, and Nurudeen FC in the knockout phase.
Week Five opened with a shock result as City Gate Sports Club finally claimed their first victory in the tournament, stunning previously unbeaten Gwagwalada All Stars with a 2-1 win. Goals from Emeka Ejima and Emeka Nwaogara sealed the win, while Shagari Baba netted Gwagwalada’s consolation.
In the second match, USF booked their ticket in style, easing past Corporate Kickers Sports Club 2-0, thanks to goals from Chigozie Anyigbo and Bright Esomuno.
It was another dismal outing for Vera Gold All Stars, who slumped to a heavy 3-0 defeat against a revitalized Games Village FC, who are now in strong contention for a Round of 16 spot.
Ex-Professionals remain the standout side of the tournament, delivering a dominant 4-0 win over Capital Sportiff Sports Club in a performance full of quality and control.
Meanwhile, Zee Michael All Stars came from behind to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over University of Abuja All Stars, who couldn’t hold on to their early lead.
The final match of the day delivered fireworks, as Likeminds All Stars edged McSteve FC in a five-goal thriller, triumphing 3-2 in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats.
With the group stage nearing its conclusion, Games Village FC, Karu All Stars, and Likeminds will be watching the final round closely to see if they’ll join the confirmed teams in the knockout stage. The battle for the Round of 16 promises more drama in the coming days.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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