Sports
7 Days to Go: Team Nigeria Begins Final Camp in Abuja for African Armwrestling Championship
Joel Ajayi
With just seven days left until the continent’s biggest showdown in armwrestling, Team Nigeria’s 135-member squad has officially entered final camp in Abuja, marking a critical phase in the nation’s quest for glory at the 14th African Armwrestling Championship.
The athletes—drawn from all six geopolitical zones and across various weight categories—are now housed in a high-performance training environment, fine-tuning their strength, technique, and coordination ahead of the July 23–27 competition.
The camp, set up in Abuja FCT, is a hive of focused energy, resilience, and national pride.
The championship, which will attract over 400 athletes and officials from 20 African nations, is being hailed as one of the most significant continental sporting events Nigeria has ever hosted.
“Team Nigeria is locked in and ready. This final camp phase is about sharpening our edge and showing Africa what we’re made of,” said Hon. Adeboye Adeyinka, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development.
This year’s team—Nigeria’s largest-ever armwrestling contingent—includes elite male and female pullers, para-athletes, and promising youth prospects, all determined to defend home turf and elevate Nigeria’s standing in global armwrestling.
The official mascot and team jersey, already unveiled to enthusiastic response, have helped rally fans and increase anticipation.
With the countdown clock ticking, Abuja is steadily transforming into the epicenter of African strength, unity, and sportsmanship.
The championship will take place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, with world-class setup underway for an unforgettable three-day event.
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.
-
Featured6 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured5 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured6 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured6 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured4 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports3 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News9 months agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
-
Featured6 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
