Sports
Abuja All Stars Invitational: Lugbe Stuns All Stars International, USF Crush Capital City, Ex-Professionals Scrape Through as Quarterfinal Lineup Emerges
For the second year running, All Stars International have bowed out in dramatic fashion at the ongoing Abuja All Stars International Invitational Tournament, crashing out to Lugbe All Stars in a nail-biting round of 16 clash.
Boasting a star-studded lineup featuring ex-internationals like Taiwo Enegwa, Patrick Paschal, and National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, All Stars International started brightly, piling pressure on Lugbe — a side that barely made it out of the group stage. Their early dominance paid off with a well-taken goal in the first half.
However, the tide turned after the break.
Lugbe All Stars came out rejuvenated, swarming the midfield and launching relentless attacks. Despite going down to 10 men after a red card, they refused to back down. Then came the turning point — a controversial penalty after a reckless shove inside the box. The initial spot-kick was saved, but a retake was ordered as the All Stars goalkeeper stepped off his line. The second time of asking, Lugbe made no mistake.
The match ended 1-1 in regulation time and headed to penalties, where Lugbe All Stars held their nerve to triumph 3-2, sending All Stars International packing once again.
Elsewhere, the fireworks continued.
All Stars New Karu were ruthless against debutants NNPC, firing on all cylinders in a 3-0 demolition job to book their quarterfinal ticket in style.
USF All Stars carried their late group-stage momentum into the knockouts, dismantling Capital City Club 3-0. Their title charge is looking more convincing by the match.
In the tightest clash of the round, Defending Champions Ex-Professionals were pushed to their limits by a gritty Corporate Kickers SC. After a goalless deadlock, they needed penalties to advance, holding their nerve to win 4-2.
As the quarterfinals loom, the Abuja football jungle has thinned. Now, only the bold, the battle-hardened, and the brave remain. The hunt for glory is well and truly on.
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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