Sports
Grateful D”Tigress expresses Gratitude for overwhelming receptions
….Thanked Mr President, NSC, NBBF, and Corporate Nigeria for the show of love
Players and officials of the victorious D’Tigress are still basking in the euphoria of the welcome they received from both the Government, Corporate Nigeria and Nigerians after winning the Afrobasket for the 5th consecutive time in Cote d’Ivoire.
The players and their officials have been warmly received back home since their heroic feat in Abidjan where they did the unprecedented by winning the African women title for a record five times in a row.
After winning the tournament, the Nigeria basketball Federation,NBBF, alongside the National Sports Commission, NSC, ensured the team was flown back home as royalties in a chartered flight to officially present the trophy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR , at the Presidential Villa.
And taking a look at all that were put together for the team in the last few days, the players expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the Federal Government and the Corporation Bodies led by Zenith Bank PLC.
Captain of the Team, Amy Okonkwo described all the receptions as an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for them.
” My girls and myself are sincerely overwhelmed to see how the whole country welcomed us and showed us love. It’s being a wonderful and undescribable experience, and we are even more motivated now to go on to do more for the country.
” Mr President showed us fatherly love and has given us more hope for the future. What can I say about our mothers – the Minister of Women Affairs, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy and the Minister of state for Finance. Their support has been very inspiring and as a team, we are very thankful”.
” The Leadership of the National Sports Commission, NSC, led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, has also been very supportive. We have never had it this good, seeing how the NSC has been very concerned about our welfare and success throughout the tournament”.
” I also want to thank the Corporate Nigeria especially Zenith Bank Plc, who have been a big backbone of Nigeria Basketball for many years.They played a big part in our success story today. A big thank you also to NNPC, and we are very excited for all the plans they are putting together for Nigerian basketball”.
Amy Okonkwo who was adjudged the best player at the tournament also gave a special appreciation to the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation,NBBF, led by it’s President Engr Musa Kida.
” All of these would not have been possible if not for the kind of leadership of basketball in Nigeria led by our President, Engr Musa Kida, whose immense sacrifice has brought us this far. He is our father and leader who inspires us everyday alongside our General Manager Musa Adamu and other board members of the federation”, she concluded.
President of the NBBF, Engr Musa Kida, has also thanked everyone for making the victory of the girls an unforgettable experience, expressing confidence that this will surely open a new vista of growth for basketball in the country.
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
