Sports
Breaking News: World Aquatics Awards Prestigious Scholarships to Two Nigerian Swimmers
World Aquatics, the global governing body for swimming, has awarded international training scholarships to two of Nigeria’s rising stars in the sport — Clinton Opute of Delta State and Collins Ebingha of Bayelsa State.
The scholarships, announced as part of World Aquatics’ elite development program, are designed to provide access to world-class training facilities in Europe and prepare the athletes for major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
According to the program details, Collins Ebingha’s scholarship will run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, while Clinton Opute’s training grant will extend from September 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028, in France and Hungary respectively.
This milestone underscores the steady progress Nigeria has recorded in swimming development, following a series of remarkable achievements in recent years. It also reflects the strategic sports development agenda of the National Sports Commission (NSC), championed under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, with the Nigeria Swimming Federation playing a pivotal role in advancing opportunities for homegrown talents.
Significantly, the World Aquatics scholarships are reserved for athletes above 18 years who demonstrate exceptional promise and strong prospects of Olympic qualification. Opute and Ebingha’s selection is therefore viewed as a recognition of their outstanding potential and Nigeria’s rising profile on the international swimming stage.
It will be recalled that the duo, alongside Abduljabar Adama of Ogun State, emerged as standout performers at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where their performances confirmed Nigeria’s growing pool of elite swimming talents.
Their latest recognition by World Aquatics not only strengthens Nigeria’s Olympic preparations but also validates the country’s renewed commitment to nurturing world-class athletes across sporting disciplines.
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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