Sports
Representing Nigeria remains my ultimate ambition,” says Europe-based striker Adegbenro.
Everywhere in Europe, young Nigerian footballers keep dazzling at their respective clubs and Daniel Adegbenro is not an exception.
Adegbenro, who plies his trade with FC Vion Zlate Moravce has been very phenomenon in Slovakian league. His skills, especially his dribbling runs, pace, strength, ferocious shots, with eyes for goals have made him a nightmare to opposing defenders and goalkeepers in the league.
The teenage attacker can operate effectively as a second striker or a winger depending on the tactical formation his club chooses, and it is no wonder that he has seven goals and three assists to his name since the season began.
As a left footed attacker, with deft touches, his intelligence while with the ball is a delight to behold and there is no denying the fact that at only 18 years old, he will definitely get better, as he continues to develop himself.
Interestingly, Adegbenro was born and bred in Texas, United States, a country more known for exploits in basketball, athletics, tennis, but the young Nigerian chose football and he has shown potential for greatness in the round leather game.
“My interest, passion has always been soccer or football as it is called outside the United States. I remain focus on the task I set for myself, which is to continue developing and improving my game,” Adegbenro told www.totorinews.com exclusively.
Despite being born in the United States, the highly gifted forward revealed that he has been following Nigeria football for years and he hopes to wear the national colours of the most populous black nation in the world.
“I have always been attracted to Nigeria football from when i was a kid. Nigeria fascinates me greatly and realistically, i see myself as a Nigerian footballer, though born in Texas, United States.
“I carry the DNA of a Nigerian in my blood, in my football and hopefully, i will get to represent the country in the future.
“I am very glad that i now play in Europe, where i hope to continue to work very hard and be improving my game,” he added.
On match day eight in the Slovakian league over the weekend, he featured for 90 minutes for FC ViOn Zlate in their clash with FK Slovan Levice, which ended goalless.
“It was a game we really wanted to win, but unfortunately it ended goalless. I’m grateful that the technical crew entrusted their faith in me. I played the full game and as i said earlier, i hope to continue to improve.
“I had already scored seven goals, with three assists, i deeply appreciate my teammates, coaches and fans for their support.
“I will follow the processes of my development meticously, stay very focused on the goals that i have set for myself and the ultimate goal is to play for Nigeria someday,” he concluded.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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