Sports
Dare to be conferred With Special Recognition award For Sports Development in African Region By Republic of Maldives
The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare is to be conferred with a ‘Special Recognition Award’ in the Republic of Maldives in recognition of his contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria and the African region.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Republic of Maldives, Ahmed Mahloof, stated that the award is being conferred on Sunday Dare, not only for his contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria but to the African region as a whole.
“In recognition of the work, you have carried out for the development of sports in your country and African region, we will be conferring the ‘Special Recognition Award’ on your Excellency,” he said.
The conferment ceremony which will be held in the Republic of Maldives on the 16th of March, will be attended by the Maldivian President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, world renowned athletes as well as Maldivian athletes, among others.
It will be recalled that in recognition of his stellar performances since assumption of office as Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Dare has bagged various awards including the Award of Excellence.in Public.Service, an award given by President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Telegraph Most Innovative Minister Award, the Blueprint Sports Icon of the Year Award, Youth Award in the United States of America, African Illustrious Minister of the Year Award among many others.
Apart from the various awards, Dare has initiated a lot of programmes like the Adopt initiative as well as produced the National Sports Industry Policy, the 10 year Football Development Masterplan, the Talent Hunt Program, the return of the long and middle distance races, and the cross country race in Nigeria after almost 40 years in the doldrums. He also embarked on the rehabilitation of sports facilities across the country, efforts that have impacted positively on Nigerian sports.
Under Dare’s leadership, Nigeria posted her best ever Commonwealth Games performance in August 2022 and produced her first ever World Record holder and World champion(in athletics) in Tobi Amusan.
You would also recall that Nigeria had her best Olympic Games performance in 13 years with 2 Medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Sports
TopTier Sports Management Takes Africa to Lagos as Nigeria Legends Secure 2-1 Victory
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s football legends defeated Team Africa 2-1 in a thrilling Legends Football Game at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, bringing CANEX WKND 2026 to a rousing close.
The night was more than a match. It was a homecoming for the men who made Nigeria the kings of African football.
Speaking after the final whistle, the Chief Executive Officer of TopTier Sports Management, Chichi Nwoko who brought the legends to Lagos could not hide her joy.
“I am fulfilled and glad that we had an opportunity to bring Africa to Lagos,” she said.
Nwoko revealed the game started with a simple conversation.
“Honestly, it was a conversation with the Vice President of Afreximbank that we needed to do something football,” she said.
“I am a lover of sports, the VP of Afreximbank is a fan of football and the chairman of Bet9ja, Mr Kunle Soname is the biggest supporter of football in Nigeria.”
That conversation became a celebration of history – 30 years after Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and the historic 1996 Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, beating Brazil and Argentina.
“It was perfect timing, a perfect storm to really celebrate and remember the legacy of Nigeria as the kings of football 30 years after 1996,” Nwoko said.
On the pitch, the stars rolled back the years. Nigeria paraded Jay-Jay Okocha, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and Austin Eguavoen.
Team Africa, led by former Ghanaian international, Samuel Kuffour,Alex Song of Cameroon, Ivorian Salomon Kalou, and Didier Zokora, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf, former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah, fought hard – but the home legends had the final say, 2-1 with NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko scoring one of the goals.
Nwoko thanked everyone who made the night possible: “I want to thank the legends for coming out, we thank the Nigerian government, the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, thank you to Bet9ja. CANEX WKND has been wonderful,” she said.
Organised by TopTier Sports Management in collaboration with Bet9ja, the Legends Football Game was designed to honour the players who shaped Nigeria’s and Africa’s standing in world football, while drawing attention to better welfare and opportunities for athletes beyond their playing careers.
As the crowd roared in Onikan, one thing was clear: legends never retire, they just remind you why they became legends
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