Sports

First of its kind’ — Dare hails FCT SWAN for Easter, Sallah gifts

Published

4 years ago

May 23, 2022

Despite coming under attack in recent weeks, over Nigeria’s withdrawal from participating in international basketball, the minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has described the industry as one big family.

The minister was on Monday presented bags of rice by the Sports Writer Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, as part of their Easter and Eid-El-Fitr gifts which were also extended to members.

FCT SWAN Chairman, Bunmi Haruna, who was in the company of some members said they see the minister as part of the SWAN family and will continue to support him to succeed in office.

“We don’t have much, but from the little we have as an association, we have come to share with you.

“We know you don’t lack such things, but we see you as part of us and whatever we have we share,” Haruna said.

“We appreciate your huge strides in the sports industry in the last three years and want to let you know we will continue to support you to achieve even more.”

The minister, while responding, described the gesture as the first of its kind.

“This has never happened before and I’m going to tell my wife when I get home.

“This shows we are one big family, I thank SWAN for this gesture.”

The minister also spoke on the withdrawal of Nigerian teams from participating in international basketball for two years.

“The true basketball stakeholders know that the ministry is not the problem, they know where the problem Is,” Dare said.

The SWAN, FCT chapter had last month shared close to 100 bags of rice to members as Easter and Sallah packages.

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Sports

Drogba, Amuneke, Eguavoen Lead African Legends’ Arrival in Lagos

Published

24 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

With just one day to the much-anticipated Legends of Africa Football Game, Ivorian football icon Didier Drogba has arrived in Lagos, joining an impressive assembly of former African internationals already in the city ahead of Sunday’s star-studded encounter.

Drogba’s arrival further heightens anticipation for the game, which will bring together some of the continent’s most celebrated football figures at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Also in Lagos are Nigerian football greats Mobi Oparaku, Emmanuel Amuneke, Emmanuel Babayaro, Garba Lawal, Austin Eguavoen and Mutiu Adepoju, alongside other members of the legendary Super Eagles generations of 1994 and 1996.

The African contingent also features distinguished names including Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf, Ghana’s Stephen Appiah and Cameroon’s Rigobert Song, among other former international stars.

The excitement will extend beyond the legends’ reunion, with popular Nigerian entertainers and celebrities preparing for a special Celebrity Match as part of the event. Yhemolee, Sheggz, Jeriq, Teddy A and Charles Okocha are among the personalities set to feature in the celebrity fixture, scheduled to begin at 1:30pm.

The Celebrity Match will form part of a wider programme of activities designed to give fans a full day of football, entertainment and celebration before the main legends’ fixture, which kicks off at 5pm. Gates open at 1:30pm.

Organized by Toptier Sports Management in collaboration with Afreximbank and CANEX as part of CANEX WKND 2026, the game will feature 15 Nigerian legends taking on 13 African icons in a celebration of the players whose achievements helped shape the history of football on the continent.

Beyond the match, the programme includes a football clinic involving 500 young players, entertainment and special recognition for the heroes of African football.

The Legends of Africa Football Game promises a memorable gathering of football royalty, bringing together generations of fans to celebrate the enduring legacy of the continent’s finest players.

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