Sports
MOP Stars FC Set for Europe Tour, to Face Brentford, West Ham, Charlton Athletic and More from October 25
Joel Ajayi
MOP Stars Football Club Academy is preparing for a landmark European tour later this month, with confirmed fixtures against top English sides including Brentford FC, West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, and others.
The tour, scheduled to kick off on October 25 in London, is designed to showcase Nigerian grassroots talent on the global stage.
Announcing the development after his academy side played a goalless test match against the U-17 Golden Eaglets at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Chairman of the Academy, Dr. Sulieman Adejoh, described the trip as a great opportunity to give his players international exposure while making Nigeria proud abroad.
“We have a tournament in London starting October 25, and the fixtures have been finalized. By the grace of God, we will go there, compete well, and fly Nigeria’s flag high,” Adejoh said.
Reflecting on the growth of his academy, Adejoh noted that since its establishment in January, the MOP Stars have remained unbeaten, except in a training match against the Super Eagles. He added that their ability to hold the national U-17s to a draw showed both the academy’s progress and the Eaglets’ urgent need to improve in the attacking third.
Head Coach of MOP Stars FC, Toyin Lawal, praised his young players for holding their own against the national cadet side.
“We are still a new team with a lot of work ahead, but it’s a joyful thing that we were able to match the Golden Eaglets. I believe they will go on to represent Nigeria well,” Lawal said.
One of the academy’s stakeholders, Mr. Ekpang Adejoh, also commended the team’s discipline and raw talent.
“Fantastic defensive discipline, strong midfield play — and from street footballers — yet they held a national U-17 side to a goalless draw. That’s remarkable. The Eaglets did well too, but you cannot overlook the raw talent in these MOP Stars. This is why we are urging the NFF to look into the streets, because there are hidden footballers everywhere, even players capable of becoming future Super Eagles stars,” he stated.
He emphasized that though the academy is less than a year old, their progress has been extraordinary. “With the dedication of the founder, in the next two years we could see players from this academy rise to the level of Jay-Jay Okocha or Kanu Nwankwo,” he added.
Sports
Nigeria Jets Out Tuesday for 2025 Hockey AFCON as Federation President Engr Nkom Backs Teams for Podium Finish
Joel Ajayi
With the 2025 Hockey African Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to take place in Egypt from October 11 to 18, both the men’s and women’s national hockey teams are set to depart Nigeria on October 7, brimming with confidence and determination to make the nation proud.
The President of the Hockey Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Engineer Simon Nkom, speaking after a series of friendly matches at the Hockey Pitch, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, said the teams’ early preparation and intensive training camps have positioned them for a successful outing in Egypt.
“In sports—whether it’s hockey, handball, or basketball—fitness is key. That’s why we began camping weeks ago to build the players’ strength and resilience ahead of this major competition. This is the African Cup of Nations—the highest level of hockey on the continent. We’ve prepared well, and I’m confident our teams will finish on the podium,” he stated.
Nkom highlighted the significant progress Nigerian hockey has recorded in recent years, noting that the country’s world ranking improved from 56th to 36th, while in Hockey 5s, Nigeria now stands 12th globally.
“A few years ago, people barely knew hockey existed in Nigeria. Today, our women’s team ranks 3rd in Africa, and the men’s team is 4th. This growth is a product of deliberate grassroots development and consistent effort,” he added.
To ensure smooth participation and avoid past challenges of late arrivals at tournaments, the federation has finalized logistics for early departure.
“We’ve made all arrangements for the teams to leave early to acclimatize and play friendly matches before the competition begins. The players are motivated, relaxed, and ready to give their best. By God’s grace, they will return home with their heads held high,” Nkom assured.
The HFN President also lauded the federation’s board members for their commitment and teamwork over the past four years, which he said has greatly contributed to the sport’s steady rise in Nigeria.
Head coach Ndana Baba Abdullahi, who oversees both the men’s and women’s teams, praised the federation’s support and lauded the players’ work ethic throughout the extended training camp.
“We’ve worked very hard — morning and evening sessions, tactical drills, conditioning. The players have responded excellently. We started with 35 players and are now down to the final 18 who will make the trip,” Abdullahi said, adding that the early arrival in Egypt would give Nigeria a crucial psychological and tactical edge.
Men’s team captain, Michael John, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness and determination to make history in Egypt.
“We’re perfectly fine — we’ve trained hard and prepared well,” he said. “We’re just waiting for the whistle to blow. By God’s grace, we won’t disappoint our country or those who worked hard to send us there.”
Similarly, women’s team captain, Alfa Cornelius, echoed optimism about the team’s prospects.
“We’ve been camping for over a month, and the coaches have done a wonderful job. We’ve worked hard to match our opponents in both strength and skill. I’m 100% confident that we’ll perform excellently in Egypt,” she said.
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