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 Volleyball Reporters Congratulates Oguntimehin On Election As Fct Swan Chairman
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Association (NVRA) has congratulated Tolu Oguntimehin on his election as Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter.
NVRA described his emergence as an opportunity to strengthen sports journalism and advance the welfare of members.
Oguntimehin emerged victorious at the FCT SWAN elective congress held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, defeating his challenger, Raphael Ekpang, by 88 votes to four.
In a congratulatory message, the Chairman of Nigeria Volleyball Reporters, Alhaji Ganiyu Oloyede described the election outcome as a testament to the confidence reposed in Oguntimehin by members of the association.
Oloyede expressed optimism that the new chairman would bring purposeful leadership, inclusiveness and renewed commitment to the development of sports journalism in the FCT.
He stressed that the responsibility of leading the association goes beyond occupying an office.
Oloyede noted that the new administration must prioritise members’ welfare, professional development, unity and the protection of their collective interests.
The NVR chairman also challenged the incoming leadership to create an enabling environment where sports journalists can thrive professionally, gain greater access to sporting events and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigerian sports.
He particularly welcomed Oguntimehin’s commitment to establishing a ₦200 million financial base for the association, describing the proposed initiative as an ambitious step towards building a financially stronger and more sustainable SWAN FCT.
Oloyede further emphasised the importance of collaboration among sports journalists, sports federations, government institutions and other stakeholders, maintaining that stronger partnerships would create more opportunities for members and improve the quality of sports reporting.
He urged the new executive to embrace transparency, accountability and open communication while ensuring that every member feels represented in the administration.
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters reaffirmed its readiness to work with the new SWAN FCT leadership in promoting sports journalism, strengthening professional relationships and projecting Nigerian sports positively.
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