Sports

NCF Announces Final Squad List For Kwibuka Women’s Int. Tournament In Rwanda

Published

3 years ago

June 8, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The Nigeria Women’s team AKA Female Yellow Greens is set to leave the shores of the country on the 9th of June 2023 to participate in the 9th edition of the Kwibuka International Women’s tournament in Kigali Rwanda.

The team which will be making their 4th appearance in the tournament will look to continue their fine form in the tournament on the backdrop of the heroics in Nigeria where they were crowned Champions of the NCF Women’s international tournament earlier this year in Lagos.

Over the last 3 weeks, the ladies have been camped in Edo State at the high performance center where they have been put through their paces in preparation for the tournament. 18 players were invited to camp and after a regime of batting, bowling and fielding drills coupled with series of friendly matches, a final 14 squad list have been announced.

Longest serving and most experienced player Blessing Etim will lead the team as captain to be assisted by Favour Esiegbe as Vice Captain. Other familiar names include Salome Sunday, Lucky Piety, Rachael Samson, Agatha Uadiale to mention a few.

Oseyande Omokhiobhio and Omonye Asika return to the team after missing out during the Lagos tournament in March while bowling sensation Lillian Ude will not be on the flight to Kigali due to Academic responsibilities at this moment.

The list includes; Blessing Etim (Captain), Favour Eseigbe (V.Captain), Esther Sandy, Salome Sunday, Lucky Piety, Agatha Obulor, Omonye Asika, Oseyande Omonkhobhio, Adekunle Adeshola, Abigail Igbobie, Sarah Etim, Rukayat Abdulrasaq, Racheal Samson and Peculier Agboya.

Nigeria will battle against Uganda, Kenya, Botswana and host Rwanda in the tournament scheduled to take place from the 10th – 18th of June 2023.

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Sports

SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism

Published

16 hours ago

October 26, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.

Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.

According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.

Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.

He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.

The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.

Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.

He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.

Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.

He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.

He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.

“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.

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