Sports

NFF President Hails Gov. Alex Otti, Declares Abia the ‘Home of Football’ in Nigeria

Published

1 year ago

July 31, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has lauded Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for his unwavering commitment to sports development, describing Abia as “the home of football in Nigeria.”

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, Gusau praised the state’s rich football history, noting that Abia has produced landmark achievements, including back-to-back African continental titles.

“The history of sports in Nigeria cannot be complete without a mention of Abia State,” Gusau remarked.

He highlighted the remarkable growth of Abia Warriors FC under Governor Otti’s administration, recognizing the club as “one of the top three clubs in Nigeria.” The NFF President also called for the rehabilitation of the Umuahia Township Stadium and pledged the federation’s technical support to ensure the facility meets international standards.

In his response, Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to sports, promising to sustain Abia’s leading role in Nigerian and African football.

“Sports development will remain one of my topmost priorities to ensure Abia remains a major player in sporting activities at the continental and global levels,” the governor stated.

Governor Otti revealed that work will soon begin on the upgrade of the Umuahia Township Stadium as a short-term solution, while unveiling ambitious plans for a Stadium City project in Umuahia.

“I have already approved the upgrade of the Umuahia Township Stadium to make it what a stadium should look like. That’s our immediate intervention,” he explained.

“But we also have a long-term solution – the Abia Stadium City. The land has been acquired, designs are ongoing, and it will be a complex with an entertainment village, plazas, a conference center, and residential apartments.”

Governor Otti described football and sports in general as a “uniting factor”, stressing that good governance is about positively impacting the lives of the people.

He thanked the NFF for its support and assured that Abia would continue to back the federation’s initiatives. The governor also used the occasion to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the recent achievements of the Super Falcons, noting their performance as a source of pride for Nigeria.

The visit was attended by key stakeholders, including Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development; John Obuh, Chairman of Abia Warriors FC; and other prominent figures in the state’s sporting community.

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Sports

Agada Shines with Brace as Orijent Beat Karlovac 2-0

Published

26 mins ago

October 24, 2026

The Gleamer

Nigerian forward Charles Adah Agada scored twice as HNK Orijent secured a 2-0 away victory over Karlovac 1919 in the Croatian SuperSport Prva NL on Saturday.

Orijent produced an impressive performance at the Branko Čavlović-Čavlek Stadium in Karlovac to claim all three points in the league encounter.

Agada, a former Mavlon FC of Lagos attacker, was the standout performer, finding the net twice to help the visitors overcome their hosts and strengthen their position in the league campaign.
Orijent went into the half-time break with a 1-0 advantage before extending their lead in the second half.

The Nigerian striker completed his brace with the goal that made it 2-0 in the 57th minute.
Karlovac were unable to find a response as Orijent held on to their advantage to secure victory away from home.

The result represents an important boost for Orijent, who will look to build on the performance in their subsequent league fixtures.

For Agada, the brace underlines his value to the team as Orijent continue their campaign in Croatia’s second-tier football competition.

He has built an important role on loan at the club and has successfully established himself as a regular fixture in their lineup, appearing in all 8 league matches so far this season.

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