Sports
NFF President, Lulu, Ogunnowo Receive Gwagwalada Football Merit Award
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigerian Nationwide League, Olushola Ogunnowo, have been nominated for the prestigious Gwagwalada Football League Merit Award for their outstanding contributions to grassroots football development in Nigeria.
The announcement was made in Gwagwalada, Abuja, by the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Gwagwalada Football League, Patrick Ngwaogu. He said the trio was carefully selected based on merit and their long-standing impact on the growth and promotion of grassroots football across the country.
According to Ngwaogu, the awards will be presented on Sunday, 14 December 2025, during the grand finale of the 20th edition of the Gwagwalada Football League. He explained that this year’s ceremony carries special significance, as it marks two decades since the league kicked off in 2005 with just 10 participating teams—now expanded to 26 teams drawn from Gwagwalada and surrounding communities.
“We painstakingly selected the three individuals based on their personal contributions to the development of football at the grassroots level,” Ngwaogu said. “These awards are our own way of commemorating the 20-year journey of the Gwagwalada Football League.”
Meanwhile, preparations are in top gear for the highly anticipated final match, which will see Ejiwumi FC lock horns with Sheikhandam FC. Ejiwumi FC booked their place in the final after edging out Medical Strikers Feeders with a lone goal, while Sheikhandam FC advanced with an emphatic 3–1 victory over NIMMA FC.
The championship decider and award ceremony will take place at the Government Day Secondary School, Gwagwalada, where players, supporters, and football stakeholders are expected to gather for what promises to be a memorable celebration of grassroots football excellence.
Basketball
Igoche Mark, Adeniyi Others Lead Stakeholders in Applauding Flyers’ Championship Feat, Set Focus on Making BAL History
By Joel Ajayi
It was an evening of celebration, pride, and renewed optimism as Nigeria’s newest basketball sensation, Mark Town Flyers, received a special reception in Abuja on Monday in honour of their stunning emergence as 2025 NBBF Champions—a feat many never saw coming.
Speaking at the event, basketball development advocate Igoche Mark described the Flyers’ victory as “history-making,” applauding their resilience and determination in overcoming overwhelming odds.
“They have done something that has never been done before. Many didn’t expect them to come this far, but they proved everyone wrong,” he said.
“I have faith in them. By the time they get to the BAL, they will make Nigeria proud and set the best record we’ve ever had.”
Mark also restated the urgent need to revive Nigeria’s traditional league structure—one that once featured home-and-away fixtures, a full-season calendar, and clear progression to the playoffs.
“We’re not asking for the moon. We only want what we used to have. Our league once ran for months with home and away games before the Final Eight. Bringing that system back is key to growing basketball in Nigeria,” he added.
“This Story Is Special”—Mark on Flyers’ RiseReflecting further, Mark said the team’s rise is proof of Nigeria’s abundant talent and the remarkable potential of young players when provided with adequate support.
“These boys came together barely a year ago and have achieved what many established teams could not. Beating the defending champions on their home court shows true grit and promise,” he noted.
Achii: “The Journey Was Hard, But the Vision Was Clear” Owner of Mark Town Flyers, Akerannan Manusseh Achii, shared the emotional and challenging journey that transformed the team—formerly Lagos Legends—into national champions.
“It was a tedious journey. I bought the team just two and a half weeks before the league started. Getting players, funding, logistics—everything was tough. But I’m grateful to God and the players,” he said.
Achii revealed that his vision took shape last year in Kigali during the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals.
“We were watching the BAL, and I said I wanted to be here. I didn’t even have a team then. But this year I got the opportunity, we fought hard, and now we are heading to BAL. It feels surreal,” he stated.
Preparing for BAL: “We’re Ready and Open to Sponsorships”
With BAL qualification secured, Achii highlighted that the next phase is preparation and strategic partnerships.
“We want to go all the way. We are open to sponsorships, collaborations—anything that can help this team. At this stage, we’re representing not just a state, but Nigeria,” he emphasized.
Mark echoed the need for collective support from the private sector, stakeholders, and institutions.
“Benue State Government is already doing its part. But we all need to contribute. With joint support, this team will go far in the BAL,” he said.
General Manager of NTA 24 Sports, Kayode Adeniyi, commended the team’s doggedness, saying their exceptional drive distinguished them throughout the season.
He reflected on the excitement and glamour basketball once enjoyed in Nigeria, lamenting how administrative crises dimmed the sport’s appeal. He appealed to all stakeholders to revive the game for the benefit of the nation.
“I am appealing to Nigerians and everyone interested in basketball to do everything within their reach to bring the Game back to life in this country,” he urged.
In his welcome address, respected basketball advocate Kingsley Aigbonoga emphasized that true, sustainable development of the sport hinges on deliberate investment in youth.A Night of Unity and Hope.
The event brought together former and current basketball players, journalists, administrators, friends, and well-wishers—both young and old—showing the deep-rooted passion many still hold for the sport.
From a last-minute team acquisition to becoming national champions in less than a year, Mark Town Flyers have rewritten Nigerian basketball history. As their preparation for the BAL intensifies, one message echoing across the hall remained clear:
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