Sports

Nigeria Hockey Teams Start August 24 Camp in Abuja Ahead of AFCON in October

Published

2 months ago

August 13, 2025

…As National Super League kicks off November 1st

By Joel Ajayi

In a bid to ensure thorough preparation for the Hockey African Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for October 11 to 18, 2025, in Egypt, the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) has announced that both the men’s and women’s national teams will commence a six-week training camp in Abuja starting August 24.

Federation made the announcement during a virtual Board meeting held via Zoom on Tuesday, where NHF President, Engr. Simon Nkom, commended the dedication and commitment of Board members over the past four years. He credited their efforts for the remarkable progress recorded in the sport.

“We could not have come this far as a Federation without the excellent and precise contributions and unwavering support of our Board members. Hockey has indeed grown since we came on board, and today, we are proud of where we are. We will continue working hard to grow the game further,” Nkom said.

During the meeting, the Board also confirmed that the National Super League will take place from November 1 to 9, 2025.

In addition, a five-member committee was inaugurated to review matters related to player transfers and athlete elections. Their findings are expected to be presented at the Board’s next meeting on Tuesday.

The committee members included Samuel Fagunwa, Baba Ndana, Arthur Jumbo, Felix Geghor, Garko Bamidele.

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

5 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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