Sports
Power and Pageantry: African Armwrestling Championship Kicks Off in Grand Style in Abuja
The 14th African Armwrestling Championship officially commenced yesterday, with a spectacular opening ceremony held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the M.K.O. Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. The championship, which brings together over 400 athletes and officials from 20 African countries, opened with color, music, unity, and a renewed spirit of continental sportsmanship.
Leading the dignitaries in attendance was the renowned sports administrator and reform advocate, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, who declared the event open on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was joined by Hon. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development; Senator John Enoh, Minister of Sports Development; Comrade Philip Shaibu, Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS); Sunday Dare, former Sports Minister and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications.
The ceremony began with a parade of the 20 participating countries, each marching in proudly with their flags, followed by a captivating cultural display that celebrated Nigeria’s diversity and hospitality. A vibrant military band performance added ceremonial grandeur, leaving the capacity crowd in awe.
Hon. Adeboye Adeyinka, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), expressed profound appreciation to the government, stakeholders, and media for their roles in making the championship a historic reality.
“This is more than a sporting competition — it’s a celebration of Africa’s youth, strength, and unity. Nigeria is honored to host this, and we’re determined to set new standards for sports development across the continent,” Adeboye said during his welcome remarks.
Also present at the ceremony were key international armwrestling figures including Mr. Charles Osei Asibey, President of the Armwrestling Federation of Africa; Engr. Samuel Jackson, President of the Nigeria Armwrestling Federation; and Mr. Mircea Simionescu-Simicel, Secretary General of the World Armwrestling Federation, who flew in from Romania.
“Africa is no longer emerging — Africa is ready. This championship shows the power of collaboration, and Nigeria has once again stepped forward to lead,” said Charles Osei Asibey.
This year’s championship is more than a contest of strength — it serves as an official qualifier for the 2025 World Armwrestling Championship in Bulgaria, as well as a benchmark for qualification into the 2027 All-African Games in Egypt.
The championship runs until July 27, with matches streamed live on YouTube and thousands expected to follow every moment of action.
Nigeria is not just hosting — Nigeria is defining the future of African sports.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
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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