Sports

Sports Minister Celebrates First Set Of Green Eagles. 43 Years Anniversary, First Nations Cup Won On Home Soil

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2023

Today, March 22nd marks the 43rd Anniversary of the victory won by the then Green Eagles at the African Cup of Nations. That historic African Cup of Nations was held in Lagos and the Green Eagles won the Nations Cup, in the presence of Eagles fans at the National Stadium, Surulere.

According to the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, “Today marks 43 years that our Green Eagles won the first African Cup of Nations.

“In light of this, I want to celebrate these icons and great players that led a formidable track for others to follow. The likes of Goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe, Captain Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Kadiri Ikhana, Alloysius Atuegbu, and others whose zeal, commitment and dexterity in making Nigeria proud, has made them pacesetters. The Eagles have won the same trophy, three different times in year 1980, 1994 and 2013. They will always be remembered.

“Today, I join millions of Nigerians to say thank you, for winning the first African Cup of Nations on March 22, 1980”, Honourable Sunday Dare concluded.

The 1980 history making team are;
Goalkeepers: Best Ogedegbe, Emmanuel Okala, Moses Effiong

Defenders: David Adiele, Johnny Orlando, Sylvanus Okpala, Okey Isima, Tunde Bamidele, Godwin Odiye, Christian Chukwu

Midfielders: Mudashiru Lawal, Alloysius Atuegbu, Henry Nwosu, Kadiri Ikhana, Frank Nwachi

Forwards: Ifeanyi Onyedika, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Martin Eyo, Charles Bassey, Shefiu Mohammed.

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Sports

Chinese Embassy seeks better Collaboration with the National Sports Commission

Published

2 hours ago

May 13, 2025

The Gleamer

…Commit to establishing a dedicated China-Nigeria Sports communication channel

Joel Ajayi

The Chinese Government has intensified bilateral relationships with the Nigerian Government through the National Sports Commission, NSC, following the visa glitch that led to Team Nigeria withdrawing from the World relays in Guangzhou, China.

This landmark feat was achieved when officials of the Chinese Embassy paid a diplomatic visit to the leadership of the National Sports Commission.
Culture Counselor of the Chinese Embassy Yang Jian Xing expressed regrets over the visa challenges that prompted Nigeria to withdraw from the World relays and pledged China’s commitments to the country’s vision for Sports Development.

” I want to describe what has happened as an accident and we are sorry and we regret it in its entirety. We are here to let the Sports Commission know that the Chinese Government holds Nigeria of high esteem”.

” We are open to better collaboration with the National Sports Commission to boost diplomatic ties of both China and Nigeria in terms of Sports Training and Exchange programmes”.

” Once again I want to assure you that from next time we will try our best for this not to repeat itself again and we will also like to create a special channel for a China and Nigeria Sports Communication”, he added.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the Commission has accepted the gestures of regrets by the Chinese Government and are ready to foster better collaboration for the future.

” We are very happy to receive officials from the Chinese Embassy in our office today and it shows the Chinese Government genuine disappointment for what happened which for us is a huge sign of better things to come between both countries especially in Sports”.

” We should at all times try to create positives out of things like this and we are happy that this has further strengthened our relationship with the Chinese Embassy”.

The Director General of the NSC Hon. Bukola Olopade reiterated the Commission’s desire to build stronger sporting ties with China and allowed the incident of the visa glitch to serve as a springboard to a robust working relationship.

” Your humility and diplomacy is the best I have seen anywhere and I am very grateful that you best described the incident between the AFN, the Commission and your embassy as an accident and we have all agreed to take it as such and move forward to better things”.

” I want to thank you for everything and for the request for exchange programmes and training for our media and Sports men and women.This is truly worthy of note . We are looking forward to a bigger and better relationship between Nigeria and China”, he concluded.

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