Sports

Team Nigeria Celebrated on Return After Historic Bronze Medal Finish at African Hockey Cup of Nations

Published

12 months ago

October 19, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Team Nigeria’s men’s and women’s hockey teams were received amid cheers and celebration on their return from Ismailia, Egypt, after a remarkable outing at the 2025 African Hockey Cup of Nations (ACN).

The men’s team made the nation proud by clinching the bronze medal — their best finish in recent years — following an emphatic 3–1 victory over Kenya in the third-place playoff. Star striker James Samaila was the tournament’s standout performer, finishing as the top scorer with an impressive eight goals.

Comprising entirely of home-based players who trained intensively for over six weeks in Abuja, both the men’s and women’s teams showcased determination, skill, and resilience against Africa’s hockey powerhouses, including South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and hosts Egypt.

While the women’s team narrowly missed out on a podium finish, their performance was widely applauded for its grit and improvement from previous campaigns.

Speaking on arrival, President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engineer Simon Nkom, commended the teams for their spirited displays, describing the bronze medal as a significant milestone for Nigerian hockey.

“Our players showed true Nigerian spirit and fought with passion and discipline throughout the tournament. This bronze medal is a huge motivation for the future, and we’ll continue to build on this momentum to reach greater heights,” he said.

Engineer Nkom also expressed appreciation to the Sports Commission, sponsors, and fans for their steadfast support, reaffirming the Federation’s commitment to developing hockey at the grassroots level and providing more international exposure for Nigerian players.

The triumph in Egypt marks a new chapter of promise for Nigerian hockey, as the teams continue to grow in confidence and competitiveness on the continental stage.

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

15 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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