Sports

We Are Ready For National Para Soccer Games – Nelson

Published

5 years ago

April 5, 2022

By Joel Ajayi

With less than four days to the kick of the first-ever National Para-Soccer Games, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Peter Nelson has revealed that all is set for the event.

The maiden edition of the game will hold inside Moshood Abiola National stadium, Abuja between the 9th- and 15th of April, 2022.

Speaking on Tuesday, Chairman Organizing Committee and Director of Planning and Research in the Ministry, Mr. Nelson said over 3,145 athletes and officials from 32 states will be participating in 15 Para-sports for over 150 events.

According to him, it is going to be an exceptional one.

“We are working seriously to make sure that we get the best of it, because many other Para-sports have been suffering power-lifting, Athletics, and para table-tennis have overshadowed them and they have not been able to showcase their skills.

“Now, we have quite a lot of them coming out to showcase their skills. We have additional 13 Para games that will be participating alongside these 3 well known Para-sports.

“Will have Para-Taekwondo, Para-Swimming, Para-Badminton, Amputee Football, Para-Soccer, to mention a few.

“The beauty of this is that a lot of people living with disabilities are on the streets, we are going to clear them off the street and convert their useful skills into achieving purpose.

“We are introducing this Para-sports festival in order to get more people to participate in the para-games. The sport festival is an empowerment, as some of the them will be given allowances, employment, scholarship, to mention a few.

“We want them to have equal opportunity like their able gender in the sports arena.”

Talking about the accommodation, logistics and others, Mr Nelson said that arrangement has been made to use NYSC Orientation camp in Kubwa where Uban city transport company will convey participants with ease while Feeding, Medical others are all in place.

Share on Facebook

Sports

Drogba, Amuneke, Eguavoen Lead African Legends’ Arrival in Lagos

Published

18 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

With just one day to the much-anticipated Legends of Africa Football Game, Ivorian football icon Didier Drogba has arrived in Lagos, joining an impressive assembly of former African internationals already in the city ahead of Sunday’s star-studded encounter.

Drogba’s arrival further heightens anticipation for the game, which will bring together some of the continent’s most celebrated football figures at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Also in Lagos are Nigerian football greats Mobi Oparaku, Emmanuel Amuneke, Emmanuel Babayaro, Garba Lawal, Austin Eguavoen and Mutiu Adepoju, alongside other members of the legendary Super Eagles generations of 1994 and 1996.

The African contingent also features distinguished names including Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf, Ghana’s Stephen Appiah and Cameroon’s Rigobert Song, among other former international stars.

The excitement will extend beyond the legends’ reunion, with popular Nigerian entertainers and celebrities preparing for a special Celebrity Match as part of the event. Yhemolee, Sheggz, Jeriq, Teddy A and Charles Okocha are among the personalities set to feature in the celebrity fixture, scheduled to begin at 1:30pm.

The Celebrity Match will form part of a wider programme of activities designed to give fans a full day of football, entertainment and celebration before the main legends’ fixture, which kicks off at 5pm. Gates open at 1:30pm.

Organized by Toptier Sports Management in collaboration with Afreximbank and CANEX as part of CANEX WKND 2026, the game will feature 15 Nigerian legends taking on 13 African icons in a celebration of the players whose achievements helped shape the history of football on the continent.

Beyond the match, the programme includes a football clinic involving 500 young players, entertainment and special recognition for the heroes of African football.

The Legends of Africa Football Game promises a memorable gathering of football royalty, bringing together generations of fans to celebrate the enduring legacy of the continent’s finest players.

Share on Facebook