Speaking to State House correspondents on the reward President Tinubu honoured D’Tigress on the team’s historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket championship victory, Wakama expressed gratitude for the warm reception the team received at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

‎Wakama, the first woman to win back-to-back AfroBasket titles as coach, expressed sincere appreciation to the President and loyal Nigerian fans.
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‎“We’re so thankful, so, so thankful for Your Excellency President Tinubu.
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‎“This is life-changing for some of these girls, life-changing for us. This is what we need — renewed hope.
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‎“We’re grateful for this and we look forward to even more support in the future,” Wakama said.
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She attributed their seamless and triumphant victory in Côte d’Ivoire to the team’s strong unity and unwavering passion.

“It was easy representing Nigeria — a country and sport that we love deeply.
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‎“When you love your country, your teammates, and the game, everything falls into place.

‎“It breaks my heart, but I know change has started with me.
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‎“To be a woman and get an opportunity to coach at this level is a good sign for others.
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‎“I’m thankful to the NBBF president for trusting me to lead this team and do my job.
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‎“I hope I’m not the last, and I hope I’ve inspired other women to take bold steps into coaching,” she said.

‎Wakama, who is also an assistant coach at WNBA side Chicago Sky, earlier expressed hopes that her achievements would inspire more women to lead national teams.

‎Wakama and the technical crew each received $50,000 in recognition of their vital contribution to the team’s continental triumph.
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‎President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, awarded each player $100,000, a flat, and a national honour — Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

‎The 33-year-old coach urged Nigerians to keep supporting the team ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.

Again, Minister Musawa who watched the final match live with the Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, commended the team for their outstanding performance in Sunday’s final, which saw them defeat Mali 78-64 at the Palais de Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. She said the remarkable victory is a testament to the team’s dedication, hard work, and exceptional skill.

Minister Musawa noted that the D’Tigress’s achievement is not only a triumph for the team but also a source of pride for Nigeria, showcasing the country’s rich sporting talent and potential on the global stage. She said that the team’s success will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of Nigerian sports enthusiasts especially young female athletes to make Nigeria proud.

“I am thrilled to see the D’Tigress bring home the Afrobasket trophy for a record-breaking fifth consecutive time! Their victory is a testament to the power of determination, teamwork, and Nigerian excellence. I congratulate each member of the team, their coaches, and everyone who has supported them on this incredible journey. This achievement will inspire a new generation of Nigerian athletes and the federal government looks forward to celebrating their triumph upon their return to Nigeria.”

The team will be honored by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, for their remarkable achievement.

The separation from Guardiola’s long-time partner comes at a potentially sensitive moment for the club, with the new campaign only weeks away and uncertainty already swirling over his long-term commitment to the Manchester City project.

The 54-year-old has always kept his private life at a distance from the spotlight, but this ongoing situation could prove difficult to entirely shield from the professional environment. He and Cristina Serra have been together for three decades and married in 2014.

However, Cristina – a fashion entrepreneur – struggled to adjust to life in Manchester, reportedly returning to Spain five years ago. Their relationship began to visibly fracture in recent years, with the pair ultimately deciding to part ways in December 2024, just weeks after Guardiola extended his Manchester City contract until 2027.

Some close to the family are claimed to have suggested that the split was emotionally difficult, though amicable, evidenced by both parties hiring the same lawyer to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.

Pep Guardiola was even seen still wearing his wedding ring after the news first broke, and made a three-day trip to their Barcelona home in March in what was reportedly a final attempt at reconciliation.

Now, according to a new report from The Sun, Pep Guardiola’s divorce from his wife Cristina Serra is set to be finalised “imminently”, with sources saying that there is now “more urgency” as their relationship has deteriorated.

Worryingly from the perspective of Manchester City, it is claimed that there are fears the troubles could overshadow the start of the new football season, although the pair expect details to be finalised in weeks and made official as early as next month.

Spanish journalists Laura Fa and Lorena Vazquez, who first broke the story of their split earlier this year, insisted there is no way back as the former said, “The signing of this divorce is going to be imminent. Evidently their relationship sentimentally has come to an end.”

Vazquez added, “The relationship has ceased to be friendly and has become cordial. We’re not saying there’s tension between them but the break-up has moved on to another level. There’s perhaps more urgency to set a date for the end of this relationship.”

This latest development adds another layer of complexity to Guardiola’s final years in charge of Manchester City, while internal transitions in the squad and coaching staff paired with this personal situation could accelerate broader change at the Etihad.

With Manchester City’s 2025/26 campaign kicking off imminently and pre-season training ongoing, Pep Guardiola is under pressure to maintain control of the narrative both on and off the pitch. The manager’s ability to compartmentalise has never been in doubt, but some may now be quietly watching how this development may affect his energy and decision-making.

Whether this divorce signals a shift in Pep Guardiola’s long-term intentions or simply marks a difficult but compartmentalised personal matter remains to be seen, but it unquestionably adds emotional weight to what is already shaping up to be a pivotal season for City’s most successful manager.

“A Bitter Result , But Valuable Lesson”
Speaking to the Mirror Arteta admitted the scoreline left “bad taste” but emphasized the long term value of the match.

“I’m very positive about what I’ve seen over the last 10 day. We’re ahead of where I expected in many areas” he said.

“This result is reminder of how small the margins are between winning and losing. We need to manage the details better but we’ll bounce back” he added.

Giokeres & Youth Impress
The game saw the 1st appearance of new signing Viktor Gyokeres who played 15 quiet minutes late on. Arteta, however remains confident in the Swedish striker.

“It was brief but now his debut is behind him. Against Villarreal at the Emirates, I’m sure we’ll see something different”

Arteta also highlighted the performance of young Portuguese defender Cristian Mosquera praising his energy and quality:

“Very happy to have both of them. They bring a lot to the team from the first moment.”

It was a thrilling and fun-filled Saturday, July 26, as football enthusiasts trooped to Atican Beach, Lekki, in large numbers to enjoy the beautiful game at the Lagos Campus Beach Soccer 2025.

After hours of intense competition on the scorching sandy beach, accompanied by electrifying music from DJ Bright, the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) emerged as the gold medal winner, having secured the highest number of points across all their matches.

LASUED demonstrated remarkable resilience and tactical superiority, defeating Lagos City Polytechnic 1–0 in their opening game and holding University of Lagos (UNILAG) to a goalless draw in a tense final encounter.

UNILAG, known for its rich sporting legacy, fought valiantly throughout the tournament. However, back-to-back draws against LASUED and Lagos City Polytechnic dashed their gold medal hopes, earning the Akoka-based team a well-deserved silver medal.

Lagos City Polytechnic, displaying impressive skill and teamwork, finished third—marking their strongest showing in a campus-level sports competition to date.

The tournament was flagged off by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr. Adebanji Atewogboye, who reaffirmed the government’s dedication to enhancing the quality and reach of future editions.

“This event aligns perfectly with the Governor’s agenda of promoting grassroots sports development and using it as a vehicle for social impact. We are committed to supporting initiatives like this to positively transform the lives of youths in Lagos State,” said Mr. Atewogboye.

Bamidele Adeleye, Managing Director of BrandEscort Communications, expressed his excitement over the success of the inaugural edition, revealing that plans are already underway to expand the tournament in 2026 by inviting higher institutions from other states to participate.

Organized by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with BrandEscort Communications, the Lagos Campus Beach Soccer tournament brings together top tertiary institutions from across the state in a unique celebration of sporting talent and athleticism.

As the first of its kind in Nigeria, the tournament is designed to discover and spotlight promising young footballers from tertiary institutions within Lagos State and beyond.

The president announced the conferment of the awards at the reception hosted to celebrate the victory of the Super Falcons at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

President Tinubu also directed the allocation of a three-bedroom apartment to each player and technical crew at the Renewed Hope Estate, Abuja.

The Nigerian Leader also announced cash award equivalent of 100,000 USD to each of the players and 50,000 to Technical crew members of the National women football team.

The Chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman also donated the sum of N10m to each players and the Technical crew

Earlier, the senior women’s national football team presented the trophy of the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Captain and the Keeper of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie, presented the WAFCON Cup to the President at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

The President described the Super Falcons’ victory as a milestone in the history of sport.

“Your victory represents more than the sports accomplishment; it is a triumphant of courage, determination, disclosed and consistency.

“You ignited our hope; you represent that hope and we will continue to encourage you and encourage next generation and other generations.”

Scheduled to hold during the iconic Olojo Festival, the 5-kilometre race aims to discover and nurture raw athletic talent while promoting healthy living and preserving Yoruba heritage.

Conceived by Sooko Adeleke Odewade, a passionate advocate of youth empowerment, the race is part of a broader mission to use sports as a tool for transformation.

“Our society lacks opportunities for discovering and grooming talent,” Sooko Odewade said. “This race is a platform to identify raw potential, but it won’t stop there. We’re building a system of coaching, mentorship, and support long after the race ends.”

With the gracious endorsement of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ife Road Race is being organised in partnership with the Alade’fa Athletic Family Initiative, and is open to youth, amateur runners, and professional athletes.

Participants will receive certificates of participation, with special cash prizes for category winners.

The race route has been carefully designed to pass through notable cultural landmarks in Ile-Ife, offering a scenic tour of the city’s rich heritage.

Beyond competition, the race will connect promising young athletes with seasoned professionals, coaches, and institutions.

Discussions are ongoing with universities, the state sports council, and veteran athletes—many of whom now thrive abroad—to provide post-race coaching and scholarship opportunities.

“We want to help these young ones become world-class athletes. If we can create role models from this effort, the ripple effect will inspire many others,” Sooko Odewade added.

The event also aims to boost local economic activity by attracting visitors, vendors, and sponsors during the Olojo Festival period.

Organisers are calling on corporate bodies, brands, government agencies, and philanthropists to support the race through sponsorship and partnership.

“This is more than a race,” said an official from the Alade’fa Initiative. “It’s a movement. An investment in youth, in health, and in the cultural soul of our community.”

Registration is now open for interested participants via the official race platforms. Categories are available for youth, the general public, and elite runners, with limited slots to ensure a smooth and safe experience.

Organisers have also issued a call for sponsors, volunteers, media partners, and local businesses to come onboard and contribute to the success of this unique event.

With its blend of tradition, purpose, and athletic energy, the Ife Road Race is set to become a new flagship event on Nigeria’s sports and cultural calendar.

But that’s a story for another day; the gist here is that Okocha could not replicate his success on the field in the office as Chairman of the Delta State Football Association.

Kanu Nwankwo, like Okocha, was highly successful, but today he is struggling as the Chairman of one of the most successful football clubs in Nigeria, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba.

For the first time in many years, Enyimba will not be playing continental football next season because they finished sixth in the NPFL.

The Headmaster, Mutiu Adepoju, had a very successful football career, but his tenure as the Principal of Kwara Football College travelled in another direction. 3SC just sacked his colleague Dimeji Lawal for his inability to return the Oluyole Warriors to the pinnacle of African football.

Referring to former Barca star Emmanuel Amunike as a specialist in getting NPFL clubs relegated may be apt.

The list of former footballers in Nigeria who were successful as players but failed as administrators is endless.

But it’s not just footballers, there are similar stories about former basketball, tennis, weightlifting, athletics and stars in other sports.
The tenure of Toni Urhobo and Brown Ebewele as president and technical director of AFN is regarded as the lowest in the history of athletics in Nigeria.

Internationally, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Roy Keane are successful footballers who failed in management.

Alli’s success story in management is down to humility
One former athlete who has been a success on the field and in management and administration is Yussuf Amuda Alli, who turns 65 years old today.

A former World, Commonwealth, and African Champion and former African record holder in the long jump. Alli is resilient, disciplined, a workaholic, and a team player who prioritises hard work over personal comfort.

At 32 years old, Alli discovered that the ability to jump and run is still in his brain, but his body was not what it used to be, so he decided to explore the opportunities in education, probably get more degrees, and become a lecturer or venture into business.

But Abdulkareem Amu, MAK Ogun, Smart Akrakra and others, technically sound athletics administrators of the 1980s and 1990’s had other plans for him As captain of Team Nigeria to many games and championships like the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the All African Games, the World Championships Indoor and Outdoor, the Athletics World Cup, they had seen in Alli what he probably didn’t see in himself- a future leader who has the potential to take athletics to the next level if supported with the right tutorials.

Alli was thinking about the next step after retirement when the leaders of athletics in Nigeria came to his house one evening.
Before he could entertain them, they went straight to business and informed him that he had been appointed the next vice president and technical director of AFN.

Before, he could say yes or no to their offer, they told him he would be reporting to the house, MAK Ogun and others for tutorials.
Unlike many of today’s sportsmen who believe that the transition from running to coaching is as easy as ABC, Alli went to these elder statesmen of athletics daily for tutorials.
Though these elders were not as successful as Alli in athletics but he humbled himself to learn from them.

Alli has also travelled to China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Ghana and other countries to learn coaching, sports management and administration.

So it is not surprising that Alli has been successful in most of his assignments, like being the vice president and technical director of AFN, director at COJA, race director/general manager of Aba Marathon, Okpekpe Road Race, Lagos City Marathon and countless events and including his tenure as the Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC) was a resounding success.

Alli’s foray into athletics
As God used the elder statesmen of athletics to direct Alli into management, it was the same way God used a young neighbour, Isaac Ikhaobomeh, to direct Alli, a bookworm as a child, into a career in athletics.

Ikhaobomeh had come home with a crate of 7 Up he won at an athletics competition at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Alli vowed he would join Ikhaobomeh at the next championship; he did, and he won a crate of 7 Up.

But Alli won more than a crate of 7 Up; he decided to embrace athletics, a sport that gave him global fame, medals and fortune, and jettisoned football.

But Alli’s road to global fame, medals and fortune in athletics was not as straight as a rope; it was full of many ups and downs, but at each point when the roads were about to close, Allah would intervene.

Despite qualifying for the Moscow ’80 Olympic Games on merit, it took an intervention from the director of sports, Isaac Akioye, before he was called to camp. Alli, then, was a student of St. Gregory College, Obalende; his ‘A’ level examination coincided with the games.

Alli’s mother insisted her son wouldn’t be going to Moscow for the Olympic Games at the time he was supposed to be writing his ‘A’ level. She rushed to Obalende to meet the then-principal of St. Gregory College, Emeka Omeruah.

Alli was in this catch-22 situation when fate intervened. For inexplicable reasons, the WAEC decided to postpone their examination that year, and Alli killed two birds with one stone. He went to the Olympics, and he also wrote the A’ A-level papers.

Alli’s admission to the University of Missouri gave his athletic talent wings to fly.
Alli’s athletics talent blossomed at the University of Missouri under the tutelage of coach Bob Teel. He was a dominant figure in the NCAA in the long jump and the 100m.

Alli was also a regular face in the highly lucrative and competitive IAAF Golden League and Grand Prix, now called the World Athletics Diamond League.

Alongside Carl Lewis and Mike Powell, Alli was one of the best long jumpers in the world in his era. It was therefore not surprising that he won many African titles in the golden era of athletics in Africa, then athletics on the African continent was highly competitive and lucrative.

He was also the Commonwealth Games champion, and he held the African record in the long jump for many years. Alli was also the national champion in the long jump for many years. He captained Team Nigeria to many games and championships like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Athletics World Cup, World Championships, All-African Games and African Athletics Championships.

Cementing his legacy
In Nigeria today, one of the biggest problems we have in sports is the lack of competent coaches, sports managers and administrators.
As Alli turns 65 years old today, this reporter believes that the only way he can cement his legacy is to set up a formal organisation that will give tutorials to sportsmen and women on the verge of retirement who desire a career in coaching and management.

Alli has mentored the likes of Solomon Aliu, who is today the head of the coaching department at AFN. Aliu has trained and worked with many top athletes, including Tobi Amusan and other great athletes.

Aliu is also today an expert in providing security at sports events, especially mass participation events like road races and marathons.

Olawale Olatunji is today the only certified route measurer and calibrator in Nigeria, thanks to tutorials from Alli. Working with Alli, Olatunji has gone for courses in countries like South Korea, Kenya, South Africa and other places. He is also astute in the organisation and management of sports events.

Other graduates of Alli School of sports management include Babajide Ogunsote, Ademola James, and others too numerous to mention.

This reporter can organise a sports event today without supervision because of my association with Alli.

Has Alli done well in terms of helping the next generation of coaches and sports managers, and administrators? Yes, he has done a lot.
Can he do more? Having worked and walked with Alli for almost three decades, I know he can do more, and that is why I am throwing this open challenge to him, and he should take it and run with it.

As the Chairman of NSC Elite Athlete Development and Podium Appearance Board and a good friend of the Director General of the National Institute of Sports NIS, Philips Shuaibu, the former Deputy Governor, Alli, should from next quarter organise seminar/workshop /training on coaching and sports management and administration for athletes on the verge of retirement in all the six geopolitical zones.

The training, which will be funded by the NSC, NIS and corporate sponsors, will equip the new generation of coaches and sports managers with the skills they need to succeed.

I hope Alli will take up this challenge so that by the time he is celebrating his 70th, graduates of tutorials across the six geopolitical zones will gather to celebrate a legend whose efforts ensured their success on and off the field.

Happy Birthday Skippo, long life, good health and more blessings.

The President, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said, “The Super Falcons’ spectacular performance tonight in Rabat, coming from behind to beat a spirited Moroccan side playing in front of a passionate home crowd, exemplifies the determination that defines the Nigerian spirit.”

“With hard work, dedication, and tenacity, you have achieved the mission the nation dreamed of and prayed for. The nation looks forward to welcoming our champions. Congratulations! Nigeria celebrates you,” the president added.

Nigeria’s women’s football team, the Super Falcons, secured their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against Morocco in the final on Saturday, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Morocco got off to a dream start. With just 12 minutes on the clock, captain Ghizlane Chebbak opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from outside the box, curling the ball low past Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

The home crowd erupted, sensing history in the making. Things then got even better for the Atlas Lionesses in the 24th minute. Sanaâ Mssoudy doubled Morocco’s lead after a brilliant piece of play to stun the Nigerians.

A slick pass from Ibtissam Jraidi found Mssoudy in space and the forward made no mistake with a composed finish into the bottom right corner.

Nigeria appeared stunned and went into the break trailing by two goals, facing an uphill battle. But coach Justin Madugu’s halftime talk sparked a spirited response from the Super Falcons.

The comeback began just after the hour mark when a VAR review handed Nigeria a lifeline. A handball by Nouhaila Benzina resulted in a penalty, which was coolly dispatched by Okoronkwo to make it 2-1.

Super Falcons’ Esther Okoronkwo scores penalty for Nigeria.
From that moment, momentum swung Nigeria’s way.

In the 71st minute, Okoronkwo turned provider, slipping a neat ball into the path of Ijamilusi, who drilled a left-footed effort into the bottom corner to bring Nigeria level.

Super Falcons midfielder Folashade Florence Ijamilusi celebrates after scoring a goal against Morocco.
With the match heading towards extra time, Nigeria continued to push forward and found the winner.

A well-worked set-piece situation saw Esther Okoronkwo once again involved, delivering a clever assist to Joe Echegini, who calmly slotted home in the 88th minute to seal a dramatic turnaround.

Super Falcons’ Joe Echegini celebrates winning goal.
Despite late pressure and a flurry of Moroccan attacks, the Super Falcons held firm through a tense final few minutes of stoppage time.

It was a heartbreaking end for Jorge Vilda’s Morocco side, who had impressed throughout the tournament and were bidding to become only the second nation ever to lift the WAFCON trophy after Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

But the night belonged to the Super Falcons, whose experience, depth and never-say-die spirit propelled them to yet another African title, their 10th in 13 editions.

The thrilling match saw the Falcons overcome a two-goal deficit to clinch a record-extending 10th WAFCON title, reinforcing their status as the most successful team in the competition’s history.

Nigeria’s triumph not only extended their unmatched legacy on the continent but also served as a resounding statement that, even in the face of rising challengers, they remain the team to beat in African women’s football.