SPORTS
SWAN Demands Inclusion in NSC Board
Bunmi Haruna, FCT chapter chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has called for the body’s inclusion in the board of the National Sports Commission (NSC) being proposed.
Haruna made the call in his presentation at the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports public on the bill seeking to establish the NSC and the Federal Sports University, Nkalagu in Ebonyi.
“Those who should have a say in sports should be part of the new NSC.
Hence, SWAN as the voice and mirror of sports should be included in the board,” he said.“The importance of the NSC is such that we cannot afford not to include the body that acts as a bridge between the sportsmen, administrators, the people and invariably the private sector in it.
“Sports is business and SWAN is the vehicle on which it is sold. So, neglecting SWAN in the composition of the NSC is akin to omitting an important part of the commission.”
Haruna also expressed the belief that it was of great importance to smoothen the relationship between the Director-General of the commission and the Minister of Sports.
He noted that this was necessary in order to foster a better working atmosphere between both parties.
“We also observe that the power tussle between the Minister and the Director-General was largely responsible for the scraping of the commission the last time.
“So, there is a great need for a clear demarcation of the duties of these principal officers in the new-look NSC.”
The FCT SWAN Chairman also applauded the initiative of the two bills before by the National Assembly on the establishment of the NSC and a sports university in Ebonyi.
“SWAN thanks the National Assembly for coming up with these bills. This shows in a great deal that we have forward-thinking legislators who are not only interested in moving the country forward but are also ready to create more opportunities for the youths.
“SWAN supports the establishment or a return of the NSC because it is a model that has worked for Nigeria in the past and it is the trend in developed countries where sports is real business.
“In the US, it is called the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) in Australia, it is called Sport Australia, formerly the Australian Sports Commission, being the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sports in Australia.
“In Canada, it is called Sports Canada, in South Africa, the South Africa Sports Commission, and in Japan, it is called the Sports Commission of Japan,” he stated.
While responding, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Obinna Ogba, praised SWAN for its fantastic presentation and acknowledged that points raised were genuine and would be considered. (NAN)
The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.
Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.
7 and Aug. 10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.
Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.
He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.
Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.
“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award for the best female goalkeeper.
The 24-year-old recently joined Brighton Women FC from Paris FC after helping the French side win their first major title in nearly two decades.
Nnadozie delivered a heroic performance in the final of the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine, where Paris FC edged Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw at Stade de l’Épopée in Calais.She was also instrumental in Nigeria’s success at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Super Falcons secured a record-extending 10th continental crown against host nation, Morocco.
Her standout displays earned her the Best Goalkeeper award and a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Other nominees for the Yachine Trophy include Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Cata Coll (Barcelona Femeni), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea Women) and Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal Women).
Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained 36th position in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking.
The latest ranking was released on FIFA’s official website yesterday.
While the Super Falcons remain the number one team in Africa, WAFCON 2024 runners-up Morocco are third on the continent and dropped to 64th spot in the world.
Former WAFCON champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa maintained 54th place in the world and second in Africa.
Ghana’s Black Queens who claimed third place at the WAFCON dropped to 67th position in the global ranking.
The Super Falcons recently won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after coming from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Second half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and substitute Jennifer Echegini completed the turnaround.
Okoronkwo, scored a goal and provided two assists against the Moroccans was Named Player of the Match.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Captain Rasheedat Ajibade won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Meanwhile, World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024.
The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024.
However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the USA in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind Spain.
The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them.
France completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.
The next edition of the Women’s World Ranking will be published on 11 December 2025.
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