Z-PRO MEDIA

By Maxwell Kumoye        Nigeria's sprint sensation Kayinsola Ajayi has declared himself ready for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after storming to victory in the men's 100 metres at the London Diamond League on Saturday. The 21-year-old produced another outstanding performance, clocking 9.84 seconds to defeat reigning world champion Oblique Seville of Jamaica, who settled for second in 9.87 seconds, while Great Britain's Romell Glave finished third in a personal best of 9.97 seconds. Fresh from one of the biggest wins of his career, Ajayi said he executed his race plan perfectly and is now looking forward to carrying the same form into the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where athletics begins on July 23. "I just came out here and did what I had to do… I'm happy; I got the job done," Ajayi told Olympics.com after his impressive victory. The Nigerian speedster credited his explosive start for making the difference against a world-class field. "I g...

  By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria's men's volleyball team completed an unbeaten campaign at the Zone 3 Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, with a commanding straight-sets victory over Burkina Faso. The Nigerians wrapped up the final match 3-0, winning 25-17, 25-23 and 25-22 to cap a flawless tournament performance. The team was in imperious form throughout the qualifiers, recording victories over Niger Republic, hosts Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.  Nigeria dropped only three sets across all five matches, underlining their dominance in the regional competition. Their impressive run earned them one of the qualification tickets to the 2026 African Nations Cup finals scheduled for September in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the continental championship, Nigeria will battle Africa's best teams for the coveted Nations Cup title and a place at the 2028 Olympic Games. The commanding display in Abidjan highlights Nigeria's gr...

By Maxwell Kumoye  The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has unveiled a 21-player squad for the 2026 World Youth Scrabble Championship scheduled to take place from August 7 to 9 at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Nigeria heads into the tournament with high hopes, banking on a blend of proven champions and emerging talents as the country seeks to make a strong statement against the world's best young wordsmiths. The team will be spearheaded by 2025 World Best Female Player, Sophia Ebube Ekeruche, alongside Abdulqodus Aliu, who came agonisingly close to claiming the world title in his category last year. Also named in the squad are several highly rated players, including Khalid Olosun, Yusuf AbdulSalam, Roseline Emelike, and the talented Onazi siblings—Saviour, Salvation and Triumph.  Other notable names include Samuel Emelike, Victoria Chukwuemeka, Olamide Hassan, Khalifa Bello, Matilda Wilcox, Chosen Johnson, Victor Ayanwale, Farzana Kaka, Aneef Kelani, Abidah Fatai, Co...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    Head Coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Aliyu, has expressed strong confidence in Team Nigeria's preparedness for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, revealing that the athletics team is already 95 per cent ready for the multi-sport event. Speaking in an exclusive interview with First Zealmediacast Blog's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye from Aberdeen, Scotland, where the athletes are undergoing their final phase of preparations, Aliyu said everything has gone according to plan and the squad is in excellent condition ahead of the Games. According to the veteran coach, the athletes currently in camp earned their places through merit and recent performances, making up Nigeria's strongest team across the various track and field events. "Team Nigeria is about 95 per cent ready for the Games. The athletes are already in Aberdeen for the final phase of preparations before the competition begins...

By Maxwell Kumoye    President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, has called for total commitment and support as Nigeria's men's volleyball team prepares for the 2026 African Nations Cup finals in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nimrod made the remarks shortly after the team secured qualification for the continental championship, where the eventual winner will also earn Africa's lone qualification ticket to the Los Angeles Olympic Games. "We have to put all our resources together to achieve our objective," Nimrod said. "Our preparations will intensify in August when the team moves into training camp. The camp will help the players reach peak fitness and ensure they are fully prepared for the challenge ahead.” The volleyball boss stated. "We know what is at stake because the tournament also serves as a qualification event for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. With only one qualification ticket available, we must ...

...NVBF President heaps praise on the media, says volleyball is flourishing By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria's men's volleyball team has qualified for the 2026 African Nations Cup finals in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, after recording a fourth consecutive victory at the ongoing Zone 3 Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The Nigerian side secured their place at the continental championship, scheduled for September 7 to 21, with a hard-fought 3-1 win over neighbours Benin Republic on Friday. Benin Republic claimed the opening set 25-21 in a tense encounter that was marked by controversial officiating. However, Nigeria responded strongly to level the match by taking the second set 25-21.  Tempers flared midway through the contest as Nigeria's head coach received a yellow card following a heated exchange with the officials. The Nigerians maintained their momentum to dominate the remaining sets 25-15 and 25-20, sealing an impressive comeback victory...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      The National Sports Commission (NSC) has rolled out one of the most attractive welfare packages ever offered to Team Nigeria athletes ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with competitors set to receive higher allowances, improved travel support and substantial cash rewards for podium finishes. The package, approved by the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, is designed to motivate athletes and officials as Nigeria prepares for the Games. Under the new incentive scheme, every athlete will earn $200 per day throughout the competition, while coaches will receive $250 daily, an increase from the $150 and $200 paid respectively during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The reward system for medal winners has also been significantly enhanced. Athletes who win gold medals will receive an immediate $3,000 cash prize, while silver and bronze medalists will earn $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Coaches will also be rew...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, has rallied Team Nigeria athletes to compete with courage, discipline and patriotism as they prepare to depart Aberdeen for Glasgow ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Speaking to the athletes at their training camp in Aberdeen after the conclusion of the final phase of preparations, Olopade said the team had been given every opportunity to succeed and urged them to repay the confidence reposed in them with outstanding performances. "I addressed our Team Nigeria athletes at their training camp in Aberdeen as they concluded the final phase of their preparations ahead of their departure to Glasgow for the start of the Commonwealth Games in just six days," Olopade said. He highlighted the Federal Government's commitment to sports development, noting that the athletes had benefited from unprecedented support under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. ...

By Maxwell Kumoye        Nigeria's impressive run at the 2026 African Nations Cup Volleyball Qualifiers Zone 3 continued on Thursday as the team secured a third consecutive victory, defeating Togo 3-1 at the Palace de Sports Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The Nigerians overcame Togo with set scores of 25-17, 22-25, 25-15 and 25-17, maintaining their unbeaten record in the tournament. It was another commanding performance from the Nigerian side, who have now won all three of their matches at the qualifiers.  They opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Niger Republic, before producing a stunning 3-0 sweep of hosts Côte d'Ivoire.  The latest triumph over Togo extends their winning streak and strengthens their bid for qualification. Despite dropping the second set, Nigeria responded emphatically by taking control of the contest in the third and fourth sets to seal another well-deserved victory. With three wins from three matches,...

...Seeks support for major tournaments   By Maxwell Kumoye      The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Chess Association, Rt. Honourable Dr. Esio Oquong Udo, has applauded Governor Umo Eno for what he described as a remarkable transformation of sports in the state, attributing the progress to the creation of a stand-alone Ministry of Sports. Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Sports on Wednesday, the chess administrator said the governor's decision had sparked a new era of sports development across Akwa Ibom, creating fresh opportunities for athletes and sports associations. Dr. Oquong also commended the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, praising his wealth of experience and leadership. "I also thank His Excellency for appointing a man who has made his name internationally, making me very honoured to sit beside him today," he said. The chess boss explained that the delegation's visit was aimed at strengthening the development of ch...

...Retains princely elite prize purse, registration opens By Maxwell Kumoye   After a one-year break, the Great Abeokuta 10KM Race is set to make a highly anticipated return, with organisers unveiling a special edition reserved exclusively for Nigerian athletes while retaining its prestigious elite prize purse. Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML), one of Africa's leading sports marketing and event management companies, announced that the race will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, marking the return of one of Nigeria's foremost road running events. In a major boost for homegrown athletics, the 2026 edition will be open only to Nigerian participants, a move aimed at providing local long-distance runners with a unique opportunity to compete for the full prize money traditionally contested by elite international athletes. Explaining the rationale behind the decision, NSML Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yetunde Olopade, said the organisers ...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria's men's volleyball team continued its impressive campaign at the 2026 African Nations Cup Zone 3 Qualifiers with a commanding 3-0 victory over hosts Côte d'Ivoire on Wednesday, securing their second consecutive win of the tournament. The Nigerians produced a disciplined and dominant performance to silence the home crowd, claiming the match in straight sets, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19. The victory keeps Nigeria's unbeaten run intact and further strengthens the team's quest for qualification. Head coach Taiwo Oladipupo praised his players for their composure and determination against the host nation, describing the result as a significant achievement. "I'm very, very happy. Beating the host nation is never an easy task, especially in front of their home fans. But we showed that we are capable of doing it, and we proved it on the court with a convincing victory," Oladipupo said. The coach also attributed the team's impressive s...

...Commends NSC's athlete welfare initiative By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye        Former World and Olympic wrestling champion Daniel Igali has expressed confidence in Team Nigeria's chances of delivering an impressive performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, while applauding the National Sports Commission (NSC) for prioritising athlete welfare ahead of the competition. He made this public in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG'S Oluwatobilobba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye. The 52-year-old, who currently serves as Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, said the signs emerging from Team Nigeria's camp point to a delegation that is well-positioned to compete for honours, largely because of the improved attention being given to athletes' welfare and preparations. "From all the information available, I believe there are genuine reasons to be optimistic about Team Nigeria's prospects at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games,...