Z-PRO MEDIA

...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 ...

...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,...

Argentina’s dark blue jersey has grown into something bigger than an alternate strip. For many fans, it is part of the nation’s football folklore — a shirt linked with some of Argentina’s most unforgettable World Cup moments, and perhaps, just a little bit of good luck. That famous away kit will be back in the spotlight when the defending champions face England in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final in Atlanta. Lionel Messi and his teammates will trade their traditional sky blue and white stripes for the dark blue shirt that has carried so much meaning over the years. The memories are powerful. Argentina wore dark blue against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico, when Diego Maradona produced both the infamous “Hand of God” goal and his dazzling solo run later remembered as the “Goal of the Century” in a 2-1 victory. Then, 12 years later, the same color returned in France, where Argentina again eliminated England on penalties in the round of 16 after a thrilling 2-2 draw...

The International Olympic Committee has received a formal complaint alleging that FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly breached rules on political neutrality through his public support for U.S. President Donald Trump. The complaint, filed by FairSquare, claims Infantino may have crossed ethical lines in several incidents, including the controversial suspension of striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban. Balogun had been sent off in a July 1 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic suspension that would normally keep him out of the next game. But FIFA later announced that the suspension had been paused under a rule-book provision, allowing the forward to feature for the United States against Belgium on July 6. Infantino admitted receiving a call from Trump, who publicly pushed for Balogun to play, though the FIFA chief insisted he did not interfere in the decision-making process. FairSquare argues that the Balogun episode was only one of five alleged breaches ...

Kylian Mbappe did not hide his frustration after France’s World Cup semifinal loss to Spain, delivering a blunt post-match verdict on his team’s 2-0 exit in Arlington, Texas. The France captain said Les Bleus were simply not sharp enough in key moments, pointing to a poor tactical structure and weak communication that allowed Spain to control the match and dominate possession. Spain repeatedly found an extra man in midfield, with Rodri and Fabian Ruiz given the time and space to dictate the rhythm of the game. “We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard,” Mbappe admitted. “Fabian and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.” France had entered the semifinal in excellent form, winning all of their first six matches and scoring 16 goals, but they struggled to create real danger against a well-organized Spain side. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penal...

Fenerbahce have made a major statement in the transfer market, completing the signing of English forward Mason Greenwood from Olympique de Marseille in a deal worth €39 million ($44.5 million). The Turkish giants confirmed on Tuesday that an agreement had been reached with both the player and the French club. According to the club, the transfer fee will be paid in three equal instalments over the next three years, while Fenerbahce will also take care of any solidarity payments required under FIFA regulations. The move brings an end to Greenwood’s short stay in France, after he joined Marseille from Manchester United in July 2024 on a five-year contract. Now, the Istanbul side will be hoping the 24-year-old can bring goals, creativity, and much-needed firepower as they continue their push for a first Turkish Super Lig title since 2014. Greenwood scored 37 league goals in 66 appearances over two seasons for Marseille, and expectations will be high for him to make an instant impact. Will ...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     Nigeria's men's volleyball team made a winning start to their campaign at the 2026 African Nations Cup Zone 3 Qualifiers, hitting Niger Republic 3-1 on Tuesday. Nigeria claimed the opening set 25-22 before Niger Republic fought back to level the contest with a 25-19 victory in the second set.  Coach Taiwo Oladipupo's side, however, showed resilience to regain control, edging the third set 25-23 before producing a dominant display in the fourth set to seal the match 25-9. Reacting to the victory, head coach Taiwo Oladipupo expressed delight with his team's performance while praising the players for their response after dropping the second set. "First of all, I thank Almighty God for giving us our first win of the tournament. I'm very happy with the result. The boys lost the second set, but they responded brilliantly by winning the third and fourth sets," Oladipupo said. The coach acknowledged that ...

By Maxwell Kumoye    For decades, the development of sports in Nigeria has revolved almost entirely around government funding.  From national trials and championships to international competitions and athletes' welfare, many Sports Federations and Associations have continued to depend almost exclusively on allocations from the government.  While government has an undeniable responsibility in sports development, this culture of overdependence has become one of the greatest obstacles to the growth of Nigerian sports. The reality is simple, no modern sporting nation develops solely on government funding.  Across the world, successful sports federations aggressively pursue corporate sponsorships, commercial partnerships, media rights, merchandising opportunities and private investments.  These revenue streams allow them to organize regular competitions, develop grassroots talents and execute long-term development plans. In Nigeria, however, many federations bec...

  Former Kansas basketball player Lagerald Vick was charged with attempted first-degree murder in Tennessee. Vick, 29, was a guard for the Jayhawks from 2015-19 and started for ‌coach Bill Self's 2018 Final Four squad. He was arrested in Memphis on Saturday in connection with a July 4 shooting in the city and was also charged with using a firearm during the commission of a ⁠dangerous felony. According to arrest documents obtained by ESPN, a man who was hospitalized for a gunshot wound to the back told police he tried to run away after a fight when he saw the other man was armed. The shooting victim identified Vick as the alleged shooter in a photo lineup. Bail was set at $1.5 million for Vick, who was ‌scheduled ⁠to be arraigned on Monday. He is already facing two felony charges in a separate incident, accused of theft and breaking into a former girlfriend's home earlier this year. Vick averaged 9.4 points, 3.5 ⁠rebounds and 1.4 assists in 117 games (61 starts) for the Jayhawks...

  England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has faced World Cup penalty shootouts, semi-finals and some of the biggest names in football during his record-breaking career, but there is one challenge that has eluded him until now. When England take on ‌Lionel Messi and reigning champions Argentina in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Pickford will come up against the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner for the first time. For a player who broke Peter Shilton's record for most England World Cup appearances when he started his 18th match in the quarter-final against Norway, the occasion carries a sense of history. The 32-year-old Everton player was eight when England last met Argentina, during the group stage of the 2002 World Cup. "I remember being sat in school on the floor watching when the teacher wheeled in the TV, so I'll never forget that moment," Pickford told reporters on Monday. "He's scored so many goals and he's contributed to so many ⁠goa...

  More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Monday to give their soccer team a heroes' welcome, turning the heartbreak of their ‌World Cup exit into a massive national celebration. A 2-1 extra-time defeat by England on Saturday brought Norway's historic run to an end in the quarter-finals, shattering the Nordics' dreams of a semi-final berth. However, it did not stop the country celebrating their heroes. Massive ⁠crowds under the Norwegian summer sun filled the grounds of the Royal Palace early on Monday afternoon, with an unofficial turnout estimated at more than 100,000 people. The Norway squad touched down to a traditional water cannon salute before commencing their homecoming parade in the capital. The line of supporters quickly packed the palace square before stretching far down the main street, Karl Johans gate, as the squad first ‌attended ⁠an audience with King Harald. The team then stepped out to greet the fans with the Royal Guard...

  India beat England by ‌270 runs as the first women's test match in the history of Lord's cricket ground concluded on Monday with the hosts being all out for 186 while chasing a target of 457. Lord's, cricket's most iconic ground, has been hosting international matches since 1884, and staged its first women's international in 1976, a 50-over match between England and Australia. It took another 50 years for a women's test, scheduled for four days from Friday, to ⁠be held at the ground owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which prohibited women from joining the club until 1999. "Playing at Lord's is always special... hopefully we'll get many more (tests here). These kinds of matches bring a lot of happiness," Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said. Put in to bat first, opener Smriti Mandhana (83) held firm as India lost two quick wickets, before Issy Wong got her caught behind. Kaur (58) and Deepti Sharma (57) helped the visitors to post 28...

  The International Table Tennis Federation executive board on Monday confirmed the reinstatement of athletes holding Russian passports, permitting them ‌to compete in international events from July 28. Individual and team events in ITTF table tennis and Para competitions are covered by the decision. It aligns with the ⁠International Olympic Committee executive board decision on Tuesday which provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and noted that previous restrictions on Russian athletes were no longer applicable. The ITTF said the decision mirrored its recent steps to reinstate Belarusian players. Governing body officials noted that the ‌decision ⁠did not override host-country visa restrictions, local laws, or sanctions on regimes, nor did it affect existing IOC jurisdiction regarding Olympic Games requirements such ⁠as flags, anthems and national symbols. "The ITTF reaffirms its solidarity with the Ukrainian table tennis community and ⁠recognises the...

...As Garba recalls historic 2013 Eaglets triumph By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    Renowned sports psychologist Professor Olufemi Adegbesan will today review a new book authored by sports administrator Dr. Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme during its public presentation at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. The event, scheduled to begin at noon, is expected to attract sports administrators, academics and stakeholders from across the country. Adegbesan, a respected figure in sports psychology and education, brings a wealth of experience to the role. The immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan is also an adjunct professor at the Pan African University and currently serves as the national president of the Sport Psychology Association of Nigeria.  His contributions to sports development include involvement in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 sports framework and the design of a postgraduate sports management ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has announced that the Commission has made provisions in its 2026 budget to support retired Nigerian athletes facing financial and medical challenges. Dikko disclosed this while receiving members of the Association of Retired Nigerian Sports Men and Women (RENISA) at the NSC headquarters in Abuja. The delegation was led by the association's president, Sunday Adeleye. The NSC chairman commended the formation of RENISA, describing it as a timely and commendable initiative aimed at addressing the welfare needs of retired athletes across the country. According to Dikko, the association has the potential to fill critical gaps in the post-career lives of former sportsmen and women by promoting unity, welfare and social support among its members. "This is a noble initiative that has the potential to address some of the gaps affecting retired sports men and women," Dikko sai...

By Maxwell Kumoye  Uganda's emergence as host of the 2031 African Games has been linked to the rotational hosting policy of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), a framework designed to ensure equitable distribution of the continent's biggest multi-sport event among Africa's regions. Investigations have revealed that the East African nation benefited significantly from the policy, which seeks to spread hosting opportunities across the continent rather than concentrating them in a few countries. The decision is also understood to have been aided by Nigeria's withdrawal from the race, leaving Uganda as the sole candidate for the prestigious event. For Nigeria, supporting the rotational arrangement aligns with the country's longstanding contribution to the growth of the African Games movement. The nation has already hosted the continental showpiece twice, first in Lagos in 1973 and again in Abuja in 2003, making it one of only a handful of c...

By Maxwell Kumoye        The Akwa Ibom State sports sector may be on the verge of a major transformation following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, at the iconic Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. The strategic session, held in Uyo, brought together chairmen and secretaries of various sports associations alongside key stakeholders, with a unified goal to address systemic challenges and reposition sports in the state for sustained growth and competitiveness. Representatives from a wide spectrum of sports, including football, boxing, karate, weightlifting, aquatic sports, chess, scrabble, and judo, engaged in robust discussions centered on practical reforms and improved administration. In his address, Bassey praised the commitment of association leaders, describing the meeting as a deliberate effort to strengthen collaboration and build a more effective sports framework.  He also acknowledged...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria           It was a day of speed, belief and golden moments at the iconic Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, as the home of fast finishes witnessed another chapter in the 2nd Niger Delta Games. The crowd, thrilled and excited, rose to its feet as Team Delta strode to multiple podiums, but none more dramatic than the men’s 100m final. Leading the charge for the state was an A+ performance from young sprinter, Samuel Chibueze Osama, who delivered Delta State's fourth athletics Gold.  Clocking a smart 10.41 seconds, he closed the race by a razor-thin margin, with Gift Bright of Akwa Ibom State placing second in a time of 10: 57 secs with fellow teammate, Saturday Godswill, taking the bronze in a time of 10:59s. From the gun to the tape the win it was a flash of Faith, Fearlessness and Focus, fused together for the Delta flash....

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria            A key and influential member of the Edo contingent, at the 2nd Niger Delta Games, Tejiri Ugoh Praise has described her silver-medal performance in the women’s 100 metres as “an unexpected blessing and a great achievement. She made this statement in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, stating that a podium finish was the last thing on her mind. The sprinter said she had not trained in the days leading up to the race, so she kept her expectations low.  “I wasn’t expecting a podium finish, but I placed second, so it’s a big win for me and I’m very happy,” she said, calling the result “the first tournament of the year” and an encouraging start. Far from satisfied, the athlete framed the silver as only the beginning. Tejiri Ugoh said the performance has “barely scratched the surface” of wha...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria        A blistering sprint finish from Chibueze Osama powered Team Delta to another golden moment at the ongoing Niger Delta Games, as the boys’ 100m final lit up the tracks of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.      Osama stormed clear of the field to clock 10.41 seconds, securing Delta’s fourth athletics gold. While Gift Bright of Akwa Ibom State came second in a time of 10.57s with Saturday Godswill taking the bronze in a time of 10.59s   Delta doubled its celebrations in the women’s 100m, where rising sprint sensation Ejiro Peter surged to gold in 11.55s. Tejiri Ugoh Praise and Victory Imosiemoh Azobudi, both representing Edo, finished second and third respectively.   Despite narrowly missing gold, Team Edo and Akwa Ibom drew confidence from their slim margins, viewing the results as proof that futur...