AS the countdown continues ahead the 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships from July 16 to 20 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is optimistic of producing the next generation of athletes that will step into the shoes of top stars like Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume and Favour Ofili. Ofili came to limelight in 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya, winning the 200m at the World junior championships. She is said to have applied for change of allegiance to Turkey. AFN Technical Director, Gabriel Okon, told journalists at a world press conference in Abuja during the week that they hope to use the 2025 CAA U18/U20 Championships in Abeokuta to make a bold. For Team Nigeria, this year’s combined CAA U18/U20 is more than a championship. To them, the event in Abeokuta is a launch pad, a golden opportunity for rising stars to announce themselves on the continental stage and ignite careers that could shape the future of Nigerian athletics. Among the contingent gearing up to wear the green-white-green with pride, a standout group of talents is already turning heads both locally and internationally. Some of the names to watch as they prepare to dazzle in Abeokuta include: Chioma Nwachukwu, a 400m, 4x400m and Relay athlete has a Personal Best of 51.26s in 400m, 52.07s Indoor and 3:26.90 in 4x400m Relay. A student at University of Iowa, USA, Nwachukwu was a gold medalist at the 2022 National Sports Festival and a champion at the Nigerian University Games (NUGA). She has shattered school records at the University of Iowa in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relays. Her consistency earned her the Big Ten Freshman of the Year title. She brings world-class collegiate experience and fearless energy to Team Nigeria. Okon Israel, a 60m, 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay athlete, Israel has a Personal Best of 9.91s in 100m, 6.51s in 60m and 20.80s in 200m. A student of Auburn University in the US, Israel, at the moment, is rewriting history. His blistering 6.51s in the 60m tied the school record at Auburn, placing him alongside legends like Davidson Ezinwa and Favour Ashe on Nigeria’s all-time list. A silver medalist at the SEC Indoor Championships and bronze medalist at the NCAA Indoors, he also led Nigeria to gold in the 4x100m at the 2023 African Games. At just 19, he holds the U20 national 100m record — and the future. Favour Onyah, a 400m, 200m, 4x400m Relay runner, Onyah holds a Personal Best of 51.93s in 400m, 24.35s in 200m and 3:40.46 in 4x400m Relay. A student of Southeastern Louisiana University in the US, Favour was named the 2024 Southland Conference Women’s Track & Field Freshman of the Year. She is fast becoming a dominant force in the quarter-mile haven qualified for the NCAA East First Round in 400m and helped set her school’s indoor 4x400m relay record. A bronze medalist at the 2023 Nigerian Trials and a relay gold medalist at MTN CHAMPS Asaba, she adds strength and depth to Team Nigeria’s women’s relay lineup. Gafari Badmus, a 400m, 200m, 800m, 4x400m Relay runner, Badmus hold a Personal Best of 45.62s in 400m, 21.64s in 200m, 1:56.48 in 800m and 3:25.59 in Mixed Relay. Though, Badmus is not currently enrolled, he is one of the brightest prospects in Nigeria’s youth athletics system. Already a gold medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2024 National Sports Festival, he has medaled across multiple distances and showcased versatility with a promising 800m personal best. He is expected to make a major impact in the relays and individual events. John Caleb is a 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay runner. Caleb holds a Personal Best of 10.39s in 100m, 21.19s in 200m and 40.28s in 4x100m. Not currently enrolled, Caleb, a two-time champion at MTN CHAMPS Benin and Lagos, is the definition of consistency. Christian Okpara

28 Jun 2025

Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has urged coaches to embrace modern tools to enhance their efficiency, saying that technology has simplified knowledge acquisition and dissemination in the sector.

Elegbeleye also advised Nigerian coaches to interact and share knowledge to improve the competitive level of the NPFL. Speaking at a seminar for the NPFL Clubs Managers Association (NPFLCMA) in Ikenne, Ogun State, on Friday, Elegbeleye reminded the coaches that nobody has a monopoly of knowledge, arguing that such interaction and knowledge sharing will improve the capacity of individual coaches and lead to higher level of competition in tactics and match setup.

To remain relevant in the era of technology-driven football management, he advised them to embrace and acquire scientific tools for performance analysis, as well as resist having over bloated squads.

“Imagine that some of our clubs register over 40 players for a season, while some actually have 60 players, with the majority of them not enjoying playing time.

“We therefore have a situation where money that could be used in acquiring football technology tools are spent on salaries of unproductive players,” he lamented.

The NPFL boss also urged the club managers to be role models on and off the football field, reminding them that they bear the burden of raising players who must be good in their profession and also in character.

“As coaches, you play a vital role in shaping the future of Nigerian football. Your dedication, expertise, and passion are essential in developing the skills and talents of our young players. I urge you to continue striving for excellence, to innovate, and to inspire your players to reach new heights.

“As a Coach, you must foster a culture of fair play, respect, and sportsmanship, both on and off the pitch,” he told the members of the association led by Shooting Stars Manager, Gbenga Ogunbote.

On the relationship between coaches and the media, Elegbeleye harped on the mandatory requirement for attendance at post match interviews, saying: “Our rules recognise the importance of the media hence it provided for compulsory post match pressers, which requires the coach to grant media interview at the end of every league match, whether your team won or lost.

“You must show example of good sportsmanship to your players by granting post match interviews even when your team is defeated. A rich media content not only benefits the media, but contributes in taking the league story to our homes through mobile devices, radio, television and print media. Let us make this one of our cardinal pledge to work towards a better 2025/26 NPFL season,” he said.

Earlier, Ogunbote expressed his association’s appreciation of the NPFL chairman’s presence and gave assurances that they would put to good use the knowledge that will be imparted by the various resource persons.

Among top football personalities at the opening ceremony were the chairman of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname, who is also the association’s patron, Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, and the NPFL Communications Director, Harry Iwuala.