FIFA WWC: ‘It’s a blessing to have her’ — Onome Ebi on Asisat Oshoala

Nigeria national team captain, Onome Ebi has showered her teammate Asisat Oshoala with praises for her incredible form at the club side ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand which will begin from July 20th – 20th August 2023.

Oshoala returned to the team for the first time since missing the 2022 Women’s Nations Cup (WAFCON) in Morocco due to injury.

The Barcelona star also missed Nigeria’s Revelation Cup campaign in Mexico last February, pulling out of the squad due to injury.

The five-time African Best Player of the Year has, however, been in red-hot form for her club side, though yet to replicate it in the Green and White shirt of Nigeria.

The Nigeria international played a vital role in Barcelona’s league triumph last season, finishing as the division’s joint-top scorer with 19 goals in 20 matches to become the first African to win the prestigious Pichichi award.

Despite how injuries did not help her cause, Oshoala still had a better year individually, scoring four goals in five Champions League games for La Blaugranes.

The 28-year-old continued from where she stopped as she has now recorded 29 goal contributions this season. She has scored 24 goals and registered 5 assists in 30 matches for the club, and she is on course to win the Pichichi once again.

Meanwhile, the nine-time African champions will be banking on the brilliance of Oshoala to make history when they face the Republic of Ireland, Australia, and Canada in Group B.

Nigeria, who have been present at the competition since its inception in 1993, has managed just one quarter-final outing in the tournament which was in 1999. 

However, Nigeria defeated World Cup co-host New Zealand 3-0 in a preparatory game, extending their winning streak to three after a seven-match winless streak.

The captain described Oshoala’s availability for the competition as a blessing to the team, saying the FC Barcelona striker is one of the best on the team.

“It’s a blessing to have her in this team. She is a great professional and an example for the whole team.

“Her performance at club level is incredible. Many people forget that few months ago she was injured and today she is up on the pitch putting up huge performances both in the local league and the Champions League.

“She is one of the best players in the World and speaking to her, she is also hugely waiting for the World Cup and has already set her targets for the tournament. She is doing everything she can to be on top form.”

FIFA WWC: Onome Ebi upbeat about Super Falcons chances

The Nigeria women’s senior national team captain, Onome Ebi is upbeat about the chances of Super Falcons at this year’s world cup slated for July in Australia and New Zealand.

Ebi is the longest-serving Nigerian defender and has played in five FIFA World Cup finals (USA 2003, China 2007, Germany 2011, Canada 2015, and France 2019).

The 39-year-old will be making her sixth appearance at football’s top table for women and she is set to become the oldest player in history to feature at this year’s competition when the Falcons take on co-hosts Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland in Melbourne and Brisbane this summer.

With the pool of talents in the Nigeria squad, the defender believes it is time to defy every odd that led to her team’s second-round exit from the tournament in 2019 at the forthcoming global showpiece.

Meanwhile, the former African champions return to winning ways as they concluded their latest international break with a 3-0 win over World Cup co-host New Zealand at the Mardan Stadium in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday.

Ebi opened the scoring with a powerful header firing a warning to their counterparts.

Nigeria is one of only seven nations to have participated in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991, with its highest achievement being a quarterfinal finish.

Speaking to the CAF media during the countdown show to the tournament, Ebi insisted that Nigeria has what it takes to go all the way and bring home the gong.

“Our ambition is to do our best. We approach this World Cup with the mindset of performing to our utmost best and conquering.

“We had some disappointments at the last  Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) where we did not put in the best performance.

“But now we have the opportunity at the World Cup where we do not want to disappoint again.

“I have faith in my team and I like our current state of mind. The team is united and I believe we will be able to do great things at the World Cup. We are motivated and we want to hoist Nigeria’s flag to the highest point.

“The ball is in our court as players and we have to do everything to be on fire physically and mentally for this opportunity.”

Pam’s family plans to make history at Jos Cross Country race

One of Nigeria’s celebrated athletics road running family, the Pam, Ilya, Deborah and Paul James, are poised to make history as the first elite road running family from Plateau State to clear the titles at stake at the first ever Jos Cross Country race, as the competition for men and women runners in Nigeria, the first in 40 years in the history of athletics hold at the Jos metropolis, Plateau State.

The sibblings have their eyes on the podium at the finish point of the race this Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Rhino Golf Course, Jos, Plateau State.

It’s not the first time the Pam family members, especially Iliya and Deborah, who are of the same parents achieve this rare feat. The duo once did in 2018 when they emerged winners of the 10th edition of the 42km Splash FM Ibadan City Marathon. Deborah, did it total three times as winner of the race, while her brother Iliya, is a two-time winner.

The confirmation of the likes of Nyango Gyang Boy, the first Nigerian finisher at the 2023 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon last weekend in Lagos, at 2:27:15, Paul James Pam, also a former winner of the Splash FM 42km race, and Emmanuel Gyan Gwom, the 2019 Okpekpe race ‘Nigerian’ winner, Stephen Joshua Dalop, in the race makes it more interesting.

The Jos Cross Country competition, which is being organised by the celebrated Nilayo Sports Management Limited, is a follow up on the efforts the Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, who last year organised a training camp for selected elite Nigerian runners towards boosting their performances in international marathon races.

Now, he has come up with the first Cross Country competition in Nigeria in 40 years taking a practical bold step in developing long distance running in Nigeria.

Nilayo to sign multiple multi-billion naira deals for Abuja City International Marathon

The management of Nigeria’s premium Marathon races organizers, Nilayo Sports Management, led by its Managing Director, Chief Bukola Olopade, will on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 2 pm sign a multiple multi-billion naira contract deals that would see the birth of the Abuja City International Marathon.

Nilayo Sports Management s Managing Director, Chief Bukola Olopade.

In the words of Nigeria’s Marathon Generaliso, the Abuja City International Marathon, which is a full marathon of 42 kilometers, has been approved by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the Federal Capital Territory, and the Ministry of Sports, Youths and Social development.

Nilayo Sports Management, the biggest organisers of Marathon races in Africa and indeed in Nigeria, would sign the multi-billion naira contract to organise the Abuja City International Marathon on October 7, 2023, a date that had already been announced by the organisers.

The Nilayo Sports Management Limited boss noted that, the target is to have a second Gold-Label status full marathon race in Nigeria especially in the beautiful city of Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital city.

The main sponsor of the race would also be unveiled in an elaborate ceremony, where the prize money, the class of runners, the route and other world class incentives will be announced for the Abuja City International Marathon.

“It would be most delightful to have one full marathon each in the Nigeria’s financial capital and the nations capital,” he said.

“By the time, the Abuja City International Marathon attains the Gold Label Marathon status, Nigeria would have become one of the very few countries in the world, with two Gold-Label races, in one country. This is a rare attribute in road running in the world. This would tremendously boost the status of Nigeria, and that is what we have been talking about.”

Gold-Label 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon winners to qualify for Olympics

The Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Chief Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the top winners at the Gold-Label 8th Lagos City Marathon, will book qualifications tickets for the Marathon event of the next edition of the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, France.

Olopade, disclosed that, the decision using the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon a qualifying race for the next Olympic Games event, was because of its Gold-Label status and the calibre of the foreign runners invited and registered for the 42kilometres Road Race.

“The runners are highprofile and they belong to the class of the best sets of road runners in the world going by their ratings.” This was disclosed to us by the World Athletics, Head of Running and Mass Participation, Alessio Punzi.

Olopade, noted that another big highlight of the Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is the use of the photofinish device to separate winners who finished in lightening speed. This will help separate the winners.

He added that: “The use of speed cameras capable of taking as much as 3000 shots will also be used at the finish line. This will help reconfirm the decisions reached at the finish line and make it error free.”

A total of 50,000 athletes, including 76 foreign runners from 22 countries across the world, participated in the marathon.

Among the world-class foreign runners that took part in this race are Kenya’s John Komen, who won the 2019 Athens Marathon at a time of 2:16:34. Kenya’s Barmasai David is another worldclass foreign runner with the biggest chances to prove a point at the race and Hayla Worku ran 2:07:32 at the Houston Marathon where he emerged champion in 2014. He ran 2:08:48 at the Praha Marathon in 2017, where he finished second place.

Olopade, said he is hopeful that the invited foreign runners would give good account of themselves by recording good results that will boost the aim of securing the Platinum Label status soon.

He also appealed to Lagosians to see the race as their own, adding that, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon had put Nigeria on the world map.

“Considering the good weather we have at the moment, I am sure some of the foreign runners will achieve good results by finishing below two hours nine minutes. That will be a big boost to the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, and for residents in Lagos, we will continue to appeal to them to see this event as their own.”

Edwin Kibet wins the 2023 Lagos City Marathon men’s event with a time of 2:14:06s to pocket the $50,000 grand price.

Dekeba Tafa of Ethiopia ran a time of 2:14:54 while Bernard Sang of Kenya clocked 2:17:14 to finished second and third respectively.

Guta Herpha (Ethiopia) wins the Women’s category of this year’s Lagos City Marathon with 2:40:42 time.


The next Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France, from 26 July to 11 August 2024.

The Lagos State City Marathon is the fastest growing Marathon in the world.

Within 8 years of its inception the Marathon moved from its debut edition to the Gold Label race that now serves as qualification for the global Olympics event.

“It takes an incredible team & support from all quarters to achieve the Gold Label status, now, the aim is to get better & achieve the Platinum status.” – Amaechi Okobi (Group Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank PLC).

Lagos City Marathon announces increase in prize money

The organizers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have announced a cash prize increase starting with the 2024 edition of the annual event.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Bukola Olopade, stated this at a pre-event programme held in Lagos on Friday.

Olopade expressed his joy over the growth of the road race, saying the new target was within reach. He told the audience that the race that had grown to a gold-label marathon within eight years needed incentives to attract all the high-profile runners from across the world.

Olopade said, “Tomorrow these athletes seated here will be running a gold-label marathon. This is huge as this has been achieved within eight years. Our major sponsor had teased me to announce this prize increase with the word ‘may or might’ but I have the privilege to announce to you that the top prize will go up from the next edition in 2024. It is no longer a ‘may or might’ thinking, but yes, the prize is going up.”

NWSL: Uchenna Kanu joins Racing Louisville

Nigeria international forward Uchenna Kanu has completed a big money move from Mexican club Tigres UANL to American side Racing Louisville FC.

The Super Falcons star signed a two-year contract worth $150,000 with $30,000 in variables.

The 25-year-old had a stellar year at Tigres, where she scored 20 goals in 30 appearances to help her team clinch the Liga MX Femenil’s Torneo Apertura title.

Before heading to Mexico, Kanu had an impressive season in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan with 22 goals in 42 matches over two years with Linköpings FC where her 17 goals in the 2021 season was second on the league’s top scorer chart.

During the COVID pandemic-impacted season, the forward spent a short time in Spain with Sevilla FC, making six appearances in the 2019/20 seasons.

At the international level, Kanu has represented Nigeria at the cadet level in the U-17 and U-20 World Cups before joining the senior team.

With the Super Falcons, she has scored 10 goals in 12 appearances, including a sensational goal against the U.S. Women’s National Team in a friendly last September and two more at the 2022 women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

She was part of the history making team at the 2019 World Cup in France when Nigeria broke a 20-year jinx to reach the knock-out stage of the tournament, starting the Round of 16 match vs. Germany after coming on as a substitute in the Super Falcons’ three group-stage games.

Signing with Louisville represents a return to the United States for Kanu, who tallied 157 goals and 53 assists for Southeastern University, an NAIA program in Florida. She was the NAIA Player of the Year in 2017, setting the NAIA record for goals in a single season with 57.

“Uchenna is a great player with experience in three different top leagues. She was outstanding in her team last year in Sweden. The last year has also been successful for Uche with both her club and national teams. We see her as a winger, but she can also play as a centre forward. We’re really happy to have her,” said Racing head coach Kim Björkegren.

Racing started their preseason training on January 25, and will begin its 22-game NWSL regular season on March 25, which will play out over seven months.

Hayla Worku leads world-class runners to Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

Ethiopia’s Hayla Bazu Worku will be leading the team of foreign world-class runners that will compete at the Gold-Label 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday, February 4th.

Worku is one of the fastest full marathon runners in the world, having run six world-class marathons in less than 2 hours 9 minutes.

The 2014 Houston Marathon winner ran his fastest time of 2:05:25 when he finished third place at the Berlin Marathon in 2010. He ran a time of 2:06:16 when he finished second place at the Paris Marathon in 2009, ran 2:06:47 when he placed 6th at the Zurich Marathon in 2020. Ran 2:07:09 at the Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon in 2015, where he placed 6th. In 2014, ran 2:07:32 at the Houston Marathon, where he was champion in 2014. And 2:08:48 at the Praha Marathon in 2017, where he finished second place.

Another world-class foreign runner ready to burn the route at the February 4 Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is Kenya’s John Komen, a 2019 Athens Marathon winner at a time of 2:16:34. The 42 years old Komen had recorded better time in past races; 2:07:13 in 2011 when he won the La Rochelle Marathon, 2:08:06 in 2008 at Reims Marathon, 2:08:12 at Paris Marathon and 2:08:13 when he won the Vanezia Marathon in 2009.

Kenya’s Barmasai David is another world-class foreign runner with the biggest chances to prove a point at the Gold-Label 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

David, has a personal best of 2:07:18 when he won the 2011 Dubai Marathon, the same year he placed fifth at the World Marathon Championships.

The 2020 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon winner has a very rich resume and the brightest opportunity to stay tops following his familiarity with the Lagos City Marathon route, having won the 2020 race at 2:10:23 and placed second in 2022, at the 7th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon at 2:13:37. It’s the same route and the same weather.

David is also a winner of the 2010 Kenyan Standard Chartered Marathon, where he ran 2:10:31.

In the women class, the top leading world-class foreign runners include Tinbit Didey, former champion of the Marrakesh Marathon, Esther Macharia, a former winner of Graz Marathon and winner of Bregenz Marathon. She has a personal best of 2:27:15 recorded in 2022 at the Grandma’s Marathon in USA.

Kenya’s Mercy Jerop Kwambai is yet another world-class runner, with the most recent performances that may change some expectations at the Gold-Label 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Mercy Jerop, in the last two years, has been hot in her races across the world; at the Asics Firenze Marathon in 2021, she ran 2:27:32 and placed 3rd. In 2022, at the Sparkasse 3-Lander Marathon, she finished second place at 2:30:15 and 3rd place, also at the 2022 Adidas Stockholm Marathon at 2:33:43.

A total of 76 foreign runners were invited by the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, for the Gold-Label 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, made up of 47 men and 29 women worldclass runners.

In the men’s class include Julius Tuwei, Japhet Kosgei, Edwin Kibet Koech, Kiprotich Justus Kipkoech, Ezekiel Koech and Cosmas Kiplimo. Others include Francis Cheruiyot, Bernard Sang, and Kibiwot Stephen Kipkoech, among others.

For the women’s class, we have Jackline Chelai, Naomi Maiyo, Kebene Chala and Catherine Jerotich.

The foreign elite athletes are from 22 countries from across the world, and a total 50,000 runners in all will be running in the Gold-Label 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday, February 4.

Jose Peseiro hails Osimhen and Lookman for incredible form

Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has shower praises of Nigerian forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman for their incredible form so far this season.

Osimhen is the current top scorer in Serie A with 13 goals in 15 games so far for Napoli while Lookman is second on the chart with 11 goals for Atalanta.

Peseiro has both at his disposal in the Super Eagles and is delighted according to his latest comments on both Italy-based superstars.

Peseiro said to Il Mattino, via Tuttomercatoweb that the future of Nigerian football is bright and hopes the two strikers replicate their form at club level when the AFCON  qualifiers resume in March.

“It’s an exceptional moment for Nigerian footballers and knowing you can count on two strikers like them is something incredible,” Peseiro said.

“I’m telling the truth: knowing you have two strikers like that makes me feel much better, it makes me feel much better, good mood. At this point I hope they bring their positivity to the national team as well.

“We talk practically every week and in fact I heard them right after the last goals scored. Victor is incredible, he is never satisfied. Even when he scores and is decisive. 

“The athletic trainer of the national team is in contact with that of Naples. Elements and data are continuously exchanged to keep up to date.”

The Portugese man must ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after the three-time continental champions missed out on participation at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Volunteer Services embark on training for 8th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

In a bid to ensure effective and efficient Volunteer Services befitting of a Gold-Label race, Head of Volunteer Services, Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Mr. Ebidowe Oweife, will today coordinate the training of all those Nigerians recruited to serve as Volunteers at the 8th edition of the race.

Ebidowei, who is also the Chief Operating Officer, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the race organisers, noted that, the retraining of the volunteers becomes necessary because of the new Gold-Label status of the event.

“As it is, it’s not going to be business as usual and there is the need to train the volunteers to conform with activities of the Gold-Label status of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

“We have done the same thing for seven years running, but this time around, the volunteers must up the values of their services since everything we are going to do this time around must strictly be in accordance with the international standard prerequisites of Gold-Label status. And to do these things, the Volunteer Services must be seen rendering services in conformity with the dictates of the World Athletics Gold-Label races. We cannot afford to make any mistakes.”

Mr. Oweife, disclosed that, to anchor and coordinate the training slated for today, January 27, is the General Manager and Technical Director of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Mr. Yusuf Alli.

The training will hold at the gallery of the Teslim Balogun Stadium main bowl, from 10am.

“The training is compulsory for all those that have been confirmed to serve as volunteers in the 8th Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.”

Meanwhile, the Expo for the Gold-Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is still on going at the Volleyball Courts of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. The Expo will end on February 2, while the race holds on February 4.