by Kelly Eric Ehor | Dec 24, 2024 | Ghana, Other Sports
Hamza Luwaa Jibril, Vice President of the Ghana American Football Federation, has expressed optimism about the future of American Football in Ghana. Speaking to Citi Sports during the Flag Football All-Star Game and a watch party for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders NFL matchup, he highlighted the strides being made to promote the sport.
Flag Football, a non-contact variation of American Football, is set to debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Jibril shared the Federation’s ambitious goal of qualifying Ghana for the event and emphasized the growth of the sport locally.
“The sport has a bright future because we’ve been running a program with the NFL in schools. We now have 24 schools involved, and kids who previously knew nothing about American Football are embracing and loving it,” Jibril stated. “Since 2022, we’ve introduced the sport to more than 2,000 boys and girls.”
At the event, Elite United triumphed in the Flag Football All-Star Game, while St. Kizito RC School claimed victory in the Under-14 competition.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Dec 24, 2024 | Athletics, Ghana
The highly anticipated third edition of the Ghana Junior Olympics will take place on December 26, 2024, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, Legon.
Special guest, Ghana’s 100m record holder Benjamin Azamati, will honor the event with his presence. Young athletes from various age categories will compete in thrilling events such as the 100m sprint, 4x100m relay, long jump, and more.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to witness the future of Ghanaian athletics in action.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Dec 24, 2024 | Ghana, Other Sports
President of the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC), Samson Deen, has been nominated for the coveted Sports Personality of the Year Award at the forthcoming Metro Sports Awards.
This nomination recognizes his outstanding contributions to sports development in Ghana and across Africa. As president of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Ghana, Mr. Deen has been instrumental in advancing para-sports, elevating the sector both locally and continentally.
The highly anticipated awards ceremony is set for January next year and is expected to attract Ghana’s top sports figures. Other prominent nominees vying for the prestigious title include Dr. Kwame Kyei, owner of Nations FC; Herbert Mensah, president of the Ghana Rugby Association; and Karim Zito, coach of Dreams FC.
Samson Deen’s remarkable achievements include spearheading the inaugural African Para Games in September 2023 in Accra, Ghana—a historic milestone for para-sports on the continent. His visionary and selfless leadership has earned him widespread admiration, with many journalists and sports enthusiasts advocating for him to become Ghana’s next Sports Minister under the NDC government.
Winning the Sports Personality of the Year Award would further solidify Deen’s legacy as a transformative leader in African sports and a champion of inclusivity and excellence.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Dec 23, 2024 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Defending champion Francis Epe showcased an exceptional performance at the Ikoyi Golf Course over the weekend, claiming his second Ultimate Golf Challenge title.
The tournament featured 39 elite professional golfers, including players from the PGA of Nigeria’s Order of Merit list, the USPGA, and neighboring countries.
Epe emerged victorious in the 36-hole competition with a remarkable score of 6-under par 136, edging out Ghanaian Vincent Torgah by two shots. Epe maintained consistency, carding a 3-under par 68 in both rounds.
Torgah, who finished second, mounted a strong comeback in the final round with an impressive 4-under par 67 but couldn’t close the gap. Patrick Paul, representing the Ikoyi Club, secured third place with a score of 1-over par 143.
Other notable players included Gabriel Ejembi and Godwin Okoko, who delivered commendable performances.
Femi Pedro, the grand patron of the Ultimate Golf Challenge, expressed satisfaction with the competition and reiterated the commitment to fostering professional golf in Nigeria.
Chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee, Akin Semowo, praised the unique format of the event, which includes 36 holes played in one day, and promised further improvements in future editions.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Dec 23, 2024 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Africa Games and African Championship medallist Matthew Kuti has been dethroned as national champion at the second Daniel Ford Elite Youth Invitational Table Tennis Championships. Rabiat Ayoola also emerged as the new U-19 girls’ champion during the two-day event, which concluded on Saturday in Lagos.
Organized by the Nigeria Tennis Federation and sponsored by UK-based real estate entrepreneur Yemi Edun, the tournament featured 75 top players from across Nigeria.
Despite leading 3-1 in the boys’ U-19 final, Kuti was defeated by Abdulfatai, who mounted an impressive comeback to win 4-3 (7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9), claiming his first victory over the defending champion at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
In the U-19 girls’ final, Rabiat Ayoola staged her own remarkable comeback to defeat Aishat Rabiu 4-3 (11-9, 8-11, 14-16, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-4) and secure the championship.
The U-15 categories also delivered thrilling contests. Abia State earned their first national title in the girls’ U-15 final as Chinenye Okafor overcame Lagos State’s Ifeoluwa Ajasa 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-6). Meanwhile, Lagos State’s Abdulamid Adebayo stunned Kogi’s Samuel Dada with a 3-2 victory (4-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7) to win the boys’ U-15 title.
Special guest Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, praised Yemi Edun for his commitment to youth development. “I commend Yemi Edun for sponsoring this tournament that helps discover new talents. I encourage other Nigerians in the Diaspora to follow his example in supporting our youths,” she stated.
Edun expressed his dedication to growing the tournament and supporting the players’ development. “Consistency is key for us as sponsors, and we hope the players can continue to raise their game. I remember watching events in this stadium years ago, and I share the passion and enthusiasm these players have.”
