by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
As the 2025 elections for sports federations approach, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) faces a pivotal moment in determining its leadership. Will incumbent Abraham Kotei Neequaye seek another term, or will a new face emerge to take the reins?
For the past four years, conflicts and misunderstandings among GBA stakeholders—boxers, coaches, promoters, and spectators—have highlighted the need for strong and visionary leadership to restore order and drive progress.
One candidate leading the charge for change is Alex Ntiamoah Boakye, head of Box Office Promotions. Boakye, who has over 25 years of experience in boxing promotion, has demonstrated his ability to elevate local fighters to continental and international recognition. His promotional efforts have propelled boxers like John Laryea, Daniel Gorsh, Holy Dorgbetor, and Sheriff Quaye to continental WBO Africa titles, sparking hopes of future world championships.
Boakye’s reputation extends beyond staging celebrated bouts, such as Bukom Banku vs. Ayitey Powers and Michael Ansah vs. Derrick Quaye, which garnered massive public attention. His leadership of Box Office Promotions earned the outfit the “Best Promotions” award at the 2024 Boxing Ghana Awards.
Announcing his candidacy for GBA President, Boakye has outlined a bold vision to transform Ghanaian boxing. Key points of his agenda include:
Establishing committees to develop innovative strategies for global recognition by major boxing organizations like WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF.
Prioritizing security at boxing events to ensure a safe environment for fans.
Strengthening collaborations with corporate sponsors and the Sports Ministry to boost investment in boxing.
Enhancing media engagement to increase visibility and support for the sport.
Boakye has also pledged to provide more opportunities for amateur boxers and work closely with the Greater Accra Amateur Boxing Association.
With other candidates, such as Roger Barnor and Emmanuel Addo (aka Mosquito), also expressing interest in the GBA presidency, the election promises to be a significant turning point for Ghana boxing.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Former Super Eagles forward, Osaze Odemwingie, has expressed his dream of seeing Nigeria compete in golf at the Olympics as he advances in his career as a professional golfer. The 43-year-old, who turned professional in 2019 and graduated from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) school in June 2024, hopes to put Nigerian golf on the global map.
Odemwingie began playing golf during his time at West Brom in the English Premier League and sees immense potential for Nigeria in the sport, especially with golf reintroduced to the Olympics in 2016. While he aspires to be part of an Olympic golf team, he is also committed to nurturing the next generation of Nigerian golfers.
“If I cannot play as a golfer, I can at least be in the team of a golfer who will play there,” Odemwingie told BBC Sport Africa.
The Olympic silver medalist from Beijing 2008 emphasized the prestige of winning at the Olympics and hopes to use this passion to attract support for developing golf in Nigeria. His plans include meeting government officials and corporations, building a golf academy in Benin City, and increasing awareness about the sport.
Beyond the Olympics, Odemwingie envisions Nigerian representation on the European Tour or PGA Tour and believes early exposure to golf can provide life-changing opportunities for young Nigerians.
“I want to introduce people to the game and build a generation of golfers, from Nigeria in particular, that will participate in the Olympics,” he added.
Odemwingie, who retired from football in 2018, has plans to further his coaching career in golf. He is currently focused on professional development and aims to pursue an honours degree in golf studies at the University of Birmingham in 2025.
The ex-footballer enjoyed a successful football career, playing for Bendel Insurance, several European clubs, and earning 65 caps for the Super Eagles, scoring 11 goals. He remains determined to inspire the next wave of Nigerian athletes through his transition to golf.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
The children of Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna showcased their talent by securing podium finishes at the João Monteiro Table Tennis Tournament in Portugal over the weekend, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
While their father competed in the semi-finals of the WTT Contender Doha, his children—Mariam, Aruna Junior, and Amirah—shone brightly under the coaching of their mother, Ganiyat Aruna.
Mariam Aruna clinched second place in the U-15 category, while Aruna Junior also earned a silver medal in the U-11 category. Amirah Aruna marked a milestone by claiming third place in the U-11 category, securing her first-ever trophy.
Reflecting on their achievements, Ganiyat shared her gratitude on Facebook: “It’s not easy. Since 7 am in the morning. Alhamdulillah, it all ended joyfully and with praises. All thanks to mum and dad. We are the Arunas. We go again tomorrow. All on God.”
The African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) also celebrated the Aruna siblings, praising their efforts in keeping the family legacy alive.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Lucky Piety, captain of Nigeria’s U-19 women’s cricket team, has expressed her team’s determination to excel and make history at the 2025 ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2.
The Junior Female Yellow Greens, debutants in the competition, secured their spot after winning the Africa Qualifier, joining three other nations making their first appearances.
“Our main goal is to compete at the highest level and leave a legacy for Nigeria. Personally, I see this as a chance to showcase my talent on a big stage and inspire others,” Piety stated during an ICC Media Zone interview.
Despite losing their first warm-up match against Pakistan by 11 runs, the team showed promise, with Piety taking two wickets and opener Victory Igbinedion scoring 46 runs off 57 balls. The team will face Scotland in their final warm-up game before beginning their group-stage matches in Sarawak.
Nigeria’s first tournament match is against Samoa on January 18, followed by games against New Zealand on January 20 and South Africa on January 22.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Israel Adesanya, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion, has turned to an unlikely ally, ex-rival Robert Whittaker, to prepare for his highly anticipated comeback against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia next month.
Adesanya recently shared training footage with Whittaker, captioned “New year, new friends,” highlighting the duo’s unexpected partnership. The two previously faced off in the octagon twice, with Adesanya securing victories on both occasions.
The collaboration sparked reactions from the MMA community. Former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira commented, “Chama,” meaning passion in Portuguese, while analyst Laura Sanko joked, “Now we need a buddy cop movie.” Fighters Aljamain Sterling and Alexander Volkanovski also praised the pairing, expressing their excitement.
Whittaker, who lost his title to Adesanya at UFC 243 in 2019 and was defeated again in their 2022 rematch, believes Adesanya remains the favorite against Imavov. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Whittaker noted, “Izzy is so good at what he does, but Imavov’s striking and endurance make him a tough challenge.”
Adesanya’s return marks his first fight since consecutive losses, including a title defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. A win on February 1 could bring him closer to reclaiming the middleweight crown.
Meanwhile, Whittaker is recovering from injuries sustained in a loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, as he eyes his own comeback.
