Serbia, France and Canada locked in a tight race in latest FIBA World Ranking Men Excellence and stability define the top of the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, as each of the five highest-ranked teams posted a perfect record in Window 3 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Behind USA and Germany, the race for third place is now tighter than ever, with Serbia, France and Canada separated by fewer than 1.5 ranking points. The next update of the FIBA World Ranking Men, following Window 4 in August, could see a change on the podium. Spain…
Author: Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Abdulgafar Oladimeji is a sports writer with over two decades experience in the industry. As a reporter , he has worked with top major Nigerian newspapers, freelancer with newspaper and broadcast media organizations in Africa, Europe and America. He is a well travelled sports journalists reporting major sports events across the globe.
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14th Women Africa Cup of Nations: Madugu picks Ajibade, Nnadozie, 23 others for title defence Head Coach Justine Madugu has selected a team of 25 players, including Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, undisputed Africa’s best goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, midfielder Jennifer Echegini and forward Asisat Oshoala, to defend Nigeria’s Women Africa Cup of Nations title at the upcoming 14th edition in Morocco, 26th July – 16th August 2026. There are also home-based goalkeeper Fatima Oloko, defenders Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin and Christy Ucheibe, midfielders Halimatu Ayinde and Toni Payne, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Francisca Ordega, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Omorinsola Babajide. Cup-holders Nigeria, gunning for…
SWAN, Byblos Seal Partnership For Reduced International, Domestic Airfare Costs The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has signed a strategic agreement with Byblos Travels and Tours Nigeria Limited, aimed at providing affordable travel opportunities and logistics support for sports journalists. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Abuja, is expected to significantly reduce the financial burden on sports journalists through discounted airfares, visa advisory services, accommodation support and other travel-related benefits. Speaking, SWAN President, Mr Isaiah Benjamin, described the agreement as a major step towards improving the welfare and professional capacity of members. The SWAN President said the leadership…
Abdulgafar Oladimeji: The Unknown Sports Tourist in Belgium Had been fortunate since 2003 to have been globe trotting from one country to another, no thanks to my job as a sports journalist. In my sojourn as a sports reporter had traverse through Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Congo Brazville, Guinea, Mali, Niger republic, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Egypt , USA, Senegal. There was no need to be in a hurry to mention The Gambia, my adopted second home, where the rare privilege to work as freelance sport editor of the then Daily Express gave birth to my rosy career days and…
Nigeria inaugurates anti doping board The Nigeria Football Federation has commended the Federal Government on Thursday’s inauguration of the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre, following the enactment of the National Anti-Doping Act 2025, which established the Centre as a statutory body empowered to implement Nigeria’s anti-doping obligations in line with the World Anti-Doping Code. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the action further underscores the iron commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to taking Nigeria sports to a better place, and its determination to guarantee the integrity and credibility of all the sport codes in…
Round of 16: Where the 2026 FIFA World Cup Will Separate Contenders from Pretenders An Analyst’s Notebook By Kdo Kasaoba57@ gmail.com July 4, 2026 The group stage rewarded consistency. The Round of 16 rewards precision. From this point onward, every tactical adjustment, substitution, defensive lapse, and psychological decision carries greater weight than individual brilliance. Teams no longer have the luxury of recovering from mistakes over three group matches. One poor decision can end four years of preparation. The opening knockout fixtures have already reinforced that reality. Morocco has once again demonstrated why it remains Africa’s benchmark. Their progress has not…
From Morocco Still Standing Tall to Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde and Ghana: A World Cup of Hope, the 86th-Minute Jinx, and Dashed Dreams By Kdo- Atlanta, Georgia Kasoba57@ gmail. com July 3, 2026 If this World Cup has taught Africa anything, it is that football can be gloriously generous one moment and heartbreakingly cruel the next. As the knockout rounds unfold, one African flag still flies proudly. Morocco stands tall, focused, and determined, carrying not only the hopes of its own people but increasingly those of an entire continent. Their discipline, resilience, and composure have once again demonstrated…
June 14th, 2026 Cape Verde as a True Pointer to African Football’s New Birth and Arrival. Pharaohs and Elephants of Cote d;Ivoire Showcase African Pride By KDO Few people gave Cape Verde any chance of surviving Spain’s expected onslaught in today’s World Cup encounter at Atlanta Stadium. On paper, it appeared to be another classic case of David versus Goliath. Yet football is played on grass, not on paper, and once again the game reminded the world that preparation, organization, and belief can narrow even the widest gaps. At the heart of Cape Verde’s spirited performance was the work of…
Cote d’Ivoire records 1-0 historic win against Ecuador Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute winner as Côte d’Ivoire edged Ecuador in a breathless contest in which the woodwork was struck four times. The match, somehow, seemed to be heading for a goalless draw before substitute Amad expertly caressed a shot into the bottom corner to spark scenes of joyous celebration. The first half of the match was wildly entertaining. Ecuador’s John Yeboah was the first to be denied by the frame of the goal, with his venomous strike from outside the area crashing against the crossbar. Soon after, Alan Minda had…
Pharaohs of Egypt misses first world cup party, Red Devils Lukaku is the spoiler Seattle flung open the FIFA World Cup 2026™ gates for the first time and for a long spell of this Pacific Northwest clash, Egypt were on the verge of creating history. Prior to this Group G opener, the Pharaohs had only ever led a World Cup match for 29 minutes, never tasted victory and only kept a lone clean sheet. They failed to crack the second and third marks but topped the first after a fine opener from Emam Ashour. On the day of his 34th…
