Belgian club KAS Eupen has finalized the loan acquisition of Nigerian left winger Ade Wedingo Oguns for the remainder of the season.

The arrangement was expedited by Cem Sagar, CEO of Diamond Sports Management, along with his reliable associate Brian Paramore.

Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, was present at the unveiling event on Thursday.

Wedingo’s football career began at 36 Lion, and he has also played in the Benin Republic, Caracas, and Wydad Casablanca.

Hailing from Iwaya, Wedingo has entered into a contract with KAS Eupen that extends until the season’s conclusion, with an option for a three-year extension.

The 23-year-old scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 68 matches during his time at Caracas.

He then added 5 goals and 2 assists in 18 appearances while at Wydad Casablanca.

It is noteworthy that Wedingo participated in the most recent Lagos Supremacy Cup.

Currently, KAS Eupen sits in 13th place in the Belgian Division B standings, and the addition of Oguns is expected to bolster their efforts to ascend the rankings and secure promotion to the top tier.

The 2024/25 NWFL Premiership season continues on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, with another thrilling round of fixtures across Group A and Group B. Here’s the full schedule:

*Group A*

Edo Queens vs Remo Stars Ladies *(LIVE on NTA Sports 24/StarTimes)*

🏟 Venue: Sam Ogbemudia Stadium

⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – #EDOREM

Ekiti Queens vs Dannaz Ladies FC

🏟 Venue: Oluyemi Kayode Stadium

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #EKIDAN

Confluence Queens vs Nasarawa Amazons

🏟 Venue: Anyigba City Stadium

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #CONNAS

Heartland Queens vs Abia Angels

🏟 Venue: Dan Anyiam Stadium

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #HEAABI

*Group B*

Rivers Angels vs Robo Queens

🏟 Venue: Adokiye Stadium

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #RIVROB

Adamawa Queens vs Delta Queens

🏟 Venue: Pantami Stadium, Gombe

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #ADADEL

Benue Queens vs Bayelsa Queens *(LIVE on NTA Sports 24/StarTimes)*

🏟 Venue: Lafia City Stadium

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #BENBAY

Naija Ratels FC vs Ibom Angels FC

🏟 Venue: Bwari City Stadium, FCT

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – #NAIIBO

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has released a comprehensive programme of activities for 2025, coming on the heels of its board meeting held earlier in January, 2025.

The programmes of basketball activities which was ratified by the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), led by its President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has been termed by stakeholders and enthusiasts as ‘Consolidation Time’.

Beginning from February 5-9, 2025, the Nigeria Senior Female Basketball team, D’Tigress are expected to feature in a friendly invitational tournament billed for Belarus; February 17-25, 2025, would see the D’Tigers participate in the 2025 FIBA AFRO Basket qualifiers taking place in Tripoli, Libya.

Activities for March, 2025, include the 1st Phase of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season; Finals of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season, as well as, the 1st Phase Women Zenith Bank league Division 1. Also, there would be the NBBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) and stakeholders Forum, to hold between February/March at a venue to be decided.

April 2025, begins with BAL Season 5, with Nigeria’s representatives Rivers Hoppers competing with other 11 teams in the championship holding respectively in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda and Pretoria, South Africa.

Also in April 2025, there would be refresher courses for Technical Officials, in Lagos and Abuja. The 1st Phase of NBBF Men Premier Basketball League would hold across the country; there also would be the 1st Phase of Zenith Bank Women Premier league in

two conferences.

Activities for May-June 2025, includes the 1st Phase U19 Girls National camps in Nigeria/USA, for the World championship; followed by the National U16 & U18 Boys and Girls championship; the NBBF Board Meeting would also hold during this period.

This period would also have the 2nd Phase of NBBF Men’s Premier Basketball League; 2nd Phase of Zenith Bank Premier Women league; as well as, national camp for U16 boys and girls, and FIBA Zone 3 U16 African Championship qualifiers (Boys & Girls).

Between July- August, 2025, D’Tigress would open camp in Nigeria/USA for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket 2025; followed by the National U19 Girls;  And in July 25th – August 3rd, 2025, D’Tigress would be in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire to compete for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket and Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league Conference finals would also hold.

FIBA Men’s Afrobasket 2025, also holds 12th-24th August in Luanda, Angola, there would be also, the NBBF Men’s Premier league Conference finals and the FIBA African U16 championship (Boys & Girls)

September, 2025, begins with finals of State preliminaries for Total National Division 2 championship; also in the month, there would be the NBBF Men’s Basketball League Final 8; Zenith Bank National Division 1, female national league eliminations.

In October 2025, the NBBF Board Meeting would hold and also the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league finals. There shall be also the 1st Phase of BAL Qualifiers and FIBA Africa 3 AWBL Qualifiers.

November-December, 2025, begins with the Total National Divisions 1&2 league Divisional playoffs; knockout phase of the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup. And then in December, 2025, we shall have the Total National Division 2 Conference playoffs; Elite 16 BAL Qualifiers 2025; FIBA AWBL 2025 finals; Total National Division 1&2 league finals; the NBBF AGM and Awards Night and lastly, the NBBF Board Meeting.

The Imo State Football Club Owners Association has inaugurated a seven-member committee to oversee the successful organization of the inaugural Imo State Super League.

The committee is chaired by Mr. Patrick Osuji, the CEO of Campos FC, with a mandate to ensure the smooth execution of the competition. The members of the committee include prominent stakeholders from various football clubs across the state.

The committee members are as follows:

1. Mr. Kachi Atufule (Malik-Pro FC) – Patron

2. Mr. Patrick Osuji (Campos FC) – Chairman

3. Mr. Michael Ahamefula (Kun Khalifat FC) – Vice Chairman

4. Bro. Kingsley Azodo (Akokwa United FC) – Secretary

5. Sir P.M.C. Okeke (Ave International FC) – Executive Member

6. Mr. Doneric Chima Ekeh (Black Salt FC) – Executive Member

7. Ms. Jennifer Anusiem (Imo Angels Sports Academy) – Executive Member

The establishment of the committee marks a significant step towards promoting grassroots football development in Imo State. The committee is expected to provide updates on the competition’s structure and schedule in the coming weeks.

The Solid Miners kicked off the second phase of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign in style, earning a crucial 1-0 victory over a formidable opponent, Katsina United in a televised match at the Lafia City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The win marks a perfect start to the new stanza, boosting the team’s morale and confidence, going forward.

The game, played under closed doors, was a closely contested affair, with Nasarawa United largely controlling the game, and creating more goals-coring opportunities in both halves.

But the home side also had to weather the storm at some instances, with the defence proving resilient, and withstanding intense pressure from the opposition.

The decisive moment came in the 34th minute of the first half when striker, Qamar Adegoke, scored a brilliant goal, displaying exceptional skill and composure, his third goal in United’s colours since joining the team this season.

The League’s leading goalscorer, Anas Yusuf, Kabir Balogun, Abubakar Aliyu and Chigoziem Salomon all came close to increasing the home side’s goal tally but missed, to the frustration of the bench.

Katsina United’s Nazifi Yahaya and Kingsley Innocent nearly drew their side to parity but for the bravery of the United’s defence.

Despite effecting some tactical changes, the result remained unchanged as United returned to winning ways.

With the final verdict on the three points deducted off the Solid Miners still pending, today’s result means Nasarawa United have nineteen points with Katsina United dropping to 14th position with 23 points.

The Solid Miners will next play Shooting Stars SC in Ibadan on Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 by 5.30pm.

POST-MATCH REACTIONS:

KABIR DOGO(TECH. DIR/NAS): “Congratulations to us all on today’s win. No matter the scoreline, all that’s needed was the full points, needless to say the weather was just too unbearable for both teams.

“Before the commencement of this half of the season, we spent a week in Jos and our new players easily adapted to our pattern of play, and that is helping us a lot, even though we played today’s game without our loyal supporters and fans.

“Rest assured that the team will not go on relegation as being perceived in some quarters.

“We will now shift our attention to our next match against Shooting Stars in Ibadan, and anything is possible from that venue in our favour.”

COACH BISHIR SADOKI(KAT): “Both sides played good football but Nasarawa United wanted the points more than us because of their position in the league standings, coupled with the latest players they recruited for this half of the season.

“The weather condition was too harsh for both sides. Playing such high intensity game under the hot sun is honestly not easy for anyone who is here because the temperature was very very high and biting.

“We will do our best to win our next game, regardless of the opponents.”

Heartland FC have fortified their squad with nine new players ahead of the start of the second stanza of the ongoing 2024-25 Nigeria Premier Football League season.

The players painstakingly chosen have been added to the Naze Millionaires to ensure that the club’s performance in the second round is quite better than the first as the club hopes to navigate the remainder of the season without threat of relegation zone worries.

Top of the bill of the newly signed players are Anthony Omaka and Daniel Ekpo. Omaka a former player of Sunshine Stars and Enyimba is joining the Naze Millionaires from ASVO FC of Benin Republic while Ekpo who is a winger of value has traded Abia Warriors for the Owerri side.

Others signed are John Bassey (Bayelsa United), Kenneth Ache (Heartland Feeders), Stephen Ezeamaiwe (Bendel Insurance), Isaac Nassy (Doma United), Samuel Agu (Akwa United), Terdoo Shimagande (Nasarawa United), and Joel Okoro also from Nasarawa United.

Speaking on the newly acquisitions, the Technical Manager, Heartland FC, Emmanuel Amuneke disclosed to the club’s media that he is confident that the new players would hit the ground running and ensure the confidence reposed in them is reciprocated with good and consistent performances.

Amuneke said the Owerri side will continue to grow from strength to strength and he also called on Imo people to continue to identify with the team through their support at all time even during difficult period(s).

“What we have done is to bring in players who will help us achieve our goals. We have judiciously picked these few to ensure that our performance improves in the second round and we call on Imo people to support us,” Amuneke told Heartland Media.

“We expect the newly signed players to blend with the rest of the team and offer us something different and better than what we got in the first round. We will continue to seek the support of our fans and supporters because without you we are nothing.

“We have worked very hard to ensure that we have an improved performance in the second stanza and we have no doubt in our minds that the second round will favour us.”

Heartland will start their second round fixture with a home clash with Lobi Stars in Owerri on Sunday hoping to secure the maximum points having played a goalless draw in Lafia in the reverse fixture played late December last year.

As part of preparation for the 2025 Basketball Africa League, Rivers Hoopers have arrived in Lagos for the fourth edition of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship from 26 January to 1 February.

The KingsMen have been drawn to face Police Batons, Energie (Benin Republic), Comets and the defending champions of the competition, Hoops and Read in Group A.

Last season’s finalists Spintex Knights of Ghana face off with Raptors, Lagos Legends, ASPAC and Elan Coton both from Benin Republic in Group B.

The games will be played in a round-robin format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals scheduled to take place on Friday, 31 January. The finals will be played the following day.

Rivers Hoopers won the 2023 Louis Edem tournament but settled for third place at the last edition which held in April 2024.

The ENIC 2024/2025 Technical Committee Meeting was held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the Safari Recreation Club, Owerri. The event brought together a full court of Management Committee Members, Tennis Captains, Club Presidents, and representatives from CUTIX PLC, the league’s headline sponsor.

In his opening address, ENIC Chairman, Deacon Sam Ugboaja, commended the seamless execution of the Ordinary League season, applauding the participants and officials for their commitment. He also noted with satisfaction the absence of disputes or player injuries throughout the season.

The meeting volleyed through several significant updates:

1. Quarterfinal Matchups Announced
Chief Referee, PeterClever Ojinnaka, unveiled the eagerly awaited quarterfinal fixtures, confirming match dates, venues, and the appointed Match Commissioners. The line-up is as follows:

Group A: STDC Owerri (White) vs. Owerri Sports Club (Blue)

Group B: Enugu Sports Club (White) vs. Aba Sports Club (Blue)

Group C: Recreation Club, Orlu (White) vs. Safari Recreation Club (Blue)

Group D: Onitsha Country Club (Blue) vs. Nnewi Sports Club (White)

2. Match Materials Served
CUTIX PLC generously provided match materials, which were distributed to the quarterfinalists.

3. Super four Finals Plans
To elevate the league’s prestige, the Chairman announced the engagement of NTF-accredited umpires for the finals. Each club will also present two players for demonstration matches in Badminton, Scrabble, Draughts, and Table Tennis, adding variety to the event.

4. Strategic Assignments
Management Committee Members were given tailored responsibilities to ensure the Super Four Finals are a smash hit.

5. New Trustee Inducted
Chief Ifeanyi Uzodike of Nnewi Sports Club was unanimously inducted as a member of the league’s Board of Trustees.

6. Recognition and Appreciation
Special thanks were extended to CUTIX PLC for their support and to Safari Recreation Club, Owerri, for their impeccable hospitality.

The ENIC Technical Committee is eagerly looking forward to an ace finish to the league season, with the finals poised to deliver a memorable spectacle.

WAKAWAKA/ENIC MEDIA