SportsZone.NG

By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎Football stakeholders converged in Kano State, North West Nigeria, to strategize on their possible contributions to the 2026 World Cup. The stakeholders' meeting, held at the American Space, Kano Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello Way, was organized by Sahel Sports News in collaboration with the Kano state Library Board, powered by Fortress Centre for Human Rights and Peace Initiative Network. ‎The meeting, themed "Building Peace Through Sports," aimed to promote unity and development through sports. In his address of welcome, Chief Kasali Obanoyen, Editor-in-Chief of Sahel Sports News, expressed his happiness for the meeting, describing it as "first of its kind in the region." ‎Obanoyen, who participated in the meeting through a phone call from the United States of America, lamented the dwindling sports facilities in the country and urged governments to support sports development. He emphasized that despite Nigeria's failure to qualify fo...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎The Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) has set a date for its Annual General Assembly (AGA), scheduled to hold on Friday, December 12, 2025, in Abuja. This marks a significant event for Nigeria's third-tier league division, bringing together representatives from across the country. ‎According to information released by the NLO Secretariat, this year's AGA will be a physical conference, allowing for direct participation and discussions on key issues affecting the league. The event is expected to draw stakeholders, including representatives from State Football Associations (FAs) and affiliated clubs. ‎In preparation for the assembly, the NLO has called on each State FA to coordinate with their member clubs to select a representative through a democratic process. This is aimed at ensuring that each state has a voice at the AGA. ‎The NLO further instructed that each FA should submit the name and phone number of their designated representative to facilitate ...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎The 38th edition of the Dala Hard Courts Tennis championship is set to get underway from November 20th to 29th, 2025, at the Kano Club tennis section, and it's going to be a thrilling ride. The Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) has approved the dates for the tournament, which will feature over 200 players from across the country. ‎Tournament Director, Alhaji Yusuf Datti, revealed this while briefing newsmen on the preparations ahead of the competition. Alhaji Datti, who doubles as Vice President of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, said that the preliminary rounds will be held from November 21st to 23rd, while the main draw commences on Monday, November 24th, and the final will hold on November 29th. ‎The organizers have requested the NTF to invite the top 20 ranked men and the top 10 ranked ladies to participate in the main draw of the event. According to Alhaji Datti, this year's budget is projected to be higher than last year due to the general increase ...

  By Muzammil Dalha Yola The Nationwide League One (NLO) has announced December 8 as the kickoff date for the 2025 MTN NLO Cup in Bwari. This championship, a key event on the NLO calendar, is proudly sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN. Tudun Wada FC Kano emerged as the champions of the inaugural edition, defeating Palm Syrup in an exciting match that ended with a total of nine goals. Eight teams have been selected to showcase the NLO brand of football in the second edition of the tournament, which will take place at the Bwari Township Stadium in the Federal Capital Territory from December 8 to December 11, 2025. According to a communication from the NLO Media Channel, the participating teams were chosen based on merit to compete in this prestigious pre-season tournament, sponsored by MTN Nigeria. The clubs participating in this year’s tournament are Dante FC (FCT), Likeminds FC (FCT), Jnr Danburam FC (Daura, Katsina), HB FC (FCT), Lapai FA (Niger), FC Nasarawa, Galadima FC (...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola Bichi First FC got their Nigerian National League (NNL) campaign off to a flying start with a convincing 3-0 victory over Yobe Desert Warriors at the FCE New Site Stadium, Bichi, on Saturday. ‎The home team controlled the game from the outset, and their dominance was rewarded in the 33rd minute when Adama Samuel converted a penalty kick after Damilola Pedro was fouled in the box. The spot-kick was awarded, and Samuel's effort was clinical, sending the Yobe Desert Warriors goalkeeper the wrong way. ‎The first half ended 1-0 in favor of Bichi First FC, but the second half saw the home team come out firing on all cylinders. They doubled their lead in the 52nd minute through Mustapha Muhammad, who scored from close range. ‎The game was effectively wrapped up in the 64th minute when Pedro Damilola, the sparkling winger, scored with a beautiful finish, making it 3-0. ‎In his post-match interview, Bichi First FC Technical Adviser Abubakar Musa praised his team's...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎ ‎The 27th National Universities Games (NUGA) in Jos witnessed a groundbreaking moment as Aminu Hassan, a student of the Human Kinetics and Health Education Department at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH) Wudil, etched his name into the university’s history books. Competing in the Judo -73kg category, the talented athlete Aminu Hassan with Reg. No. (UG20/HKED/1059) clinched the first gold medal for ADUSTECH, marking a proud milestone for the institution. The university’s judo team also added a silver medal in the open weights category, elevating ADUSTECH’s tally to 1 Gold, 2 Silver. ‎ ‎This stellar performance has ignited excitement across the campus. “This is just the beginning,” said Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad Dambazau, Dean of Student Affairs and leader of the ADUSTECH delegation. “We commend Aminu and the judo team for their dedication. We urge them to keep pushing this momentum can take us far.” The achievements have sparked...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola The Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH) has kicked off its campaign at the 27th National Universities Games (NUGA) with impressive wins in football and tennis, held at the University of Jos. The institution’s football team secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Niger Delta University, while the tennis team triumphed 2-1 against the University of Uyo, advancing to the round of 16. ‎Speaking to Sports Zone, ADUSTECH’s Director of Sports Abubakar Abdussalam praised the athletes for their focus and determination, emphasizing the team’s ambition to excel. “We are proud of our athletes’ performance. This is just the beginning we urge them to stay disciplined and give their best,” he said. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Musa Tukur Yakasai, and the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad Dambazau, were commended for their unwavering support, including providing essential logistics to ensure the team’s comfort and morale. ‎The victo...

By Ado Salisu Kano based Chinese golfer, Angel Xing Huiyao has emerged  as  the  winner of the maiden edition of the  Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN)  President’s  Cup Golf tournament 2025. Over 100 ladies  and men  golfers from  across Nigeria last Monday  had competed for laurels at the Kano Club golf section , where the tee took place. The winners in various categories were handed with trophies, certificates and  decorated with  tournament memorabilia Reacting to her victory, Angel Xing Huiyao, dedicated the trophy to all the members of Kano club golf section for their support and cooperation. Angel expressed her readiness to continue to undergo vigorous training sessions to  sustain her present form with the aim to retain  impressive performance in future state and national competitions. 'She said “This milestone not only elevated her to fame,  but also shattered gender barriers in a male dominated sp...

By Shehu Adamu The current administration of Kano Pillars FC has come under mounting scrutiny from stakeholders and fans alike. As the club navigates the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, it has become clear that structural, managerial, and governance issues are undermining its competitiveness and reputation. In light of these challenges, there is a compelling case for dissolving the existing management board and instituting comprehensive reform. Below are the key reasons for this call and an analysis of the club’s current standing in the league. 1. Dismal Performance in the Ongoing NPFL One of the most visible issues is the club’s on‐field performance. While Kano Pillars were once among the elite in Nigerian football, their recent results reflect a decline. According to league standings, they occupy one of the lower positions in the NPFL table (for example, seen on sources such as Flashscore). This slump raises serious questions about leadership, strategy, and ef...

By Hassan Garba Buhari, Birnin Kebbi The Chairman of the Kebbi State Football Association and Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ladan, has debunked recent insinuations alleging that the FIFA Mini Stadium in Birnin Kebbi was uncompleted, substandard, or a product of misappropriated funds. Speaking to journalists at the facility, Alhaji Ladan described the allegations as false, mischievous, and a deliberate attempt to discredit the NFF, the Kebbi State Government, and the efforts of FIFA in developing grassroots football in Nigeria. “We are here to show the world that the Birnin Kebbi FIFA Mini Stadium is completed, commissioned about two years ago, and has been in full use since then,” he said. He explained that the stadium has hosted several major competitions including the Chief of Defence Staff (General C.G. Musa) Unity Cup, the Kebbi Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, and Nationwide League One (NLO) matches. The facility also serves as the home ground...