Team Nigeria on Monday afternoon departed the country for Cairo, Egypt, where they will compete in the 2025 World Karate Championship scheduled for November 27–30.

The nation will be represented by five outstanding athletes who have demonstrated exceptional discipline, consistency, and competitive grit in their buildup to the global event. The team is made up of:

• Loveth Ngozi Okoro – Kumite -50kg
• Godfirst Orie Ukoha-Sampson – Kumite -55kg
• Constance Tamunodiepreye Abode – Kumite -61kg
• Ujunwa Caroline Nwankwo – Kumite +68kg
• Oluwaseun Olorunbe – Male Kata

The athletes, who have undergone intense preparations, will be led by coach Efezino Akpotu, while Olusegun Abode serves as the leader of delegation.

Four members of the squad—Ngozi, Godfirst, Constance, and Ujunwa—are already well-known names on the domestic circuit. They are regular contenders at the Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship, an annual tournament founded by Hajiya Zainab Saleh, a Board Member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN). The championship has been widely recognised for empowering and developing female karatekas across the country.

Ahead of the team’s participation, the Board of the KFN expressed confidence in the athletes’ ability to deliver strong performances on the world stage.

However, it also appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for urgent financial support to offset debts incurred in ensuring Nigeria’s participation in the championship.

According to the federation, the World Karate Championship falls under the mandate of the NSC, and timely intervention is necessary to stabilise the federation’s operations after securing the team’s trip to Cairo.

Team Nigeria will now focus on making a strong impact as they join the world’s best karatekas in Egypt later this week.

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C.S.C.S. (Community Secondary Commercial School) Ibiaku Itam, Uyo, etched their name into the history books after emerging champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories of Season 4 of the Nigeria Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL), concluded last Friday in Abuja.

Their triumph was made even more remarkable by the arduous 16-hour road journey undertaken by the 22 students and officials, who arrived in Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday and still delivered an outstanding performance on the field.

The school’s success is rooted in a unique multi-sport development model. Five of the victorious female flag football players are also members of the school’s netball team, while two netballers featured in the boys’ squad. Many team members are multi-talented athletes who actively compete in cricket, further demonstrating the school’s commitment to nurturing all-round sporting excellence.

C.S.C.S. Ibiaku Itam offers students broad exposure to a wide array of sports including football, scrabble, rugby, athletics, chess, netball, volleyball, and badminton. Students are encouraged to try their hands at various disciplines before specialising in a sport of their choice in their final year—an approach that continues to produce exceptional talent.

The school’s model is already yielding national and international results. In January, two of its students represented Nigeria at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia. In addition, a former student who graduated in 2022 is now playing professional football in Norway.

With their double victory in Abuja, C.S.C.S. Ibiaku Itam have reinforced their reputation as one of Nigeria’s rising powerhouses in school sports—combining passion, resilience, and a forward-thinking development strategy that continues to shape future stars.

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By Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri

The Nigeria 2025 Game On Afrika Tournament came to an exciting close in Owerri at the weekend, with Team Enugu emerging champions after a tense penalty shootout victory over hosts Team Imo.

The final, played at Okenalogho Secondary Technical School in Obowo, ended goalless in regulation time before Team Enugu triumphed 5–4 on penalties to claim the national title. They will now represent Nigeria in a continental showdown against the winners of the Ghana edition to determine the overall champion of the 2025 Game On Afrika Tournament.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the CEO of the Game On Afrika Tournament, Prince Emeka Nwankwo, expressed delight at the success of the event, describing it as the fulfilment of a long-held family vision.

“I was actually executing what my father told me. He said to me, ‘My son, I want you to do that which is permanent and voluntary, that will enhance the society and also our family name in all respects.’ I think I have achieved all that today. I am very, very happy,” he said.

Nwankwo reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining the tournament as a platform for grassroots football development across Africa, noting that teams from Nigeria and Ghana would continue to compete for regional honours.

He also extended appreciation to Project Manager Lady Jenny Anusiem and the coordinators whose contributions ensured a smooth event—Neville Okere (Imo), Felix Nwosu (Enugu), Femi Ajilore (FCT), and Dr. Abolore Abdul (Lagos). He further acknowledged the efforts of media personnel, volunteers, and the participating clubs from both countries.

The closing ceremony featured several individual awards. Team Enugu’s goalkeeper, Orisakwe Chibuike Fortune—an Imo-born talent from Njaba LGA—won the Best Goalkeeper Award for his outstanding saves, including crucial stops during the final. Team Imo’s dynamic midfielder, Sorochi Stanley Nwachukwu, was named Best Player of the Tournament for his creativity, leadership, and consistent brilliance throughout the competition.

The grand finale drew dignitaries from across Imo State and beyond. Among those present were the Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Obinna Onyeocha (represented by Marcel Obinna Nwachukwu), HRH Martins Keke, Oparanadim I, and HRH Eze John Ifeanyichukwu Okafor, Oke I of Umuoke (represented by Deputy President General Meribe Micheal), alongside Ugoeze Patrick Uwalaka and other community leaders and sports enthusiasts.

With Team Enugu set for continental duty, organisers say plans are already underway to ensure the next edition builds on the success of this year’s competition.

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