Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to urgently address the growing problem of age cheating at editions of the National Youth Games (NYG) to safeguard its credibility and ensure fairness.

Oborevwori made the call on Saturday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, during the closing ceremony of the 9th edition of the Games, which he described as a festival of unity, discipline and excellence.

“What began days ago with great excitement has now come to a glorious conclusion. Today, we celebrate not only the medal winners but also the triumph of sportsmanship and national pride that this festival of youth has demonstrated,” the governor said.

He commended the athletes for their resilience, stressing that whether they won medals or not, they had inspired the nation through their courage and determination.

While praising Team Delta for sustaining its tradition of sporting excellence, he said the Games also provided a platform for discovering new talents from across the country.

The governor, however, lamented that the continued practice of states fielding over-aged athletes undermined the vision of the games.

He urged the NSC to urgently introduce stricter measures to restore integrity and ensure the event remains a true nursery of young talents.

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Oborevwori expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the NSC, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), coaches, officials, and volunteers for their roles in ensuring a smooth and successful outing.

He also thanked the visitors for making Asaba their home during the period the Games lasted, assuring them of Delta’s readiness to host the 10th edition of the Games in 2026, in line with the agreement that gave the state hosting rights for four consecutive editions.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, I congratulate every participant and wish you safe travels back to your various destinations,” he concluded.

In his remarks, Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, represented by Chief Amaka Asiofu, Director of Grassroots Sports and General Coordinator of the Games, described the Asaba edition as “an incredible experience, marked by fair competition, determination, exciting adventures, and inspirational sportsmanship.”

He praised the Delta State Government for its robust sports development system, noting that the Games had once again provided Nigeria with a fresh pool of athletes who would eventually replace aging national players across various sports.

He assured that the Commission would continue to implement policies to nurture the talents while promoting a sports economic ecosystem that will add value to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Dikko also expressed profound gratitude to Governor Oborevwori, the Federal Government, participating states, sponsors, and stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the Games, while lauding President Tinubu for his unwavering support for sports development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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In his own remarks, Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr Onoriode Oborevwori, said the Games had showcased not only the competitive spirit of Nigerian athletes, but also the values of friendship, resilience, and cooperation.

He thanked the NSC, organizers, and stakeholders for their commitment and called for continued collaboration to drive development and excellence in sports.

Meanwhile, in the final medal table, Lagos State emerged overall winners for the first time, with a total of 110 medals comprising 52 gold, 32 silver, and 26 bronze. Delta State finished second with 114 medals (37 gold, 38 silver, and 39 bronze), while Edo State came third with 79 medals (33 gold, 18 silver, and 28 bronze).

Overall, 33 states won medals at the Games, with a combined total of 802 medals, comprising 246 gold, 236 silver, and 320 bronze.

Favour Ofili, a talented track and field athlete known for her impressive performances in the 100m, 150m, and 200m sprints, announced on Monday that she has officially changed her nationality from Nigeria to Turkey.

The 22-year-old athlete made her announcement through a thoughtful post on her X handle, expressing the significance of this pivotal moment in her career.

Speculation about Ofili’s switch had been circulating since July when it became clear that she was considering a move to the European country, a decision driven by her ongoing struggles with the Nigerian athletics authorities.

A particularly distressing episode occurred during her attempt to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she was unable to participate due to Nigerian Olympic authorities failing to inform her about the essential drug-testing requirements needed for eligibility.

Compounding her frustrations, another administrative error from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria thwarted her aspirations of representing her country in the 100m event at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics; they failed to submit her name by the required deadline.

In her heartfelt series of tweets, Ofili revealed that her journey had been marred by a pattern of negligence and miscommunication, leading her to make the difficult but decisive choice to switch her allegiance in hopes of a brighter and more supportive athletic future in Turkey.

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“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible,” she wrote.

“As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey.

“I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way! Having won SIX gold medals, TWO silver medals and TWO bronze medals in championship meets and a 200 meter Olympic finalist while experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC towards me. Negligence towards me in Olympic (Tokyo/Paris). I have made this decision.”

The 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist also said financial incentive was not behind her decision to switch allegiance to Turkey.

“While that means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey,” she added.

Ofili joins the list of high-profile former Nigerian athletes Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu who abandoned Nigerian colours for Spain and Portugal respectively in the 2000s.

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In a significant turn of events, Victor Boniface, the talented 24-year-old striker for the Super Eagles, has been left in limbo after his highly anticipated transfer to the esteemed Italian club AC Milan fell through at the last moment.

The aspiring forward had returned to training with high hopes, only to face disappointment when the Serie A giants officially withdrew their interest due to unexpected complications that arose during his medical examinations.

The failed deal has left Boniface visibly upset, as many had regarded this transfer as a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career....Click link for details 

Liverpool have reached agreement on a British-record deal to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, according to ESPN.

Premier League champions say they have had a £125 million ($170m) bid accepted to sign the Sweden international, though Newcastle sources state the deal is worth £130m. Click to continue reading

Erik ten Hag has been dismissed by Bayer Leverkusen after merely two league fixtures.

The German football club has appointed the former manager of Manchester United to succeed Xabi Alonso, the esteemed Liverpool icon who transferred to Real Madrid at the start of the current season.

Nevertheless, following a difficult initiation to his role in Germany, during which he attained only one point from his first two Bundesliga matches, Erik ten Hag has been dismissed from his position.

A statement issued by the club confirmed: “Bayer 04 Leverkusen has mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Erik ten Hag. This decision was reached by the shareholders’ committee, the club’s supervisory board, based on the recommendation of the management of Bayer 04.”

“Training will be overseen by the current backroom staff on an interim basis.”

Meanwhile, the club’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, commented: “This decision was not an easy one for us. Nobody wanted to take this step.

“However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible.

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Victor Boniface wanted to retire over knee injuries as Nigeria star opens up on failed medical to AC Milan

Victor Boniface speaks out again after his failed transfer to AC Milan and admits he considered retirement due to his recurring knee problems.

Boniface has spoken candidly about his battle with knee injuries after a proposed move to AC Milan collapsed. Click link to continue reading.

The Nigerian striker was set to join the Serie A side on loan from Bayer Leverkusen for €5 million, with a €24m (£21m/$28m) buy option, but the deal fell through after he failed his medical at San Siro.

The 24-year-old joined Leverkusen from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in 2023 and was instrumental in his debut campaign at the BayArena, scoring 21 goals in 34 appearances as the German side lifted their first-ever Bundesliga title, won the DFB-Pokal, and finished as Europa League runners-up.

However, the two ACL injuries he suffered, first in the 2018-19 season and then in the 2020-21 season, continue to be an issue for the striker.

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He missed 14 games last season due to multiple fitness problems. Following his failed medical, Boniface returned to Germany. Now, he has opened up on his battles with injuries and explained why his move to Milan ultimately collapsed.

Speaking on a live stream, Boniface said: “The transfer didn’t work out because of my past injuries. I had two injuries to my right knee, and the problem has persisted for a long time. At one point, I had given up. While others were playing football, I was working just to get back to playing. After my second anterior cruciate ligament injury, I didn’t even want to play anymore because of the pain from the first one and what I had gone through during the second one. I also lost my mother during that time.”

Speaking to BILD, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rofles spoke about Boniface’s failure to clear the Milan medical.

“If he comes back [to Leverkusen], the Milan deal will be over. It’s no big secret,” he said. It is understood that the former Bodo/Glimt forward underwent four medical examinations in Italy. However, the Rossoneri have withdrawn their interest amid concerns over his poor injury history. Per reports, Milan have reached an agreement to sign Sporting CP striker Conrad Harder in an operation worth €24m plus €3m in bonuses. However, the Dane could join French club Rennes instead.

Goal.com

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