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Tennis Players’ Parents Association President Segun Aluko Reflects On Five Years Of Achievements

Published

1 week ago

February 25, 2026

The president of Nigerian Tennis Players’ Parents Association, Segun Aluko has shot his mind back to how the body started and declared emphatically that they have a lot of achievements to be proud of over the past five years.

Speaking exclusively to Sports247 at the ITF J30 World Tennis Tour in Abuja, Mr Aluko disclosed that the body came into being in order to assist in boosting the development of tennis further in Nigeria and he is happy that they have been making a lot of progress.

He reiterated that many Nigerian parents who have children and wards playing tennis have contributed towards improving the racquet sport in the country, but further pointed out that they also have among their members some lovers of the game whose kids are not playing it.

“I came all the way from Lagos with one of my sons to have a good experience of the J30 World Tennis Tour and to represent our association of players’ parents. We are basically an association of parents whose children play tennis in Nigeria.

“We came together as a group to see how we can help stakeholders, organisers, bodies, NGOs and Nigeria Tennis Federation in seeing how we can help tp support and add value to the game.

“We always try to see how we can improve the standard of tennis in Nigeria and, interestingly, many people who are not parents of tennis players have joined us. That’s because they love what we are doing.

“People who do not have children playing tennis, but they love the game, are now part of this association, and they have been extremely resourceful in their contributions,” Aluko revealed.

He also recalled how tennis hit rock bottom some years back in Nigeria, and expressed satisfaction with how parents of players got into full steam by organising a lot of activities, which led to a record of 40 competitions within a span of five years.

“There was a time when tennis was pretty down in Nigeria, and it was very discouraging. That made some parents feel dejected and frustrated. Personally, I have three of my children playing tennis, and it was really tough to get them into competitions.

“There were no tennis activities or programmes in Nigeria because the game was down. We couldn’t complain about what was not working because that was the best we had at that time. So, we came together as parents to establish this association and we started organising programmes.

“Over the last four-five years, we’ve organised more than 40 tennis tournaments, which is a record in this country. No organisation has come close to doing anything like that and we are still planning on doing more,” Aluko projected.

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FIFA Marks 100-Day Countdown to 2026 World Cup Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

Published

16 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Logan Mclaughlin

World football’s governing body, FIFA, on Tuesday officially marked 100 days to the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as anticipation for the global showpiece continues to build despite escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East.

To commemorate the milestone, FIFA unveiled an official countdown poster and launched a 10-question interactive quiz aimed at engaging fans across the world as preparations intensify for the largest World Cup in history.

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The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, spanning 16 host cities across North America.

Biggest World Cup Ever
The 2026 edition will mark a historic expansion of the competition, with 48 teams taking part for the first time, up from the traditional 32.

A total of 104 matches will be played over 39 days, making it the most extensive World Cup ever staged.

The opening match is scheduled for June 11 at the iconic Estadio Azteca, with Mexico set to feature in the curtain-raiser.

The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, located in the New York–New Jersey area.

Several nations, including Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan, are expected to make their FIFA World Cup debuts, highlighting the broader global representation brought about by the tournament’s expansion.

Preparations and Concerns

While excitement continues to grow, the countdown comes against the backdrop of heightened global security concerns, particularly ongoing conflicts in parts of the Middle East.

These developments have sparked discussions around travel logistics, safety of supporters, and participation of some national teams.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently toured host venues in Mexico and reiterated that preparations across all three host nations remain on track.

FIFA has maintained that it is working closely with local authorities and international partners to ensure safety, security and smooth operations throughout the tournament.

Ticket sales for the first phase have already commenced, with further ticketing windows expected to open after the conclusion of the final qualification playoffs later this month.

Despite the challenges, FIFA insists that the 2026 World Cup will deliver an unprecedented celebration of football, unity and global participation as the world counts down to kickoff.

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Akor Adams & Chidera Ejuke Shine as Sevilla FC Rally to Draw at Real Betis

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Kenny Malone

Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke were central figures as Sevilla produced a spirited comeback to secure a hard-earned away draw against city rivals Real Betis in La Liga.

Sevilla endured a difficult start and went two goals behind, but the Nigerian duo played key roles in shifting the momentum of the game.

Akor Adams completed the full 90 minutes and led the line with authority, creating two clear chances and constantly troubling the Betis backline with his movement and physical presence.

Chidera Ejuke added pace and directness from wide areas, repeatedly driving at defenders and helping stretch the hosts as Sevilla pushed forward in search of goals.

His energy and ball-carrying ability provided an outlet during Sevilla’s sustained second-half pressure.

The comeback was completed in the 85th minute when Isaac Romero scored the equaliser, finishing off a move assisted by Djibril Sow.

The late goal sealed a deserved point for Sevilla after a determined team display.

The performance of Adams and Ejuke stood out, underlining their growing influence within the Sevilla squad and their importance to the club’s attacking play.

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Iwobi on Fire Again, Bassey Solid as Fulham See Off Spurs

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Kenny Malone

Fulham FC claimed a big home win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, with Nigerian duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey delivering standout performances. Samuel Chukwueze was introduced late for Spurs as the visitors failed to complete a comeback.

Fulham took the lead early after a VAR check confirmed Harry Wilson’s 9th-minute volley. The goal stood following a brief review, setting the tone for a strong opening from the hosts.

The home side doubled their advantage in the 34th minute when Wilson turned provider, teeing up Alex Iwobi, who rifled a superb right-footed strike from outside the box to beat the goalkeeper.

It was Iwobi’s second goal in as many games, underlining his growing influence in Fulham’s attack.

Tottenham responded in the 66th minute through Richarlison, who headed home from close range after an assist from Archie Gray, but it proved too little, too late.

At the back, Calvin Bassey put in a commanding defensive display, winning key duels and helping Fulham see out the result under late pressure. Samuel Chukwueze came on as a late substitute for Spurs but was unable to change the outcome.

The victory extends Fulham’s positive run at home and highlights another impactful outing from Nigeria’s Premier League contingent.

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