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Nigeria to host African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship in April

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Nigeria is to welcome the African continent for the Women’s Volleyball Club Championship, with over 20 countries expected to compete for honors from April 1 to 14 in Abuja.

This was announced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, in Abuja.

While seeking the commission’s support, Adeniyi expressed excitement about the event.

“I want to announce that Nigeria has been granted the rights to host the African Women’s Volleyball Interclub Competition. It will be held in Abuja from April 1 to 14, 2025,” he said.

“We will be working with the Volleyball Federation and the Ministry of Sports to ensure we host to win.

We seek the commission’s support to make this a successful event.”

Adeniyi also highlighted the Customs Service’s commitment to sports development, emphasizing the importance of fostering growth at all levels.

“The glory days of sports are returning to Nigeria. Customs is ready to help the commission develop sports organically.

Sports is not just an alternative activity—it’s a daily business. As customs officers, being mentally and physically fit is essential for success.

We will continue to sponsor our athletes to represent Nigeria at various national competitions,” he stated.

In response, Mallam Shehu Dikko affirmed the commission’s support and reiterated the government’s vision to build a thriving sports economy.

“Sports has been declared a national asset. Our mandate, as directed by the president, is to create a vibrant sports economy.

Hosting competitions like this will help build our athletes and develop infrastructure.

We are committed to supporting this event and planning for more competitions in the future,” Dikko said.

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FIFA proposes one‑minute off‑field rule for injured players

If approved, the measure would be incorporated into football’s global rulebook.

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FIFA on Monday proposed a new rule that would require players who receive on-field medical treatment to remain off the pitch for at least one minute.

BBC Sport reported that the proposal which is aimed at reducing time-wasting on the pitch, will be discussed during the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for the Laws of the Game.

If approved, the measure would be incorporated into football’s global rulebook.

At present, the Laws of the Game do not specify a mandatory period that injured players must stay off the field after treatment. Domestic competitions are allowed to implement their own guidelines.

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48 nations to compete as FIFA releases schedule for Series 2026

Twelve groups of four teams each—nine men’s groups and three women’s groups—will compete, hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations.

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FIFA has released the full match schedule for the FIFA Series 2026, the expanded edition of its international friendly tournament, which will bring together 48 national teams from all six confederations.

The fixtures, published on the association’s website on Monday, are scheduled for the March and April 2026 international match window.

Twelve groups of four teams each—nine men’s groups and three women’s groups—will compete, hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations.

Rwanda will stage two groups, while other hosts include Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

All matches are official international friendlies and will be broadcast globally, providing fans worldwide with access and giving participating teams valuable exposure, particularly for those that rarely face opponents from other confederations.

According to FIFA, participating Member Associations have chosen their preferred competition formats within each group, either a semi-final and final structure.

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FIFA commits $75m to rebuild war-damaged football facilities in Gaza

According to FIFA, the initiative includes plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of mini-pitches across Gaza.

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The world football governing body, FIFA, has announced plans to mobilise $75 million to rebuild football facilities in Gaza destroyed during the war between Israel and Hamas.

The announcement was made on Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace,” convened in Washington by U.S. President Donald Trump. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also attended the meeting, which focused primarily on reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

Trump disclosed that FIFA would help raise “a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza,” noting that the initiative would include football-related investments such as playing fields and high-profile visits by global football stars.

“I’m also pleased to announce that FIFA will be helping to raise a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza,” Trump said, adding that the projects would centre on building fields and attracting some of the sport’s biggest names.

According to FIFA, the initiative includes plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of mini-pitches across Gaza.

The first phase will prioritise building small-sided fields within three to six months, while the proposed stadium is expected to take between 18 and 36 months to complete.

FIFA also confirmed plans to help establish youth and amateur leagues as part of the long-term development strategy.

Infantino described the agreement as “a landmark partnership” designed to channel investment into football, supporting recovery efforts in post-conflict areas.

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