• Ezechukwu -middle ( first) Nwankwo (second) Sigah (third)

At the packed MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday, Miracle Ezechukwu stormed to victory in the CAA African U-18/U-20m girls’ final having won three gold medals of the championship with a personal best of 23.87s.

Her compatriots Chigozie Nwankwo and Perezide Sigah finished second and third, respectively, recording 24.01s and 24.26s, to complete an emphatic Nigerian 1-2-3.

Ezechukwu, who also clinched gold in the 100m earlier in the event, described the championships as a dream come true and expressed her gratitude to her coach and the organisers.

Moments after the U-18 triumph, Nigeria repeated the feat in the U-20 women’s 200m final as Success Oyibu led another clean sweep for the host nation when she blazed to a new personal best of 23.56s.

She was closely followed by U-20 100m champion Chioma Cynthia Nweke (23.95s) and Lucy Nwankwo (24.24s) to ensure Nigeria captured all six medals available across both female sprint categories.

Oyibu credited her performance to divine guidance and her camp’s preparation.

Earlier in the day, Nigeria won a protest regarding its U-20 men’s 4x100m relay team.

After initial claims of an exchange outside the zone, the Confederation of African Athletics ruled in Nigeria’s favour, awarding the quartet of Saliu Toyeeb, Joachim Uyovwiyoma, John Caleb and Malik Oluwatobi the gold medal, which earned Nigeria’s third consecutive title in the event.

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season 2025/26 activities will be flagged off with an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja.

In a letter of invitation to the clubs, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi stated that the AGM will hold on Monday, July 28 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, (the Old Abuja Sheraton Hotels) while the arrival date for all participants is Sunday, July 27.

Part of the agenda of the AGM will be the draw ceremony for the fixtures of the new season slated to start on August 22nd.

“In addition to the various reports that will be presented at the AGM, we are also going to conduct the framework for the fixtures of the new season”, Owumi told NPFL Media.

Chairman of the Board, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye will lead the meeting with the board members and the 20 clubs that played in the last season. The four promoted clubs will be formally admitted to the NPFL just as the four relegated clubs will be attending their last meeting as part of the elite league.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau is expected to declare the meeting open with a number of ex-international players in attendance to add colour to the draw event.

• UCHE OLISEH

Ex-Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has confirmed the death of his brother, Uche Oliseh, in an emotional post on social media, revealing that Uche died after a brief battle with malaria.

“It hurts so bad, like I have never felt before,” he wrote. “I have over a million things that I would wanna talk, laugh and do with Uche, but sadly I cannot anymore.”

Uche, remembered as a kind-hearted and vibrant individual, was a beloved son, brother, and father.

He is survived by four children, his parents, and siblings, including Churchill Oliseh and Sunday Oliseh, former Nigerian international footballer and national team coach.

The Cosmas Oliseh family announced that Uche Levi Oliseh, died on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the age of 51 after a brief illness.

The family has requested continued prayers and support as they mourn, adding that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.