Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has granted approval for the immediate construction of five mini- sports centres in Toto, Keffi, Kokona, Wamba and Doma Local Government Areas.

The governor made the announcement at the grand finale of the maiden Matawalle Empowerment and Development Foundation Grassroots Football Tournament held at Pilot Primary School Football Pitch, Toto.

The grassroots football competition was organized to mark the 53rd birthday of Secretary to the State Government, Shuaibu Magaji Labaran.

“Looking at the condition of this pitch, both teams were able to display exceptional talent. I know if we give them the Lafia City Stadium, they would do far better,” Sule said.

“I feel bad about the pitch’s condition, and seeing how passionate you people are about football. It will definitely be a shame if we don’t have a mini stadium here in Toto.”

Sule said that the contracts for the five projects will be signed and sealed on Monday (today).

Former African champions, D’Tigers finished the latest qualifying window on Sunday, July 5, without defeat after walloping Rwanda 106-62 points to secure a spot in the Second Round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers.

Group C matches of the qualifiers featuring Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia and Rwanda were hosted in Luanda, Angola.

In the Angolan capital, Nigeria caused an upset by beating high-flying group leaders Guinea 80-79 and Tunisia 84-81.

The D’Tigers’ dominant performance over Rwanda yesterday was the largest winning margin at that stage of the 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers campaign.

They overcame their 1–2 win–loss record from the first round of Group C, played in November, to advance to the second round of the qualifiers for the 12 teams with an encouraging 4–2 record.

(Daily Trust)

A classic David versus Goliath encounter will take centre stage at the World Cup on Friday as tiny Cape Verde face Lionel Messi and Argentina with a place in the last 16 at stake.

Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout rounds, face the defending champions in Miami dreaming of pulling off what would be the greatest upset in World Cup history.

The Atlantic archipelago have become one of the fairytale stories of this year’s expanded 48-team tournament, confounding expectations by earning a draw with Spain before squeezing into the last 32 ahead of Group H rivals Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Argentina, who breezed into the knockout rounds with the help of six goals from captain Messi, will be expected to swat aside the African qualifiers to move one step closer to their dream of back-to-back World Cup titles.But Cape Verde insist they will not be overawed by the occasion and the prospect of sharing a field with the reigning world champions and eight-time Ballon D’Or winner Messi.