Sports
NOVA Bank Sponsors The Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament to Champion Golfing Excellence

NOVA Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to the well-being and interests of high-net-worth individuals by sponsoring the 27th Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament.
Hosted at the prestigious Ikoyi Golf Club 1938, the annual tournament for 2024 took place from September 21st to Saturday, September 28th, 2024.
The Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament, organized by the Ikoyi Golf Community Nigeria Association (IGCNA), showcased the remarkable talent of golfers and the sport’s capacity to foster connections across the board.
NOVA Bank has long valued golf as a recreation sport for business executives to network and relieve stress.
This year, Mr, Tayo Babalakin emerged as the Nigeria Cup 2024 Champion, clinching the title with a stunning 85 gross with Handicap (HCP) 19 = 66 net. This victory etched Tayo Babalakin’s name in the history books as the 27th champion of this celebrated tournament.
As a former merchant bank serving high-net-worth clients, NOVA Bank has long valued golf as a recreation sport for business executives to network and relieve stress.
The Bank’s transition to a national commercial bank has not diminished this commitment but has instead deepened its relationship with the golfing community, as reflected in its ongoing partnership with the Nigeria Cup.
Mr. Phillips Oduoza, Chairman of NOVA Bank and an avid golfer, highlighted the importance of the partnership in a speech presented by Mrs. Esther Adino, on his behalf. “As a long-term partner of the Nigeria Cup and the Ikoyi Club Golf Section, this annual event is always a delight for us at NOVA.
It provides a unique opportunity to engage with our esteemed customers and the broader community while celebrating the beautiful game of golf.
For over four years, NOVA Bank has been a proud supporter of this tournament, a sponsorship that aligns with our dedication to fostering wealth creation and enhancing the well-being of our customers.
Golf plays an essential role in that mission, allowing us to connect with our HNI clients in a meaningful and engaging environment.
We consider ourselves long-term sponsors of this tournament, and we are pleased to deepen our partnership with Ikoyi Golf Club. We look forward to exploring new opportunities for collaboration to elevate this esteemed club further.”
Reiterating NOVA’s involvement, Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu, Executive Director of Institutional and Commercial Banking at NOVA Bank, added, “Our support of the Nigeria Cup reflects our commitment to offering our high-net-worth clients and C-suite executives an atmosphere of relaxation, well-being, and healthy competition.
As a commercial bank, we continue to develop tailored products for SMEs and retail clients, including our groundbreaking NOVA Phygital mobile banking, which redefines personal banking experiences.
The NOVA Phygital platform is designed to provide seamless financial solutions, ensuring our clients can manage their wealth effortlessly while enjoying the lifestyle they deserve.
We remain dedicated not only to supporting our corporate customers’ businesses but also to helping them stay fit, relaxed, and focused. Golf is the perfect avenue to achieve this balance.”
Mr. George Etomi, Chairman of the 2024 Nigeria Cup Organizing Committee, commended NOVA Bank for their unwavering support.
“NOVA Bank’s consistent sponsorship of the Nigeria Cup truly embodies the spirit of this club—harmony through recreation.
Their partnership exemplifies the harmony and shared vision that has made them an integral part of our journey. We are thankful for NOVA’s dedication and look forward to more opportunities to create lasting impacts together.”
As NOVA Bank continues its growth trajectory, expanding its exceptional services to retail and SME markets, it remains committed to creating meaningful experiences for its high-net-worth clientele, while embracing a broader audience through innovation and customer-centered solutions.
The partnership with the Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament reflects the values that define NOVA Bank— Uniqueness, Leadership, Teamwork, and Passion
Sports
JUST IN: Haaland ranked 26th, van Dijk 28th in Ballon d’Or 2025 list

The build-up to the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is officially underway as the organisers began unveiling the rankings on their official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday afternoon.
Kicking off the list at 30th place is Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, followed by Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen at 29th, and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in 28th. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice sits at 27th, while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland narrowly misses the top 25, landing in 26th place.
The partial list, also shared by football journalist Fabrizio Romano, has already ignited fan debates online, especially surrounding Olise’s placement. The French winger delivered an outstanding 2024–25 season for Bayern, registering 12 goals and 15 assists, making his relatively low ranking a point of contention.
The full top 30 list is expected to be released in stages throughout the day.
The Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony is set to take place later today in Paris, where the world’s top footballer will be officially crowned.
Sports
Super Falcons Onome Ebi retires from football
Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in the game continues, to give back, to guide, and to be a voice for players.

Legendary Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi, on Wednesday officially announced her retirement from professional football.
Her career spanned over two decades with Nigeria’s women’s national team.
Ebi announced her decision in a post on her X account: “Today, I officially retire from professional football. The journey has been filled with challenges, victories, and lessons that shaped me into who I am today.
“Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in the game continues, to give back, to guide, and to be a voice for players.”
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest female footballers, the 42-year-old centre-back boasts an illustrious record at both continental and global levels.
Sports
U20 World Cup: Flying Eagles Final Squad Unveiled Amid Notable Absentees

Preparations for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup have been affected by the withdrawal of several key players.
Top European clubs, including France’s Stade Reims and Germany’s Hoffenheim, have refused to release their Nigerian players for the tournament in Chile, which is not scheduled on FIFA’s official calendar — giving clubs the right to withhold players from international duty.
As a result, Hoffenheim duo Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, along with Stade Reims striker Ibrahim Hafiz, will miss the tournament. All three were considered key prospects for the national team.
In response, head coach Aliyu Zubairu has named a revised 21-man squad that excludes several overseas-based players. Domestic talents like Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta, Bidemi Amole, and Divine Oliseh — who featured in the U-20 WAFU B qualifiers in Togo — were also left out of the final list.
Team captain Daniel Bameyi leads the squad, which includes more than 10 players who participated in recent training camps and friendlies. New additions include Israel Ayuma, Ebenezer Harcourt, Charles Agada, Auwal Ibrahim, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, and Odinaka Okoro.
Meanwhile, dependable fullback Adamu Maigari has been ruled out due to a knee injury.
The team departed Abuja for Chile on Sunday night. Norway-based midfielder Daniel Daga is expected to join the squad later, ahead of their opening match.
Nigeria, runners-up in 1989 and 2005, will be aiming to win their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title. The tournament kicks off on September 27 and runs through October 20. The Flying Eagles were eliminated in the quarter-finals by South Korea at the last edition in Argentina.
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